Didactic Poetry and Its Examples in Taʻalīq al-Ṣabīḥ ʻAlā Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ

الشعر التعليمي وشواهده في التعليق الصبيح على مشكاة المصابيح

Abstract

Arabic poetry comprises of many different classifications. These classify cations are formed due to the different poetic expressions of the poet and the attributes of the poetry itself. A greater part of Arabic poetry is based on the expression of emotions and feelings through the language of poetry. However, there is a dedicated niche in Arabic poetry that includes expression of philosophical and intellectual ideas and thoughts by using poetry. This classification includes educational poetry. In didactic poetry, different topics and themes are expressed by poetry that helps the reader grasp complex concepts and subjects through the medium of poetry. This helps the reader learn and remember, relate, and understand better. Didactic poetry is an art of using language to see and understand better. Sheikh Mohammad Idrees Kandhelvi has used this classification of Arabic poetry in his book Taʻalīq al-Ṣabīḥ ʻAlā Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ as a means of evidence and to highlight and simplify important themes and subject matter. This study has looked into the various ways he has used poetry and educational poetry, in particular in his book. The study provides and in-depth analysis of the form of poetry and how it has been used as supporting evidence to present various complex subject matter.