الشعر الأشعريين بين الحماسة والمدح والإصلاح
Poetry of the Ash‘ari Tribe in the Early Islamic Period: Between Heroism (Hamasah), Praise (Madḥ), and Reform (Iṣlāḥ)
Keywords:
Ash‘ari Tribe; Early Islamic Poetry; Hamasah; Madḥ; Iṣlāḥ; Arabic Literature; Tribal to Islamic Transition; Prophetic Era Poetry; Social Reform in Literature; Islamic Values in Poetry.Abstract
This study examines the poetic tradition of the Ash‘ari tribe in the early Islamic period, focusing on three central thematic dimensions: heroism (ḥamāsah), praise (madḥ), and social reform (iṣlāḥ). It aims to analyze how Ash‘ari poetry reflects a broader intellectual, religious, and cultural transformation from the pre-Islamic tribal worldview to the Islamic ideological and ethical framework.
Before Islam, Arabic poetry was primarily rooted in tribal pride, warfare, and individual glory. However, with the advent of Islam, the Ash‘ari poets many of whom were among the early companions and supporters of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ underwent a profound shift in perspective. Their poetic expression gradually moved away from tribal nationalism toward a universal Islamic vision based on faith, unity, and moral accountability.
The study finds that the theme of heroism (ḥamāsah) in Ash‘ari poetry was redefined in Islamic terms. It was no longer associated with tribal warfare or personal revenge, but rather with jihad in the path of God, emphasizing patience, sacrifice, and spiritual commitment. Similarly, the genre of praise (madḥ) shifted from glorifying tribal leaders to honoring the Prophet ﷺ, the rightly guided caliphs, and universal moral virtues such as justice, truthfulness, and piety.
Moreover, the reformist dimension (iṣlāḥ) highlights the social and ethical function of Ash‘ari poetry, where poetry served as a means of moral guidance, social correction, and communal unity. It contributed to discouraging corruption, strengthening ethical conduct, and promoting Islamic values within society.The study concludes that Ash‘ari poetry represents a significant example of literary transformation in early Islamic civilization. It demonstrates how Arabic poetry evolved from a tribal artistic expression into a value-oriented discourse that combined aesthetic form with religious and moral purpose.
