An Old-Fashioned Genre – Maqāma in the 18th Century

Abstract

The eighteenth century was crucial for the development of Arabic literature. While some genres were more prone to change, the maqāma remained a conservative and elitist genre. Yet it did enjoy a kind of renaissance in the eighteenth century. The maqāmas of the eighteenth century were a varied lot, both qualitatively and content wise. Al-Ḥarīrī remained the favourite model for eighteenth-century authors. Also other great authors of the past, such as Az-Zamaẖšarī and As-Suyūṭī, were often imitated. The article surveys the production of maqāmas in the eighteenth century.