This essay serves as a supplementary reflection on my dissertation titled Bābā Āb Dād: The Phenomenology of Sainthood in the Culture of Dreams in Kurdistan, with an Emphasis on the Sufis of the Qāderie Brotherhood (Esmaeilpour Ghoochani, Iraj, 2017). (URL: https://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/21528/) This work was completed at LMU München, Faculty of Philosophy, Science Theory, and Religious Studies. For reference, when I mention "dissertation" in this essay, I am referring to this specific document. Abstract This essay is about the rivalry between kings and poets within Persianate societies, illustrating the tension between the "word of power" held by rulers and the "power of words" wielded by poets. It posits that the nature of dreams differs significantly between members of the elite and ordinary subjects, reflecting their respective positions within the social hierarchy. Through an exploration of dreams, it asserts that the narratives of kings are imbued with authority and political significance, while those of ordinary individuals are bound by societal norms, often limiting their expression and interpretation. Drawing from hagiographical and ethnographical material, the essay contextualizes dreams as mirrors of the symbolic order, revealing how these narratives are homologous to the dreamer’s social identity. By examining the Kurdish dream culture, the study highlights the interplay between individual aspirations and cultural frameworks, illustrating that dreams serve as both personal expressions and reflections of broader societal constructs. Ultimately, the essay contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex role that dreams play in shaping identity and reinforcing social hierarchies within Persianate and Kurdish contexts.
Esmaeilpour Ghoochani (Sun,) studied this question.