THE ARABIC QASIDAS OF FUZULI

 Muhammed bin Suleyman Fuzūlī (d. ca. 1556) composed qaṣīdas in Turkish, Persian, and Arabic. While his Turkish and Persian qaṣīdas are widely studied, his Arabic qaṣīdas have received relatively little scholarly attention. This article examines the twelve Arabic qaṣīdas (eleven complete, one fragment, totaling 465 bayts/couplets), discussing their textual transmission, poetic structure, and thematic content. The study showcases Fuzūlī’s proficiency in Arabic metres, rhetorical techniques, and semantic intricacies. His qaṣīdas reflect Sufi thought and Shi‘ite devotion, particularly to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and Imam ʿAli (ع), as well as lyrical explorations of earthly love. The study contextualises Fuzūlī’s Arabic qaṣīdas within his trilingual poetic heritage, emphasising their integral role in appreciating the poet’s artistic and spiritual achievements. Consequently, these qaṣīdas should be studied alongside his Turkish and Persian poetry to gain a comprehensive understanding of Fuzūlī’s poetic genius and his contributions to the literary traditions of the Islamic world. The article also touches upon the poet's date of birth, which appears differently in various sources. Based on the date on a manuscript obtained from the National Library of France (BnF), it emphasises the importance of revising this date.