Faculty Member from the College of Arts Participates in a Master’s Thesis Defense at the University of Basra

Asst. Prof. Dr. Koistan Najmuddin Anja, a faculty member at the College of Arts, University of Kirkuk, participated in the examination committee for a Master’s thesis defense at the University of Basra. The thesis, presented by student Haider Adel Majeed, is titled: "Narrative and the Production of Identity: A Study of Risalat al-Tawabi' wa al-Zawabi' by Ibn Shuhayd al-Andalusi."

The thesis aimed to re-evaluate the relationship between the Mashriq (the East) and Al-Andalus, as both regions produced Arabic literature that integrated to form a magnificent heritage. It sought to debunk the notion of "abhorrent imitation" often associated with Andalusian literature, replacing it with a more sophisticated and creative perspective. This perspective highlights that Andalusian writers engaged with their Eastern counterparts with refinement and mutual respect.

The study concluded that narrative is capable of encompassing identity and "narrative identity" within its expressive, social, and cultural characteristics to construct the specific identity sought by Ibn Shuhayd. Furthermore, the research categorized Ibn Shuhayd’s Risalat al-Tawabi' wa al-Zawabi' as a fictional literary masterpiece capable of producing an alternative Andalusian identity through a unique narrative style that rivals and competes with the central Mashriq.