The Zuhdiyat of Abu'l-'Atahiya

Martin, James D (1970) The Zuhdiyat of Abu'l-'Atahiya. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

After a brief resume of previous work on the poet Abu'l-Atahiya, the first chapter contains a biography of him. A survey is then made of the various sects of Islam during the period (730-850 A. D.) covered by The poet's life (chapter II),and there follows a discussion of the religious beliefs attributed to Abu'l-Atahiya by the traditions recorded about him in the 10th century (chapter III). This what were believed to be the poet's the period shortly after his death is an attempt to assess ideas in There then follows an extended study (chapters IV-VI) of Abu'l-Atahiya's religious beliefs as these are attested in his religious poems (Zuhdiyat). In chapter IV, the theology of the Zuhdiyat is expounded, that is the doctrines of God, man and the world, the teaching on death, resurrection, the last judgment and the life after death. The following chapter (V) expounds the religious philosophy of the Zuhdiyat Abu'l-Atahiya diagnosis of the failings of man and of the world are offset by the advice which he proffers to his contemporaries on hew to live their lives. The sermon like nature of the Zuhdiyat is noted. In chapter VI, the various questions raised and left unresolved in chapter III are answered in the light of the Zuhdiyat, and the conclusion is reached that Abu'l-Atahiya was a perfectly orthodox Muslim but was as with an early ascetic movement which later developed into sufi mysticism. final chapter (VII) examines the Zuhdiyat as poetry The with particular reference to his metrical usage and the range of imagery which he employs. In the Conclusion, an attempt is made to set him in perspective as one of the major poets of the early Abbasid period and to indicate some further lines of study which appear to be necessary.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: John Nattock
• Keywords: Middle Eastern literature
• Date of Award: 1970
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1970-73201
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• Last Modified: 14 Jun 2019 08:56
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/73201