Abstract

Poetry of Muhssin Abul-Hab Al-Kabeer

An Objective and Artistic Study

The poet, Muhssin Abul- Hab Al-Kabeer is considered to be one of Karbala’s poets who had a major role in the literary medium of Karbala by the nineteenth century; this is due to his achievements in rhetoric and poetry which elevated him to be one of the prominent figures in his age.

Abul-Hab dedicated his artistic talent (in poetry and rhetoric) in favor of Imam Hussies’ cause, for he was one of the poets who left a deep impact on the tradition of poetry related to Imam Hussein. He adopted Imam Hussein’s cause with all its intellectual and conceptual dimensions.

This research sheds light on the literature of this literary figure whose works were about to be diminished unless a man of his family worked so hard to revise and verify his poetry. The result was the publication of Abul-Hab’s poetry collection which is accessible to all readers in the Holy city of Karbala.

This research aims at showing the political, social, cultural and economical aspects dominant in the poet’s time; considering the influence of these aspects on his work. An introduction of the poet Abul-Hab and his literary stance among his contemporaries is to be tackled.

Moreover, this research illustrates objective and artistic aspects of Abul-Hab’s poetry as follows:

1-   The objective aspect:

This aspect is represented through a study of the poetic motifs contained in Abul-Hab’s poetry. One of these motifs is ”Lamentation”, which is strongly present in his poetry. Abul-Hab devoted this motif for lamenting Imam Hussein (pbuh) and his progeny, to the extent that he was dubbed ”the tragedy poet”. Abul-Hab constantly illustrated, through his poetry, the tragedy of Imam Hussein and his companions in the battle of Al-Taff, 61 H. Following to this motif is that of Calling Imam Al-Hujjah (pbuh); the twelfth imam of Ahullbayt(pbuh). Another motif is the praise of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and his progeny, and the motif of social relationships. Finally, concerning the objective aspect, Abul-Hab’s poetry included other motifs in addition to the aforesaid ones. He employed the motifs of courtship, description, pride, satire, and wisdom.

2- The Artistic Aspect:

This aspect has two divisions:

First: it involves the study of the poem’s structure, regarding its constituents (introduction, body, and conclusion). In Addition to the artistic structure of the stanza; this aspect includes the study of the poetic language of Abul-Hab’s poetry. The researcher based her study on three central aspects: vocabulary, form, and rhythm.

Finally, the researcher concludes with the demonstration of the most important findings resulted from the research.