Among the most important things the Arabs brought with them to Andalusia, in addition to the message of Islam, were poetry and literature. Poetry remained their constant companion in their travels and settlements. No sooner had they settled in the land of Andalusia than the seed of poetry began to grow, spreading throughout the land until it became the most elevated and cherished of arts among all the people of Andalusia: Arabs and Mozarabs alike, and across all social classes: kings, ministers, judges, chamberlains, men, and women.

This reached the point where, as Yaqut al-Hamawi in "Mu'jam al-Buldan" and al-Qazwini in "Athar al-Bilad wa Akhbar al-Ibad" say of the people of Silves: "I have heard from countless people that it is rare to find anyone among its inhabitants who does not compose poetry or engage in literature. Even if you passed by a farmer behind his plow and asked him for poetry, he would instantly compose on any topic you suggested or any meaning you requested." In his comparison between Andalusia and the opposite shore (Morocco), Abu al-Walid al-Shaqundi says of Seville: "As for the poets, muwashshah composers, and zajal writers within it, if they were distributed across the opposite shore, it would be too small for them, and all of them receive the خير and support of its leaders."

Despite the tribulations the Andalusian heritage faced—burning, destruction, and looting due to wars, strife, and conflicts, and the burning by the Spanish after their capture of Granada in 897 AH / 1492 CE—a significant number of Andalusian poetry collections and anthologies survived these hardships, allowing scholars to study the masterpieces of that poetry.

The political, social, and environmental conditions experienced by the Andalusians inclined their poets towards certain poetic themes more than others. The enchanting beauty of Andalusian nature prompted them to extensively describe nature and excel in it. The diverse origins of Andalusian society and the freedom of women led them to diversify their descriptions of social life and to master the art of ghazal (love poetry) and its associated gatherings of song, music, leisure, and wine. The fall of their cities to the Spanish had a profound impact, leading to an increase in poems of appeal for help, elegies for fallen cities, and political and historical poetry in general.

This book is dedicated to reviewing some aspects of poetic activity in Andalusia through its different historical eras, as well as to examining the factors behind the development of the poetic movement, and to providing a close, analytical reading of some famous poems by Andalusian poets. The author has ensured that these poems represent the main themes that Andalusian poets frequently explored, choosing the poem by Ibn Zaydun sent to his beloved Wallada bint al-Mustakfi from Seville after his escape from prison; the poem by Ibn Khafajah describing a mountain; the poem by Abu al-Baqa al-Rundi elegizing Andalusia; and the poems of Al-Mu'tamid ibn Abbad in his prison, comparing them with those of Abu Firas al-Hamdani in his captivity.

This is followed by three chapters, each representing an aspect of the connection between Andalusian poetry and Andalusian life. The first addresses the role of poetry in confronting political decline and weakness during the era of the Taifa kingdoms (422 AH - 484 AH), presenting the poetry of Abu Hafs al-Huzani as a significant example of this role. Another chapter deals with the poetry of Andalusian women, which reveals important aspects of the character of Andalusian society. The final chapter is titled: "Reading Method for the Visually Impaired in Poems from Andalusian Poetry," a chapter that uncovers some important civilizational facets of Andalusian life and poetry.

• Number of Pages: 224
• Year of Publication: 2015
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: 3
• Printing Color: Black
• Dimensions (cm): 17x24
• Weight (kg): 0.550
• Barcode: 9789957063115