Symbolic Analysis of Journey in Persian Mystical Works: Exploring Spiritual Concepts in Mystical Travelogues and Masnavi

Abstract

Persian mystical literature is one of the richest sources for exploring spiritual symbols and concepts, where the notion of journey holds a prominent place as a symbol of inner movement and the pursuit of truth. This article provides a symbolic analysis of journey in mystical works, particularly in Rumi's Masnavi and mystical travelogues such as Najm al-Din Razi's Mirṣād al-ʿibād, aiming to examine the spiritual connections and shared meanings between these two literary genres. In mystical travelogues, journey is depicted as a tangible and real path that guides the seeker through stages of the spiritual path, leading to the states of annihilation (fanā) and subsistence (baqā) in divine presence. This approach is presented directly and didactically in travelogues. In contrast, Rumi's Masnavi uses allegories and symbolic tales to portray journey as an endless movement toward divine unity and the experience of divine love. A comparative analysis reveals that, despite differences in structure and style, both genres complement each other in articulating the concept of journey and spiritual transcendence. Through symbolic theories and hermeneutic perspectives, this study reaches a deeper understanding of the journey symbol and its role in mystical self-transformation and self-knowledge. It concludes that, in Persian mystical literature, journey symbolizes not only the path to divine closeness but also serves as a means for self-discovery and liberation from worldly attachments.