The Characterization of Ibn Safi: The Poetic Humor of Ali Imran

Abstract

In Ibn-e-Safi’s novels, the character Ali Imran’s dialogues present excellent examples of “Tazmeen bil Ma’ni al-Mukhalif” the ironic, humorous, or symbolic use of serious poetry. Additionally, his dialogue often showcases the refined use of metaphor (majaz). Ibn-e-Safi skillfully employed both literal and semantic distortion (tahreef-e-lafzi o manavi) to create humor and satire. By shifting the original, serious meaning of poetic verses to new, often comedic or sarcastic contexts, he not only introduced wit but also revealed the character’s intelligence and the layered nature of the situation. Thus, Ibn-e-Safi brought a unique dimension of poetic humor to Urdu detective fiction.