Rumi's Rhetorical Creativity in Using Quran Verses: Focusing on metaphors, similes and paradoxes

While many studies have been done on the influence of Quran on Mathnavi, almost no research has been done on the creative usage of Quran verses in Mathnavi. Quran itself is a miracle of rhetoric, and an opportunity for creating exquisite and artistic terms and expressions has predisposed in Mathnavi. Based on this, Rumi’s creativity in using Quran verses is investigated in this research. Accordingly, the aim of this research is to specify the forms of creative usage of Quran verses in Mathnavi. The questions of this study are: What types of literary devices has Rumi used? What are the reasons behind his rhetorical innovations? What impact does this rhetorical style have on the understanding of Quran verses in Persian language? Which literary device has a higher frequency? And what is the influence of Quran on the selection of devices? The hypothesis of the research is that Rumi has been innovative and creative in using verses, and he has not limited it to quotation and mere mentioning. Therefore, all the lines that were influenced by Quran are investigated. Besides, the valuable handbook, Quran and Mathnavi is used in this research. The methodology of the study is comparative-analytical; based on deriving innovative samples, a brief reference to the original verses, comparing lines with verses, and explaining the difference between Rumi’s usage and the opportunities in the context of verses for creative inventions. This comparison indicates that Rumi has used implicit metaphor more than other literary devices. The reason behind that is his belief in the awareness of existence and the uncaused acts of God in addition to his particular approach to miracles. This same attitude has its effects on the emerging of the paradoxes in Mathnavi which is a part of the unparalleled artistic aspect of this book. Moreover, Rumi has been innovative in combining Quranic terms with Persian words and has created exquisite and deconstructive metaphorical expressions and similes. “Interpretive metaphor” and “interpretive simile” are instances of such expressions. The common patterns of Persian syntax are broken in deconstructive expressions and many of the Quranic sentences and expressions are used as singular noun. Many of the new and exquisite expressions of Mathnavi are articulated based on the “interpretive insight,” and from this point of view a meaningful link between rhetoric and interpretation can be searched.