The Spiritual Interpretation of The Image of The Four Caliphs in Alisher Navoi’s Works

Abstract

The spiritual and artistic dimensions of Alisher Navoi’s literary heritage have long intrigued scholars for their depth and symbolic richness. One of the poet’s most significant mystical works, Lison ut-Tayr (“The Language of the Birds”), presents a unique interpretation of early Islamic figures, particularly the four rightly guided caliphs, as central spiritual archetypes. Despite recognition of Navoi’s mystical inclinations, the integration of historical caliphal figures into his Sufi poetics remains underexplored in literary analysis. This study aims to analyze how Navoi’s spiritual worldview is reflected in his poetic representation of Abu Bakr, Umar, Usman, and Ali, shedding light on their roles in shaping Sufi ideals. The analysis reveals that each caliph is associated with a distinct spiritual virtue—truthfulness, justice, modesty, and sainthood—and that Navoi skillfully integrates these qualities into the structural and thematic composition of Lison ut-Tayr. By examining the literary, historical, and spiritual dimensions of these portrayals, the article demonstrates Navoi’s deliberate use of the caliphs as prototypes for the Sufi path and as literary instruments to assert the continuity between Islamic tradition and mystical experience. This interpretation underscores the foundational role of early Islamic figures in Central Asian Sufi literature and deepens our understanding of Navoi’s poetics as both literary and spiritual discourse rooted in orthodoxy and innovation.