The Masnavi tradition refers to a classical Persian and Urdu narrative poetic form composed in rhyming couplets (aa, bb, cc…), often used for epic, romantic, or mystical storytelling, most famously exemplified by Rumi’s Masnavi-ye Ma'navi, a six-volume Sufi didactic poem blending parable, theology, and lyrical digression; characterized by its discursive flexibility, moral instruction, and seamless shifts between narrative and meditation, the masnavi allows poets to explore complex philosophical ideas through accessible storytelling, influencing South Asian and Islamic literary cultures and offering a model for long-form verse that integrates spiritual inquiry with human drama.

Persian poetic tradition using masnavi form for philosophical, mystical, or narrative works. Related: Sufi poetry, ghazal tradition. Tip: Study Rumi's Masnavi-ye Ma'navi as exemplar of spiritual teaching through narrative couplets.