Journal of the stylistic of Persian poem and prose
volume Number 18، number In Volume 9، December 2025 ، issue Number 115

Structural Analysis of Cognitive Metaphors’ Relationships with Myth and Mysticism in the Narratives of Ibn Sina and Suhrawardi

Hajar Aghar Kakli , Masoud Rouhani (Author in Charge), Ali Akbar Bagheri , Hossein Hassanpour Alashti

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cognitive metaphors are recognized as valid perceptual patterns for explicating mystical experiences. The metaphorical outlook of mystics constitutes the predominant rhetorical element in their intuitive and argumentative narratives, shaping their personal style. Given that mystical language, especially in the form of symbolic stories, shares characteristics with poetic and artistic language—namely, its symbolic and metaphorical nature—and considering the indissoluble ties between mystical texts and myth, this research aims to analyze and represent the deep mythical structure of Ibn Sina’s and Suhrawardi’s narratives based on their metaphorical language. In analyzing their stories, the study examines how metaphor functions and interacts with myth and mysticism to clarify how these two philosophers utilized these tools to interpret and articulate their worldview.

METHODOLOGY: This research adopts a library-based approach to delve deeper into and elucidate the works of Suhrawardi and Ibn Sina. To this end, a meticulous and systematic study of their narratives forms the core of the research. By initially extracting information from relevant library sources, the study endeavors to provide a distinct interpretation of these works through a descriptive-analytical method, first by identifying and extracting metaphors and myths.

FINDINGS: The findings indicate that cognitive metaphors play a pivotal role in the re-creation and function of myth within the mystical-philosophical texts of Ibn Sina and Suhrawardi. In this process, ancient myths transcend their purely narrative state and transform into fluid cognitive metaphors. Within the works of Ibn Sina and Suhrawardi, myth is re-created not merely as an ancient tale, but as a living language for expressing human existential journeying (spiritual quest).

CONCLUSION: In these works, cognitive metaphors, in interaction with myth, serve to explicate and persuade the audience regarding the worldviews of Ibn Sina and Suhrawardi.

Keyword
Cognitive Metaphors , Myth , Mysticism , Ibn Sina , Suhrawardi.