Religion, Mysticism and Modern Arabic Literature

One of the significant phenomena in modern Arabic literature since the 1960s has been the use of mystical concepts, figures and motifs for the expression of contemporary experiences, philosophies and ideologies. The book investigates this phenomenon mainly with regard to the creative poetic process and the use of literary masks. It also deals with the complicated relationship between Arabic literature and Islam as well as with the literary activities by religious traditional circles. In a welter of publications committed Muslim authors try to prove that there is no inherent contradiction between art and Islam, and at the same time to lay the theoretical foundations for an "Islamist" poetics encompassing the various branches of literary production. Within the secular canonical circles, however, these activities and texts are considered extremely marginal and none of the authors concerned has gained any canonical status. The growing number of cases, in which attempts at censorship on religious and moral grounds have been challenged, prove also that Arabic literature has become more and more secular.