Meaning of the Metaphor of “Idol” in the Mystical Poems of Hafez and Imam Khomeini

One of the mystical metaphors in the poems of mystical poets is the comparisonof the word and meaning of idol with Almighty God. Several aspects can be foundIn this metaphor: First, an aesthetic look at the idol; an idol is an adorable beautythat possesses everything that deserves its perfection. The second is the glorifyingapproach to the idol. In this sense, the idol is the coquettish beloved, who is gentleand careless and indifferent to his own lovers. The Idol is also a stoneheartedbeloved, who, of course, apparently ignores the enthusiasts for their own interests.The description of Almighty God with the word idol is in clear contradiction withthe belief system of Islam. What do mystics such as Hafiz and Imam Khomeinimean by idol and attributes and manifestations attributed to him regarding God?The hypothesis of this research is that, regardless of the negative meaning of theidol, which is rarely reflected in the works of these two figures, in their mysticalview, the idol regarding the Almighty God is the truth and regarding the idol thatthe pagans adorn and worship is figurative.