Investigating Structure And A Classification of Anecdotes about Wonders in Tuhfat Ahl-e Erfan
Subject Areas : Mystical (with literary and artistic features)
َAbdorrasoul Chamankhah
1
,
Kheyrollah Mahmoudi
2
1 - PhD student, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
2 - Associate Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Iran.
Keywords: Rouzbehan-e Baghli, Tuhfat Ahl-e Erfan [A Curio from Men of Mysticism], intuition, wonder, revelation,
Abstract :
Revelations and the performance of wonders, which can be found in anecdotes, are two important features of mysticism and Sufism. Investigating such anecdotes from the perspective of literature, linguistics, art, anthropology, sociology and social sciences is of significance. This article, using descriptive analysis and library sources, first touches upon the concept, origin, kinds, causes, benefits and history of wonders and marvels and their place from mystics’ view, and the difference between miracles and wonders. The findings indicate that, in Tuhfat Ahl-e Erfan, mention has been made of 121 wonders within 106 anecdotes, with some wonders happening before, and some happening after his death. The wonders occurring during his life can be divided into 12 categories and 41 subcategories, while the wonders after his death may be divided into 11 categories. In terms of both quantity and diversity, this categorisation is unique compared to other books describing characters and virtues. In the anecdotes, the most frequent wonders mentioned are to do with Sheikh Rouzbehan’s clairvoyance during his life, and his answering prayers and resolving problems after his death. Instances of defamiliarisation such as internal structure, allusions to Quranic verses and to hadiths from the Prophet, and words from sages have enhanced the literariness of the book. In addition, the ancientness of some words, verbs and verbal phrases, and brevity in speech have made the book a work of prose in an uninvolved style.
