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Layla And Majnun




''The madman of Layla'', in , considered among the foremost examples of the Udhari school.


STORY

Qays ibn al-Mullawah ibn Muzahim, an Arab Poet , was from the Bani Aamir Tribe of Arabia . He fell in love with '''Layla bint Mahdi ibn Sa’d''' from the same tribe, better known as '''Layla Al-Aamiriya'''. He soon began creating Poems about his love for her, mentioning her name often. When he asked for her hand in marriage her father refused as this would mean a scandal for Layla according to Arab traditions. Soon after, Layla married another man.

When Qays heard of her marriage he fled the tribe camp and wandered in the surrounding Desert . His family eventually gave up on his return and left food for him in the wilderness. He could sometimes be seen reciting poetry to himself or writing in the sand with a stick.

Layla moved to Iraq with her husband, where she became ill and eventually died. Qays was later found dead in the wilderness in 688 A.D. near an unknown woman’s grave. He had carved three verses of poetry on a rock near the grave, which are the last three verses attributed to him.

Many other minor incidents happened between his madness and his death. Most of his recorded poetry was composed before his descent into madness.

This type of love is known in Arabic culture as “Virgin Love” (Arabic: حب عذري), because the lovers never married or made love. Other famous Virgin Love stories are the stories of “ Qays And Lubna ”, “ Kuthair And Azza ” and “ Antara And Abla ”.


HISTORY AND INFLUENCE

From '', which was itself inspired by ''Layla and Majnun'' to an extent.

The Azerbaijani Turkish adaptation of the story, ''Dâstân-ı Leylî vü Mecnûn'' (داستان ليلى و مجنون; "The Epic of Layla and Majnun") was written in 16th century by Fuzûlî . In Azerbaijan , Fuzûlî 's adaptation of Layli and Majnun was made into an opera by the renowned Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyov and staged in Baku on January 25, 1908 .

The myth has influenced many Middle Eastern poets, especially Sufi writers in whose literature the name Leyli/Layla suggests a reference to their concept of Beloved. The name has also found its way into modern Occult literature in connection with the archetype called Babylon or Babalon . These writings use the spelling Laylah, which also suggests the Arabic and Hebrew words for night. The name Layla has influenced other aspects of Middle Eastern culture, as romance outside of marriage is frowned upon. The name 'Layla' means 'one who works by night', representing the fact that the romance was hidden, and kept a secret. The name also served as the inspiration for the title of Derek And The Dominos' famous album '' Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs '' and its Title Track . The song "I Am Yours" is a direct quote from a passage in ''Layla and Majnun''. In Turkey , the phrase "To feel like Layla" is used to mean the feeling one gets when one is completely "out-of-it" and dazed, or, like Majnun, to be ''crazily in love''. The word 'Majnun' (or Majnoon) in Persian and Arabic means 'crazy'.

It is also common motif used in the Muslim literature of South Asia , especially in Urdu Ghazal s.

Among the poems attributed to , Islamica Magazine No. 15/2006



In the late nineteenth century, Ahmed Shawqi wrote a poetic play about the tragedy. Qay's lines from the play are sometimes confused with his actual poems. The play is considered one of the best in modern Arab poetry.

The story is also featured in Baha'u'llah 's Sufi writings, the Seven Valleys .


NOTES



POPULAR CULTURE


  • This story is used metaphorically in the semi-autobiographical song " Layla ", by Eric Clapton .

  • The Laila Majnu story was also subject to various films produced by the Indian film industry between the 1920s to the 1970s. The most popular was the film "Laila-Majnu" produced in 1976. See IMDB for details. {Link without Title}



REFERENCES

  • Nizami, ''The Story of Layla & Majpoonun'', ISBN 0-930872-52-5

  • Nizami and Colin Turner , ''Layla and Majnun'', ISBN 1-85782-161-0



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