The concept of divine love in Sufism views and the motifs of betrothal in love epics (based on the poem “Leyli and Majnun” by Nizami Ganjavi)

Abstract

There are similarities between N.Ganjavi's poem “Leyli and Majnun” and our love stories in the Sufi-mystical aspect. If Sufism forms one layer in the poetic structure of the poem “Leyli and Majnun”, the other layers are formed by Turkish epic folklore traditions and other sources. The originality of Nizami's creativity lies in his creation of magnificent art monuments according to his author's concept. In the poem “Leyli and Majnun”, the poet described the separate elements of Sufism according to his philosophical system of thought. In the article, the poetic structure of the poem “Leyli and Majnun” is analyzed in the aspect of similarity with the poetic structure of Azerbaijani love epics. In the article, Nizami's image of Majnun was created not in the model of a Sufi true lover, but similar to the model of a true lover in love epics. As it can be seen, Nizami's main goal in the masnavi was not to reflect the “divine love” model of the Sufis. In the masnavi, Nizami, who made Majnun drink divine wine and gave him an idol, took the element of betrothal from Azerbaijani love stories and further enriched the poetic structure of the work. The article analyzed the issues of the poet writing the poem on the order of Shirvanshah Akhsita, serving his national interests by using Turkish national epic traditions, and expressing his objection to Akhsita.