Journal of the stylistic of Persian poem and prose
volume Number 18، number In Volume 10، Junuary 2026 ، issue Number 116

The place of women in the thought and poetry of Khalilullah Khalili

Noor Agha Navisa , Mehdi Dashti (Author in Charge), Mahmoud Bashiri

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study investigates the perspectives of Khalilullah Khalili, the contemporary Afghan poet, on the status of women. The aim is to explore how women—regarded as a fundamental pillar of society—are represented in his poetry. The central question is whether the women depicted in his works challenge taboos and traditional customs, or whether they acquiesce to patriarchal cultural norms.

METHODOLOGY: Employing a descriptive-analytical approach, this research draws upon library sources to examine, interpret, and analyze Khalili’s conception of women in light of relevant scholarship.

FINDINGS: The results demonstrate that women in Khalili’s poetry are celebrated as indispensable members of human society. His outlook reflects that of an enlightened, moderate, and appreciative Muslim, shaped by religious teachings and humane cultural values. Khalili praises women’s dignity and character in their familial and social roles—as wife, mother, daughter, sister (whether by kinship or faith), beloved, and active participants in society. He laments the historical injustices endured by women in traditional societies over centuries, commends Afghan women’s movements seeking to secure human rights, and simultaneously criticizes the detrimental effects of unrestrained Westernization on women’s destiny.

CONCLUSION: The study concludes that although Khalili adopts an enlightened and progressive stance toward women’s status, he does not fully embrace a feminist perspective. This nuanced view is distinctly reflected in his poetic style, particularly in its lexical and ideological layers, as supported by numerous textual examples.

Keyword
Women , social role , Afghan society , contemporary poetry , Khalilullah Khalili