موازنة بين شعر أبي العتاهية ومحمود الوراق(الزهد والحكمة والموعظة)

This descriptive-analytical study examines the comparison between the poets Abu Al-Atahiyah, who died in 211 AH (826 CE), and Mahmoud Al-Warraq, who died between 221–232 AH (approximately). Both poets lived during the early Abbasid era, where psychological, social, and political conditions, along with the emergence of class division and deprivation, had a significant impact on the development of ascetic, wisdom, and admonition poetry. Abu Al-Atahiyah notably established a dedicated genre within Arabic literature for asceticism, wisdom, and admonition in his era. Mahmoud Al-Warraq followed a similar path due to the prevalence of deviant behaviors in their time, such as moral decay, the abundance of courtesans, and a distancing from religion. Their poetry featured distinctive artistic characteristics, marked by simple diction, clear meanings, and the inclusion of numerous rhetorical and stylistic devices, including metaphors, embellishments, citations, and allusions. Their ascetic themes were often expressed through brief poetic pieces that addressed the deprived general public, maintaining a respectable artistic quality. However, Abu Al-Atahiyah's asceticism was tinged with traits inconsistent with true asceticism, such as hesitation, pessimism, despair, and fear of poverty—likely influenced by his association with rulers' courts, luxury, and worldly attachments. On the other hand, Al-Warraq's asceticism was less flawed, as his poetic works reflected a deep attachment to religion. His asceticism originated from an early commitment to piety, unlike Abu Al-Atahiyah, who repented later in life. Al-Warraq's poetry carried a reformist tone, motivated by the influx of philosophical ideas opposing religion.