Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• fatamah maghsoudy ¹
• Abdollah Nosrati ²
• mohammadreza roozbeh ³

¹ Representative of the Islamic Council

² Associate Professor, Lorestan Persian Language and Literature Department, Lorestan University, Iran

³ Assistant Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Hamedan, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran.

Abstract

The literature of mysticism and symbolism has always been intertwined, making the boundary between them sometimes indistinguishable. Mysticism, as a cognitive and practical school, has consistently been associated with symbols and symbolism. "Woman," as a significant phenomenon in literary discourse, has inspired literary texts, including mythological, oral, romantic, and mystical literature. This article examines the symbolic and metaphorical role of the enigmatic element of "woman" in mystical literature, focusing on the works of Nizami Ganjavi, Kashf al-Mahjub by Ali ibn Osman al-Hujwiri, the Masnavi of Rumi, as well as the works of Sana'i Ghaznavi and Attar of Nishapur. In this context, traditional analysis and content critique, along with analytical criticism, have been employed to explore the underlying layers of the phenomenon. The findings indicate that the symbolic face of woman in mystical texts encompasses manifestations such as the commanding self, the manifestation of divine beauty, the nurturing mother, the perfect mystic, and the forbidden fruit. This research demonstrates that even with a limited examination of mystical works, diverse representations of the concept of "woman" in literature emerge, ranging from lower concepts like the beloved and the partner of Satan to higher concepts like the manifestation of divine beauty. This diversity in symbolism effectively reveals the depth and complexity of mystical literature.

Keywords

• mystical literature
• woman
• symbol
• code

Main Subjects

• .