An analysis of poems written for Sheıkh Muhammad Kâzım of siirt in terms of Arabic Rhetoric

This study aims to examine the literary and cultural heritage of Siirt within the context of the Arabic poetic tradition, focusing particularly on the rhetorical analysis of panegyrics and elegies dedicated to Sheikh Muhammad Kâzım. Throughout history, Siirt has been one of the significant cultural centers of the Islamic world, and Arabic literature and poetry have left a profound mark on the region. The Arabic poetic tradition, which reached its peak during the Abbasid and Hamdanid periods, continued to maintain a strong presence in the region through madrasas and religious institutions during the Seljuk and Ottoman eras. The madrasas in Siirt gave considerable importance to the Arabic language and literature alongside religious sciences, reflecting the region's deep connections with Arab culture. Due to the influence of madrasas and Sufi lodges, Siirt became a prominent center for Islamic sciences from the Ottoman period onward. Consequently, poets from Siirt who adopted the classical verse forms of Arabic literature created a strong literary heritage. According to historical records, the poetic tradition in Siirt, which evolved around notable figures, was enriched by incorporating not only the classical forms of Arabic poetry but also unique styles such as mushaʿshar, muwashshah, and mulammaʿ. This poetic tradition often intertwined with Sufism, with prominent figures like Sultan Memduh, Ismail Fakirullah, Sheikh Muhammad al-Hazîn, Sheikh Suleyman al-Khâlidî, and Sheikh Musharraf emerging as pioneers of this cultural expression. The poets of Siirt preserved this poetic tradition by composing panegyrics and elegies especially for the Prophet Muhammad, Islamic scholars, and spiritual leaders. A notable example of this tradition is the body of poems written for Sheikh Muhammad Kâzım, a respected scholar from Siirt known for his scholarly contributions. These poems were written by many scholars and spiritual leaders, especially his students who had received ijazah (certification) from him. The primary source of this study is the work titled Majmūʿat al-Qaṣāʾid al Kāzimiyya, which contains poems written for Sheikh Muhammad Kâzım. In addition to the 29 Arabic poems compiled in this collection, 11 additional poems identified by the author are also analyzed. These poems are examined in terms of prosody (ʿarūḍ), rhyme schemes, and literary devices, and are evaluated within the framework of Arabic language and rhetoric.