The main themes of Ahmed Hatem Bjelopoljak's Arabic Ghazal

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of Ahmed Hatem Bjelopoljak's ghazal in the Arabic language or the central themes of Hatem's Sufi poetry. This famous Bosniak writer from the 18th century wrote a highly hermetic poetic text composed of 28 Sufi ghazals. In the manner of a mature Sufi poet he addressed in a unique way two key themes of Islam's mystical poetry: eternal love for the Lord and anticipation for the ultimate beauty, that is to say, the Face of the Beloved.

In his mystical psychotop, Hatem masterfully links general Sufi symbols, discovers how the love of God, that is to say, the Only Beloved, is highly multicoloured and far from any of these worldly stereotypes about love and of being in love. Love is an interrupted path, full of surprises which under- mine logical sequence and syntax. The reward for amorous quiver filled with complete surrender and sacrifice is the ultimate proximity of the Beloved and beholding the Face of the Lord. In this way, Hatem demonstrates his submersion into classical Sufi thought and, following the example of Ibn Arabi with his hermetic style, he successfully achieves the high demands of the mystical poetry of Islam.