The Analysis of Intertextual Relationships between the Subcontinent Malfuzats and Majalis: The Case Study of Majalis-e Sab’e and Favaed Al-Fuad

Abstract

During the 7th and 8th centuries AH, numerous works were written in the subcontinent, including India and Pakistan, known as “Malfuzat” in the field of mystical literature.The presence of certain commonalities between these texts and Majalis raises the question whether Malfuzats were written under the influence of or in imitation of Majalis, or they represent distinct literary works. Majalis-e Sab’e (621-629 or 637-642 AH) by Mowlavi and Favaed Al-Fuad (703-722 AH) by Sheikh Nezam Al-Din Awlia are well-known examples of Majalis and Malfuzats that are studied in this research, using a descriptive-analytical method, to examine their respective characteristics, both shared and distinct. This comparison is conducted within the framework of intertextuality theory. In terms of paratextuality, Favaed Al-Fuad and Majalis-e Sab’e share commonalities in the way they structure their gatherings and their lack of internal titles. In terms of architextuality, the affiliation of both works to a specific literary genre has led to the presence of certain structural and content-related features common to both texts. In terms of hypertextual relationship, considering the existence of historical documents, there is a possibility of the indirect derivation of Favaed Al-Fuad from Majalis-e Sab’e. Also quantitative, motivational, and qualitative transformations have been observed in Favaed Al-Fuad. The results of this research show that the influence of Favaed Al-Fuad by Majalis-e Sab’e is not imitative, and with regard to similarities, this work and possibly other Malfuzats represent an independent and indirect adaptation of Majalis-e Sab’e and other Majalis.

Keywords

• majalis-e sab’e
• favaed al-fuad
• transtexuality
• mystical literature
• genett