How the Syntactic Layer of the Masnavi-ye Ma'navi Contributes to the Conveyance of Rumi’s Intended Concepts: A Study Focused on the “neyname” and the Story of the “King and the Handmaiden”

The examination of syntax provides an effective means of understanding an author’s intellectual framework. Using a descriptive-analytical approach and the theory of layered stylistics, this study investigates the role of the syntactic layer in conveying Rumi’s ideas in the Masnavi-ye Ma'navi. Focusing on the “Song of the Reed” and the story of the “King and the Handmaiden,” it analyzes the syntactic structures of 250 verses to determine how linguistic organization contributes to meaning.



The findings show that, owing to the didactic nature of the Masnavi, Rumi generally avoids syntactic complexity and employs the natural order of language as a stylistic feature. This preference reflects both the direct expression of truth in his worldview and his concern for clarity. In cases of marked word order, particularly verb-fronting, he creates emphasis, highlights the importance of action and movement, and reveals the influence of Qur’anic language. The narrative character of the text, together with descriptions of mystical experiences, results in the predominance of the indicative mood, which conveys certainty and authority. The frequent use of the simple present and simple past tenses reinforces the sense of confidence and authenticity in Rumi’s discourse. Moreover, devices such as restriction, realized present-tense verbs, parables, and interrogatives strengthen its emphatic quality. While stative and passive verbs are common in narrative passages, dynamic and active verbs become more prominent when Rumi speaks in his own voice, reflecting the centrality of action and dynamism in his thought.