Abstract:

Throughout the history, philosophers and thinkers have harnessed literary arts to ensure comprehension of their ideas by others. Metaphorical expression is one of the methods preferred by thinkers to state their ideas. It is highly important to borrow different words, to transfer abstract concepts into the realm of the reason, and even more for them to gain a rich meaning beyond that. That is why, Sufis also often applied metaphorical expression. In this way of stating ideas, it is mostly aimed to clarify unperceivable subjects by utilizing concepts of perceivable world (e.g. nature, plants, animals). Being among the most prominent figures of Sufi thought, Hz. Mawlānā employs metaphorical expressions abundantly in his work Masnawi. Basic style of expression in Masnawi is employing metaphorical method. In his work, employing metaphors turns out to be a unique art. As a master of language, Hz. Mawlānā applied to metaphors in his unique work, Masnawi, to attach a stylish beauty and to make difficult notions and subjects understandable. This metaphorical way of expression in Masnawi, added a richness of meaning and exhilaration. By this way, he implied the feeling of true life experience to increase the perception of reality. In the course of history of Sufi tradition, metaphorical expressions are employed to rescue subjects of tasawwuf from meaningless, vague and ambiguous concepts and to explain them in an understandable and clear way. Especially considering the difficulty in understanding the Sufi thought, the necessity for metaphors can be grasped better. In this piece, I will analyze notions and concepts for the expression of which Hz. Mawlānā employed the metaphor of water in Masnawi. In this context, I hope to take a small step to decrypt the encryption of Hz. Mawlānā’s world of reflection.

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