Identifying the Position of Zulaikha in the Poetic and Prose Texts of Persian-Tajik Literature from the 10th to the 15th Centuries CE

Abstract

The story of Joseph and Zulaikha is one of the most enduring and influential religious and literary narratives in the Persian-Tajik tradition. Over the centuries, it has inspired numerous works in Qur’anic exegesis, narrative prose, lyrical poetry, and mystical literature. Within this narrative tradition, Zulaikha gradually emerged from a secondary figure in a religious account into a complex, multidimensional, and highly symbolic literary character. The present study aims to identify the position of Zulaikha in the poetic and prose texts of Persian-Tajik literature from the tenth to the fifteenth centuries CE and to examine the process through which her image evolved across different literary genres. The research employs a descriptive-analytical method and is based on the examination of major exegetical, narrative, and poetic texts related to the story of Joseph and Zulaikha. The findings indicate that in prose sources, particularly Qur’anic commentaries and prophetic narratives, Zulaikha is generally portrayed within a moral and religious framework. Her significance is primarily connected to Joseph’s spiritual trial, the manifestation of his chastity, and her eventual confession of guilt. Nevertheless, the expansion of the narrative in Persian prose traditions gradually enriched her emotional and human dimensions, allowing her to become a more developed literary figure. In poetic texts, especially in the works of Sana’i, Attar, Rumi, Sa‘di, and Jami, Zulaikha transcends the role of a merely passionate woman and becomes a symbol of love, longing, suffering, blame, perseverance, and spiritual transformation. The highest stage of this development can be observed in Jami’s Yusuf va Zulaikha, where she undergoes a profound journey from earthly desire to spiritual fulfillment. The study demonstrates that Persian-Tajik literature continuously reinterpreted and reconstructed Zulaikha’s character, transforming her into one of the most significant symbols of love, inner change, and mystical aspiration in the Persian literary tradition. As a result, her literary position reflects not only evolving perceptions of love and spirituality but also the broader creative engagement of Persian writers with religious narratives and symbolic expression.