Linguistic Analysis of Sheikh Obedullah Nahri’s “Tuhfat Al-Ahbab”

Abstract

This paper, Linguistic Analysis of Sheikh Obedullah Nahri’s “Tuhfat Al-Ahbab”: Syntactical Deviation, closely conducts a thorough syntactic analysis of Sheikh Obedullah Nahri’s “Tuhfat Al-Ahbab,” aiming to reveal the poetic and literary style employed by the poet. Despite his primary recognition as a nationalist revolutionary leader, Nahri's literary contributions, particularly “Tuhfat Al-Ahbab” is a handwritten collection dedicated to his followers in the Naqshbandi school of Sufism and mystical thoughts, warrant scholarly attention. Nahri's poetic style exhibits an impression of imitation of preceding poets or contemporary to his era, characterized by a return to classical expressions originated from Iraqi or Khorasani writing styles within a conventional grammatical framework for conveying sentiments. This analysis also focuses on Nahri’s stylistic choices and syntactic deviations, exploring instances such as word order exchanges, the utilization of linguistic tools, and the repetition of phrases as a literary device, showcasing his mastery of syntax to craft a unique poetic voice. Additionally, the paper clarifies the various types of syntactic deviations in Nahri’s work, referring to his innovative approach in syntax and underscoring the thematic richness and emotional depth inherent in his poetic composition.