The Maqamat

This course gives students an overview of the classical Arabic genre of the maqama and the scholarly debates surrounding it, focusing on its main authors, al-Hamadhani and al-Hariri. We also read examples of maqamat by other authors, including the Andalusian al-Saraqusti, as well as touch on the Hebrew maqamas of al-Harizi, and modern Arabic imitations of the genre, including by al-Muwaylihi and Emile Habibi. This course is taught in Arabic but will accommodate varying proficiency levels and backgrounds. All students with advanced knowledge of Arabic are welcome.