Homonyms’ Lexical and Mystical Layers in the Poetic Heritage of Jalal Al-Din Rumi

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of homonyms in the poetic heritage of Mawlana Jalal al- Din Rumi from both lexical-semantic and Sufi perspectives. The main purpose of the research is not only to determine the linguistic structure of homonyms but also to reveal their esoteric and mystical layers of meaning in the light of Sufi philosophy. In his works, Rumi skillfully employed polysemous words to create poetic-aesthetic beauty while simultaneously expressing profound meanings that illuminate the spiritual world of humankind. In the course of the study, homonyms were classified according to syllabic structure, and the functions of monosyllabic, disyllabic, and trisyllabic forms in the poetic text were explained. Words such as باد، داد، باز، نی، مهر، قلب، روان، مشتری (bād, dād, bāz, ney, mehr, ghælb, rævān, and moshtærī) were analyzed comparatively in terms of their lexical meanings in Persian and their symbolic and mystical connotations in Rumi’s poetry. Thus, both the external and inner semantic layers carried by these words were revealed. The article demonstrates that the multiplicity of lexical meanings of homonyms is correlated with verses from the Qur’an and the classical Sufi tradition, and their role as symbolic keys in poetic texts is explained on a scholarly basis. For Rumi, homonyms are not merely accidental wordplay but rather instruments for expressing the essential ideas of Sufism–divine love, spiritual perfection, and the purification of the soul. This feature enhances their value both linguistically and philosophically-spiritually. The study shows that in Rumi’s poetics, homonyms create semantic multi-layeredness, directing the reader from the apparent to the hidden, from the visible to the invisible. They function not only as artistic-aesthetic devices but also as symbolic codes that lead the individual toward spiritual reflection. Thus, the research reveals that the study of homonyms in Rumi’s creative work carries significant scholarly value at the intersection of linguistics, literary studies, and Sufi philosophy.