1/The N-Poem (نونيات) is a genre of medieval Arabic literature in the form of a lyrical stanza. A favourite of mine is that of al-Qaḥṭānī al-Andalusī (d. 10th C). The ode is a masterclass of Arabic poetry, philosophy, theology, & medieval sectarianism. Thread.

2/The nūniyyah of Qaḥṭānī is thematically divided into sections devoted to elucidating his religious commitments to the "Salafī" creed, and refutations, often harsh, of philosophers (Arabic and Greek), Ashʿari Sunnis, Shiis, astrologists, and physicians.

3/On the philosophers, al-Qaḥtānī says: "the deviant philosophers fall back on knowledge of naturalism ... in the belief that resurrection is not corporeal" ... "their Aristotle lied when he said ... "thunder is a glaring flame struck in between the clouds"

3/"Did Ptolemy ascend to the stars ... until he saw the celestial wonderers? ... Or did he glare at the sun and her crescent ... or did he watch [the sun and moon] follow one another?"

5/"O philosopher, you have kept busy away from [the path of] guidance ... busy with Byzantine and Greek logic ... Islamic law is the best of canons ... the religion of the truthful Arabian prophet.

5/On astrologers: "the naturalist lied! And the astrologer too! ... they claim to know the knowledge of God ... the earth is round in their view .... in this belief the two are united ... but for me it is the flatness of the earth ... relying as I do on clear quranic proof"

7/On the Shiis: "the religion of the Rāfiḍīs [Shiis] belief not, for they ... are people of deceit and the party of Satan ... the Rāfiḍīs are the evilest of those who walk [the earth] ... among humans and jinn ... they love the [Prophet's] progeny but vilify his companions"

8/On Ashʿaris: "Now I turn to repudiate [Abu l-Ḥasan] al-Ashʿari and his party ... to bring to light the lies they concealed ... with quranic proofs I shall render your magic void ... through [the quran] I shall shake [the foundations] of my adversaries."

9/"Your quran readers and your jurists are similar ... two disobedient parties ... they behave like dogs when they encounter the ḥarām ... as dogs behave when they see rotten meat ... I challenged your grandest masters ... and destroyed those who stood before me ..."

8/"[know, Ashʿaris] I am your fear and your worst nightmare ... I am your poison manifest or concealed"

9/Some have cast aspersions on the authorship. There's also few commentaries on the N-Poem of Qaḥṭānī. The Ashʿaris receive the harshest and lengthiest criticisms. The oral recitation is a treat. I recommend the recital of Fāris ʿAbbad

10/The ode is full of autobiographical gems. E.g., "[my ode is organised] like a pearl necklace." "I am a lump that chokes his enemies." "I am the belletrist, poet, al-Qaḥṭānī." Lastly, every time you read the ode, say: بالله قولوا كلما أنشدتم ... رحم الإله صداك يا قحطاني

11/The full text of the Nūniyyah. I took liberties with the translations. https://ar.wikisource.org/wiki/%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AD%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A END.