Before a discussion on the history of Arabic literature, we must pause at the onset to inquire about the proper meaning of literature and give it a universally accepted definition to use as a baseline for our analysis of the most salient traits of the Arab world's long history of literary output. From there we can proceed to an appropriate study of characteristics across the different periods of time and to emphasize manifestations of its brilliance and causes of its decline.

Be this pause brief or lengthy, the lessons drawn will lead naturally to a better understanding of the focus of our study and a better appreciation of Arabic literature's colorful highlights whose origins stretch back more than a millennium and a half. Moreover its strength and vitality suggest it will persist for centuries to come.

As for the dawn of its birth, it is not easy to have even an approximate view of what it was like. It would be pointless to pretend to have a cut and dried view of this era. We shall therefore set forth on a history whose origins are lost in the mists of time. And so as our reflections deepen on the Arab nation's literary history, we will only have to go back a little more than a century and a half before the Hegira (of our prophet) to find literary works much closer to its mature (peak) than to its first faltering steps. Consequently we immediately begin to study the hallmarks of an era which produced masterpieces that are considered amongst the everlasting literary pieces created by humanity. Pieces that were the fruits of passionate feelings and thought.

Our study will not be an easy one to undertake because it will not be limited to just one of the facets we wish to focus on when discussing the scope of literature, the object of our analysis. We must associate with it other facets of the intellectual effort and consider these various components as integral parts of one entity. When we think of literature as a movement of oral or written expression that is part of a nation's literary legacy we immediately think of a style of artistic prose, of poetry inspired by emotions, of proverbs on morals and conduct as well as other considerations related to the esthetic qualities of literary work.

Unfortunately that is not what we face when we look at the history of Arabic literature. Mingled with this term we find evidence of profound philosophical thinking. This is not to say that it is our present inability to differentiate between pure philosophical thought and literature. That has forced us to widen the span of the field of literature by giving increasing space to the vast field of philosophical thought alongside that of feelings and emotions. Rather it is because there is a certain difficulty in finding a fundamental difference between literature and pure philosophical thought. This is especially true in the past. Neither appeared to be as distinct as we perceive them today where literary activity and the field of pure philosophical thought are considered to be two autonomous disciplines.

Literary history at times takes on a very broad meaning, encompassing the entire (written) legacy of the past. However this observation does not prevent us from giving a clear definition which can facilitate distinguishing between literary works and those of philosophical thinking. This will help us understand and appreciate the former and bring us closer and more familiar with the latter as a first step in comprehending its influence on literature.

Definition of Literature

If we take the shortest path to define literature, we note that there exists a field of (written) research that is appropriate for science while literature, by its vivacity and fertility, offers a wider field of writing which allows feelings to be manifested in all their forms, and allows the states of emotion to be explored within the context of their spheres of influence and to be penetrated to their deepest level of sensitivity. Based on this clarification we can consider literature in all of its manifestations. These evoke internal feelings which can be gentle at times or harsh. Even without detecting their source nor understanding their effect on our persona, we can (through literature) deepen our reflections on the meaning of life on the one hand and on the other, call on science to help us explain the microbiological phenomena causing our experiences.

There is no doubt that it is our brain that allows us to express our feelings. That is how the world of the mind mingles with that of feelings and why it is often hard to determine whether to classify our expressions within the field of philosophical thinking or within that of creative literature. In any case we must note that there is a clear distinction between the brain as an essential organ of thought in command of all mental faculties and the brain as the seat from which all mental events originate to form the world of feeling. That said, there is agreement to classify certain brain activities as either in the intellectual category or the instinctive behavior category. The first draws upon its capacity to discern, compare (and decide) between situations; the second finds its origins (of manifestation) in innate dispositions which often determine a certain way of living which we call our psyche.

Objectives of Literature

If we imagine a tight relationship exists between literature and internal impulses that push us to become authors in certain if not all cases, then it is imperative for us to try to understand the aims we glimpse due to these compelling literary urges. These aims indicate that there is no uniformity of purpose for literature in our lives. These aims do not shy away from ambiguity or deceit. They are rooted deep within us and we grasp their full scope. We find that literature has fulfilled its mission once we become aware of our hearts throbbing and hear others express the same feeling. In my opinion I think its aims consist of only three elements:

What are the factors that exert an impact on literature? What are the influences that literature exerts on the world around it?

