EXPLORING LINGUISTIC FEATURES AND SPIRITUAL THEMES IN THE TRANSLATED POETRY OF KHWAJA GHULAM FARID

Abstract

This study examines the interplay between linguistic features and spiritual themes in the translated poetry of Khawaja Ghulam Farid, with a particular focus on the symbolic representation of Rohi. The research examines how Farid’s poetic language transforms the physical landscape of the Cholistan Desert into a spiritually charged metaphor that conveys longing, suffering, self-annihilation, and mystical union. The study highlights how abstract Sufi experiences are articulated through concrete imagery and stylistic choices. The study is theoretically grounded in Conceptual Metaphor Theory, which provides a cognitive lens for understanding how Rohi functions as a source domain for conceptualizing key Sufi ideas, such as divine love, separation, patience, the annihilation of the self, and union with the Divine. Employing a qualitative research design, the study incorporates thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with Saraiki scholars from Southern Punjab. The data were systematically analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework, supported by coding and theme development through qualitative analysis software. The findings reveal that Rohi operates not merely as a poetic setting but as a cognitively structured and spiritually resonant metaphor, embedded in linguistic expression. Even in translation, the symbolic depth of Farid’s poetry is largely preserved, enabling the transmission of profound spiritual meanings across linguistic and cultural boundaries. The study contributes to stylistics, Sufi literary studies, and translation research by demonstrating how language, metaphor, and spirituality intersect to produce a universally meaningful yet culturally grounded poetic discourse.