Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
KOCATEPE ISLAMI ILIMLER DERGISI, cilt.5, sa.2, ss.414-442, 2022 (ESCI, TRDizin)
This study is based on the examination of Sudanese Arabic poetry, which is one of the most important elements of the Afro-Arabic culture successfully formed in Sudan in a manner that is unique to this geography by synthesizing Africanness and Arabicness during the Turkish rule encompassing the time period between the years 1821 and 1885 according to the general definition in the literature. With the aim of grounding the subject and providing a holistic perspective to the matter, this study discusses the developmental phases of Arabic poetry starting from the early period prior to the Funj era, which is known as the starting phase of Sudanese poetry. In order to reveal the state of Arabic poetry in Sudan during this period, information obtained from Arabic literary history sources was used. It was aimed to determine the important genres of poetry in the corresponding period by subjecting the literary history sources attributed to the well-known poets of the era as well as the poems included in the collections of these poets to a theme analysis. The examinations made on the content of detected poems allowed for the determination of the subjects that were intensively used by the poets. In this context, it was determined that eulogy and elegy were the two genres of poetry that the poets in the period of Turkish rule exemplified the most. It was observed that the connection between the poems produced by Sudanese poets during the period in the focus of the study and those of the poets of the Jahiliyyah, Umayyad and Abbasid periods was reinforced. The versing of poems that had previously been recited in ammiya, which was the public language in the former periods of Sudanese poetry, in Modern Arabic initiated a movement called the Modern Classical Poetry Movement. The fact that Sudanese poets during the period of Turkish rule received religious education particularly in regions such as Egypt and Hejaz and possessed a conservative personality with the influence of religious-sufi movements caused religious meanings to be intensified in the poems they recited. These poems not only included religious meanings, but also focused on matters increasing the quality of poetry such as a solid structure, striking tone, pleasant meaning and faultless language, in contrast with Sufi poetry, which emphasizes rhythm, harmony and melodic aspects of works. The period of Turkish rule in Sudan produced many poets. Most of these poets functioned as religious scholars in addition to their literary persona. Poets such as Sheikh al-Amin ed-Darir, Sheikh & Idot;brahim Abdul Dafi, Ahmad al-Azhari, Husayn al-Zahra, Mohammad Uthman al-Mirghani, al-Madawi Abdul Rahm & acirc;n, Mohammad Ahmad Hashem, Omar al-Azhari, Mohammad Omar al-Banna, Abdul Ghani al-Sillawi, Yahia al-Sillawi and Mohammad Taher al-Majdhub are among the important figures of the Arabic poetry of the time. Although many poets emerged during this period, the number of poems that reached today is very limited. These poems mostly consist of those in the genres of eulogy and elegy while poems in the genres of self-praise and heroism (although not as many as the aforementioned genres) present select examples, as well. In terms of their meaning, it is understood that eulogy poem generally refer to the Holy Prophet (PBUH), state administrators and religious scholars specializing in sufism. It is observed that elegy poems, on the other hand, reflect the emotions of the public in the expression of the sorrow felt by the passing of figures that led the Sudanese society in political, military and religious-sufistic fields. The fact that self-praise and heroism poems refrained from mentioning the Turkish administration in Sudan in a positive or negative light stands out as a striking point. In contrast with the eulogy and elegy poems that mention the Turks, it is observed that self-praise and heroism poems exceeded the geographical boundaries of Sudan and exhibited a characteristic in support of the movements based on Arabic nationalism, such as the 'Urabi revolt in Egypt. It is understood that Mohammad Ahmad al-Mahdi, who fought against the Turkish-Egyptian government in Sudan, claimed to be the Mahdi and served as a religious and political leader in the movement he established under his own name, is an important character who was subject to all types of poetry found in the period. The fact that the poems ended by providing the date with abjad letters, placed importance on citing the verses of the Qur'an, included various unique arts and used Modern Arabic in conjunction with ammiya in addition to their petition for forgiveness, prayer, mercy and intercession are among the characteristic features of the poetry of the period.