Pinisi Journal of Art, Humanity & Social Studies
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ISSN 2747-2671 (online) PINISI JOURNAL OF ART, HUMANITY & SOCIAL STUDIES Vol. 1 No. 3, 2021 Arabic Literature in the Development of Islamic Culture and Religion Stella E. Osim Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy, University of Calabar Calabar Cross River State, Nigeria * [email protected] Abstract Literature is generally defined as anybody of written works. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary (1995) gives further explanations about literature as "writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest". In this paper, therefore, the writer looks at the Arabic literature which gives one much insight into writings in Islam. The study uses a qualitative method of research where secondary sources from books and the internet were accessed and used in the work. The researcher finds out that the Quran is so influential in shaping literature in Arab nations and beyond. The writer also looks at classical Arabic literature such as: poetry, prose, fiction and non-fiction literature, where imaginary and factual stories about events and people are written. Nevertheless, the paper finds out that there was a decline of Arabic literature as a result of getting into contact with a variety of different people's cultures like Persia, among others who influenced directly or indirectly on Arabic culture. However, in the modem Arabic literature, there was a revival which is referred to in Arabic as “al-Nahda”, which means "the Renaissance". Today, the researcher in the work sees Arabic literature being accepted externally as there is an increase of translations of Arabic books into other languages, and Arabic authors begin to receive the commendation of their writings. The study concludes that literature is one of the key ingredients in the development of any culture and religion of a people. It sells out people's culture and religion to the outside world. The Arabic literature especially contributes in helping to promote Islam as a religion in the world. Thus, studying Arabic literature gives one much insight into the Islamic religion, and it should be given optimal attention in religious scholarship, hence the relevance of this research. Keywords: Islamic Culture; Islamic Religion; Arabic literature. 1. INTRODUCTION have artistic or intellectual value, often due to According to Joshua Mark, Literature comes deploying language in ways that differ from from the Latin Littera meaning 'letters' and referring ordinary usage. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary in its to an acquaintance with the written word. It is view defines literature as writings having excellence therefore defined as the written work of a specific of form or expression and expressing ideas of culture, sub-culture, religion, philosophy or the permanent or universal interest. study of such written work which may appear in Literature is classified according to Alex poetry or prose (Eliot 2010; Duke 2006; Duke 2018; Preminger (1993) as fiction or non-fiction, and Ekpenyong & Okoi 2018). To John Foster (2001), whether it is poetry or prose. It is fiction when it literature is generally defined as a body of written broadly refers to any narrative that is derived from works. To be specific, it refers to writing considered the imagination. In other words, it is not based to be in an art form or any single writing deemed to strictly on history or fact. It can also refer, more 37 Pinisi Journal of Art, Humanity and Social Studies narrowly, to narratives written only in prose (the the Arabic language; it has the greatest lasting effect novel and short story), and is often used as a on Arabic culture and its literature. Arabic literature synonym for the novel. Non-fiction on the other flourished during the Islamic Golden Age but has hand, is content (sometimes, in the form of a story) remained vibrant to the present day, with poets and whose creator, in good faith, assumes responsibility prose-writers across the Arab world, as well as the for the truth or accuracy of the events, people, or rest of the world, achieving increasing success information presented. Looking at the difference (Allen, 2005). between prose and poetry, Black Jeremy says in prose, a form of language possesses ordinary syntax 3. THE QURAN AND ARABIC LITERATURE and natural speech, rather than a regular metre; in The Quran is the most important and which regard, along with its presentation in authentic example of Arabic literature and definitely sentences rather than lines, it differs from most the most influential. It had a significant influence on poetry. Poetry, on the other hand, is a form of the Arab language. The language used in it is called literary art that uses the aesthetic qualities of classical Arabic, and while modem Arabic is very language (including music, and