I am not one of those who believe that only political factors drive the literary currents such that it has a flourishing period across a so-called golden era and a reversal during a period of decadence. No I do not belong in the category of people who think this way. Nor do I deny that political factors have no influence at all on literature. One need only to consider the example of other factors which influence literature and, in turn, feel its influence. It is not astonishing that literature is influenced by all factors and exerts its influence on all for it is the sensitive tool that measures the heartbeat of a nation. Thus political factors do have influence over literary trends just like all the other factors. But what are these other factors, i.e. what factors besides political ones influence the literary world?

It won't be easy to enumerate these influential factors as they are too numerous, varied, and are linked to the human species both at the individual and collective level.

They are linked to the individual who enlists in the literary movement by contributions of his creative inspiration which he wraps with feelings to provoke admiration. He put his whole being into play for any critique; like the use of a scale to evaluate his creation by separating the wheat from the chaff.

Influential factors are equally found at the collective level be it in their social progress, state of stagnation, optimism or pessimism or even in their leanings, traditions and objectives. It is found collectively in all the religious, scientific and theoretical currents channeled by nations. It is found in the criteria that are part of a nation's existence which refines and makes whole as a function of its appreciation for most particularly what it finds to be good. It is found at the collective level in its natural environment of evolution whose climate could be either the torrid heat of summer, glacial cold of winter or the nice and clement weather.

I risk taking too much time to give an exhaustive enumeration of all its influencing factors. In order to be brief, I will summarize by stating that all influences on literature are reflected by incidents affecting its nation and that mark a life path for its individuals. All that falls within the feelings of writers is reflected in their literary work. It provokes an echo whose rebound can have profound and a resoundingly clear impact or be stifled as time moves with the earth's rotations. In any case, it necessarily leaves its vestiges in the subconscious mind.

If we attempt to grasp what an author feels or if we wish to look over some written piece or to review a school of literature, we must not limit our studies to political upheavals which marked the period which our literary research led us to envision both at the individual and collective level. In case the information at hand on the past provides only summary and superficial indications on the period or on the school of literature, then it falls upon the most versed of literary experts on the subject matter to use their conjectures and hypotheses to imagine and reflect upon the diverse influences on the literary subject in question. It is a given that they will perceive such views based on their analyses and their affinity they bear on the literature's history. It will not harm the literary expert to renew contact with life's past history and to integrate it to his own using his genius and harmonious imagination to provide the past with an honest portrayal.

If literature is influenced by all kinds of factors and it in turn affects all who approach it,this all comes back to saying that it has a mission in our life. It has a role to be accomplished at the highest level one expects. The mind of a literary expert yearns for blazing ideas, constantly buffeted between the good and the bad. It is constantly agitated by waves that raise the influences it emits and in turn submits to literature's modulation surging deep inside.

If you observe an important political revolution, it is likely that literature has played a key role on its stage. And if you witness the advent of a cultural revival, then the first source of reference that comes to mind is the literature. Included amongst its literary and artistic work it will be filled with allegorical odes extolling a specific goal. If you note a once aimless society showing signs of life, you will be assured that literature has fulfilled its purpose amongst its awakened and moribund alike, uplifting their souls and bringing life back to their spirits which had faded away for so long.

Literature's horizons

What field is at the center of literary preoccupation and what field is not?

The answer to this question leads us to envision the horizons that man's feelings lead to as he evolves in the world of literature. Literature covers all topics dealing with life and in particular those movements driven by (strong) feelings. But it remains unclear how literature reflects life's events. It's reflections are expressed through a lens as if it was art for art's sake, limiting its descriptions to those principle events of existence that remain engraved in the human heart. It also relays the feelings that overwhelm the activities of all men endowed with great sensitivity. Feelings that come from deep inside without knowing exactly where lies the seat of these feelings.

The literary expert approaches not just one aspect of life nor is he from a particular group of the human species. If you are fortunate to have a sensitive heart and poetic inspiration you will find everywhere you look scenes that invite reflection. You will be able to use a disciplined language and excel in your depictions of dreams and deep aspirations so as to preserve them in the collective memory. Your name will be immortalized by succeeding generations irrespective of the motives that provoked in you the tidal wave of overflowing feelings.