Similar and Opposite Freedom Metaphors in Rumi’s Masnavi: Necessity, Compatibilism, and the Simile Theory of Metaphor
Asiatische Studien – Études Asiatiques May 1, 2026 Bahram Alizade, Roman Seidel 2 citations
Metaphors of freedom in Rumi's Masnavi can be understood through the Simile Theory, which treats metaphors as condensed similes based on similarity between domains. Rumi uses two types: apparently similar metaphors (like liberation and breaking chains) that emphasize agency and control, and apparently opposite metaphors (like slavery and imprisonment) that suggest true freedom comes through submission and self-annihilation. Both types are explained by the Simile Theory, differing in whether the similarity is explicit and physical or implicit and metaphysical. These metaphors reflect different dimensions of freedom within Islamic necessitarian theology, philosophy, and mysticism. The paradoxical nature of freedom aligns with metaphors of love, where unity transcends dualistic perceptions.