BA in Arabic Language & Literature

This course offers a broad overview of the Arabic language tailored for individuals without specialized knowledge. It encompasses the following subjects: Arabic in the context of global languages, the phonological structure, the morphological structure, the syntactic structure, and the writing system. Additionally, it explores the relationship between Arabic and its integration into other languages, the intersection of Arabic with computer technology, and provides guidance on composing scholarly articles.

The objective of this course is to delve into the analysis of speech and their respective indicators. It ecompasses a comprehensive exploration of nouns and verbs, encompassing both indefinte and definite forms and exploring various types of definitness. Additionally, it delves into the inticracies of nominal sentence rules, verbal complements, adverbial complements, and the intricacies of heart verbs. Furthermore, the course acquaints students with primary and secondary grammatical markers. Ultimately, the course is designed to furnish students with the skills needed to syntactically analyze nominal sentences in their diverse forms. To illustrate these concepts, the ourse utilizes examples from the Quran, literary texts, and linguistic evidence.

The objective of this course is to provide an overview of the inception and progression of literary criticism, familiarize students with key critical topics, classical literary masterpieces, the heirarchy of poets, and notable literary texts such as Ibn al- Mu'tazz's "Kitab al-Badi" and Ibn Qutaybah's "Kitab al-shi'r wal- Shu;'ara." Furthermore, the course delves into the examination of criticism within the framework of its rhetorical principles. As a result, it scrutinizes the works and statements of critics while also offering literary works for analysis and assessment through the evaluation of selected literary texts.

The objective of this course aims to introduce the students to the realm of Arabic prosody, which serves to diffrentiate betweeen the proper and improper aspects of poetry. This field encompasses the study of music and meter, employing poetic verses to illustrate what aligns with the rythmic prosodic framework and what departs from it. Prosody is governed by its own set of rules, principles, and theories, which students acquire through the learning process. Understanding the importance of prosody and ryhme is crucial for discerning valid poetry from flawed compositions. Furthermore, the course fosters the development of poetic skills among students.

The primary objective of this course is to acquaint students with the concept of language as one of the most fundamental elements of human existence. It encompasses various levels of linguistic analysis, including phonetics, morphology, syntax, and semantics. Furthermore, the course seeks to empower learners to articulate the scope of modern linguistics and distinguish its various branches. It also delves into the exploration of contemporary linguistic theories, spanning from structural-descriptive grammar to transformational-generative grammar (including the theories of de Saussure, Bloomfield, and Chomsky), emphasizing their significant contributions to the scientific study of language. Additionally, the course encourages students to draw comparisons between these theories and linguistic studies within the Arab tradition. It elucidates contemporary linguistic terminology and acquaints students with diverse practical applications of modern linguistics.

The primary objectives of this course are to empower students with the skills to analyze the grammatical structure of Arabic sentences, encompassing both their constituent parts. Additionally, it strives to foster students' capability to elucidate the verses of Ibn Malik's Alfiyya, dissect its linguistic expressions, elucidate linguistic terminology, and apply grammatical and syntactical rules when editing and analyzing texts, thereby unveiling the underlying relationships. Furthermore, the course seeks to ensure that students utilize the Arabic language accurately in both spoken and written communication.

The primary goal of this course is to familiarize students with both the Islamic and Umayyad epochs. It offers students the opportunity to delve into the impact of Islam on poetry, the Quran's perspective on poetry, and the roles played by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his esteemed companions. The course also examines the emergence of the Meccan and Medinian schools of thought. Additionally, it provides students with insights into the historical context of the Umayyad era and the resulting variations due to the diversity of political and religious factions, which is reflected in its literary output, encompassing both poetry and prose. The course delves into the transformation of certain literary terms, evolving from satire to epigrams, exemplified by figures like Farazdaq, Al-Akhtal, and Jarir. It also explores the development and categorization of love poetry into two distinct forms: chaste love, as represented by Jamil and Buthayna, and explicit love, as exemplified by Umar ibn Abi Rabi'a.

