Conceptualization Process of Badihah in Arabic Literature and Its Individualization Problem- The Example of Ali b. Zafir's Work Titled Bada'i al-Bada'ih

In Arabic literature, poetry has served as the gateway for society and the poet to connect with the external world. Poetry has been one of the most significant elements for the self-expression of the Arab society since the pre-Islamic era. It has been conveyed and presented by reciting poems with various contents that relate to all aspects of life. Over time, the content and forms of poetry written for specific purposes have evolved. Through literary critics who have cultivated this field, the conceptual realm of poetry has expanded, and the world of poetry has become institutionalized. The concepts of badihah and irtijal, two forms of poetic composition, have also emerged in the process in the literary world. Some critics have used these terms interchangeably as expressions of a poet's composing speed. However, a group led by Ibn Rashik has demonstrated that these concepts are distinct from each other. In badihah poetry, there is a process of short reflection before reciting or writing the poem, while in "irtijal," this process of reflection is absent. Ali b. Zafir, the author of the exemplary work Bada'i al-bada'ih, was a member of the mentioned group, demonstrating an interest in literature from a young age and receiving education in this field. As an important detail in expressing his curiosity and love for literature, he memorized the badihi and irtijali poems and sayings of pre-Islamic poets during his youth. Through his accumulation of knowledge and his passion, he became a significant literary figure. Later on he conceptually distinguished these two terms in his work. Furthermore, he presented the types of badihah poetry and subjected this concept to classification, making his work significant in providing systematic information on this subject. Moreover, the inclusion of examples composed by the most important poets of Arabic literature enhances the value of the work. Despite the conceptual distinction, example poems in the work are sometimes classified as badihi and sometimes as irtijali. This ambiguity in classifying the poems is due to the uncertainty about the poet's state during the composition of the poems, which hinders the definitive determination of their genre. This study, focusing on the concept of badihah and indirectly on the concept of irtijal through the mentioned work, aims to reveal the extent of this conceptual distinction is reflected in practice. Additionally, it is deemed important to determine how Ali b. Zafir approached this distinction through examples. The document analysis method, a qualitative research approach, was employed in the study. By examining the data addressed in the works of literary critics who lived before the author, similarities and distinctions between the concepts of badihah and irtijal have been elucidated. Information has been provided regarding the factors that influence and guide those who write poetry in these genres, which also impact and direct the practitioners of this art form. It is observed in the work that Ali ben Zafir differentiates the concepts of badihah and irtijal based on Ibn Rashik's views. Accordingly, he classifies badihah poetry according to specific principles and presents poems by significant poets in this genre, offering important insights into the process of writing these poems. However, it is evident from the given examples, he does not consistently apply the conceptual distinction he established at the theoretical level. In fact, the lack of a clear distinction between these two concepts, and the argument of some critics that they may express the same thing, makes this distinction challenging. In conclusion, although Ali b. Zafir conceptually defines badihah as an independent form of poetic expression and presents its types, he fails to provide concrete examples that definitively prove its complete separation from irtijal poetry.