Final answer:
Rūmī's "Beauty of the Beloved" describes the spiritual beauty of Shams-i-Tabrīzī, reflecting a tradition in ecstatic love poetry that symbolizes the soul's quest for divine truth. Similar themes are found in the works of other poets and in the illustrated manuscripts of the Shahnameh, emphasizing the fusion of art and spirituality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poem "Beauty of the Beloved" within the Dīvani Shamsi Tabrīz, written by Rūmī, describes the spiritual beauty of his teacher, Shams-i-Tabrīzī. This form of poetry often uses symbolic language to express the intense longing of the human soul for divine connection, reflecting a broader tradition in ecstatic love poetry.
Poets like Rūmī, Hafiz, and Kabir utilize this language not just to honor a mortal subject but to transcend the earthly realm, likening the quest for spiritual truth to the pursuit of a beloved. The comparison of divine love and human emotion is also evident in the works of Tang poets and their descriptions of Daoist priestesses and courtesans, evoking a sense of divine passion and spiritual attainment through sensual experiences.
Such poetic expressions are also mirrored in the beautifully illustrated manuscripts of texts like the Shahnameh, which not only tell of historical legends but are also works of art that symbolize the connection between grandeur and the sublime. These illustrations and the calligraphers' attention to integrating text and image further emphasize the deep cultural appreciation for poetry as a means of exploring spiritual themes.