Re-reading the meaning of “aal” inMathnawi based on Gadamer’s “horizon of interpretations”

Reading the line “The unbelievers’ hands are cut/ I will reveal the color of blasphemy  and hypocrisy”,  Rumi scholars have interpreted the word “aal” differently. These interpretations fall into two groups. The first group reads the word as the holy prophet’s Ahlolbayt (the holy prophet’s household members) while the second group take it as the mythological creature, aal. Being significant in forming and completing the meaning of a word, Gadamer’s Horizon of interpretations can be used as a useful tool to re-interpret the word aal . Using Gadamer’s  Horizon of interpretations  and realizing the significance of local culture in forming an author’s  world of being, the present article is going to analyze the word and compare the findings with those of the previous scholars’.  It is suggested that the previous researches have not paid attention to all the aspects of the horizon of interpretations. In Anatolian culture, “aal” is a black, ugly bride whose ugliness is hidden under a red scarf and is sent to her would-be husband’s home. To reveal the ugliness of hypocrisy, Rumi has used this local concept.