The role and stance of bees in the illustrations of Masnavi M'anavi

Abstract

In the worldview of mystical and ethical poets, image is one of the most effective strategies to express the transcendent mystical and moral concepts. Rumi, one of the most famous illustrators in the realm of mystical literature, while telling his stories and mystical and instructive and teachings in Masnavi M'anavi, has made the concepts tangible for his audience with his intelligent and artistic performance in using images. Amongst most of his poems, especially in Masnavi, nature and its phenomena have a special stance. One of the creatures that Rumi specifically illustrates and mentions in Masnavi is bee and its belongings (nectar, honey, wax and sting).Being aware of the importance of this insect in the Holy Qur'an and emphasizing on some of the most important aspects of its life, Rumi has established a link between this creature and some aspects of human life and used this insect to create real and virtual images of Masnavi to express mystical and moral concepts.Referring to Rumi's illustrations of bees in Masnavi by analyzing its imagery, this study tried to analyze the profound mystical and moral meanings and concepts hidden in these images and achieve knowledge and awareness of this creature and its images in Masnavi through their investigation and expansion.