Sufi symbolism of the beloved and the sea in Ahmadun Yosi Herfanda’s poetry: A perspective of Braginsky’s theory
Sujarwoko Sujarwoko, Suhartono Suhartono, Marista Dwi Rahmayantis
KEMBARA Journal of Scientific Language Literature and Teaching April 30, 2026 DOI: 10.22219/kembara.v12i1.41914 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative textual analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Selected poems of Ahmadun Yosi Herfanda |
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Keywords | Poetry Symbol formal Interpretation philosophy Relation database Perspective graphical The symbolic Sufism Literature Reading process Existentialism Expression computer science Epistemology Meaning existential Semiotics Islam Qur’anic interpretation studies |
| Key findings | The Beloved symbol represents the ultimate goal of union with the Divine, and the sea symbolizes the spiritual journey; both are integrated into a unified mystical structure connecting journey and union. |
Abstract
Studies on Sufi poetry indicate that symbolism functions not only as an aesthetic expression but also as a medium of complex spiritual experience. However, previous research often separates religious symbols from existential imagery, resulting in fragmented interpretations of meaning. This study aims to analyze the symbols of the Beloved and the sea in the poetry of Ahmadun Yosi Herfanda using a Sufi symbolic approach. This research employs a qualitative method of textual analysis grounded in Vladimir Braginsky's symbolic-Sufi framework. The data consist of selected poems analyzed through symbol identification, interpretation of meaning, and their relation to Sufi concepts. The findings reveal that the Beloved's symbol represents the ultimate goal of union with the Divine. At the same time, the sea symbolizes the spiritual journey characterized by longing, trials, and alienation. Both symbols are integrated into a unified mystical structure connecting journey and union. The study concludes that mystical experience in Ahmadun Yosi Herfanda’s poetry is integrative and multidimensional. Its scholarly contribution lies in developing a Sufi symbolic reading that combines relational (Beloved) and processual (sea) dimensions within a systematic analytical framework.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualitative and Quantitative Features of Music Reported to Support Peak Mystical Experiences during Psychedelic Therapy Sessions Individuals with extensive experience administering psilocybin or psilocybin-containing... | 2017 | Survey and qualitative/quantitative analysis | n = 10 |
| Common Core Thesis and Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Mysticism in Chinese Buddhist Monks and Nuns Chinese Pure Land and Chan Buddhist monks and nuns | 2011 | Mixed-methods study | n = 139 |
| Do Drugs Have Religious Import? A 40-Year Retrospective | 2004 | Interview | |
| Narratives of the mystical among users of psychedelics Psychedelic drug users | 2021 | Qualitative study | n = 50 |
| Auras in mysticism and synaesthesia: a comparison. Synaesthetes who experience colors in response to human faces and figures | 2012 | Qualitative study | n = 4 |