maqama

Maqama (Arabic: مقامة) is a classical literary genre of Arabic prose that is written in rhymed, rhythmic prose (saj’) and often interwoven with poetry. Characterized by linguistic virtuosity, wordplay, and layered rhetoric, maqama typically presents a sequence of episodes featuring a witty, roguish narrator who travels through urban settings, encounters a variety of characters, and describes clever or satirical encounters. The form emphasizes social observation, satire, and moral instruction rather than straightforward plot.

The genre originated in the Islamic medieval world, with early development attributed to the Basra-based writer Al-Hamadhani (c. 10th–11th century). It culminated in one of its most famous and influential works, Maqamat of Al-Hariri of Basra (11th–12th century), which became a high point of classical Arabic prose and shaped the tradition for centuries. Maqamat often employ elaborate introductions, rhetorical devices, and picaresque episodes in which the protagonist outwits others, roams through markets and courts, and conveys social critique.

Beyond Arabic, the maqama tradition influenced Persian literature and, to varying extents, other Islamic literary cultures. The form is valued for its linguistic artistry, inventive syntax, and capacity to showcase a storyteller’s cleverness and range. In modern usage, the term maqama may appear in discussions of related narrative techniques or in reference to the musical concept maqam in Middle Eastern music, though the two senses are distinct—maqam in music denotes a melodic framework rather than a literary type.

See also: Maqama (literary genre), Al-Hamadhani, Al-Hariri, Saj’ (rhymed prose).