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Conceptual Metaphor Theory, a modern approach within cognitive linguistics introduced by Lakoff and Johnson in Metaphors We Live By (1980), posits that concepts are constituted not solely by inherent attributes but primarily by interactional characteristics. From this perspective, entities in the world do not possess fixed, intrinsic properties; rather, their meaning emerges only in relation to human action. Consequently, metaphors can assume the status of truth. Within the Qur’an, numerous injunctions and relational concepts can be interpreted through this theoretical framework as being grounded in interactional characteristics rather than in purely essentialist definitions. Adopting a descriptive–analytical method, this study examines several Qur’anic relationships, demonstrating how their meanings can be more adequately apprehended through the lens of Conceptual Metaphor Theory. The findings suggest that even human relationships in the Qur’an are not conceived as immutable or purely intrinsic. Instead, the Qur’an redefines relational concepts—such as mother, spouse, brother, and child—according to their roles, functions, and interactional qualities. Thus, notions such as the motherhood of the Prophet’s wives for the Muslim community and the brotherhood of believers represent, in Qur’anic discourse, new conceptual realities that transcend mere metaphorical usage.

This paper explores the metaphysical concepts of divine “love” (ʿeshq), “attraction” (jadhbe), and “selflessness” (bīkhodī) in the seminal Iranian Shīʿī Muslim thinker Mullā Muḥsin Fayḍ Kāshānī’s poetry. It seeks to comprehensively understand these themes in the context of self-transcendence and divine unity. This research emerges from the gap in existing literature, which mainly explores Fayḍ Kāshānī’s philosophical, theological, or ḥadīth works, while the scrutiny of his poetry largely stays within its literary attributes, overlooking the philosophical and mystical themes embedded within. The paper’s thesis posits that according to Fayḍ Kāshānī, the spiritual journey commences with reason, progressing to constant divine contemplation. This combination of philosophy and spirituality nurtures muḥabbat—an initial stage of divine love—which, when discovered, evokes a more intense love: “divine attraction” in the seeker’s heart, leading to selflessness and divine unity. This paper employs the hermeneutic method and analytical examination to scrutinize Fayḍ Kāshānī’s poetry within the context of his treatises. It follows an “intracultural” interpretation to explore Fayḍ Kāshānī’s thought within Persian intellectual tradition and uses an “intercultural” interpretation to contextualize the findings within Islamic, Christian, and ancient Greek metaphysics. The methodology includes a “horizontal interpretation” of Quranic and ḥadīth references in Fayḍ Kāshānī’s works and a “vertical interpretation” of unveiling deeper meanings of Fayḍ Kāshānī’s thoughts within the broader mystical traditions. The research accentuates how Persian metaphysical poetry, like Fayḍ Kāshānī’s, offers an evocative platform to articulate and traverse the mystic’s inner landscapes, contributing to Islamic Studies and Islamic Metaphysics and inviting scholars to explore this fertile domain.