Journal of the stylistic of Persian poem and prose
volume Number 18، number In Volume 11، February 2026 ، issue Number 117

The Narrative of Mystical Journey in the Structural Framework of Attar’s Elahinameh (A Proppian Morphological Analysis)

Mohammad Mehdi Khosravian

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Attar’s Ilāhī-nāmeh is among the most intricate mystical masnavis of Persian literature, where the essential doctrines of Islamic mysticism are expressed through a network of narrative units and symbolic tales. The present study aims to examine the structural and thematic organization of these narratives based on Vladimir Propp’s morphological model, focusing on core narrative elements—character types, motivation, functions, and the configuration of time and space—in order to show how Attar transforms key Sufi concepts such as the movement from appearance to inner truth, the transition from worldly love to divine love, and the path toward fanāʾ fi’Llāh into narrative form.

METHODOLOGY: This research employs a qualitative and comparative analysis of the tales in the Ilāhī-nāmeh through the framework of Propp’s Morphology. Fundamental narrative functions were identified in each tale and then compared to uncover recurring patterns and structural variations. Such an approach allows for a systematic examination of the relationships between actions, character transformations, and the symbolic role of time and space within the mystical narrative logic.

FINDINGS: The findings reveal that, despite their thematic variety, most tales follow a relatively stable narrative pattern: the seeker or lover confronts internal or external obstacles, abandons self-centered desires, and ascends to a higher plane of spiritual perception. Central oppositions—including appearance versus inner truth, hypocrisy versus sincerity, and worldly power versus divine reality—shape Attar’s mystical worldview. Time and space function symbolically, mirroring the stages of the spiritual journey.

CONCLUSION: The study concludes that Attar employs the medium of storytelling to construct a comprehensive paradigm of human spiritual ascent. In this paradigm, narrative becomes a mirror for mystical thought, demonstrating that the ultimate truth of human longing resides within the inner self, attainable only through sincerity, steadfastness, and the transcendence of ego.

Keyword
Attar of Nishapur , Elahinameh , Mysticism and Sufism , Morphology , Mystical Tales.