The epistemic function of classical metaphors in the semantic structure of Islamic–Iranian mystical texts
ادبیات عرفانی June 19, 2026 Neda Shahani, Esmaeil Bani Ardalan
Classical metaphors in Iranian–Islamic mystical texts function not merely as aesthetic devices but as epistemic tools that make ineffable spiritual experiences intelligible. By analyzing works of al-Fārābī, Ibn ʿArabī, Suhrawardī, ʿAttār, and Rūmī alongside Aristotle’s views, the study shows that metaphors such as light, fire, and journey both represent mystical experience and constitute part of the experiential process itself. These metaphors render transcendent experiences tangible through sensory references while dissolving rational boundaries, enabling intuitive apprehension of the sacred. Core metaphors persist across texts in dynamic networks, transforming mystical experience from an individual phenomenon into a shared spiritual heritage.