The Evolution of Sufi Poetry: A Study of “The Spiritual Manifestations in Islam”

Hassanin, Shaimaa Mohamed

doi:10.21608/jwadi.2024.371766

The Evolution of Sufi Poetry: A Study of “The Spiritual Manifestations in Islam”

نوع المستند : المقالة الأصلية

المؤلف

Shaimaa Mohamed Hassanin

Lecturer/ Assistant Professor of English Literature, Horus University- Egypt.

10.21608/jwadi.2024.371766

المستخلص

This research paper examines the origins of "Sufi poetry" in the first and second centuries of the Hijra and its development in the fourth and fifth centuries and beyond. It aims to describe the various stages that Sufi poetry has undergone, relying on the book Spiritual Manifestations in Islam: Sufi Texts Throughout History, which has significantly influenced both the East and the West since its original composition in Arabic and its subsequent translation into Italian. The book categorizes Sufi poetry into two main levels: the pre-Hallaj phase (d. 309 AH / 922 CE), characterized by a few fragments of Sufi poetry without complete poems, and the post-Hallaj phase, where complete Sufi poems emerge. This evolution led to the creation of notable collections, such as the Diwan of Hallaj, the Diwan of Ibn al-Farid, and the Diwan of Ibn Arabi. The study poses several hypotheses: Did Sufi poetry experience different stages? If so, what are the defining characteristics of each stage? Additionally, how did Sufis use poetry to express their spiritual experiences? How does Sufi poetry convey "divine love"? Lastly, how did they utilize contradictory terms (e.g., "near/far") in their symbolic representations of God, viewing Him as both an exalted essence and an immanent presence?

الكلمات الرئيسية