Theological Concepts of Art and Beauty in the Story of the “Zat-al Sovar Castle” or the Fortress of “Hoosh Roba” from the Masnavi Manavai of Rumi

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Persian language and literature, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz. Iran.

2 Department of Persian Language and Literature, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch. Iran.

Abstract

 Beauty is one of the most important concepts that has long been considered and studied in the field of philosophy and mysticism. One of the most prominent literary and mystical texts that can be referred to in order to perceive the truth of beauty is the Masnavi Manavi of Rumi which beholds the most central foundations of aesthetics in the form of the most accurate allegories. In this literary artwork, there are several anecdotes, each of which is a clear example of artistic beauty. In the meantime, the legend of the Zat-al Sovar Castle is one of the most famous stories of this work. In this research, the place of theological and knowledgeable concepts of art and aesthetics within this story is considered and analyzed. Moreover, the mentioned analysis is accomplished via a descriptive and analytical approach and dependent on library sources. The findings of the research indicate that the story of Zat-al Sovar Castle or the fortress of Hoosh Roba is one of the very deep and perplexing stories of the Masnavi that beholds ​​extraordinary and heavenly denotations. The Zat-al Sovar Castle is the world of divine manifestations and the expression of luminous forms and instances in tangible forms. These numerous and beautiful motifs can, on the one hand, veil and hinder the understanding of the truth, and at this stage restrict and halt the seeker from tangible forms and borrowed beauties, and has to power to indicate true beauties and to provide the means of human liberation and salvation. Understanding true beauty is possible only through attaining self-knowledge and perceiving with the inner eye. For man, through the external senses, perceives only the world of sensations, and through the esoteric senses he enters the sea of ​​truths, and it becomes impossible for one who remains within the limits of the external senses to comprehend the truth of belongings. Hence, Rumi emphasizes the aesthetical features and motifs of appearance.
Research aims:
1. A study of the theological concepts of art and beauty in the Masnavi Manavi
2. An analysis of the theological concepts of art and beauty in the Story of the “Zat-al Sovar Castle”
Research questions:
1. What is the place of theological concepts of art and beauty in Rumi's Masnavi Manavi?
2. What is the effect of the story of “Zat-al Sovar Castle” in conveying the mystical concepts of art and beauty?

Keywords

References

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Islamic Art Studies
Volume 16, Issue 38 - Serial Number 38
September 2020
Pages 160-176

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