An Analysis of Prophet Abraham's Tale in Kashf al-Asrar wa Uddat al-Abrar in Light of the Hero's Journey

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Candidate, Department of Persian Language and Literature, Na.C., Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran

2 Department of Persian Language and Literature, Na.C., Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran

10.22108/jpll.2026.148165.1980

Abstract

The Hero's Journey is a narrative pattern introduced by Joseph Campbell, who identified fundamental similarities through a comparative study of myths from different cultures and historical periods. He proposed that the hero's journey generally consists of three major stages: departure, initiation, and return. In this process, the hero separates from the familiar world into an unknown realm, encounters trials that lead to achievement or enlightenment, and ultimately returns after enduring hardships and undergoing inner transformation. Most commonly associated with mythological and epic narratives, this model can also be applied to mystical texts and descriptions of spiritual wayfaring. Maybudi's Kashf al-Asrar wa Uddat al-Abrar presents the prophets' tales in a way that emphasizes their spiritual journeys and modes of conduct. Among these figures, Prophet Abraham stands out as a spiritual hero who reaches ultimate divine proximity through continuous trials and steadfast faith. This study applies a descriptive-analytical method to examine Abraham's journeys as depicted in this work and to evaluate the extent to which they correspond to Campbell's Hero's Journey model. The findings reveal that while Abraham's journeys align with Campbell's pattern in certain subsidiary stages, they do not consistently conform to the full three-stage structure. Instead, the repetition of specific stages across different journeys suggests the presence of a distinctive, seven-stage spiritual pattern unique to this prophetic narrative.

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Main Subjects

Research on Mystical Literature

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 19 August 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 29 January 2026
  • Revise Date: 13 June 2026
  • Accept Date: 19 August 2026

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