A Comparative Study of true Love in the Poetry of Rahman BaBa ‎and Hafiz Sherazi

Abstract

This article offers a critical and comparative exploration of the concept of love (true love) in the poetry of Rahman Baba and Hafez of Shirazi. Love stands as a central and foundational theme in Islamic mysticism and classical literature, endowing both poets with a distinct intellectual vision and artistic sensibility. The study begins by examining the lexical and technical meanings of love, its literal and metaphorical dimensions, and its conceptual foundations within the framework of Sufi thought. It then proceeds to present separate analytical readings of the poetic works of Hafez and Rahman Baba. The findings indicate that Hafez articulates love in a libertine (rendāna), highly symbolic, and multilayered manner, employing motifs such as the tavern, the cupbearer, and wine to convey profound mystical and philosophical insights. By contrast, Rahman Baba expresses love in a lucid, spiritually infused, and ethically grounded language, portraying it as a means of self-refinement, humility, and union with the Divine. Although both poets conceive of love as the fountainhead of spiritual perfection and regard the worldly realm as transient and unstable, they differ markedly in stylistic expression, intellectual inclination, and social vision. Despite their shared mystical foundation, the literary style, linguistic structure, and philosophical orientation of Hafez and Rahman Baba vividly demonstrate the diversity and artistic depth of classical Persian and Pashto literature.