Stylistic disputes and their relation to the art of epistolary writing in the Abbasid era

Abstract

Letters in the Abbasid era began to take a new direction in composition, as several styles and methods of letter writing emerged. This study is limited to clarifying the extent of the interconnection between stylistic tendency and its relationship with the art of letter writing specifically in the Abbasid era, relying on a selected sample of letters and employing it in the research. The significance of choosing this topic lies in the abundance of ideas and trends adopted by writers of that period in crafting letters, especially those related to the Diwan al-Insha’ (Chancery Office) in the Abbasid state. During this time, a considerable number of writers appeared who tended toward diverse styles that differed somewhat from those used in the Islamic era before it and in the Umayyad era. The study ultimately reveals the stylistic approaches and their relationship to letters during the Abbasid rule