AL-HARIRI’S MAQAMAT

In 1101, Abu Muhammad al-Qasim al-Hariri journeyed from Basra to Baghdad to promote his newly written collection of stories. His reception in the capital, however, proved to be unexpectedly frosty. At one point, a nobleman challenged him to compose a story on the spot, testing his reputed wit and creativity. According to one historian, Al-Hariri accepted the challenge, "Taking pen case and paper, he went off to a corner of the audience room and remained there for a good long while, but no inspiration came, and he left the room, mortified."

Peter Konieczny

For centuries, Baghdad was the ultimate destination for creators. Talented men and women skilled in literature, poetry, music, art, and other creative pursuits found ample opportunities in the vibrant capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. Wealthy patrons eagerly supported the arts, fostering a thriving intellectual and cultural scene that gave rise to some of history’s most remarkable works. It was no surprise, then, that Al-Hariri set his sights on Baghdad to make his name and fortune as a writer. In his mid-40s at the time of his journey, Al-Hariri was already well-regarded in Basra, where he was said to hail from a wealthy family or served as a local official. His true expertise, however, lay in a distinctive literary genre known as maqamah. MAQAMAH Maqāmah refers to any occasion where one…

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Medieval World Culture & Conflict (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 16 - 2025

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