Exploring Paradox and Its Relationship with Mystical Experiences in the Sonnets of Rumi and Hafez

Subject Areas : Mystic Literatur

Sārā Ghati ¹ , Maryam Zibāee-nejād ² , Mortezā Jafari ³

1 - Ph D. Candidate of Persian Language and Literature, IAU, Shiraz Branch
2 - The Assistant Professor of Persian Language and Literature, IAU, Shiraz Branch
3 - The Assistant Professor of Persian Language and Literature, IAU, Shiraz Branch

Received: 2024-03-21 Accepted : 2024-06-23 Published : 2024-09-20

Keywords: Paradox, Mystical Experiences, Revelation, Hafez's Sonnets, Rumi's Sonnets,

Abstract :

Paradox plays a significant role as a method of defamiliarization in mystical poetry, particularly in the works of renowned poets such as Hafez and Jalāl-al Din Rumi who have been influenced by Islamic mysticism. They employ paradoxical elements in their poems to convey mystical concepts to readers and listeners. This research delves into the comparison of paradoxes in the works of Rumi and Hafez, exploring the relationship between paradoxes and mystical experiences in the poets' thoughts and ideas through a descriptive-analytical approach. By identifying the differences and commonalities between the two poets, it is evident that their thoughts share striking similarities. Both poets are rooted in romantic mysticism, where they reconcile dualities to reach unity. Their poems exhibit the four characteristics of mystical experience - indescribability, epistemic quality, and ephemerality/passivity. Faced with these ineffable experiences, the poets turn to the language of paradox to communicate their revelations. While there are some differences, with Rumi utilizing more synthetic paradoxes and Hafez employing semantic paradoxes, these variances are on the surface level.