This course's primary objective is to familiarize students with the concept of Arabic rhetoric and introduce them to its key figures and pioneers. Furthermore, it seeks to delve into the various branches of rhetorical studies, including the science of eloquence (which explores devices like simile, metaphor, and metonymy) and the science of literary beauty (encompassing both verbal and contextual elements of beauty). Additionally, it delves into the science of meanings, encompassing brevity, amplification, narration, composition, conciseness, continuity, citation, and the cited. The course also places a strong emphasis on bridging these classical rhetorical sciences with modern stylistics.

This course is designed to delve into the realm of literature and its relationship with literary criticism, the domain where it thrives. It entails in-depth exploration of authors and their works, as well as an examination of the characteristics of poets and writers. This analytical journey allows us to observe literary creations and phenomena, justify their significance, and provide insightful explanations. Through this course, students will become adept at making comparisons, drawing contrasts, conducting analyses, and offering detailed descriptions, ultimately leading to the ability to evaluate and critique literary works effectively. Such skills are honed in the presence of a "critic" and with the application of an appropriate methodology. Furthermore, it is crucial to elucidate various literary approaches, encompassing realism, psychological analysis, structural examination, stylistic exploration, descriptive analysis, and thematic investigation. Additionally, this course seeks to acquaint students with Arabic literature across different historical epochs. It provides a comprehensive study of diverse literary genres such as novels, poetry, and drama. Furthermore, it delves into the exploration of various literary periods and movements, considering their profound impact on the field of literary criticism. Throughout the course, students will gain familiarity with key literary methodologies and critical schools, gaining insights into their objectives, methodologies, and the fundamental concepts they employ. This knowledge empowers students to assess the effectiveness of these approaches when applied to the analysis of a wide array of literary works.

The primary objective of this course is to delve into classical literary criticism, a discipline that has evolved from rudimentary, spontaneous observations dating back to the pre-Islamic era, maturing into a comprehensive field with a myriad of literary critical issues by the end of the Abbasid period. This course entails a thorough exploration, analysis, discussion, equilibrium-seeking, and comparison of these critical issues, all while drawing inspiration from the established criteria, standards, and regulations. Some of the notable topics covered in this context include acquainting students with concepts related to expression and meaning, form and content, imagery, style and craftsmanship, poetic structure, truth and falsehood, the coherence of a poem, the theory of poetic composition, equilibrium, literary influence, the interplay between poetry and ethics, and the relationship between poetry and religion.

This course is designed to introduce students to the diverse genres of Arabic literature, encompassing both their forms and content. It aims to familiarize students with the societal changes and transformations that have left distinct marks on modern Arabic literature. The course highlights the impact of interactions with the Western world, igniting a spirit of rejuvenation, particularly evident in the advancements observed in narrative art as a whole, and specifically within the novel genre. As a result, there is a need to thoroughly explore this crucial literary form through a comprehensive study that traces its historical origins in the modern era. The curriculum includes an examination of the historical context surrounding the emergence of the novel, an exploration of the novel's definition, and an in-depth analysis of the components of narrative works, which encompass themes, events, characters, narration, and dialogue. Additionally, the course offers an insightful overview of the prominent categories of Arabic novels and the authors who have made significant contributions to them, including artistic novels, entertainment-driven novels, historical novels, and translated novels.

The objective of this course is to equip learners with the ability to provide a general overview of the development of Arabic grammar and Introduce fundamental grammatical concepts and terminology. Additionally, students learn to compare the approaches to understanding Arabic grammar between the Basra and Kufa schools, while also familiarizing themselves with key figures associated with these schools. Furthermore, students will gain the ability to categorize ancient grammatical sources based on their importance and relevance and to analyze specific grammatical texts found in works like Sibawayh's "Al-Kitab," Amm al-Anba Ri's "Al-Insaf fi Masa'il al-Khilaf," and Ibn Jinni's "Al-Khasais."

The primary objectives of this course are to introduce students to research methods in the fields of language and literature, including relevant references. Moreover, the course aims to provide students with practical training in applying these research methods to literary inquiries while fostering a comparative perspective with the approaches employed by both historical and contemporary scholars. These objectives will be met through the careful selection, analysis, and study of literary topics employing specific research methodologies.

