The Nature of Criticism in Abu Al-Ala Al-Ma'arri's Literature

In order to convey the truth and fulfill the saying of the scholars and philosophers that “the poet of the philosophers is the father of eloquence,” confusion has arisen among people, both in ancient and modern times. They narrated stories about him, believing and disbelieving in them. Thus, this research emerged.In the fieldof criticism, they said that he spreads his rulings across society, wants to reform the people, exposes their flaws, and confronts them with their faults. They also claimed that his ideas are coercive, implying that reform cannot happen without criticizing prevailing opinions and systems.Through this, and with God’s grace, we were able to defend this literary figure, presenting examples of his criticism in various fields. We aimed to prove that his ideas form a natural state of critique of the prevailing social circumstances, the oppression of rulers, and the injustice of society’s dominant opinions.His message was humanistic, aspiring for a better world and calling for noble morals. He represents a personality that imposes its authority on people when they feel distant from self-discipline. His desire for reform is evident in his messages, though he leaves their interpretation to the people themselves.