الخطاب الصّوفي في شعر أحمد سويلم

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship between contemporary Arabic poetry and Sufism. Many contemporary Arab poets incorporate Sufism into their poetry, raising several questions that the current study seeks to answer. What motivates contemporary Arab poets to incorporate Sufism into their poems? Is the adoption of Sufi discourse a product of the poets’ own life experiences, which they attempt to portray in their poetry akin to early Sufis, or is it a reflection of the contemporary understanding of Sufism as a sanctuary? What are the points of resemblance between the struggles of early Sufi poets and contemporary poets who incorporate Sufi discourses? This comparative study attempts to answer these questions by looking at the poetry of Ahmed Sowilam, a contemporary Egyptian who incorporates Sufi poetry and discourses throughout his collections. The current study further examines the way Sufi concepts, ideas, and notions have been employed by contemporary poets such as Ahmed Sowilam to shed light on the sites of resemblance and departure between early and contemporary Sufi discourses.