Binary oppositions, as one of the most fundamental pillars of structuralist theory, are a reflection of the intellectual and ontological system of humankind throughout history. According to Saussure, the meaning and value of linguistic units are formed in relation and opposition to other units of language, and each word or sign is defined in relation to the presence or absence of other signs. This theoretical foundation provides an important basis for analyzing literary texts and uncovering latent semantic layers.
Relying on this theoretical framework, the present study analyzes and examines binary oppositions in the ghazals of Haidari Wujudi, a prominent contemporary Afghan poet and mystic. The main objective is to investigate the function of binary oppositions in reflecting the poet’s mystical thoughts and attitudes and to show their role in shaping the linguistic beauties and the poetry itself. The significance of this study lies in the fact that, in addition to offering a clear picture of Haidari Wujudi’s expressive style and mystical worldview, it can contribute to expanding knowledge of contemporary Afghan mystical literature and to applying linguistic theories in literary criticism.
The research method is library-based with an analytical–descriptive approach. The statistical population consists of one hundred selected ghazals from Haidari Wujudi’s *Divan of Ghazals*, which were carefully analyzed. The findings identified 340 instances of opposition, which fall into three general categories: semantic, lexical, and literary oppositions. Frequency analysis indicates that semantic oppositions have the highest prevalence, suggesting that the poet employs this linguistic device to represent the deepest layers of mystical and spiritual thought, and that they are not merely a tool for creating formal aesthetic contrasts. Therefore, in addition to introducing the special status of binary oppositions in Haidari Wujudi’s poetry, the present study can serve as a model fo