“Scientific and Specialized Journal of Modern Literary Research”

“Scientific and Specialized Journal of Modern Literary Research”

Grammatical and Semantic Analysis of Rumi's Verse: "Tan ze jān o jān ze tan mastur nīst" with Emphasis on the Role of "Dastūr" in the Invisibility of the Soul

Document Type : Original Article

Author
ashour hasanzadh arab
PhD in Persian Language and Literature, Visiting Professor at Farhangian University of Khuzestan, Hazrat Rasul Campus, Ahvaz, Iran.
Abstract
This study presents an interdisciplinary analysis of Rumi's renowned verse "Tan ze jān o jān ze tan mastur nīst/Līk kas rā dīd-e jān dastūr nīst" from four perspectives: grammatical, semiotic, semantic, and mystical. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Nasr (hierarchy of meaning), Purnamdarian (mystical semiotics), Schimmel (multilayered meaning), and Zarrinkoob (language as the manifestation of meaning), the research demonstrates how Rumi employed the capacities of the Persian language to express sublime mystical concepts.The findings reveal that each word in this verse creates a complex network of significations. Grammatically, the symmetrical structure of the first hemistich reflects the unity of existence, while the asymmetrical structure of the second hemistich represents the limitations of human perception. A semiotic analysis of key terms such as "tan" (body), "jān" (soul), "mastur" (hidden),and "dastūr" (permission) shows that these elements operate simultaneously on both material and spiritual levels.The examination of four semantic levels (literal, allegorical, symbolic, and mystical) and various epistemological layers (ontological, epistemological, mystical-experiential, and poetic-linguistic) confirms that this concise verse can convey profound philosophical and mystical concepts in a condensed linguistic form. Notably, Zarrinkoob's integrative theory demonstrates how three fundamental principles—the equivalence of form and meaning, the correspondence between linguistic structure and cognitive structure, and the symbolic function of language—are realized in this verse.This research emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in analyzing mystical texts while proposing a novel paradigm for interpreting Rumi's works, which can serve as a foundation for future studies in this field
Keywords
Rumi
grammatical mysticism
semiotics
hierarchy
Subjects
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“Scientific and Specialized Journal of Modern Literary Research”
Volume 5, Issue 1 - Serial Number 9
Spring and Summer 2026
April 2026
Pages 63-84