Poetical work tradition in teaching of ʿArūd discipline

This study focuses on didactic poetic works (manẓūmāt) composed to facilitate the teaching of ʿarūḍ discipline, one of the linguistic sciences. These works, which represent a significant example of didactic poetry known as al-shiʿr al-taʿlīmī within the Islamic scholarly tradition, are the product of an effort to render the complex subjects of ʿarūḍ more comprehensible and memorable. Aimed at educational purposes, these poems are shaped according to the knowledge level of their target audience and employ content and methods tailored to various stages of learning. The didactic poems written on ʿarūḍ can be divided into two main categories based on their subject matter. The first category consists of comprehensive poems that begin from the basics and systematically cover all the concepts and rules of ʿarūḍ. The second category includes single-topic poems that focus on only one aspect of the science, being shorter in length and more limited in content. These works primarily aim to teach a specific part of ʿarūḍ and offer ease of practical use. Both categories employ distinct and original methods. Although not found in every poem, two main techniques reflecting the general characteristics of ʿarūḍ-related poetry are particularly noteworthy. The first involves the use of the abjad system to express certain numerical values. The second is the technique of taḍmīn, in which a portion of a well-known poetic verse (shāhid) is incorporated into the didactic poem to reference it. As a result of these techniques, the poems often became complex and obscure, prompting the composition of numerous commentaries (shurūḥ) to elucidate their meanings. The fact that a large number of manuscripts of both these poems and their commentaries are found in libraries across different regions indicates that this instructional style has evolved into a widespread tradition. Furthermore, the existence of many unpublished and unedited didactic poems and commentaries highlights the rich potential for further scholarly research in this field.