Content, diction and style in the rasâil of al-Jahiz

The aim of this study is to determine the contributions of Abū 'Uthman 'Amr Ibn Baḥr al-Jahiz's Rasā'il, one of the prominent authors of Arabic Literature, to science and literature by addressing and analyzing his epistles in terms of content, language and rhetoric features. In this study, which examines forty two the Rasā'il of al-Jahiz, twelve contents are included, namely şu'ûbiyye, fanaticism, principles of politics, political groups, ethics, rhetoric, society, science of discourse (kalam), refutation, caliphate issue, personel matters and prophethood. In this context, evaluations were made by giving examples from the Rasā'il of al-Jahiz related to each subject discussed in terms of the period in which al-Jahiz lived. In order to shed light on al-Jahiz's contributions to Arabic literary prose, prominent diction and style features in his Rasā'il has been identified and presented with examples, and some of his selected Rasā'il were translated into Turkish in order to see his privileged rhetoric/style as a whole. As a result of the study, it has been determined that some of al-Jahiz's Rasā'il ara among the first works written on the subjects of munâfere, the effect of the environment on humanity, natural and political philosophy. As a realist writer, it has been seen that he sheds light on the Abbasid society in terms of reflecting the political- denomination conflicts and community in his Rasā'ils. With his unique philosophical point of view, the scientific methods he used, the diversity of his content, his exclusive style and eloquent expression, his contributions to the development of Arabic literature prose have been showed.