Journal of Razavi Culture

Abstract  Religious poetry has held a special place in the literature of Muslim nations from time immemorial; however, it should not be neglected to analyze these types of works using new critical approaches, as this leads to a deeper exploration of the layers and hidden content within the work and a more comprehensive understanding of the poet and his literary production. The present study seeks to examine the poems “Al-Haram Al-Mani’” by the late Gherawi Isfahani and “Sham’e Welayat” by the Sahebkar-which both focus on Imam Reza and were composed in the second half of the 14th century-within the framework of the American school of comparative literature and the critical discourse analysis approach based on Norman Fairclough’s theory. Some of the findings indicate that in the poem “Sham’e Welayat”, at the level of description, the main actor is the poet himself and the main undergoer is Ma’moun. The poem employs hierarchical classification schemes and shows a clear alignment and harmony between the vocabulary and the ideology underpinning the text. It draws upon the themes of “Ziyarat-e Jame’ah Kabirah” and is largely based on personal experiences. Above all, this poem aims to influence the cognitive structure of the audience and focuses mainly on the intellectual growth of the followers of the Imam In contrast, the poem “’Al-Haram Al-Mani’” presents a broader situational context and has a firmer historical structure compared to “Sham’e Welayat”. It addresses both the virtues of Imam Reza and narrates his life history and hardships. Furthermore, through intertextuality and by employing the story of Prophet Moses allegorically, it attempts to establish the superiority of Imam Reza. This poem criticizes the inconsistencies between domination, its behaviors, and actions with the traditions from the time of the Prophet to reveal the negative face of domination clearly to all. The poet, in this endeavor, relies more than on any other source on the Quran and narrations from the infallible Imams to persuade his audience and uses declarative and positive sentences extensively—likely to have a stronger impact on society, governance, and the future of humanity.