Husseini Elegy Poetry between the East and the West in the Fifth and Sixth Centuries AH

Abstract

The phenomenon of Shiism is one of the factors that clearly influenced Arabic poetry, especially in the East. This phenomenon was able to reflect the most important ideologies of the Shiite sect, and then began to gradually infiltrate Andalusia, leaving a noticeable impact on Andalusian poetry that reflected various aspects of social, cultural and political life in that period. Andalusian poets dealt with new ideas coming from the East, including Shiite thought, which began to appear clearly in Andalusian literary life. This research seeks to trace Shiite poetry in Andalusia, focusing on the elegies of Andalusian poets for Imam Hussein (peace be upon him). These elegies were based on deep psychological and intellectual factors, as the poets depicted the tragedy of Karbala in a vivid way, revealing the depth of the tragedy and its impact on the souls of believers. These poems reflected the poets' sincere emotion towards what happened to Hussein and the family of the Prophet, as the tendency to sadness was clearly evident in their expressions of pain and grief.  The poems were filled with intense emotion and strong feelings, reflecting the majesty of this event and its profound impact on the soul. The research also addressed the means that contributed to shaping the poetic image, indicating a clear connection between ideas and meanings, as sadness and pain dominate all the poems. Consequently, the meanings and ideas of these elegies were consistent with the psychological atmosphere experienced by the poets, which led to the synergy of form and content in expressing the poet’s feelings towards Imam Hussein (peace be upon him).