60 research outputs found
The life and works of Kahlil Gibran: a critical review
No full textThere have been numerous dedicated studies on the life and works of Kahlil Gibran
(1883-1931) which is understandable due to his stature and popularity in Arabic and
American literatures. Nonetheless, it has been argued that the literary establishment has
not given Gibran his due credit, especially in the United States, since Gibran has attained
global recognition, been translated into tens of languages and sold more volumes than all
other poets of America, including Walt Whitman and T.S. Eliot. This review seeks to
present an overview of the studies about Gibran and highlight, when possible, the input
of these studies on the spiritual aspects in his creative writings. These studies about
Gibran and his works have been written in various languages, but the focus here will be
on the studies published in English and Arabic, originally or in translation
Émigré literature & the spiritual revolution
No full textÉmigré writers, commonly acknowledged as leading figures in modern Arabic literature and respected writers in American literature, have introduced various spiritual aspects throughout their works. This study seeks to examine these aspects through comparative and thematic approaches. The focus is on Kahlil Gibran as the leading figure in the mahjar literary school
Mapping creativity: a historical contextualisation of emigre literature
No full textÉmigré artists such as Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931, Mikhail Naimy (1989-1988), Ameen Rihani (1876-1940) and Elia Abu Madi (1980-1957) have shown the world that it is feasible to surpass the historical and geographical limitations of one’s birth to reach the global highpoints of world literature. The creativity of émigré writers was shaped by the influence of the meeting of two cultures, through their travels and immigration between the Levant and the West. Thus, their creative works are closely related to and influenced by their historical realities. A deep and authentic appreciation of these works, such as The Book of Khalid, The Book of Mirdad and The Prophet can only be achieved through an examination of the biographical context of these works. A better understanding of the political, social, cultural and economic conditions of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries can only lead to a better grasp over the themes and styles of the émigré literary output. Accordingly, this research presents an overview of the historical context of the Émigré literary movement, beginning with historical backgrounds in the Levant and the United States of America. This is followed by an overview of immigration to the US at the turn of the twentieth century. The contexts of both Arabic literature and American literature at the same period is subsequently examined. Finally, the implications of the aforementioned topics on the émigré literary movement are discussed
Spirituality in modern literature: Kahlil gibran and the spiritual quest
No full textThis study explores the various mystical aspects that encompass Gibran's creative works in English and Arabic. It presents an overview of theistic mysticism followed by an examination of the mystical themes represented by Gibran such as Truth, Perfect Divine Being, mystic path, and spiritual morality with analogies from Islamic and Christian mysticism. The study finds that Gibran adopted mysticism as a universal answer to questions about the meaning of life and as a path that seeks to elevate man into a world of spiritual and moral perfection. Gibran uses a prophetic voice to guide the soul from its transcendental origin through a journey of purification, gnosis, and love to reach mystical unity with God. The study shows that the mystical element is the link that unifies his Arabic and English works, and propels them to enduring literary and popular success across cultures. In this, he places himself as a writer in a traditional context of mysticism, taking the esoteric heart and spiritual core of all religions to be one. Additionally, the moral values promoted by Gibran are based on his mystical outlook and his conception of a just and loving God
Émigré creativity in a historical context
No full textÉmigré writers such as Kahlil Gibran and Mikhail Naimy proved that it is possible to transcend their historical limitations to become leading literary figures. An examination of the historical context of these writers is important for a rich understanding of their works. The themes addressed in such literary works are better appreciated within their cultural environment, and not as objects detached from their times, author and readers1. It can be rightfully argued that such works cannot be fully appreciated without delving into the intricacies of the political ideologies and economic crises of previous centuries. This article does not aim to perform such an undertaking, regardless of its literary merit; however, it presents an overview of the historical context surrounding the Émigré literary movement as a product of two cultures bridged by immigration at the turn of the 20th century. This is based on the belief that a profound critical engagement with Émigré works is better achieved with an examination of their historical and literary background. Thus, this article serves as a foundation for profound literary analyses of Émigré works
Islam and progress
No full textThis study explores the concept of progress from an Islamic perspective. It begins by highlighting the importance of analyzing the historical development of ideas in all human civilizations. Subsequently, the study examines the relationship between religion and science and the evolution of major ideas such as humanism and modernity. The focus is narrowed down to Islam and its conception of science and progress, especially its philosophies of self-development, social development and comprehensive excellence. In its final analysis, the study shifts to compare and contrast various worldviews and their interaction with religion in the contemporary world. The ideas of secularism and secularization are examined from the perspective of Islam and progress. All in all, the study relies on studies by Ernest Gellner, Linda Woodhead and Jordan Peterson as its frame of reference
تحديات دراسة الأدب الإسلامي: الجامعة الإسلامية العالمية بماليزيا أنموذجًا
No full textيعد الأدب الإسلامي من أكثر الآداب العالمية غنى وتنوعًا، لذلك تقوم الكثير من الجامعات بتدريسه، فضلاً عما يغرسه هذا الأدب من قيم فكرية وأخلاقية وجمالية لدى الطلبة، ومن ثم يعنى هذا البحث باستكشاف أهم التحديات التي تواجه طلاب مرحلة البكالوريوس في دراستهم مادة الأدب الإسلامي باللغة الإنجليزية في الجامعة الإسلامية العالمية بماليزيا عبر محاور ثلاثة؛ يشمل المحور الأول تقييم المنهج الدراسي نفسه بأهدافه ومواضيعه واختباراته عبر مقارنته بمناهج جامعية أخرى شبيهة حسب مبادئ تصميم المناهج الأدبية، ويشمل المحور الثاني مقابلات محكمة مع مدرسي هذا المنهج لسبر آرائهم عن العوائق التي يواجهونها مع طلبتهم في تدريس ودراسة الأدب الإسلامي، في حين يشمل المحور الثالث عقد مجموعات نقاش بؤرية محكمة مع الطلبة لمعرفة أهم التحديات التي يواجهونها في دراستهم، ويستخلص البحث من حيثيات هذه المحاور عدة نتائج تحوي أهم التحديات التي تواجه الطلبة وبعض المقترحات لتجاوزها وتصميم مناهج أفضل لتدريس هذه الماد
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