Minimization Significance in Arabic Poetry – Ibn al-Farid as a Model

Abstract

This research aims to explore the semantic and psychological dimensions of minimization (taṣghīr) in Arabic poetry, taking the mystical poetry of Ibn al-Fāriḍ as a central model. Unlike the traditional grammatical treatment of diminutives, this study approaches the phenomenon from a stylistic and psychological perspective, focusing on how diminutive forms function within poetic discourse to convey symbolic, emotional, and spiritual meanings. The study adopts a descriptive-analytical method with psychological insight, analyzing a selected corpus of Ibn al-Fāriḍ’s poetry that features diminutive forms. These forms are examined morphologically and categorized according to their functions—whether expressive, emotional, or symbolic (Farajani, 2013, p. 81; Ghunaymi, 2005, p. 112). A foundational section discusses the structure and usage of diminutives in Arabic morphology, followed by a focused analysis of their occurrences in Sufi poetic contexts , Moreover, the research offers a comparative analysis with the poetry of Jalāl al-Dīn Rūmī, highlighting differences in the psychological and expressive use of minimization, particularly in portraying intimacy with the divine, emotional intensity, and spiritual longing.  The findings show that diminutives in Ibn al-Fāriḍ’s poetry are not merely decorative or stylistic. Rather, they serve as deep semantic instruments reflecting the poet’s mystical experience, humility, and longing for divine presence. This suggests that even minor morphological features can encapsulate profound layers of meaning within the poetic system