Craftsmanship in Literature and Literary Craftsmanship in 9th-Century Baghdad: Ibn Abī Awn’s (d. 934) Kitāb al-Tashbīhāt [The Book of Similes] as a Case Study

Early rhetorical treatises serve as testing grounds for emerging aesthetic concepts tied to specific socio-cultural contexts and also influence readers’ literary preferences. The overlooked Kitāb al-Tašbīhāt by Ibn Abī ʿAwn (d. 322/934) is a significant example of this dynamic and invites reflection on the evolution of balāġa during the Arabic-Islamic classical period, particularly in response to urbanization. This study, while providing an overview of the cultural growth of 9th-century Baghdad, explores two main research axes. First, it delves into how craftsmanship was terminologically and thematically used as a source of inspiration within rhetorical treatises like Ibn Abī ʿAwn’s. Second, it uncovers the indirect influence of an urbanized milieu, with its sophisticated grasp of craft techniques, on what could best be defined as literary craftsmanship. This refers to the methodologically inspired development of a contextually based, conscious, and revolutionary literary ability that enabled Abbasid authors not only to explore, analyze, and employ their own languages and literary traditions as powerful tools, but also to reflect on new literary styles, models, and perspectives whilst harmonizing a secular, progress-driven mentality with more unorthodox forms of critical thinking.