Beyaz-Like Types în Arabic Literature: El-Hamâsiyye and Important Hamâsiyyes (Epics)

Having a widespread use in a vast geography ranging from Central Asia to India, Afghanistan to Iran and Azerbaijan the Hamâsiyye or el-Hamâs, which constitutes the beginning of the Beyaz’ (epics), is an Arabic Literature based compilation of lyrical poetry illustrating the bravery shown during wars, raids and struggles. Its name comes from the first article of the Muhtarat a work by the Arab poet Ebu Temmâm who lived in the ninth century. Ebu Temmâm, according to some rules, created out of the hamasi poetry compilations that go back to the Arabic Pre-Islamic age of ignorance a kind of literary type in the form of an anthology. After Ebu Temmâm many works in similar style appeared. The most important ones are the compilations prepared by Arab poets and compilators like Buhturî and Ġbnü’ĢSecerî.