A comparative study of the types and functions of symbols in the mystical stories of Avicenna and Suhrawardi

Subject Areas : Islamic Mysticism

masoumeh rohanifard ¹ , Hamid alikordkalaii ²

1 - استادیار گروه زبان و ادبیات فارسی، واحد نکا، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، نکا، ایران. [e-mail]
2 - استادیار گروه زبان و ادبیات فارسی، دانشگاه پیام نور، تهران، ایران.

Received: 2020-10-05 Accepted : 2020-10-05 Published : 2020-09-22

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Abstract :

The mystical expression of mystical concepts has been the trick of mystics and mystics to convey and instill their purpose to others. The use of symbol in Persian literary fiction, and especially in the field of Sufi literature, has been a tool for concealing the deep mystical implications that in most cases should be avoided in understanding the ignorant in this field. The use of symbolism in works that are narrated in the form of stories creates an allegorical narrative that the stories of Avicenna and Suhrawardi can be considered as a clear example. The present study attempts to describe the types and functions of the symbol in the stories of these two philosophers who had mystical tendencies in an analytical descriptive way; Examine in a comparative way. What is clear from the present study is that the symbolism in Suhrawardi's stories is much more complex and personal than in Avicenna 's. On the other hand, Suhrawardi has used more symbolic or covenant symbols than Ibn Sina. He uses traditional (general) symbols, most of which originate from ancient Iranian mythology, and uses them as situational symbols in his mystical works. As a result, the network of symbols that make up the allegorical narrative is very nested and complex. .