The Literary Canon
These works form the backbone of Arabic literary tradition. From pre-Islamic odes to medieval historiography, each text showcases different facets of Arabic eloquence and demonstrates how the language evolved while maintaining its classical foundations.
The Mu'allaqat
المعلقات
Seven (or ten) odes considered the finest pre-Islamic Arabic poetry. They were said to be hung on the walls of the Ka'bah. The poets include Imru' al-Qays, Tarafa, Zuhayr, Labid, Antara, Amr ibn Kulthum, and Harith ibn Hilliza.
Nahj al-Balagha
نهج البلاغة
A collection of sermons, letters, and sayings attributed to the fourth Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib. Considered the pinnacle of Arabic prose eloquence after the Quran.
Maqamat al-Hariri
مقامات الحريري
50 rhymed prose narratives following the trickster Abu Zayd al-Saruji. A showcase of Arabic linguistic virtuosity — wordplay, double meanings, grammatical puzzles.
Diwan al-Mutanabbi
ديوان المتنبي
The collected works of arguably the greatest Arab poet. His verses became proverbs and his mastery of metaphor, hyperbole, and wisdom verse is unmatched.
Alfiyyat Ibn Malik
ألفية ابن مالك
A poem of 1,000 lines that encapsulates the entirety of Arabic grammar. Still memorised by students worldwide as the foundational text for nahw (syntax).
Al-Muqaddimah
المقدمة
The introduction to Ibn Khaldun's universal history. Founding text of sociology, economics, and philosophy of history. Written in clear, analytical prose.