This paper deals with the Sufi authorship and new dimensions of writing and composing Poetry, Sufi texts and comics.
Sufi authorship has different dimensions, ranging from writing or saying about mysticism, Sufi saints, or divine figures, in new forms of expression, such as poetry, graphic stories and Mushaira. While dealing with this in the tradition of Malabar’s Sufi authorship, it is seen in its different nature. Malabar has contributed a lot to the tradition sufi poetry through Mala Poetry written in Arabic-Malayalam such Safala Mala, Muhyuddeen Mala, and poems recited in the mystical insanity. This Mala tradition has given a new facet of Sufi poetry. In this tradition, some Mala poetry has fixed single authors, and others still remain in anonymity of authors while others are shared and collaborative. Adding stories from Prophetic tradition and words of wisdom by Sufs in these poems seem to echo the intertextual and interauthorial aspects Frischkopfean notion of Sufi poetry. And questions arise from appropriating poems to a mad mystic who reached the circle of Jazb, whether his poem is part of his creativity or will it be treated as ‘authorless’ object due to its composition during one’s Sufi madness. Impromptu Sufi poetry is mainly focus of some religious institute based competitions, which differs from the conventional system of Rekhtah/ Mushaira in which lines borrowed from the available Sufi poetry. In this impromptu poem, which is based on final letter of opposite contestant, the reciting person should create his own line from genius and perform it. The line should include some appraisal of prophet, or Sufi saints and it gives some important ideas on the original composition of the poems. Other interesting area where ambiguity of authorship arises is Sufi graphic stories such as Mulla Nasruddeen story. In Malabar, children’s literature is replete with stories from Sufi traditions which are narrated by author or compiler of the story giving some additional picture with comments. This act of graphic stories has given very distinct notion of authorship in which compiler of the stories is interconnected with original author of the story who can be the Sufi or his disciples. These are all modes of productions which seem to suggest emergence of new ideas of authorship.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Sufi poetry
- Mala: New mode of Sufi poetry
- Publishing and Politics
- Authorship of Popular Malas
- Language, content, style
- Interlinguality, Interauthoriality and Intertextuality of Mala
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work aims to explore the concept of Sufi authorship in Malabar, specifically focusing on the unique characteristics of Mappila literature and its challenge to traditional notions of authorship. It examines the collaborative, hybrid, and collective nature of Sufi writing, contrasting it with the individualistic Romantic model. The study delves into the specific poetic form of "Mala" to illustrate these concepts.
- Sufi authorship in Malabar and its deviation from traditional models
- The collaborative and collective nature of Sufi writing
- Analysis of "Mala" poetry as a case study of Sufi authorship
- The interplay of language (Arabic and Malayalam) and its impact on authorship
- The political and social context surrounding the creation and dissemination of Sufi texts
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the multifaceted nature of authorship, emphasizing its variability across cultures, genres, and styles. It introduces Sufism's unique literary contributions, including poetry, songs, dramas, and spontaneous writing. The chapter focuses on Malabar's rich Sufi heritage and the Mappila literature's challenge to the dominant elite literary styles of the time. It raises crucial questions about defining a "Sufi author," considering the collaborative and hybrid nature of Sufi writings, and highlighting the complexities arising from the mystical origins of Sufi creativity.
Sufi poetry: This section explores the characteristics of Sufi poetry, describing it primarily as prose in verse, narrating Sufi masters' stories, offering instructions to followers, praising saints, and reinterpreting Prophetic traditions poetically. It introduces new styles and forms of Sufi poetry developed in Malabar, such as Maalas, Paattus, and Qissas, highlighting their pre-colonial origins and continued relevance. The chapter also examines the political aspects of authorship within these poems, noting how authors praised Sufi masters and crafted poems for continuous recitation, thereby linking themselves to specific Sufi orders. The hybrid nature of these poems, blending Arabic and Malayalam, further complicates the issue of authorship.
Mala: New mode of Sufi poetry: This chapter delves into the "Mala," a new poetic tradition incorporated into the Mappila community's folk songs. It examines how these poems draw from historical accounts, distinguishing themselves from other Sufi poetry through their prose-in-verse format and historical narrative bound by poetic rhythms and styles. The strong influence of Sufi orders and masters on the authors is evident in the poems. The chapter explores the paradoxical nature of publishing these works, detailing the conflict between publishers' ideology and the increasing publication and commercial exploitation of these Sufi texts. Different examples of Malas (Muhyuddeen Mala, Safala Mala, Rifai Mala) illustrate diverse approaches to authorship: individual, collaborative, and anonymous. The Malas are analyzed within a specific context, acknowledging their significance for spiritual enlightenment and oral tradition over print publication.
