Arabic poetry manuscripts in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The article addresses the development of Arabic poetry (shi’r) among the Muslim researchers and writers in Sri Lanka who have gained the knowledge about the Arabic language from Arab traders, the individuals who were travelling around the world for the purpose of trade. The Arab traders presented the Arabic language and Islam to the individuals they came across around the world. The investigation of Arabic poems written by Sri Lankan Muslim scholars is very important. Thus the main objective of this article is to examine the contents of their poems in Arabic. This study depends basically on textual analysis where the primary and secondary sources in Arabic, Tamil and Arabic Tamil are consulted. The results show that Muslims of Sri Lanka have a good interaction with Arabic language and literature, and clearly expressed the Islamic principles and morals in their texts.