Arabic Literature: Understanding Saj and Khutbah

Arabic Prose

• Saj is a characteristic feature of Arabic prose, also known as "rhymed prose".
• It consists of pairs of short rhyming expressions with a rhetorical and antithetical balance of sense.
• Khutbah is a formal written style in rhymed prose, with a great antiquity, exemplified by Ibn Nubatah at- Farigi.
• Maqama is an incredibly popular form of Arabic literature, written during the decline of Arabic in the 17th and 18th century.
• Notable Arabic prose writers include:
  • Ibn Al Muqaffa: a convert to Islam, translated Classical Persian works into Arabic, and wrote "Kalila and Dimna", a series of didactic fables.
  • Al-Jahiz: developed Arabic prose into a literary vehicle of precision and elegance, and became one of Baghdad's leading intellectuals during the early Abbasid Period.
  • Abu Al-Faraj Al-Isfahani: wrote "Kitab al-aghani" ("The Book of Songs") in 24 volumes, a model of simplicity and clarity in writing.
  • Al-Hariri: took the Maqama to new heights, demonstrating his prowess with word-play and vocabulary.
  • Al-Hamadhani: credited with inventing the genre known as "Maqamat" (Assemblies) - dramatic anecdotes narrated by a witty but unscrupulous rogue.

Arabic Poetry

• Arabic poetry is called "Badi".
• Arabic poem verses are short in length compared to lines in normal text.
• Arabic poems are classified into two categories:
  • Occasional Poems: usually 2-20 lines, with themes of war, revenge, and praise of one's own tribe.
  • Collection or Anthologies: a group of pre-Islamic odes, such as Al-Mu-Allakat, Al-Hamasa, and Mufaddalibn Ya'la's collection.

Occasional Poems

• Elegies: mourning the dead, but also finding solace in the strength of Islam and its rulers.
• Ode or Qasida: an elaborate ode usually of 60-100 lines.