Literary and Philosophical Analysis of Mythical Structure in Sufi Story: Exploring Positive and Negative Significations
Mohamed Ahmed Elsayed, ِAhmed Hasan Anwar, Marwa Aly Eleleidy, Amal Zakaria Mahmoud Hal, Shaimaa Mohamed Hassanin
Journal of Language Teaching and Research July 1, 2026 DOI: 10.17507/jltr.1704.03 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Literary analysis with textual and philosophical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Four short Sufi narratives associated with early Sufi figures |
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Keywords | Meaning existential Conceptualization Asceticism Value mathematics Narrative inquiry Sufism Literature Epistemology Experiential learning Philosophical analysis Function biology Narrative structure Narrative history Narrative criticism |
| Key points | Sufi narratives employ mythic structures, symbolic imagery, and foregrounded language to reinterpret religious concepts and present them within a spiritual and experiential framework. |
Abstract
This study investigates the role of mythical narrative structure in constructing Sufi concepts through a literary analysis of selected Sufi stories. Focusing on four short narratives associated with early Sufi figures—Ibrahim ibn Adham, Shaqiq al-Balkhi, Sahl al-Tusturi, and Ibn Manazil—the research examines how language, symbolism, and narrative discourse contribute to the formation and communication of key Sufi principles. Using textual and philosophical analysis, the study explores the relationship between narrative patterns, metaphorical expression, and the conceptualization of themes such as asceticism (zuhd), reliance (tawakkul), divine love, and pilgrimage. The findings reveal that Sufi narratives employ mythic structures, symbolic imagery, and foregrounded language to reinterpret religious concepts and present them within a spiritual and experiential framework. These stories function not only as devotional accounts but also as discourse strategies that shape meaning and guide interpretation. The study highlights the significance of narrative and philosophical choices in the construction of religious meaning and demonstrates the value of Sufi texts for literary and discourse analysis within language and literature studies.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on mysticism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The mystical mind: probing the biology of religious experience | 2000 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Religious and Mystical Experiences as Artifacts of Temporal Lobe Function: A General Hypothesis | 1983 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The Problem of Pure Consciousness: Mysticism and Philosophy | 1993 | Edited collection of essays | |
| Irreducible Mind: Toward a Psychology for the 21st Century | 2020 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mysticism and schizophrenia: A phenomenological exploration of the structure of consciousness in the schizophrenia spectrum disorders. | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |