THE HIDDEN MEANING OF NUMBERS IN SUFISM AND THE POETIC WORLD OF ALISHER NAVOI

Abstract

Throughout the history of humanity, numbers have held deep symbolic and metaphysical significance, particularly within religious, mythological, mystical, and literary traditions. This study explores the symbolic essence of numbers in the spiritual worldview and literary creativity of classical Eastern poets, with a focus on Alisher Navoi. It highlights the cultural and philosophical importance of numbers—especially the number seven—in Islamic mysticism (Sufism), mythology, and cosmology. By examining Navoi's work “Saba'i Sayyor” ("Seven Planets") and its allegorical structure rooted in the mystical and sacred connotations of the number seven, the study reveals how numbers function not merely as mathematical entities, but as carriers of metaphysical meaning. The paper also delves into the broader Sufi symbolism of numbers such as three, four, six, eight, and nine, exploring their connections with elements of existence, levels of the cosmos, human nature, and divine order. References to the Holy Quran, early Sumerian beliefs, and Islamic cosmology further support the claim that numbers are essential to understanding the spiritual and poetic imagination of Navoi and his contemporaries. The research underlines the necessity of decoding the numerical metaphors in classical literature to uncover deeper philosophical and esoteric truths embedded within.