The Pillar of Poetry (Beginnings and Foundations

Abstract

This research addresses a crucial issue in classical literary criticism: the concept of the "pillar of poetry." It traces its origins back to al-Amidi's work, "The Comparison Between the Two Poets: Abu Tammam and al-Buhturi," where he mentions the term "pillar of poetry" three times and outlines his understanding of it. The research also examines the beginnings of this concept with al-Qadi al-Jurjani in his book, "The Mediation Between al-Mutanabbi and His Opponents," where he defines his view of the pillar of poetry based on several criteria. Finally, it culminates in the foundational stage established by al-Marzuqi in the introduction to his commentary on Abu Tammam's "Diwan al-Hamasa," where he laid the groundwork for the theory of the pillar of poetry and defined its pillars. This research presents the three criteria of these critics for the pillar of poetry, along with explanations and clarifications.