The Symbolic Reading and Interpretation of the Research on Mahdism of Simurgh in Attar's Messianic Savior

The concept of a messiah has in the past been defined by the sociopolitical challenges of the respective periods, in conjunction with the religious teachings that were dominant then. Nevertheless, newer studies and re-examinations of sacred historical scriptures, particularly when the subjects are such as the study of the Mahdi, are to thank for the affirmation of this belief. In this kind of framework, Attar's symbolic and allegorical poem "The Conference of the Birds" offers a distinctive representation of the interaction of the "self" and the "transcendent," thereby providing space for modes of creative discourse. In fact, the birds' spiritual quest, guided by the hoopoe in search of meaning, opens up to immense dimensions that pertain to this matter. Thus, this study employs an "analytical deductive" approach in analyzing and symbolically deconstructing the figure of the Mahdi and extracting mystical examples of expectation from the text. This poetic text encapsulates typical features of leadership as well as different situations and forms of dynamic expectation that may offer perceptive insights into the role of the expected Mahdi within the context of the uprising.