Spirituality and Persian Literature: Manifestation of Mysticism in Attar’s The Conference of the Birds

This chapter illustrates how spirituality is understood in the discipline of Persian literature. It begins with a general discussion on manifestation of spirituality in literature in the world, and then focuses on mystical texts in Iran that are known as Sufi literature. Since Sufi language is full of mysteries that can be solved only by heart, Persian Sufi literature can be best acquainted with if it is set in its own context. Thus, the chapter introduces one of the most significant Persian Sufi poets, Farid al-Din Attar, whose writings are known and investigated by many Eastern and Western philosophers and scholars in different countries and different languages. To get to know some influential spiritual themes in Attar’s poetry (Oneness, selflessness, and Love), one of his most famous works, The conference of the birds (Mantiq al-tayr) is chosen as an exemplar. At the end of the chapter, the researcher illustrates how mystical themes in Sufi literature can be read universally, by all readers of all time, and be applied in their own spiritual journeys.