The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has launched the new issue of Al Markaz: The Journal of Arab Studies, in collaboration with Brill Publishing, under the theme of ‘hope’.

The foreword, ‘Hope in Arabic Literature’, is written by ALC Chairman Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Dr. Tahera Qutbuddin, a professor of Arabic literature at the University of Chicago, and Dr. Bilal Orfali, Sheikh Zayed Chair for Arabic and Islamic Studies at the American University of Beirut. It explains that the subject of hope is explored in literature from around the world, and particularly highlighted in Arabic poetry and prose. However, subject-based research is rare in the field of Arabic literature studies in general, despite prevalence in English and other international literatures. This issue of the magazine explores the subject for the very first time in the history of peer-reviewed studies, with new critical insights.

Over more than three hundred pages, this issue of Al Markaz presents nine studies on ‘hope’ across various Arabic literary genres and historical eras. The studies examine the characteristics that are unique to Arabic literature and the concerns it shares with common human themes, via works by prominent figures including Ibn Qutayba, Al-Tanukhi, Abu Ishaq Al-Sabi, Abu Al-Qasim Al-Shabi, Ibrahim Touqan, and Wissam Goubran.

The articles in the issue examine a series of narrative, textual, structural, grammatical, rhetorical, and lexical issues. Participating researchers represent various countries around the Arab world, including the UAE, the Sultanate of Oman, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon.

Al Markaz: The Journal of Arab Studies is published by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and features Arabic studies on language, literature, and culture. It explores a range of historical and critical issues, as well as book reviews, covering a considerable time period that extends from the pre-Islamic era to contemporary times. The magazine is committed to familiarising readers with the affairs of classical Arabic (Fus’ha) as well as the spoken dialects, highlighting written and oral heritage in poetry and prose. It also features interstitial and comparative studies.

To browse and download the magazine, please visit the Brill Publishing website