As the distinctive contribution of Islamic Spain to Arabic literature, the strophic muwashshahand zajal are still viewed by some as a development from putative Romance prototypes. No less than seven theories of origin of the Provençal lyrics have been proffered, foremost among them being the Arabic origins theory. This book lets the strophic muwashshah tell its own tale of a natural development in the context of classical Arabic literature.

As the distinctive contribution of Islamic Spain to Arabic literature, the strophic muwashshahand zajal are still viewed by some as a development from putative Romance prototypes. No less than seven theories of origin of the Provençal lyrics have been proffered, foremost among them being the Arabic origins theory. This book lets the strophic muwashshah tell its own tale of a natural development in the context of classical Arabic literature.

This anthology of daring new Arab poetry highlights the work of poets from around the Arab world. This is a personal journey for most as they explore their lives and cultural complexities with an intensity of images and emotions.

Published with the generous support of the Koret Foundation.

Intro; Arabische Studien; Table of Contents; Acknowledgements; Introduction; Abu Dulama, Abu s-Samaqmaq and Other Early; 1.1 The Early Kufans; 1.2 Abu Dulama; 1.3 Abu s-Samaqmaq; 1.4 Abu Firʻawn as-Sasi; Ibn al-Hajjaj and the Yatima Poets; 2.1 The Yatīma Poets; 2.2 Ibn al-Hajjāj; Ibn Quzman and His Predecessors; 3.1 Begging Poetry and Sakwā Prior to Ibn Quzmān; 3.2 Ibn Quzmān; Epilogue; Bibliography; Appendix: Select Arabic Texts; Index: Names of Poets.