majmua

Majmua is a term with roots in Arabic and Persian, broadly meaning a collection or compilation. Its most common usage refers to a collection of writings, poems, or other literary works. This can range from a single author's collected works to an anthology featuring diverse contributors. The content of a majmua can be thematic, stylistic, or chronological, depending on the compiler's intent.

Historically, majmuas played a significant role in the preservation and dissemination of knowledge and literature, particularly in Islamic cultures. Scholars and poets would compile their own works or gather those of others into these collections. This practice helped ensure the survival of texts that might otherwise have been lost.

Beyond literature, the term majmua can also be applied to collections in other contexts, such as a collection of legal rulings, medical prescriptions, or even musical pieces. The unifying concept remains that of bringing together disparate items into a single, organized whole. The specific nature of the collection is usually clarified by preceding or succeeding terms that denote the type of material being gathered.