THE The vocal rhythm in the maqamat of Hamathani: The Harziyya Maqam as a model

Abstract

This research aims to study the sound rhythm and its impact on the artistic structure of Badi' al-Zaman al-Hamathani's Maqamat, focusing on the Maqama al-Hirziyya as a case study. The study examines the sound aspect as a fundamental element in achieving aesthetic and semantic balance in literary texts, reviewing the methods al-Hamathani employed to utilize rhythm and sound as expressive tools serving the text.

The research focuses on three rhythmic phenomena: First, sound rhythm through the study of rhyme, alliteration, and the sounds of letters, demonstrating their role in creating sound harmony that contributes to strengthening the text's structure and internal rhythm. Alliteration, in particular, reflects the richness of the vocabulary, adding a musical dimension that makes the text more impactful on the reader. Second, poetic rhythm through the study of rhyme, end rhyme, repetition, and enjambment to reveal how poetry and prose work together in the Maqama to unify the text's context and provide it with central themes to enrich its meaning. Thirdly, there is narrative rhythm, where the interplay between slowing down and accelerating pace in the Maqama al-Hirziyya mirrors the psychological states and environmental conditions conveyed by the narrative. The research provides precise textual examples to illustrate how al-Hamathani achieves a sonic harmony that strengthens the connection between artistic and semantic elements.

The study concludes that rhythm is not limited to the aesthetic dimension alone, but is an effective means of achieving aesthetic and semantic effects in the text. This element is considered one of the most prominent features of Badi' al-Zaman al-Hamathani's creativity, making his Maqamat a complete artistic model in Arabic literature.