The Language of Metaphor and Rumi: Metaphor and Rumi

Abstract

This study examines the language of metaphor in Rumi’s works through the perspectives of cognitive linguistics and mystical analysis. In Rumi’s poetry, particularly in the Masnavi-ye Ma'navi and the Divan-e Shams, metaphor is not merely a literary device; rather, it constitutes a fundamental means of articulating mystical experiences and communicating complex spiritual concepts. To express notions such as divine love, spiritual wayfaring, annihilation of the self, and union with ultimate reality, Rumi maps abstract concepts onto concrete and experiential domains. Metaphors such as light, fire, the sea, the journey, the mirror, and the wind perform both cognitive and spiritual functions in his works, enabling readers to attain a deeper understanding of mystical truth through sensory and everyday experiences. The analysis of these metaphors demonstrates that the metaphorical system in Rumi’s works possesses a coherent structure and functions as a bridge connecting language, human experience, and mystical intuition. Consequently, Rumi’s metaphorical language serves not only as a means of achieving literary beauty but also as an epistemological instrument for understanding spiritual experiences and guiding the reader along the path of mystical wayfaring.