Al-Tijani Yusuf Bashir (1912–1937) was a Sudanese poet who wrote in Arabic. He died from tuberculosis at the age of 25, and his work only became widely known after his death. Al-Tijani's poetry is generally classified as belonging to the Romantic tradition, although he had strong Neoclassical influences.
Al-Tijani was born in Omdurman into a prominent Sufi family. His father named him after Ahmad al-Tijani, the founder of the Tijaniyyah order. Al-Tijani was initially schooled at a local khalwa (religious school) that was run by his uncle, Shaykh Muhammad al-Kitayyabi, and then completed his education at Omdurman's al-Mahad al-Ilmi, a college of literature and forerunner of Omdurman Islamic University. He had a wide knowledge of both Classical and Modern Arabic literature, and also read some Arabic translations of Western literature. As a student, al-Tijani declared that Ahmed Shawqi's poetry was comparable to that in the Quran. This was considered tantamount to blasphemy, and led to his expulsion from al-Mahad. He later worked for a time for the Shell Petroleum Company as a petrol pump attendant and for a newspaper. During the early 1930s, he sought to continue his studies in Cairo but was prevented from leaving the country by British colonial authorities.[1] Al-Tijani died at the age of 25, having suffered from tuberculosis for several years.[2] He died in poverty, with a contemporary noting that he wore only cloth shoes, his clothing was generally torn and of poor quality, and that he could only afford a turban, not a skullcap.[3]
PoetryEdit
Al-Tijani's only published work is Ishrāqa ("Illumination"), a collection of his poetry.[4] It was first printed in 1946, after his death, and as of 2008 ten editions had been issued.[3] Al-Tijani's poetry has been described as having a "decidedly Romantic colour",[2]: 456 but not to the point of sentimentality.[2]: 461 One critic, ʻAbd Allah ʻAli Ibrahim, describes him as "exhibit[ing] prodigious loyalties to creativity, youth, and poverty".[3] His work includes persistent references to the natural world, especially water and light, which he frequently employs as metaphors or symbols.[2]: 459–460 Salma Khadra Jayyusi has suggested that his admiration of nature approaches pantheism, and attributes this and his frequent use of mystical language to his Sufi background.[2]: 462
Al-Tijani's classical education meant he retained many of the Neoclassical features used by earlier writers, including archaic mannerisms and obsolete vocabulary. Khadra Jayyusi has suggested that this represents a "major defect" in his work, and "partly explains his relative obscurity in the Arab world".[2]: 457 Al-Tijani is frequently compared with Aboul-Qacem Echebbi, a Tunisian writer, due to their shared religious backgrounds and periods of ill health.[4] Additionally, Khadra Jayyusi likens his work to that of the Syrian writer Badawi al-Jabal, due to their shared embrace of mystical language and use of Sufi literary forms.[2]: 458
^Dictionary of African Biography. OUP USA. 2 February 2012. p. 21. ISBN9780195382075.
^ abcdefgKhadra Jayyusi, Salma (1977). Trends and Movements in Modern Arabic Poetry, Volume 1. Brill. p. 455. ISBN9004049207.
^ abcʻAlī Ibrāhīm, ʻAbd Allāh (2008). Manichaean Delirium: Decolonizing the Judiciary and Islamic Renewal in the Sudan, 1898-1985. Brill. p. 87. ISBN978-9004141100.
^ abStarkey, Paul (2014). Modern Arabic Literature. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN978-0748696536.
October 21, 2023
tijani, yusuf, bashir, 1912, 1937, sudanese, poet, wrote, arabic, died, from, tuberculosis, work, only, became, widely, known, after, death, tijani, poetry, generally, classified, belonging, romantic, tradition, although, strong, neoclassical, influences, born. Al Tijani Yusuf Bashir 1912 1937 was a Sudanese poet who wrote in Arabic He died from tuberculosis at the age of 25 and his work only became widely known after his death Al Tijani s poetry is generally classified as belonging to the Romantic tradition although he had strong Neoclassical influences Al Tijani Yusuf BashirBorn1912Omdurman SudanDied1937 aged 25 0714693291OccupationPoetNotable workIshraqa Illumination Contents 1 Biography 2 Poetry 3 See also 4 ReferencesBiography EditAl Tijani was born in Omdurman into a prominent Sufi family His father named him after Ahmad al Tijani the founder of the Tijaniyyah order Al Tijani was initially schooled at a local khalwa religious school that was run by his uncle Shaykh Muhammad al Kitayyabi and then completed his education at Omdurman s al Mahad al Ilmi a college of literature and forerunner of Omdurman Islamic University He had a wide knowledge of both Classical and Modern Arabic literature and also read some Arabic translations of Western literature As a student al Tijani declared that Ahmed Shawqi s poetry was comparable to that in the Quran This was considered tantamount to blasphemy and led to his expulsion from al Mahad He later worked for a time for the Shell Petroleum Company as a petrol pump attendant and for a newspaper During the early 1930s he sought to continue his studies in Cairo but was prevented from leaving the country by British colonial authorities 1 Al Tijani died at the age of 25 having suffered from tuberculosis for several years 2 He died in poverty with a contemporary noting that he wore only cloth shoes his clothing was generally torn and of poor quality and that he could only afford a turban not a skullcap 3 Poetry EditAl Tijani s only published work is Ishraqa Illumination a collection of his poetry 4 It was first printed in 1946 after his death and as of 2008 ten editions had been issued 3 Al Tijani s poetry has been described as having a decidedly Romantic colour 2 456 but not to the point of sentimentality 2 461 One critic ʻAbd Allah ʻAli Ibrahim describes him as exhibit ing prodigious loyalties to creativity youth and poverty 3 His work includes persistent references to the natural world especially water and light which he frequently employs as metaphors or symbols 2 459 460 Salma Khadra Jayyusi has suggested that his admiration of nature approaches pantheism and attributes this and his frequent use of mystical language to his Sufi background 2 462 Al Tijani s classical education meant he retained many of the Neoclassical features used by earlier writers including archaic mannerisms and obsolete vocabulary Khadra Jayyusi has suggested that this represents a major defect in his work and partly explains his relative obscurity in the Arab world 2 457 Al Tijani is frequently compared with Aboul Qacem Echebbi a Tunisian writer due to their shared religious backgrounds and periods of ill health 4 Additionally Khadra Jayyusi likens his work to that of the Syrian writer Badawi al Jabal due to their shared embrace of mystical language and use of Sufi literary forms 2 458 See also EditArabic poetry List of Sudanese writers Sudanese literatureReferences Edit Dictionary of African Biography OUP USA 2 February 2012 p 21 ISBN 9780195382075 a b c d e f g Khadra Jayyusi Salma 1977 Trends and Movements in Modern Arabic Poetry Volume 1 Brill p 455 ISBN 9004049207 a b c ʻAli Ibrahim ʻAbd Allah 2008 Manichaean Delirium Decolonizing the Judiciary and Islamic Renewal in the Sudan 1898 1985 Brill p 87 ISBN 978 9004141100 a b Starkey Paul 2014 Modern Arabic Literature Edinburgh University Press ISBN 978 0748696536 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Al Tijani Yusuf Bashir amp oldid 1171066487, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
