As shier al-ta’leemi and its pedagogical implications in abbasid poetry: a critical analysis
Date
2018-04-03
Authors
Hafees, M.S.M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Peradeniya
Abstract
The Abbasid era (AD 750-1258) is considered as the golden age in arts and sciences in the medieval history of Islam. During this period, Arabic poems were composed with various viewpoints and new types of poetry emerged as well. The “Didactic Poem” (As Shier al-Ta’leemi or As Shier al-Ilmi) appeared during this time as an important form of poetry. Abban bin Abdul Hameedh, a well-known scholar in this period has introduced this kind of poem in Arabic literature. Some of the prominent scholars involved in this field are Hamdhan bin Abdul Hameedh, Muhammed bin Ibrahim Al Fazari etc. Didactic poems were composed for the purpose of teaching certain vital aspects of life such as, realities related to the human life, educational thoughts, and universal truths. Arabic poetry generally consisted of experiences and prudence of the society of Arabia since Pre-Islamic period. Nevertheless, they are not considered to be educational poems, in contrast to that, books and collections compiled as poems based on a particular area or field, are called Didactic Poems. Didactic verse is instructive, adding to one’s knowledge aiming at improving one’s moral. It pleases the ear and aids memory. It is known to go as far back as the dawn of Greek history. The collection of Abban Ibnu Abdul Hameedh on charity and fasting, and Ibrahim Al Fazari’s collection on Astrology are few examples for this type. Arabic Didactic verses found their way to theology, logic and medicine. Many Examples are still in manuscript. This research explores whether the poems composed during this period, which were highly advanced in the field of education, were on the themes related to educational aspects and how these types of poems simplify the process of teaching and learning, especially to teach the Holy Quran, Hadith and Islamic Jurisprudence. This research is based on secondary data. Hence various books and other written documents were used as sources of information. The integration of Muslims with various cultures and their connection with books written in various languages, were the foremost reason for the emergence of such types of poems. Among the poems composed during the Abbasid period, those with educational viewpoints were given much prominence. Thus, this particular research clarifies that, the aspects such as good traits, Islamic law, Arabic grammar, history and Astrology etc. were the core themes of those poems.
Description
Keywords
Abbasid Era , Didactic Poem , As Shier al-Ta’leemi or As Shier al-Ilmi
Citation
Proceedings of the PGIHS Research Congress (PGIHS-RC-2018), University of Peradeniya, p.31