Top questions
Who was Abu al-Ala al-Ma'arri?
Abu al-Ala al-Ma'arri was a blind Arab philosopher, poet and writer born in Ma'arra, in modern Syria, in December 973. He is regarded as one of the greatest classical Arabic poets. He died in May 1057 in his hometown, at the age of 83.
What is al-Ma'arri best known for?
He is best known for three works that were popular in his time: The Tinder Spark, an early poetry collection that established his reputation; Unnecessary Necessity, a more original collection with a complex rhyme scheme; and The Epistle of Forgiveness, a prose work in which the poet visits paradise.
What is The Epistle of Forgiveness?
The Epistle of Forgiveness is al-Ma'arri's prose work, written as a direct response to the poet Ibn al-Qarih, whom he mocks for his religious views. In it the poet visits paradise and meets pre-Islamic Arab poets. It has been compared to Dante's Divine Comedy, though there is no evidence Dante was inspired by it.
What was al-Ma'arri's philosophy?
Al-Ma'arri was a skeptic who denounced superstition and dogmatism, and a recurring theme of his thought was the right of reason against custom, tradition and authority. He has been described as a pessimistic freethinker. He also advocated social justice, lived as an ascetic and opposed all forms of violence.
How did blindness shape al-Ma'arri's life?
He lost his eyesight at the age of four because of smallpox. Later in life he called himself "a double prisoner", referring to his blindness and the isolation he felt. His later pessimism may be explained by his virtual blindness. He began writing poetry at about 11 or 12.
Where did al-Ma'arri study and live?
He was educated first in Ma'arra and Aleppo, later in Antioch and other Syrian cities. After about eighteen months in Baghdad, where literary salons received him well, he returned to Ma'arra around 1010. He stayed there for the rest of his life, living in seclusion and refusing to sell his poems.
What is al-Ma'arri's legacy?
Al-Ma'arri is sometimes referred to as one of the greatest classical Arab poets. Some have drawn connections between him and the Roman poet Lucretius, calling both progressive for their time. His three main works were popular in his own lifetime, and The Epistle of Forgiveness has been compared to the Divine Comedy.
