The Sufi Interpretation of a Historical Figure in Navoi’s Works

In his literary activity, Alisher Navoi portrayed numerous historical figures, including characters from the pre-Islamic era. This article deals with the image of one such figure Nushiravan and examines its sufi interpretation within Navoi’s creative framework. The methodological approach is based on auto-interpretation, meaning the poet’s own hermeneutic lens. A selected couplet from Navoi’s ghazals serves as the basis for analysis, wherein the artistic imagery and symbolic essence are interpreted through a comparative lens alongside a character from the narrative poem “Hayrat ul-abror” (The Wonder of the Righteous). The study concludes that although Navoi’s literary tradition is historically situated within the Islamic period and geographical sphere, he often references figures from pre-Islamic history solely for their names or symbolic resonance, without aligning them ideologically with Islamic doctrine. Specifically, in the portrayal of Nushiravan, Navoi employs the figure as a symbolic vessel for conveying Sufi ethical ideals, rather than a historical or religious endorsement.