ملامح الخطاب الصوفي في شعر إبراهيم الدسوقي: دراسة لغوية وأسلوبية

Sufi Discourse in the Poetry of Ibrahim al-Desouki: A Linguistic and Stylistic Approach

Abstract

This study examined the features of Sufi discourse in the poetry of Ibrahim al-Desouki and investigated the linguistic and stylistic mechanisms through which mystical experience was articulated in his poetic works. The research aimed to identify the principal characteristics of Sufi discourse and to analyse the relationship between poetic language and spiritual experience within the framework of Islamic mysticism. To achieve these objectives, the study adopted a descriptive-analytical methodology based on selected poetic texts examined within their historical and Sufi contexts. The analysis focused on major mystical concepts that appeared in al-Desouki’s poetry, including divine manifestation, annihilation (fanā’), union, divine love, and inner knowledge (kashf), as well as on the linguistic and stylistic devices employed to convey these experiences. Particular attention was given to the semantic fields of Sufi vocabulary, repetition as a means of semantic intensification, and the use of rhetorical and symbolic imagery. The findings revealed that al-Desouki’s poetry constituted a coherent model of Sufi discourse in which language functioned as a vehicle for expressing profound spiritual states and mystical insights. The study demonstrated that Sufi concepts were transformed into rich poetic structures characterised by symbolism, suggestion, and semantic paradox, enabling the poet to communicate meanings that transcended direct expression. Furthermore, the findings showed that stylistic features played a central role in creating both aesthetic depth and semantic richness, reflecting the intimate connection between linguistic form and spiritual content. The study concluded that al-Desouki successfully integrated mystical experience with artistic expression and produced a distinctive poetic discourse that reflected the essence of Islamic Sufism. It recommended further scholarly research on Sufi poetry and greater attention to the linguistic and stylistic dimensions of mystical literary texts.

Corresponding Author:

amiraysha143@gmail.com, nasreen@gcwuf.edu.pk

Conflict of Interest:

The author(s) declare that there are no competing or potential conflicts of interest regarding the research, authorship, and publication of this article.

Participant Consent:

Not applicable. This study does not involve human participants.

Funding:

This research did not receive any specific grant from public, commercial, or non-profit funding agencies.

Data Fabrication/Falsification Statement:

The author(s) declare that no data have been fabricated, falsified, or manipulated in this study.

Copyright:

Copyright (c) 2026 Ayesha Yaqoob, Dr Nasreen Akhtar