Investigating Khaled Naqshbandi's Ode in Praise of Imam Reza (P.B.U.H) and the Imam’s Holy Shrine Using Layered Stylistics

Eulogies for the Ahl al-Bayt (PBUH), particularly in praise of Imam Reza (PBUH), have a long tradition in Persian literature, with prominent poets like Sanai Ghaznavi, Khaqani Shirvani, and Jami having produced notable works in this genre. One of the most renowned eulogies dedicated to Imam Reza (PBUH) is an ode composed by Khaled Naqshbandi Shahrzuri, a celebrated figure of 12th-century literature and mysticism, during his pilgrimage to Mashhad. This ode gained widespread acceptance from the time of its creation.This study first presents a brief overview of the poet’s life and works. Then, using a descriptive-analytical method based on the criteria of layered stylistics, the ode is analyzed across five layers: phonetic, lexical, syntactic, rhetorical, and ideological. By identifying prominent and frequent features, the study explains the stylistic distinctiveness and the connections between the text’s form and content.The findings suggest that the following elements play the most significant role in the ode’s stylistic prominence: the prosodic meter in the phonetic layer; religious lexicon and combinations in the lexical layer; the passive voice in the syntactic layer; rhetorical questions in the rhetorical layer; and content based on fundamental religious concepts in the ideological layer.