Comparative analysis of two poems from Hillī and Jāmī which praise the Prophet Muhammad

AliAkbar Mollaie ^[1]

Introduction

Safī al-Dīn al-Hillī (died in 750 AH) in an Arabic ninety verses Qasīda (ode) and Abd ar-Rahmān Jāmī (died in 898 AH) in a Persian fifty-six verses Tarkīb Band (poem of several stanzas of equal size) have praised the Prophet Muhammad. Equal subject and the same textual position are the base motivation of this research. Both poets composed their Eulogy when they went on a pilgrimage to Medina so they exposed their heart which was full of love and passion for visiting their Prophet's resting place (in Medina). The desire of meeting, the suffering of being far from beloved (here is the Prophet), and the hope of forgiveness are the essence of those poems. The social and cultural environments of the two poets have so many similarities. Although they have a hundred years' differences, both of them live in the Mongolian era. The research aims to compare two poems from the aspect of the forms (shape) & contents, then indicates similarities and differences.
 
2-Methodology:
The method which is used here is; intertextual criticism based on the American school in Comparative Literature. This school does not necessitate historical relations even applying different languages between two works. It intends to change the methodology from historical influence to literary theory and criticism. The research is done based on intertextual criticism of odes in order to show the emotional and artistic relationship between the shapes and contents, so it casts a bilateral and comparative approach.  
 
3-Discussion
Both Safī al-Dīn al-Hillī's Qasīda (ode) and Abd ar-Rahmān Jāmī's Tarkīb Band (poem of several stanzas of equal size) has set in a travel literature genre like. They both describe the difficulties during the travel and passion for visiting their Prophet's resting place in an effective way. Hillī begins his ode with a lyric like traditional Arab poems, then describes his journey. Finally, he joins the conjunctive verse (Takhal'los تخلّص) which tells of the Camel with the Eulogy about the prophet in a poetic way. In this ode, the chain of speech has been made under the influence of classic odes intentionally. The poet mentioned the people and places with an extroverted approach. He was inspired by the previous images and expressions.
Jāmī's Tarkīb Band begins with verses that explain his pilgrimage. The sound of camels and mob of the Caravan has blended with the commotion inside the poet's heart. Then the poet finishes the description of his journey and starts to praise his beloved (here is the Prophet), then tries to express his feeling to him so humbly. During composing the verse Jāmī is full of passion and floats in his unconsciousness. The form and content of the poem meet each other in an emotional artistic way.
 
4-Conclusion
By comparing the contents & the structures of the two poems we can indicate these similarities and differences;
4-1- Similarities:
The plot of the poems and the poets' situation are so close to each other, so the common themes are outstanding in the poems. For example; passion for visiting their Prophet's resting place (in Medina), the suffering of being far from beloved (here is the Prophet), description of camel & desert, saluting to the Prophet, humbleness, seeking intercession, and asking for a spiritual reward for his Eulogy, complaining for his adversaries, avoid using offensive language for other religions, and generally talking about dignity & greatness of the Prophet.
4-2- Differences:
Jāmī's poem is full of passion while Hillī's is empty of that, so the Hillī's doesn't have structural coherence. Jāmī has a macro-perspective in spiritual and religious matters which led to using ambiguity instead of clarity when Hillī intentionally uses details and reveals all names & symbols in his poetic imagination. Jāmī focuses on gestures and body organs to express his thoughts and emotions whilst Hillī doesn't pay much attention to them. And finally, Jāmī uses the capacity of the rhythm and the sound of words more than his counterpart.
 

1. Assistant Professor; Department of Arabic Language and Literature; Faculty of foreign Languages; University of Vali-e-Asr of Rafsanjan; Rafsanjan; Iran. E-mail: akbar.m87@gmail.com & a.mollaie@vru.ac.ir