Concept

Arabic literature

Summary
Arabic literature (الأدب العربي / ALA-LC: al-Adab al-‘Arabī) is the writing, both as prose and poetry, produced by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is Adab, which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and which implies politeness, culture and enrichment. Arabic literature emerged in the 5th century with only fragments of the written language appearing before then. The Qur'an, widely regarded as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language, would have the greatest lasting effect on Arab culture and its literature. Arabic literature flourished during the Islamic Golden Age, but has remained vibrant to the present day, with poets and prose-writers across the Arab world, as well as in the Arab diaspora, achieving increasing success. Pre-Islamic poetry is the literature of the pre-Islamic period referred to as al-Jahiliyyah, or "the time of ignorance". In pre-Islamic Arabia, markets such as Souq Okaz, in addition to and , were destinations for caravans from throughout the peninsula. At these markets poetry was recited, and the dialect of the Quraysh, the tribe in control of Souq Okaz of Mecca, became predominant. Notable poets of the pre-Islamic period were Abu Layla al-Muhalhel and Al-Shanfara. There were also the poets of the Mu'allaqat, or "the suspended ones", a group of poems said to have been on display in Mecca. These poets are Imru' al-Qais, Tarafah ibn al-‘Abd, , Harith ibn Hilliza, Amr ibn Kulthum, Zuhayr ibn Abi Sulma, Al-Nabigha al-Dhubiyānī, Antara Ibn Shaddad, al-A'sha al-Akbar, and Labīd ibn Rabī'ah. Al-Khansa stood out in her poetry of rithā' or elegy. was prominent for his madīh, or "panegyric", as well as his , or "invective". As the literature of the Jahili period was transmitted orally and not written, prose represents little of what has been passed down. The main forms were parables (المَثَل al-mathal), speeches (الخطابة al-khitāba), and stories (القِصَص al-qisas). was a notable Arab ruler, writer, and orator.
About this result
This page is automatically generated and may contain information that is not correct, complete, up-to-date, or relevant to your search query. The same applies to every other page on this website. Please make sure to verify the information with EPFL's official sources.