From Linguistic Experiences to the Metalinguistic Realm: Stages of Niffari’s Behavior

Most research on the role of "language" in Niffari's Al-Mavāghef val Mokhātabāt has focused primarily on "silence", often overlooking other linguistic and meta-linguistic elements in the text or giving them only cursory attention. However, this focus does not imply neglect of the objective manifestations of language—namely, "speech" and "silence". Rather, it suggests a progression through these linguistic dimensions to explore the extra-linguistic realm (extra-speech, extra-silence) or the domain of "manifestation". This study conducted in a descriptive-analytical manner using library resources aimed to discover, explain, and analyze 3 distinct stages of the journey and behavior outlined in Al-Mavāghef val Mokhātabāt, employing a phenomenological approach to engage with the text. The essay also sought to classify and define the linguistic reflections of mystics, particularly their ontological insights. The findings indicated that two of the three behavioral domains pertained to language—specifically, "speech" and "silence". The mystic traversed these stages to enter a third realm: that of manifestation and intuition. More precisely, the seeker’s journey began in the realm of "speech", advances to "silence", and ultimately reached the threshold of manifestation (extra-speech, extra-silence). Remaining in the stage of "silence" without acknowledging the significance of "speech" and especially "manifestation" risked neglecting essential aspects of behavioral experiences, leading to an incomplete understanding within Niffari’s epistemic framework.