Sastra Arab Pasca-Abbasiyah (Kemunduran): Antara Tradisi dan Kelambatan

Abstract

This article examines the development of Post-Abbasid Arabic Literature, a period often labeled as the era of decline (‘Aṣr al-Inḥiṭāṭ), yet in reality, it represents a crucial stage of cultural transition and transformation in the history of Islamic literary tradition. This study employs a qualitative descriptive approach within the framework of library research, utilizing primary sources such as Diwān Ibn al-Fāriḍ and Qaṣīdat al-Burda by al-Būṣīrī, alongside modern scholarly references from books and journals. The findings reveal that the so-called decline was not a mere loss of creativity but rather a shift in literary orientation—from rational and political expression to spiritual and moral reflection. The main characteristics of this period include aesthetic stagnation and repetitive themes, yet with the emergence of new dimensions inspired by Sufism, which transformed literature into a vehicle for spiritual introspection and ethical teaching. Furthermore, the dissemination of Arabic literature across regions such as Egypt, the Levant, North Africa, and Southeast Asia expanded its cultural influence, giving rise to localized literary forms grounded in Arabic language and Islamic thought. Hence, the Post-Abbasid era should be viewed not as a phase of literary collapse but as a reflective period of cultural endurance, adaptability, and continuity.