al-alama

Narratives of Counter- History in the Iraqi Novel

2026-02-11T09:50:49+01:00

This study examines representative models of counter- or alternative historical narratives in selected Iraqi novels. It focuses on how these narratives are told from the perspective of marginalized social classes. The research adopts cultural studies as both an entry point and a foundational framework for analyzing and interpreting the texts. Cultural studies, as a discipline, views the act of rewriting history through fiction as a critical and resistant gesture against dominant powers and central authorities, and as a form of solidarity with the oppressed and disenfranchised in society.
The study analyzes two novels: 1958: A Possible Life of Aref al-Baghdadi and The Manuscript of Faisal III, selecting only those instances where counter-historical narratives are present, in order to explore their impact on the fictional worlds of the novels.

The Language of Theatre and the Question of Identity

2026-02-11T09:57:22+01:00

This study explores how the debate over Classical Arabic versus colloquial dialect in Egyptian theatre (1923–1952) reflected broader questions of identity, nationalism, and cultural revival. The issue was not merely linguistic, but deeply tied to competing visions of Egyptian, Arab, and Islamic identity. Some saw Classical Arabic as a symbol of heritage and refinement; others viewed colloquial Arabic as a more authentic expression of daily life. A third group proposed a balanced approach based on the theatre play’s context. The findings reveal that language choice in theatre was shaped by political, religious, and social ideologies, and that the debate extended beyond art into struggles over colonial resistance and cultural sovereignty. Ultimately, this controversy helped shape the foundational principles of modern Egyptian theatre.

Context and Its Terminological Apparatus

2026-02-11T10:03:40+01:00

Although classical Arab scholars did not formulate a theory of context in the same way it was later conceptualized in modern critical discourse—particularly with the emergence of a self-standing contextual theory in the work of English linguist J. R. Firth—the absence of a fully articulated contextual theory in its modern sense does not mean that early Arab thinkers were unconcerned with context. A close examination of various branches of Arab intellectual discourse—such as the sciences of ḥadīth, linguistics, rhetoric, and literary criticism—reveals that the notion of context (siyāq) was a fundamental concern that helped shape these fields into fully developed disciplines within the Arab-Islamic intellectual tradition.
What matters most for the purpose of this study is the discourse of literary criticism, which is rich with references to context and clearly demonstrates that this concept played a key role in shaping critical discourse—both in terms of determining critical judgments and in organizing the associated terminological framework. This suggests that context is deeply rooted in Arab critical heritage. Despite the varying ways Arab critics approached this concept, they shared an underlying concern with all the elements that define context as a critical category. Otherwise, how could we explain their detailed interest in the communicative process and the conveyance of meaning? And how can we account for the evaluative criteria and critical judgments they developed—criteria that preoccupied both classical and modern critics?
Moreover, their concern with context led to the development of a terminological apparatus that reveals their capacity to establish a critical discourse grounded in systematic and scientific inquiry. On this basis, the axes of this research are defined as follows: first, we will explore the concept of context from the perspective of contemporary Western theory; within this framework, we will then examine how Arab rhetoricians and classical critics conceptualized context; finally, we will conclude by outlining the key terminological components that formed around this notion.

The Rhetorical Structure of Governance and Strategic Planning Mechanisms in Nahjul Balagha

2026-02-11T10:07:05+01:00

Nahj al-Balagha represents an intellectual and rhetorical document with a comprehensive civilizational dimension, encompassing sermons, letters, and wisdom that embody the pinnacle of Arabic eloquence and the depth of human and political vision. Therefore, this research aims to analyze the rhetorical structure of Nahj al-Balagha as a mechanism for governance and strategic planning within it, as a text that combines moral values and administrative awareness, not to mention that it presents an integrated intellectual model for governance and administration. To reveal the effectiveness of Alawite discourse in constructing administrative and leadership concepts, such as justice, consultation, organization, accountability, planning, and human development, the study adopted the rhetorical analytical approach. The study concluded that the Imam (peace be upon him) employed brevity to establish the principles of good governance, adopted preemptive warning as a strategic tool to confront seditions before they occurred, used similes and metaphors to map crises and conflicts, and used repetition and rhythm as a means of mass mobility and prioritization. He also formulated a civilizational future vision based on three pillars: knowledge, scripture (revelation), and community unity. In his texts, eloquence is transformed into a tool for reforming the state and society. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that the rhetorical structure in his approach (peace be upon him) is not merely an aesthetic goal, but rather a strategic means for managing political and social thought and behavior, making his administrative thought ahead of many modern theories of governance and strategic planning in its institutional awareness

Oral Literature in Al-Jahiz’s Kitab al-Hayawan

2026-02-11T10:12:21+01:00

This study aims to highlight the role of oral narratives in the formation of Arab culture as a culture rooted in orality and locality, and in the nature of dialogic gatherings. This role has been entirely marginalized under the dominance of elitist discourse and the authority of official literature, which historically represented the official power closely intertwined with political authority, thereby obscuring the vital contribution of oral discourse belonging to the language of the common people within the vast popular sphere. The paper presents an introduction to orality, its cultural presence, and its relation to the historical domain in shaping the identity of heritage. It further explores the theme of local orality and ethnographic identity, focusing on the relationship between humans and their environmental and social surroundings. The discussion also addresses Basra and its archaeological memory, examining Al-Jahiz’s connection to place—particularly Basra—as a significant space within Arab culture. Finally, the study considers the theme of oral majlis literature as an essential form of Arab culture that reinforces Arab oral identity, concluding with the most prominent findings of the research.

Fear and Intimidation in Al-sulouk Omani poet

2026-02-11T10:18:10+01:00

Terms related to the meanings of fear and intimidation are widespread in the poetry of many Omani poets, especially those who are known for composing ethical or moralistic poetry (qasidat al-sulouk). These poets became well known for this genre. So, what are the motivations that make a poet terrified and anxious when he directs the discourse of fear toward himself? What does he use to intimidate others when directing his words outward? What is the effect of the semantic field of fear on the production of some of the essential meanings around which the ethical poem revolves? Guided by these questions, we build our central problem in this study titled " Fear and Intimidation in the Omani 'Solook' Poem”." through four selected examples. Our approach is based on structural methodology and follows a three-part plan:
1. In the first section, we reflect on the terminological system related to fear and intimidation (e.g., fear, awe, anxiety, dread, reverence, panic, terror...).
2. In the second section, we contemplate the image of the fearful, anxious poet who strives to avoid falling into what God has warned against and prohibited.
3. In the third section, we examine the methods by which the poet intimidates himself and others in order to lead them toward salvation.
Throughout these three sections, our focus is primarily on uncovering the key meanings produced by the vocabulary of fear and intimidation in the Omani ethical poem.