Journal of the stylistic of Persian poem and prose
volume Number 18، number In Volume 12، March 2026 ، issue Number 118

Stylistic Analysis of Attar Neyshaburi's Asrarnameh Based on the Views of Michael Halliday and Ruqyeh Hassan

Mojtaba Akbari , Khadijeh Bahrami Rahnama (Author in Charge), Maryam Youzbashi

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hallidi"s Systematic Functional Linguistics (SFL) and Ruqyeh Hassan"s Theory of Textual Coherence are considered the most accurate tools for identifying stylistic features and semantic relationships in literary texts. Attar Neyshaburi"s Asrarnameh is one of the most prominent mystical works of Persian literature, which expresses complex concepts such as self-knowledge, divine love, and unity of being with allegorical and multilayered language. The aim of the present study is to examine the stylistic components of Attar"s Asrarnameh based on Halliday"s three meta-roles (ideological, interpersonal, and textual) and Ruqyeh Hassan"s Theory of Coherence in order to determine the stylistic characteristics and methods of creating meaning in this mystical work.

METHODOLOGY: The research was conducted using a descriptive-analytical method and a qualitative approach. First, using Halliday’s systematic role-oriented linguistic framework, the text of the Asrarnameh was analyzed in three layers of meta-role: ideological, interpersonal, and textual. Then, the components of textual coherence (referential coherence, deletion, substitution, relevance, and lexical coherence) were examined based on the theory of Ruqyeh Hassan. The analysis was conducted based on the entire text of the Asrarnameh (Shafi’i Kadkani revised edition) and without sampling.

FINDINGS: In the meta-role, material (51%), mental (26%), and relational (18%) processes have the highest frequency and have made abstract mystical concepts understandable through concretization and corporeality. In the interpersonal meta-role, the imperative mood with a very high frequency (63% of modal verbs) strengthens the discourse relationship of “master-disciple” and directly calls the audience to the mystical path. In the metatextual role, personal reference (especially the third person pronoun to refer to God and the elder), deletion and substitution are the most important grammatical coherence tools. In lexical coherence, repetition (especially the repetition of key words such as heart, soul, love) and semantic contrast (light/darkness, extinction/survival) have the highest frequency and have played a key role in creating a mystical context.

CONCLUSION: The stylistic analysis of the Asrarnameh based on the Halliday and Hassan approach showed that Attar has created a completely personal and distinctive style by intelligently combining material and mental processes, direct imperative aspect and lexical coherence tools (repetition and contrast). This style not only makes the abstract concepts of mysticism tangible and experiential, but also actively places the audience in the disciple-elder relationship and invites them to the journey and path. The results of this research can provide a model for the stylistic analysis of other mystical works of Persian literature.

Keyword
Functional linguistics , Halliday , Asrarname , meta-intellectual function , aspect , textual coherence.