Madih nabawi in al-Andalus [Ressource électronique] : from rituals to politics / Al Amein Alshareif

Doctor of Philosophy : Near Eastern Languages and Cultures : Indiana University : 2013

Bibliogr. p. 178-182

From the 5th/ 11th century, madīḥ nabawī (praise poetry for the Prophet Muḥammad) began to emerge as a distinct poetic genre and spread throughout the Islamic world. In al-Andalus, devotion to the person of the Prophet Muḥammad became an essential element of Islamic faith for both individuals and communities after the decline of Umayyad dynasty at Cordova, as Arabs and Berbers competed for political power. Most poets composed such poetry and some of them devoted whole dīwāns of praise poems to the Prophet. While pious individuals sought spiritual benefits related to intercession, pilgrimage, etc., from the Prophet, kings and rulers took advantage of the celebration of Prophet's birthday (mawlid al-nabī) to establish their legitimate authority over their subjects. In order to acquire their subjects' loyalty, kings staged elaborate public ceremonies on this annual occasion. Madīḥ nabawī, composed in a variety of poetic forms- qaṣīdah, muwashshaḥ, and zajal- was performed during these festivals. Andalusian poets created a set of associations between the Prophet and their ruler patrons to convince the subjects of the patrons' legitimacy. This tendency related to social and political changes which allowed the Prophet to be imagined as a source of salvation for individuals and communities. In this dissertation, I will explore the development of madīḥ nabawī from a religious practice to a practice in the service of political purposes. I will analyze poems by four poets from al-Andalus in order to understand the function of each poem within its religious and political context. In addition, I hope to contribute to the understanding of the genre of madīḥ nabawī using theoretical concepts, such as "Supplicatory Ode" and "Inventing Traditions."