Background/Objective: The present study attempts to examine, using the intertextuality approach, how mystical texts in the school of revelation are influenced by each other and the process of semantic changes in the concept of “love”. This study has examined the selected texts based on Genette’s intertextuality theory, which is divided into three types: overtly intentional, covertly intentional, and implicit.
Method/Approach: This study uses the comparative method and textual analysis, and the theories of intertextuality and the evolution of concepts are considered as the theoretical framework of the research.
Findings/Results: The findings show how intellectual and mystical traditions have contributed to the semantic evolution of love through the interaction of texts. Ahmed Ghazali introduces love as a divine force independent of reason; while Ayn al-Qudsat emphasizes the dialectical aspects of love and connection. Fakhr al-Din al-Iraqi, in a more poetic language, presents love as a symbol of the union of truth, and Jami, while continuing the mystical tradition, has a relatively more systematic view of this concept. Analysis of textual examples shows how these views are manifested in the structure of the narrative, metaphorical and symbolic expression, and imagery. The intertextual connection of the four mystical works indicates the continuity of mystical traditions. Al-Ghazali emphasized the distinction between real and imaginary love in his Sa’wan al-Ishq. This view was later deepened in the works of Ayn al-Quds with an intuitive approach. In La’ma’at, Al-Iraqi linked love with the unity of existence and introduced the concept of beauty into the discourse.
Abdi, B. , soltani kohbani, H. and gravand, A. (2026). Intertextuality and the evolution of the concept of "love" in the mystical texts of the school of revelation and intuition based on the theory of Gerard Genette (based on the biographies of lovers, Lawa'ih, Lama'at and Lawa'ah and Lawa'ih). Journal of Iranian Studies, 25(49), 467-492. doi: 10.22103/jis.2026.25576.2742
MLA
Abdi, B. , , soltani kohbani, H. , and gravand, A. . "Intertextuality and the evolution of the concept of "love" in the mystical texts of the school of revelation and intuition based on the theory of Gerard Genette (based on the biographies of lovers, Lawa'ih, Lama'at and Lawa'ah and Lawa'ih)", Journal of Iranian Studies, 25, 49, 2026, 467-492. doi: 10.22103/jis.2026.25576.2742
HARVARD
Abdi, B., soltani kohbani, H., gravand, A. (2026). 'Intertextuality and the evolution of the concept of "love" in the mystical texts of the school of revelation and intuition based on the theory of Gerard Genette (based on the biographies of lovers, Lawa'ih, Lama'at and Lawa'ah and Lawa'ih)', Journal of Iranian Studies, 25(49), pp. 467-492. doi: 10.22103/jis.2026.25576.2742
CHICAGO
B. Abdi , H. soltani kohbani and A. gravand, "Intertextuality and the evolution of the concept of "love" in the mystical texts of the school of revelation and intuition based on the theory of Gerard Genette (based on the biographies of lovers, Lawa'ih, Lama'at and Lawa'ah and Lawa'ih)," Journal of Iranian Studies, 25 49 (2026): 467-492, doi: 10.22103/jis.2026.25576.2742
VANCOUVER
Abdi, B., soltani kohbani, H., gravand, A. Intertextuality and the evolution of the concept of "love" in the mystical texts of the school of revelation and intuition based on the theory of Gerard Genette (based on the biographies of lovers, Lawa'ih, Lama'at and Lawa'ah and Lawa'ih). Journal of Iranian Studies, 2026; 25(49): 467-492. doi: 10.22103/jis.2026.25576.2742
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