New researches in Islamic humanities studies

New researches in Islamic humanities studies

A Comparative Study of Wisdom in Mutanabbi and Ferdowsi Poetry (Case Study: The image and theme of world's Discredit)

Document Type : Original Article

Author
vali allah shojaporian
Assistant Professor, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
10.22034/api.2026.2085432.1666
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to conduct a comparative examination of wisdom in the poetry of Ferdowsi and al‑Mutanabbi, with a particular focus on the imagery and theme of the “transience and insignificance of the material world.” The goal is to identify the shared and divergent aspects of their imagery and their approaches to expressing philosophical concepts.
Method: Drawing on the French School of comparative literature, this research analyzes and compares the shared images and motifs found in the works of the two poets. It also investigates the underlying causes of these similarities, including intuitive convergence of thought, historical simultaneity, shared religious background, and the poets engagement with the rich Islamic Iranian cultural tradition.
Results: The results indicate that while both poets employ similar motifs and images to portray the transience of the world, their modes of depiction differ significantly. Ferdowsi, aiming to instill ethical and philosophical principles in the general public, creates brief, vivid, forceful, and emotionally stirring images. In contrast, al‑Mutanabbi writing within a courtly environment and seeking the favor of his patrons—tends to craft more complex and multilayered imagery.
Conclusions: The study concludes that in some cases al‑Mutanabbi appears to have been influenced by Iranian philosophical traditions, while the Shahnameh represents an authentic reflection of this indigenous wisdom. Thus, the similarities between the two poets’ works, in addition to shared cultural foundations, may also point to deeper intellectual connections between Iranian and Arabic traditions.
Keywords
Mutanabbi
Ferdowsi
wisdom
world's Discredit
Subjects
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New researches in Islamic humanities studies
Volume 4, Issue 2
January 2026
Pages 1-19