Rhetorical Analysis of Nāz and Niyāz in Jāmī’s Ghazals

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Professor of Persian Language and Literature, University of Tehran, Iran, Tehran (Corresponding author)

2 M.A in Persian Language and Literature, University of Tehran, Iran, Tehran.

Abstract

The Persian ghazal has long served as a prominent poetic form for articulating emotional subtleties and profound human experiences, manifested through rhetorical devices such as simile, metaphor, and irony. Among the major figures of this tradition, Jami, a 15th-century poet, deeply engages with both the earthly and divine aspects of love. This study investigates the interconnected roles of nāz (coquetry) and niyāz (supplication) in Jami’s ghazals to enhance the understanding of his esthetic and philosophical vision. Despite Jami’s literary significance, the thematic and structural functions of nāz and niyāz in his poetry remain underexplored. Employing a descriptive-analytical approach, this research undertakes a close textual reading of Jami’s ghazals, identifying instances of nāz and niyāz through library-based data collection and interpreting them within rhetorical frame of Persian poetics. The findings suggest that nāz and niyāz are not merely recurring motifs but serve as core emotional states in the lover–beloved relationship. The divine beloved demonstrates absolute nāz, while the earthly beloved’s nāz is contingent upon their own niyāz. Additionally, niyāz is portrayed as a shared attribute between lover and beloved in human love. These results highlight the layered emotional dynamics in Jami’s work and point to possibilities for comparative studies, both concerning literary figures and historical contexts, to deepen literary-theoretical insights into Persian love poetry.

Keywords

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Journal Of Linguistic and Rhetorical Studies
Volume 16, Issue 41
In Progress
September 2025
Pages 363-394

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