Hosein Marashi, Azam Sadegian,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (9-1983)
Abstract
Muhammad Mu'min Al-Jaza'iri Al-Shirazi is a notable Iranian author interested in the art of Maqama in the late 11th and early 12th centuries. His works include several Maqamas found in three books: Maqama Nasikha, Tayf al-Khayal, and Khazanat al-Khayal, though many remain unpublished. The Maqamas authored by Muhammad Mu'min Al-Jaza'iri differ from those of Badi' al-Zaman al-Hamadhani and Al-Hariri in terms of style, subject matter, and purpose. The writer deviates from the established norms of the Maqama genre, showcasing a unique approach that distinguishes his work within this literary tradition. Somewhat, this made the author an innovative figure in this literary style. Among all his Maqamas, one that particularly catches our attention is the Swadiya, the seventh Maqama in the book Tayf al-Khayal, which discusses the debate between knowledge and wealth. In this work, the author breaks away from the principles established by Badi' al-Zaman al-Hamadhani and Al-Hariri. This study focuses on the narrator's role and types within the Swadiya Maqama, highlighting its artistic and aesthetic value through modern methodological tools. The research reveals that the author employs a first-person narrative style, conveying events with personal feelings and limited knowledge while expressing internal emotions without accessing characters' thoughts. A key feature is the use of multiple narrators, providing varied perspectives. The study also emphasizes the use of epistolary art in this Maqama, suggesting it represents a new type of epistolary narrative in Arabic literature.
