Selection o f Classical Arabic literature

Synopsis : From the mid- 7th century, or the period following the advent of Islam, directly influenced by the historical events of its time. The first phase of classical Arabic poetry, the marthiya and the qasida genres both continued to evolve, reflecting imminent societal concerns, including the development of Islam and the cultural symbiosis produced by its rapid expansion. Therefore, poetic expression expanded in directions, which encouraged exploration of the self, political commitment, and deeper meditation. As a result, new genres had been produced: the love poem, the political poem , and the ascetic poem. Also Arabic poetry at the end of the 7th century and beginning of the 8th century was accompanied by a significant renewal of literary prose, evident in a diversification of the art of rhetoric, reflecting the eloquence of oratory discourse and the elegance of style, apparent in the creation of a new genre, the epistle, written in a fluid direct style that used picturesque expressions and strongly accented rhythms. Finally, this transformation was evident in the acclimatization of the fable, such as Kalila wa-Dimna a collection of Indian fables, translated into Arabic by Ibn al-Muqaffa in the 8th century. Thanks to the reciprocity of these exchanges, these literary forms also transferred to other languages and cultures, such as Persian and Turkish. A new literary period was then inaugurated through these works that embodied the creative contributions from a diversity of cultures that are shared today. As Geert Jan van Gelder define it : « Classical Arabic Literature ranges from the early Bedouin poems to refined urban lyrical verse, from tender love poetry to eulogy and vicious lampoon, and from the heights of mystical rapture to the frivolity of comic verse. Prose selections include anecdotes, entertaining or edifying tales and parables, a fairy-tale, a bawdy story, samples of literary criticism, and much more. Classical Arabic Literature reveals the rich variety of pre-modern Arabic social and cultural life, where secular texts flourished alongside religious ones. » We invite you to discover a selection of this literature through the following examples : 1. Arabic Tales -Anecdotes of misers/Eloquent Replies 2. Al-Mutanabbi: The Greatest Arab Poet 3. The greatest Arabic poetic battle