“RASĀʾIL AL-KHWARIZMI”: THE POETICS OF THE EPISTOLARY GENRE AND ITS SOURCE-CRITICAL VALUE

Abstract

In the 9th–12th centuries, literary works written in Arabic in Mawarannahr, particularly in Khorezm, constituted an integral and highly significant part not only of Arabic but also of the entire Islamic spiritual heritage. Among them, the rich and multifaceted scientific and literary legacy of the renowned philologist, writer, and poet Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Abbas al-Khorezmi (935–993), who worked in various genres of classical Arabic literature, stands out especially. We have inherited such works as Diwan ash-Shi‘r (Collection of Poems), Rasā’il al-Khorezmi (The Epistles of al-Khorezmi), and al-Amsāl al-Muwallada (Aphorisms). Each of these compositions possesses unique literary and historical value. This article examines the work Rasā’il al-Khorezmi, consisting of more than 150 letters written by the author on various occasions and addressed to different individuals. Through specific examples, the significance of this work in the context of Arabic epistolary literature is revealed.