The ideal city in the poetry of Abu al-Ala al-Ma'arri

Abstract

        Abu Al-Ala Al-Maarri, the philosopher and poet, was concerned with human life, and he turned to it sincerely with his mind and emotions, and wished that people were unharmed..., and he did not stop much at poetry of flirtation and praise, but rather dealt with thought, as his goal was to reform people by guiding people to the path of salvation in this world and the hereafter. It is the goal of Islam. Al-Ma'arri had a pride that refused to be humiliated and was keen on preserving his dignity, so he turned away from the world, which was his most prominent characteristic. Asceticism, chastity of soul, gentleness of heart, and intensity of mercy. These virtuous human qualities prompted him to adopt the project of the utopia in his literature in general and his poetry in particular. Virtuous cities aim to form a good society. This society was thought about by Plato and a group of Greek philosophers. Likewise, Al-Farabi wanted to establish his city in light of the principles of these philosophers, but in an Islamic spirit. Plato and Al-Farabi presented a written invitation, but Abu Al-Ala’s call was shouts in a valley that were echoed throughout the world. His poetry and prose, because Al-Maarri was surrounded by countries that targeted him, and he feared their oppression, so he resorted to what is known as the eloquence of the oppressed in his literary project, and he apparently believes that the issue of ideal republics is not possible as Plato and Al-Farabi after him imagined, or as they believed.