Arabic Language Literary Heritage in the Works of Central Asian Thinkers in the 10th-12th Centuries

Abstract

In the 10th-12th centuries there had been a rapid flourishing of literary creativity in the Arabic language in the regions of Central Asia such as Mawaraunnahr and Khwarezm. Tens of thousands of Arabic-language manuscripts have been stored in manuscript collections all over the world, including the manuscript collection of our Republic. Some of them have been selectively studied by orientalists. At the same time, the number of still unexplored manuscripts is very large, and there are manuscripts containing vivid artistic creations among them. Translating and researching of these works in order to bring the treasures of spiritual and aesthetic heritage to our people is a responsible and honorable task of Uzbek orientalists.This article expounds on the contributions of the Central Asian thinkers in the development of Arabic literature in the 10th-12th centuries, in the establishment of its genres, and the formation of its primary trends. In the article, a brief overview of the main literary works of the period and their influence on the direction of the literary development both in Central Asia and the entire world of Islam is given. The rich Arabic literature of Mawarannаhar and Khwarezm spurred vibrant cultural growth locally during the first stage of the Islamic Renaissance and further development of the social and moral thought of its peoples. Abu Bakr al-Khwarezmi, Abu Ali Sina, Mahmud al-Zamakshari, and many other Central Asian thinkers combined both scientific and literary endeavors throughout their lives.  During this very period, the main body of the greatest literary monuments was created. Additionally, the perspectives of a deeper study of this literary heritage as part of the world heritage and the entire human civilization are examined in this article. A comprehensive study of the Arabic literary heritage of the 9th-12th centuries may, on one hand, help to fill out the gap in the studies of the literary activities of the period. On the other hand, even though certain steps in this direction have been made, prospects of research from the position of literary studies demand a deeper exploration of literary activities, thematic categories, poetics, uniqueness of local genres, and other facets, which will help make certain the size of the contribution of Central Asian scholars to the development not only of Eastern literature but of Western as well.