The Rhetoric of Figurative Imagery and its Sufi Significance in Al-Shushtari’s Poetry: An Analytical Study

Abstract

The research aims to uncover the types of figurative rhetoric employed by the Andalusian poet Al-Shushtari and analyze their intellectual and aesthetic implications. The study adopts an analytical approach to deconstruct poetic texts, identifying manifestations of simile, metaphor, and metonymy. The results indicate that Al-Shushtari skillfully used sensory and symbolic similes to bridge the gap between abstract spiritual meanings and the recipient's mind. Furthermore, the poet utilized metaphors to achieve structural conciseness and aesthetic depth, turning his spiritual experiences into a language accessible to the reader. The study also reveals that metonymy served as a vital bridge between literal and esoteric meanings, allowing for the expression of profound Sufi concepts through indirect suggestion.