ARABIAN LITERATURE
Learning objectives
Trace the historical development of Arabian literature
Recognize the importance of the Koran in the life of Arabs
Identify the different forms of Arabic prose and poetry
Narrate the origin of the Thousand and One Nights
Did you know?
Geography
The Arabian desert covers almost all of the peninsula.
People
Arabs make up most of the population of the peninsula.
Religion
Most Arabs are Muslims, or followers of Islam.
History
Did you know?
CULTURE AND BELIEFS:
CLOTHING
For women, full length body cover; abayajilbob and veil; hijab or
chador (sign of respect for Muslim modesty laws)
For men, traditional flowing robes, blue jeans, t-shirts and western
business suits.
FOOD
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION – nightlife is forbidden and under the law
EATING PORK – considered unclean and prohibited.
FAMILY
Large extended families live together and nepotism is encouraged.
STORY TELLING
Map of the Arabian Peninsula
Camel as transportation
Covered by a vast desert
Prophet’s Mosque in Medina,
Saudi Arabia.
https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Arabian-Peninsula/346
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https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Q195l04q2Fw
Greatest mystical poem in Arabic
ARABIAN LITERATURE
• Arabian Literature is rich and varied, mostly made of Poems, anecdotes,
tales or romances, historical accounts and philosophies.
• Arabs possessed a highly develop poetry transmitted orally from
generation to generation.
• The written literature, began to be known with the collection of Koran, the
sacred book of Islam.
THE THREE PERIODS OF
WRITTEN ARABIC LITERATURE
• UMAYYAD PERIOD (A.D. 661 – 750)
• Arabic prose was limited primarily to grammatical treatises, commentaries on the Koran and the compiling
of stories about Mohammed and his companions.
• POETS
• Al-Akhtal
• Al-Farazdaq
• Dhu Rumma
• Jarir
POETIC FORM
• GHAZALS or love lyrics, wine songs and hunting poems rose during this period.
• ABBASID PERIOD (A.D. 750 – 1258)
• Regarded as the “Greatest Period of Development and Achievement”
ARABIC PROSE
• SAJ or “rhymed prose” is the most striking characteristic feature of Arabic
prose.
• KHUTBAH or formal written in rhymed prose style is of great antiquity.
• Writers in Arabic prose
• Abual-’alaal-’Ma’arri – became popular with his letters in saj
• Risalat al-Ghufran – pictures a visit to the other world.
• Tanukhi – most outstanding compiler of anecdotes
• Niswar al-Muhadarah (The Table of a Mesopotamian Judge)
• Mustajad (Anecdotes of Generosity)
• Faraj Ba’d al Shiddah (Deliverance after Anguish)
• al-Hamadhani – Maqamat (Assemblies)
ARABIC POETRY
• Oral traditions, the poetry of Arabs are the most outstanding in artistry and
sensuousness of feelings.
• All verses are divided into types:
• OCCASIONAL POEMS
• COLLECTION OR ANTHOLOGIES
ARABIC POETRY
OCCASIONAL POEMS
- consisting 2 to 20 lines whose themes are usually war and revenge
and praise of one’s own tribe.
Various genres fall to this are:
• Elegies
• The Ode or Quasida
ARABIC POETRY
COLLECTIONS OR ANTHOLOGIES
3 KINDS OF COLLECTION:
• Al-Mu-Allkat – means “suspended” because these poems were
supposed to have been displayed by the Arabs on the Kaab at Mecca.
• Al-Hamasa – an anthology compiled by the poet ABRETAMMAN about
836 A.D.
• MUJADDIYAT – a collection of poems named after MUFFADDAL IBN
YA’LA.
KORAN
• Koran is the Sacred Scripture of Islam.
• It contains 114 chapters (suras), arranged, except for the opening,
approximately according to length, beginning with the longer chapters.
• Termed as the glorious and wonderful, describes itself as a healing mercy,
as light and guidance from God.
