Comparative Study of Themes in "Layla and Majnun" by Qays ibn al-Mulawwah and Fuzuli’s "Layla and Majnun"

Abstract

Objectives: 

This comparative study aims to analyze the story of "Layla and Majnun" in Arabic literature as narrated by Qays ibn Al-Mulawwah, and compare it with the Turkish version by the poet Fuzuli, to identify similarities and differences, and explore the transmission and evolution of literary themes across Islamic cultures. 

Methodology:

The study adopted a comparative approach to analyze two literary works: the original Arabic text represented in the Diwan Majnun Layla by the poet Qays ibn al-Mulawwah, and the Turkish poetic work Layla and Majnun by Muhammad Fuzuli. The analysis focused on thematic and artistic examination, particularly tracing the transformations introduced by Fuzuli, such as the shift from an emotional tone to a Sufi one, as well as the addition of new events absent from the original Arabic narrative.

Results: 

The study reveals that Fuzuli did not merely imitate the Arabic story but added Sufi and creative dimensions, transforming it into a cohesive literary work. It also shows how the story returned to modern Arabic literature through Ahmed Shawqi’s play "Majnun Layla," highlighting ongoing intercultural exchange. 

Conclusion: 

The comparison demonstrates that "Layla and Majnun" is a living model of mutual influence between Islamic literatures, evolving from chaste love in Arabic literature to Sufi symbolism in Turkish literature, and then back to Arabic in a renewed form, underscoring the dynamism of cultural exchange.