rhythm) to evoke similar, classical has social prestige. Not only is the meanings beyond a prose paraphrase. Poetry has Quran the first work of any significant length traditionally been distinguished from prose by its written in the language, it also has a far more being set in verse; the prose is cast in sentences, complicated structure than the earlier literary works poetry in lines; the syntax of prose is dictated by with its 114 suras (chapters) which contain 6,236 ayat meaning, whereas that of poetry is held across meter (verses). It contains injunctions, narratives, homilies, or the visual aspects of the poem. parables, direct addresses from God, instructions Emphasizing the importance of literature, J. and even comments on itself on how it will be H. Newman says, “Literature stands related to man received and understood. It is also, paradoxically, as science stands to nature”, (Campbell 1954, p. 32). admired for its layers of metaphor as well as its The importance of literature to man as pointed out clarity (Allen 1995). by Newman makes it possible to hold it in high The word Quran means ‘recite’, and in early esteem especially in the religious traditions of man. times the text was transmitted orally. The first This is because many religions have sacred writings attempt at an authentic written version was during that are used by their adherents as divine words of the reign of the third ‘Rightly Guided Caliph’, the Supreme Being, hence the use of literal writings Uthman (c. 576 – June 17, 656). Although it contains to make the words appealing to readers. In Islam elements of both prose and poetry and therefore is too, literally, writings are used which are written in closest to Saj or rhymed prose, the Quran is regarded Arabic as a religious language. In this paper, as entirely apart from these classifications. The text is therefore, the researcher focuses on Arabic literature believed to be divine revelation and is seen by as used in Islam. The study looks at what Arabic Muslims as being eternal or ‘uncreated’. This leads literature means and the influence of the Quran on to the doctrine of I’jaz or inimitability of the Quran Arabic literature. Other areas considered in this which implies that nobody can copy the work’s style paper includes: classical Arabic literature, the (Rodwell 2003). decline of Arabic literature and modem Arabic literature among others. 4. CLASSICAL ARABIC LITERATURE 4.1 Poetry: A large proportion of Arabic literature 2. ARABIC LITERATURE before the 20th century is in the form of poetry, and Arabic literature is the writing, both prose even prose from this period is either filled with and poetry, produced by writers in the Arabic snippets of poetry or is in the form of saj ’ or rhymed language. The Arabic word used for literature is prose. The themes of the poetry range from high- “Adab”, which is derived from a meaning of flown hymns of praise to bitter personal attacks and etiquette, and which implies politeness, culture and from religious and mystical ideas to poems on enrichment. Arabic literature emerged in the 5th women and wine. An important feature of the century with only fragments of the written language poetry that would be applied to all of the literature appearing before then. The Quran is widely was the idea that it must be pleasing to the ear. The regarded by people as the finest piece of literature in poetry and much of the prose were written with the 38 Pinisi Journal of Art, Humanity and Social Studies design that it would be spoken aloud and great care that Ibn Khurdadhbih, an official in the postal service was taken to make all writing as mellifluous as wrote one of the first travel books and the form possible (Moreh 1988). remained a popular one in Arabic literature with books by ibn Hawqal, ibn Fadlan, al-Istakhri, al- 4.2 Non-fiction literature: The study earlier Muqaddasi, al-Idrisi and most famously the travels of explained what non-fiction literature is; that it is ibn Battutah. These give a view of the many cultures prose writing that is informative or factual rather of the wider Islamic world and also offer Muslim than stories that have been invented or fictional. perspectives on the non-Muslim peoples on the edges Arabic literature thus has these kinds of non-fiction of the empire. They also indicated just how great a writings which some of which will be discussed trading power the Muslim peoples had become. These under compilations, manual, biography, history, and were often sprawling accounts that included details of geography. not just on geography but also on history. 4.2.1 Compilations: In G. J. Toomer’s (1996) 4.2.5 History: Nevertheless, Roger Allen (1995) historical analysis, one of the most common forms of says, some writers concentrated only on history like literature during the Abbasid period was the al-Ya’qubi and al-Tabari, while others focused on a compilation.