EMPLOYING CLASSICAL SUFI LITERARY HERITAGE IN FILM AND TELEVISION SCREENWRITING: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY

Authors

  • Shaaban Ahmed Badeer United Arab Emirates University image/svg+xml Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70703/q34baz85

Keywords:

Classical Sufi Literature, Sufi Heritage, Screenwriting, Cinema, Television Drama, Symbolism, Spiritual Conflict, Visual Narrative, Arab Dramatic, Production, Sufism

Abstract

This study examines the employment of classical Sufi literary heritage in cinematic and television screenwriting. Sufi literature represents a rich repository of spiritual, intellectual, and aesthetic values capable of enriching contemporary dramatic and visual narratives. The study explores the contribution of Sufi heritage to enhancing visual and dramatic content and to establishing a balance between spirituality and artistic expression within a modern framework that resonates with contemporary audiences. The significance of this study lies in its examination of the ways literary Sufi elements, including characterization, symbolism, poetic language, and spiritual conflict, can be incorporated into the construction of coherent and compelling film and television screenplays. The study also analyzes selected Arab productions that have drawn upon Sufi literary heritage in their narrative and artistic structures. The study concludes that the employment of Sufi literature in screenwriting contributes to highlighting profound spiritual values, such as divine love and existential contemplation, thereby enriching dramatic texts and providing them with deeper semantic dimensions. It further demonstrates that Sufi literature offers a distinctive combination of symbolic narratives and profound human experiences that enhances the artistic and intellectual quality of cinematic and television productions. Moreover, its symbolic language elevates the quality of dialogue and descriptive narration in screenplays. The findings also indicate that Sufi literature provides screenwriters with opportunities to create distinctive characters that embody enduring human archetypes and offer critical perspectives on contemporary materialist life.

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Author Biography

  • Shaaban Ahmed Badeer, United Arab Emirates University

    Assistant Professor, Department of Arabic Language, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, UAE

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Published

2026-06-27

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How to Cite

EMPLOYING CLASSICAL SUFI LITERARY HERITAGE IN FILM AND TELEVISION SCREENWRITING: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY. (2026). Ahl AlSuffa for Sufi Studies and Heritage Sciences, 3(01), 299-352. https://doi.org/10.70703/q34baz85

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