The role of imaginary elements in expressing the Ismaili thoughts of Nizari Qohestani

Saad al-Din bin Shams al-Din bin Muhammad Nizari Qohestani is one of the prolific and famous Ismaili poets in the 7th and 8th centuries. This Ismaili poet, like other Ismailis, was in difficulty because of his beliefs and could not speak freely, so the way he spoke, especially the way of expressing ideological issues and the terms of his poems in using the rhetorical capacities of the Persian language, can be clarified. While being in the court of anti-Ismaili governments and during the period of strictness towards Ismailis, Nizari expresses Ismaili thoughts by using the capacities of rhetoric in such a way that he can still be a poet and have influence among the readers. In this article, we try to explain and analyze the rhetorical methods and techniques used by Nizari to express Ismaili concepts and ideas. Nizari has been able to use the famous Hadith "Safina" with the help of a metaphor to express the concepts of Ismaili Shia. By using eloquence in his difficult situation and times, Nizari has been able to artistically use the sun, Yusuf, Noah, ship, sea, criticism and the dependents of each of these elements as a metaphor or a symbol of Imam Ismaili in his poems.
Introduction
Sa'd al-Din bin Shams al-Din bin Muhammad Naziri Qohestani, a prolific and famous Ismaili poet, was born around 645. Sa'd al-Din chose "Naziri" as his pen name, possibly due to his slender physique, his affiliation with Nazar bin Mustansir, his devotion to him, or a combination of these factors. During the period in which Naziri lived, Ismailis faced persecution and were constantly pursued because of their beliefs. Naziri was both a poet and a courtier in two Mongol-appointed dynasties, the Al-Kurt and Mehrabani. Despite residing at the courts of anti-Ismaili governments and living during a period of severe oppression against Ismailis, Naziri articulated Ismaili ideas in a manner that enabled him to sustain his poetic career and preserve his influence on readers. This article aims to explore and analyze the rhetorical methods and techniques Naziri employed to express Ismaili concepts and ideas. We will examine his metaphors and similes in poetry, focusing on the elements that constitute the imagery he used to convey Ismaili thought.
Method
The term "images of the imagination" refers to discussions such as simile, metaphor, metonymy, and irony, which are part of the field of "expression" (one of the subfields of rhetoric). In this research, we have focused on similes and metaphors from the field of expression, and we have also explored the concept of symbolism, which is more recent in this domain. In this paper, we aim to define and analyze the rhetorical techniques used by Naziri to convey Ismaili ideas and concepts.
Results
Naziri rarely uses the term in its literal sense. With the declaration of the Last Judgment, the Imam assumed the most fundamental role and attained independent religious authority. The Ismaili Naziri sect believed that during the period of the Last Judgment, whatever the current Imam decreed—even if it contradicted the rulings of the previous Imam—was obligatory and must be followed. They held that the teachings of the former Imam could no longer be referenced in this era; instead, one must turn to the current Imam to understand the deeper meaning of the faith. To symbolize the Imam's elevated position, which precluded direct discussion of him, the Naziri adopted the image of "criticism" and used it metaphorically and symbolically, associating it with concepts such as time and deferred action.
Naziri draws on the message of the Ark (Safineh), using words such as Noah, ship, and sea to create imagery that reflects his views. Within this imagery, he conveys his Ismaili beliefs. Naziri often compares the beloved to the sun. It is important to note that the name of the Imam during Naziri’s time was Shams al-Din Muhammad, whom the poet had met during his travels. Naziri employs symbolic use of names, much like the Sufis, who often used well-known, respected names to conceal their deeper intentions. One name he uses in his poetry appears to represent the hidden Imam, and that name is Joseph. Given the secretive and obscure life of Imam Muhammad Shams al-Din, Naziri chose the name Joseph as a symbolic representation.
Conclusion
Naziri rarely uses key words such as ship, sun, sea, Joseph, Noah, and criticism in their literal sense. Instead, he consistently employs them in a broad rhetorical network, using them either as similes to embody his Ismaili thoughts or as metaphors and symbols to convey concepts and terms that could not be expressed directly. Naziri has effectively used metaphor to refer to the famous hadith of the Ark, employing it to express Shia Ismaili teachings. In the difficult period he lived in, Naziri artistically used elements such as the sun, Joseph, Noah, ship, sea, and criticism, and their associated symbols, as metaphors for the Ismaili Imam.