نشانه‌شناسیِ زبان اور زبانِ نشانه‌ها: تجربهٔ صوفیانهٔ روایت میں فارسی بیان کی معنوی و رمزی جہات

The Semiotics of Language and the Language of Signs: Persian Expression in Islamic Sufi Experience

Abstract

This article explores the semiotic dimensions of language in Islamic Sufism, with particular emphasis on Persian as a medium of mystical expression. It argues that Sufi language operates as a system of signs that transcends conventional linguistic meaning, pointing toward ineffable spiritual realities. Drawing on semiotic theory and Sufi hermeneutics, the study analyzes how Persian Sufi texts construct layers of meaning through symbols, metaphors, and paradoxes. These linguistic signs function not merely as representations but as vehicles of spiritual experience, guiding the seeker toward inner transformation. The paper highlights the role of Persian in shaping a distinctive mystical semiotics that balances communicability with intentional ambiguity. By examining selected Sufi writings, the study demonstrates how language becomes both a veil and a revelation, concealing and unveiling meaning simultaneously. This dual function reflects the epistemological assumptions of Sufism, where ultimate truth lies beyond discursive language yet is approached through symbolic expression. The research contributes to the understanding of mystical language, semiotics, and the cultural significance of Persian in Islamic spirituality.