A POETIC ISLAMIC LAW BOOK IN KURDISH LITERATURE: RÎSALETU SEFÎNETU’L-EKRAD İLA SEBÎLİ’R-REŞAD/SEFÎNA KURDAN Jİ BO EHLÊ BAJAR Û GUNDAN BY MELA EBDULCELÎLÊ BOTÎ

Abstract

Classical Kurdish Literature, as other classical oriental literatures, takes Islam as its reference. In this literature poetry is not only for art’s sake. Many works of arts were produced in verse to teach religious topics. Islamic law (fiqh) books that contain religious information every Muslim is supposed to learn are called Islamic manual (ilmihal). In classical oriental literatures such books were written in verse to facilitate memorization. The books produced for this purpose in classical Kurdish literatures have not been reviewed academically so far. There is also a void of literature review when it comes to such works. “Risaletu Sefînetu’l-Ekrad Îla Sebîlu’r-Reşad/ Sefîna Kurdan Ji Bo Ehlê Bajar û Gundan” is an original Kurdish book written in this category. This article discusses the books falling in this category in general and Rîsaletu Sefînetu’l-Ekrad by Mele Ebdulcelîlê Botî in particular. In this regard, the text of the book has been prepared using textual criticism technique and highlighting differences between two copies while offering an analytical assessment by providing details on the text beforehand