Writings as a Form of Opposition: Mathālib Literature in the First Three Centuries AH

Authors : Muhammed Enes TOPGÜL

Pages : 233-274

Doi:10.12730/13091719.2017.82.167

View : 57 | Download : 13

Publication Date : 2018-01-14

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The evolution of early Islamic literature cannot be explained merely by scientific reasons. Indeed, each work is a product of the social, political, scientific, and economic frame of its time. During the first century of the ʿAbbāsid rule, Muslim society experienced various social movements, such as Shuʿūbiyyah; meanwhile, Shīʿī communities began to develop their identity. Both movements opted to write relevant works in a similar manner to take aim at their opponents; accordingly, they compiled the points that condemned their opponents or their assumptions in separate works. The general name for this literature is mathālib insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(defect, fault, slandering);. It developed into two subgenres, namely, mathālib al-ʿArab and mathālib al-ṣaḥābah. The objective of this paper is to present the existence of this genre, which has yet to be subject to a self-contained study, to identify the authors of these works in the first three centuries AH, and to interpret the available data about this genre with regard to ḥadīth history.
Keywords : Mathālib al ʿArab, mathālib al ṣaḥābah, defects of the Companions, Shuʿūbiyyah

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