The modern Arabic literary renaissance was not limited to a specific literary genre; rather, it left its creative impact on all literary genres, with theater at the forefront. Theater, which had a fertile journey from its humble beginnings in popular theater forms like shadow puppetry, puppetry, and the "Sandbox of Life," evolved into modern theater through the works of playwrights like Maroun Naqqash, Salim Naqqash, Abi Khalil Qabbani, and Abi Nadra (the Egyptian). It encompassed musical theater (Salama Hijazi) and artistic theater (George Abyad), poetic theater (Ahmad Shawqi and Aziz Abazza), and prose theater (Tawfiq al-Hakim and Mahmoud Timor). This course aims to elucidate the characteristics of the dramatic art by defining the theatrical work and its dramatic structural elements: 1. The narrative event, 2. Characters, and 3. Dialogue and its language. It also covers various types of drama, such as tragedy, comedy, and tragicomedy. Additionally, it explores new forms of drama, including radio drama, television drama, and cinema.

Arabic modern poetry has traversed numerous phases, characterized by a dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation, as well as interactions between Eastern and Western influences. These stages can be summarized as follows:1. The Revival and Imitation Stage: During this phase, poets turned their gaze to the classical models of poetic expression, reaching its pinnacle during the Abbasid era. Prominent examples include "Al-Burda" and poets like Shauqi. 2. The Commencement of Renewal: This stage introduced poets like Mataran, who aspired to breathe new life into the poetic experience. The primary objective of this course is to acquaint students with: Western poetic experimentation and its profound impact on modern Arabic poetry. The Romantic era within modern Arabic poetry, including the Diwan school with notable figures such as Al-Aqqad, Al-Mazini, and Shukri. The Apollo school featuring poets like Abu Shadi, Ibrahim Nagi, Elias Abu Shabka, and Abu Al-Qasim Al-Shabbi. The American diaspora school, comprising renowned poets like Gibran, Naima, the rural poet, and Elias Abu Maadi. The renewal of modern poetry within contemporary literary movements such as Romanticism, Realism, and Symbolism. The innovative facets of modern poetry, encompassing free verse, prose poetry, symbolism, vivid imagery, and more. Modern Arabic poetry has indeed undergone a transformative journey, shaped by diverse influences and artistic evolution.

The primary aim of this course is to illuminate the complicated association between literature and Sufism, emphasizing that Sufism bears a closer resemblance to literature than philosophy because of how it presents the link between human emotions and the soul. Students will gain an understanding that Sufism fundamentally operates as a profound mode of literary expression, skillfully capturing the nuances of the human psyche's innermost depths. Moreover, the course delves into the correlation between Sufism and other belief systems, acquainting students with how Sufism manifests in the narratives and myths found across diverse cultures. It also investigates Sufism's influence in non-Abrahamic religions like Buddhism and Hinduism. Additionally, the course examines the historical context of Sufism in ancient Greece and its significance within the Abrahamic faiths, encompassing Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.

The primary goal of this course is to provide insights into the geographical landscape of Al-Andalus, the Arab conquest of both Morocco and Al-Andalus, and to offer an introductory exploration of the intellectual, social, and political facets of Andalusian life. Drawing inspiration from Eastern traditions in the realm of Andalusian poetry, the Andalusians not only expanded their horizons but also achieved excellence in diverse artistic forms. The dynamic nature of literature, characterized by a delicate balance between tradition and innovation, resulted in the classification of three distinct categories of poetic arts in Al-Andalus: Traditional Poetic Expressions: which encompass classical forms such as panegyric (madh), wisdom poetry (hikmah), love poetry (ghazal), asceticism and mysticism (zuhd and tasawwuf), elegy (ritha), satire (hija), and apology and supplication (isti'adah and i'tiraf),

The primary objective of this course is to examine the societal changes and developments that have left a profound impact on the broader literary landscape of the Arab world. These changes were characterized by a significant cultural renaissance, marked by advancements in education, the proliferation of printing and establishment of libraries, the dissemination and translation of knowledge, scientific expeditions to the West, the rise of Orientalism, the expanding role of intellectuals, and the growing influence of Western culture on the Arab region. Through this course, students will gain insights into the transformative shifts and their effects on the structure of Arab society and its literary expressions across various genres and disciplines. This includes exploring the evolution of forms such as novels, short stories, theaters, as well as other artistic expressions like biographies, speeches, essays, rhetoric, linguistic studies, literary criticism, stylistics, and diverse scholarly methodologies used in research and criticism.