The Universality of Islamic Literature

By: Musk Bearer

http://muslimapen.wordpress.com

The Arabic word for literature is "adab." As is the case with all languages,
many Arabic words have many senses, with one considered the commonest among
native speakers. What is the first sense of the word "adab" in Arabic? Well,
it is "politeness." That is to say, the Arabic word for "literature" is taken

r
from "politeness." But what does that mean?

It means, respectable reader, that the

r e
main objective of literature is

a
undoubtedly to refine the soul and exalt the mind. The fact that the Arabs in

e
Jahili'aa (the Dark Ages before Islam) used "adab" to refer not only to
politeness but to literature as well, confirms that it is spontaneous. We

B
write to elevate and elate. If words may be compared to gold coins, then we

k
spend them happily for the good of others, and never consider this a waste of

s
money; contrary to those who spend to spoil. Literature is, to my mind,
equivalent to refinement, sublimity, elegance and inspiration. We read to

u
live in the Utopia we failed to realize on the ground. That is my conviction
about literature and the eternal message of men\women of letters.

M
Only when I read the principles of Islamic literature did I feel I found my
way at last. If those principles are to be recapped in one sentence, it will
be: "Gently My Pen, for the Word Is a Trust."

If they are to be laid down, they would be as follows:

§ The Islamic concept of literature views life with its both sides: the
spiritual and the material; and displays man in all his stages of
sophistication and degradation, where the latter is but a temporary
phase man overcomes to attain true refinement, as suitable for a
submitter to God and a vicegerent of Him on earth.

Universal Literature Page 1 of 3 Muslima's Pen@Wordpress

 § It is a realistic literature that combines mind and emotions (sense and
sensibilityJ).

§ The mind represents the material power governing the universe; whereas
emotions strengthen humane bounds among people, lest power should get
the better of him and turn him into a ruthless monster that doesn't
fear God.

§ It pays much attention to the spiritual side as it is the one that

goads all else to work orderly in the right direction.

r
§ The pillars of Islamic Literature:

r e
v Stressing the sense of belonging to Islam and submission to God.

ea
v Clearly defining the objectives of writing, for it is no playful

B
matter.

k
v Defining the means that should be straight, righteous, and honest;

s
the end does not justify the means

u
v Building the faith in God's forgiveness no matter how grave a sinner
one may be, and rehabilitating devastated souls.

v
M
v The main target is to refine, polish and rectify humanity.

Just like any other deed, the good writer is rewarded and the
mischievous is punished.

v The writer, like any other submitter to God, is responsible for every
word and its effects, and is held accountable before God for all his
deeds, including his writings.

v The motto of each Muslim (writer): "And fear [guard yourselves

against] the Day when ye shall be brought back to Allah. Then shall

Universal Literature Page 2 of 3 Muslima's Pen@Wordpress

 every soul be paid in full what it hath earned and none shall be
wronged."

As you see, it has become clear how a writer may not be Islam-oriented, but
still retains his Islam and Faith (cf. Intro to Islamic Liter.). Islamic
literature does not confine literature to Islamic writings about Islamic
matters, but it refines a man's literary way of thinking and writing, even if
it is a romantic one, but this is another story J

er
a r
Be
sk
u
M

Universal Literature Page 3 of 3 Muslima's Pen@Wordpress