Literary and Philosophical Analysis of Mythical Structure in Sufi Story: Exploring Positive and Negative Significations
Journal of Language Teaching and Research July 1, 2026 Mohamed Ahmed Elsayed, ِAhmed Hasan Anwar, Marwa Aly Eleleidy et al.
This literary and philosophical analysis examines how mythical narrative structures shape Sufi concepts in four short stories about early Sufi figures: Ibrahim ibn Adham, Shaqiq al-Balkhi, Sahl al-Tusturi, and Ibn Manazil. The study argues that these narratives use symbolic imagery, foregrounded language, and mythic patterns to reinterpret religious concepts such as asceticism (zuhd), reliance (tawakkul), divine love, and pilgrimage. The stories function not merely as devotional accounts but as discourse strategies that construct meaning and guide interpretation. The authors propose that narrative and philosophical choices are central to the formation of religious meaning, demonstrating the value of Sufi texts for literary and discourse analysis.