A Comparative Reading of the Book Al-Maqamah by Shawqi Daif

Abstract

The research highlights the significance of Shawqi Daif’s book as a primary reference in Arabic literature, documenting the emergence, development, and historical phases of the maqamah from the 4th century AH up to the modern era. The book explores the genre's purposes, stylistic features, and its impact and interaction with various literary traditions and cultures.

The research reveals that Daif viewed the maqamah as an educational art form, helping students master language and rhetorical techniques. It also examines his methodology, which blends explanatory and narrative approaches with historical analysis. Although Daif’s critical efforts in this book are remarkable, the research observes that they are less extensive compared to his critiques of Arabic poetry.

The analysis concludes that Daif offered a comprehensive treatment of the maqamah, although the lack of precise citation of sources and references reflects the academic style of his era. Despite not providing a clear-cut definition of the genre, his perspective presents the maqamah as a refined literary discourse in which form prevails over content, with an underlying educational aim. The study concludes by discussing Daif’s view of the maqamah as a non-narrative art form, contrasting it with the perspectives of other critics who consider it a complete narrative genre with artistic elements.