Language, content, style: This section focuses on the linguistic and stylistic features of Malas. It highlights the Arabic-Malayalam hybrid language, written in Arabic script but read as Malayalam. This hybridity intensifies the spirituality of the poems and demands a bilingual author. The content is profoundly spiritual, encompassing miraculous life events of Sheikhs, praises of their lineage, and invocations. The chapter notes the stylistic similarities among different Malas, such as shared rhythms and endings, which suggest borrowing and influence amongst poets. The study probes the ambiguity in defining the genre and authorship of Malas, questioning whether the creators should be termed poet-historians, emphasizing the impact of content on the determination of authorship and genre.
Interlinguality, Interauthoriality and Intertextuality of Mala: This concluding section explores the interlingual, interauthorial, and intertextual aspects of Mala poetry. It analyzes the interplay of Arabic and Malayalam, emphasizing the "interlinguality" stemming from the poems' intertextual nature. Drawing upon the work of Michael Frischkopfe and Vladimir Zoric, the chapter explains how the interlingual nature of Mala poetry creates a space for Sufi authors to live on symbolically through their orally transmitted and recited texts. This chapter concludes without providing major conclusions or revelations.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Sufi authorship, Mappila literature, Malabar, Mala poetry, Arabic-Malayalam hybridity, intertextuality, interauthoriality, interlinguality, collaborative authorship, Sufi traditions, oral tradition, religious poetry, mystical poetry, spiritual enlightenment.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Study of Sufi Authorship in Malabar
What is the main focus of this study?
This study explores the concept of Sufi authorship in Malabar, specifically focusing on the unique characteristics of Mappila literature and its challenge to traditional notions of authorship. It examines the collaborative, hybrid, and collective nature of Sufi writing, contrasting it with the individualistic Romantic model, using the poetic form "Mala" as a primary case study.
What are the key themes explored in the study?
Key themes include Sufi authorship in Malabar and its deviation from traditional models; the collaborative and collective nature of Sufi writing; analysis of "Mala" poetry; the interplay of Arabic and Malayalam languages and their impact on authorship; and the political and social context surrounding the creation and dissemination of Sufi texts.
What is a "Mala" and why is it significant to this study?
A "Mala" is a new poetic tradition incorporated into the Mappila community's folk songs. It's significant because it exemplifies the collaborative, hybrid, and often anonymous nature of Sufi authorship in Malabar. The study analyzes different Malas (e.g., Muhyuddeen Mala, Safala Mala, Rifai Mala) to illustrate diverse approaches to authorship.
How does the study define Sufi authorship?
The study challenges the traditional, individualistic notion of authorship, highlighting the collaborative and hybrid nature of Sufi writing. It considers the contributions of Sufi orders, masters, and communities in the creation and dissemination of Sufi texts, recognizing that authorship can be collective and anonymous, unlike the typical Romantic model.
What is the role of language in the study?
The study emphasizes the Arabic-Malayalam hybrid language used in Mala poetry. This linguistic hybridity is central to the understanding of authorship, as it reflects the collaborative and intertextual nature of the poetic tradition. The interplay of languages is seen as intensifying the spirituality of the poems and demanding a bilingual author.
What are the key concepts of interlinguality, interauthoriality, and intertextuality in relation to Mala poetry?
The study explores how the interlingual nature of Mala poetry (Arabic and Malayalam) creates a space for Sufi authors to symbolically live on through their orally transmitted texts. Interauthoriality refers to the collaborative aspects of creation, while intertextuality highlights the borrowing and influence among poets, evident in shared rhythms and styles across different Malas.
What are the chapter summaries?
The study includes chapters on the multifaceted nature of authorship and Sufism's literary contributions; characteristics of Sufi poetry in Malabar; a detailed analysis of Mala poetry; the linguistic and stylistic features of Malas; and finally, an exploration of interlinguality, interauthoriality, and intertextuality within Mala poetry.
What are the main conclusions of the study (if any)?
The concluding section, focusing on interlinguality, interauthoriality, and intertextuality, does not offer major conclusions or revelations. Instead, it focuses on the complexities and nuances of Sufi authorship within the specific context of Malabar and the Mala poetic tradition.
What are the keywords associated with this study?
Keywords include Sufi authorship, Mappila literature, Malabar, Mala poetry, Arabic-Malayalam hybridity, intertextuality, interauthoriality, interlinguality, collaborative authorship, Sufi traditions, oral tradition, religious poetry, mystical poetry, and spiritual enlightenment.
- Quote paper
- Muhamed Riyaz Chenganakkattil (Author), 2016, Sufi Authorship of Malabar. New Dimensions of Writing and Composing Poetry, Sufi Texts and Comics, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/369555
