تمثیلِ نور در مثنوی و قرآنِ مجید: تاویلِ اشراق و تحلیلِ بلاغت

THE ALLEGORY OF LIGHT IN THE MASNAVI AND THE QUR’AN: ILLUMINATIVE HERMENEUTICS AND RHETORICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

This study examines the allegory of light as presented in Rumi’s Mathnawi and the Qur’an, exploring how both texts employ luminous symbolism to articulate metaphysical truths. Drawing upon classical Islamic hermeneutics, particularly the Illuminationist (Ishrāqī) tradition, the research analyzes how the Qur’anic “Verse of Light” (Ayat al-Nūr) establishes a foundational metaphysical framework that later inspires and informs Rumi’s poetic interpretations. The Qur’an presents light as a multi-layered symbol of divine guidance, ontological presence, and epistemic clarity, framing it as the central metaphor for the Divine–human relationship. In the Mathnawi, Rumi expands this symbolism by embedding it within narrative structures, parables, and experiential reflections. His poetic reworking of the light metaphor illustrates how spiritual illumination unfolds within the seeker’s inner world. Through a close linguistic and rhetorical analysis, this study traces the semantic evolution of key concepts such as nūr (light), sirāj (lamp), mishkāt (niche), and tajallī (divine manifestation). It further explores how Rumi employs imagery, contrast, and rhythmic devices to transform Qur’anic metaphors into mystical insights.  By integrating Ishrāqī hermeneutics with literary analysis, the research demonstrates that the interplay between the Mathnawi and the Qur’an generates a dynamic field of meaning in which philosophical illumination and poetic expression converge. This synthesis not only enriches the interpretive tradition of Islamic thought but also highlights the enduring power of light as a universal symbol of truth, transformation, and spiritual ascent.