The Relationship between Man and God in Ruh al-Arwāh: A Semiotic Analysis

Ruh al-Arwāh fi Sharh Asmā al-Malik al-Fattāh written by Ahmad Samāni is one the most important works of the sixth century AH, devoted to the description of Divnie names. One of the main themes of the book is the relationship between man and God. Based on a structuralist semiotic approach and by using descriptive-analytical method, the present article deals with the relationship between man and God in Ruh al-Arwāh. In the examination of the text, we look for those deep-structure elements that in the subject of God-man relationship create the semiotic systems. In the structure of the contrasts, some key elements are recognized as the main system-building factors. To this goal, we use Levi-Strauss' method, which examines the relationships of signs based on the analysis of binary oppositions. By considering the relations of signs in the book, we show that within the circle of the signs of God (as a pole) the contrast between "glory and beauty", and "wrath and forgiveness" creates a network of contrasts that are related to contrast of positive/negative dignity of man. The text synthesizes opposite elements and, by its own method of combination, resolves oppositions and contradictions.