Musical Instruments in Al-Jahiz

Abstract

In his writings, the Arab author Al-Jahiz addressed issues related to music, Tarab (a genre of music), and singing. Al-Jahiz was known for his knowledge and literature, and he wrote numerous works that shed light on the luxurious aspects of society. He authored a book titled "Ethics of Singers" and another titled "Singers, Singing, and the Craft." In these books, Al-Jahiz defended singing as an artistic form and believed that it possessed scientific principles and foundations similar to other arts and literature. He promoted singing as a pleasurable art form. Despite his affiliation with the Mu'tazila school of thought, Al-Jahiz was a supporter of singing and singers, and he wrote about their ethics and arts. In his treatise "Al-Qiyan," Al-Jahiz discussed the influence of courtesans and their households on Islamic society, pointing to the immorality, passion, and vice that may result from this influence. Overall, Al-Jahiz's writings have had a significant impact on our understanding of music, Tarab, and singing in ancient times.