Theme and Lyricism: Two Considerations in the Islamic Writing Tradition Motivating Muslim Authors in Naming Their Works

Year 2020, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 111 - 143, 30.06.2020

Şener Şahin

https://doi.org/10.12730/13091719.2020.111.202

Abstract

The implementation of the sajʿ (rhymed prose) style for the denomination of works is a writing tradition among medieval Muslim intellectuals and a widespread artistic effort that is still extant today. Indeed, thematic restriction has played a role as a motivating factor in the creativity of authors in the classical era in terms of sajʿ. The objective of this paper is to present the distinctive solidarity between theme and sajʿ that stands out in the book titles of countless Islamic classics by means of a comprehensive examination of book names by Muslim authors between the 3rd and 10th centuries AH. This paper also attempts to identify why scholars could not renounce thematic restrictions and aesthetics based on ornamental sensibility when naming their scientific works.

Keywords

Islamic writing tradition, names of works, book title, onomastics, sajʿ (rhymed prose), aesthetics, embellished prose

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