New researches in Islamic humanities studies

New researches in Islamic humanities studies

The influence of Iranian-Islamic culture in Shafi'i Kodkani's poetry

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
rahman kalantari 1
masood spahvandi, 2
ali fardad 3
1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Khorramabad branch, Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Khorramabad branch, Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad, Iran
3 Assistant Professor of the Department of Persian Language and Literature, Khorramabad branch, Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad, Iran
10.22034/api.2025.2053794.1194
Abstract
Objective: The present study aims to analyze and elucidate the position and function of Iranian-Islamic cultural components within the intellectual and literary framework of Mohammadreza Shafiei Kadkani (M. Sorkheshk). It seeks to demonstrate how the poet, through the use of symbols, myths, and concepts derived from ancient Iranian history and elevated Islamic thought, reconstructs his social and political concerns and transforms these elements into instruments for critiquing the conditions of his time, articulating national identity, and preserving cultural authenticity against the threats of modernity and despotism.
Method: This study is a literary investigation conducted through an analytical-descriptive approach. The research corpus consists of the poetic works of Mohammadreza Shafiei Kadkani composed between the years 1344 and 1377 in the Solar Hijri calendar. Data collection was based on a close and critical reading of the poet’s works, an examination of related scholarly and documentary sources, and the extraction of analytical notes from the texts under study.
Results: The findings indicate that elements of Iranian and Islamic culture occupy a broad and meaningful presence in Shafiei Kadkani’s poetry. Ancient Iranian myths and figures such as Siavash, Bizhan, Kaveh, Tahamtan, Kavus, Afrasiyab, Zoroaster, Mani, and Simurgh are prominently reflected in his poems. The poet employs these characters and narratives to create symbols that represent the social and political conditions of his era, particularly the oppression and injustice of the Pahlavi regime. Moreover, in his poetry, Iran appears not merely as a geographical territory, but as a national and cultural identity with a central and defining role.
Conclusion: By drawing upon the rich Iranian and Islamic heritage, Shafiei Kadkani has transformed his poetry into a medium for representing and safeguarding national and cultural identity. In his view, the most significant contemporary threat is not merely aggression against geographical borders, but rather the erosion of Iran’s national-cultural identity. For this reason, both pre-Islamic Iran, with its prophets and heroes, and post-Islamic Iran, with its intellectual, historical, artistic, and cultural achievements, maintain a vivid and enduring presence in his poetry. Ultimately, this poetic approach demonstrates that a return to authentic cultural roots constitutes a fundamental strategy for overcoming identity crises and confronting the intellectual challenges of the modern world with awareness and discernment.

Graphical Abstract

The influence of Iranian-Islamic culture in Shafii Kodkanis poetry
Keywords
Mohammad Reza Shafiei Kodkani'
s poetry, Iranian-Islamic culture, ancient Iranian mythology, national-cultural identity
Subjects
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New researches in Islamic humanities studies
Volume 5, Issue 10
Spring 2026
Pages 1-22