Journal of the stylistic of Persian poem and prose
volume Number 19، number In Volume 9، December 2026 ، issue Number 127

Analysis of the descriptions of Epicureanism in Nizami Ganjavi's Khamsa in comparison to the poet's mystical asceticism

Esmaeil Sahraei Haris , Narges Asghari Gvar (Author in Charge), Ramin Sadeghi Nejad

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nizami Ganjavi is a prominent lyric poet whose Epicurean motifs are frequently found in his lyrical poems. But the poet himself emphasizes in some poems that he lived with mystical asceticism. In this article, with the aim of examining Epicurean motifs in comparison with mystical ideas, have been analyzed the poet"s Khamsa has been examined and the why and how of the Epicurean theme, similarities and differences with the Epicurean school of thought in his poems.

METHODOLOGY: The research data was collected through library studies, and the article is written using a descriptive-analytical method. The statistical population of this study is Khamsa of Nizami.

FINDINGS: Epicurean themes such as happiness, seizing opportunities, the pleasure of eating, Wine Drinking, partying, marriage, and music abound in Nizami"s lyrical poems, depending on the content and needs of the audience. In his poems, he emphasized being happy and enjoying worldly blessings, and his mystical thoughts are similar to the ascetic life of Epicurus and do not contradict him. And with mystical thinking, the poet"s Epicurean themes are also in the context of ethics, with the aim of denouncing vice and providing educational advice, and are capable of mystical interpretation. Compared to the intellectual foundation of Epicureanism, theism, belief in the survival of the soul and the afterlife, and the pleasure of the afterlife, there is a fundamental difference. These things are not in Epicurean philosophy, but Nizami, by denouncing dependence on the world, the importance of the afterlife, and the pleasure of the afterlife, has described the happiness of the world only in the use of the world.

CONCLUSION: Epicurean motifs are seen in Nizami"s lyrical poems according to the content and needs of the audience and do not contradict his mystical thoughts. Because he expresses it with a moral and educational attitude and emphasizes in his poems that he himself does not agree with some pleasures, such as Wine Drinking. And unlike the Epicurean school, it emphasizes the importance of life after death, the survival of the soul, and resurrection.

Keyword
Epicureanism , Nizami Ganjavi , hedonism , asceticism , mysticism.