Document Type : Original Article

Author

• hojjat allah omidali

Faculty of Persian Language and Literature Department, University of Arak

Abstract

This study employs Axel Honneth's theory of "recognition" to analyze the tale of "The Infidel Guest" in Rumi’s Masnavi, examining the processes of humiliation and re-recognition within this mystical narrative. The central questions are: How do Honneth’s three key levels of recognition—love, rights, and social solidarity—reflect identity crises in this story? And how does the Prophet’s (PBUH) intervention, as a symbol of recognition, enable the transition from "systematic humiliation" to ethical esteem? In the story, the infidel guest faces emotional rejection, violation of basic rights, and social isolation. These experiences, which push his identity to the brink of collapse, exemplify "systematic humiliation"—a phenomenon that historically marginalized individuals in diverse societies due to cultural or religious differences. However, the Prophet (PBUH) strategically transforms this humiliation into dignity through deliberate actions. These steps remarkably mirror Honneth’s three-tiered theory. This analysis not only demonstrates the applicability of Honneth’s framework to interpreting Persian mystical texts but also reveals how classical Persian literature has articulated modern philosophical concepts, such as the "struggle for recognition", through ethical storytelling. Ultimately, the study emphasizes that restorative justice is rooted in multilayered recognition and mercy, rather than punitive measures.

Keywords

• Rumi’s Masnavi
• The Tale of the Infidel Guest
• Axel Honneth
• Recognition
• Restorative Justice