The Reality Effect in Early Muslim Literature
The Reality Effect in Early Muslim Literature

Summary/Abstract: For the purposes of this paper, reality is considered to be absolute,while its perceptions are multiple and subjective – as are the original historical accounts. Legends, on the contrary, lack detail and represent a harmonious logical sequence of events. Early Muslim writings such as Ibn Saʿd’s works and Ḥadith, coming on the heels of pre-Islamic poetry with its abundance of descriptive details, continued the use of Jahiliah rhetoric techniques in an effort to provide precision to the historical account. While the variations in Ḥadiths’ versions are a natural feature of oral traditions put into writing, it creates contradictions that sought a solution through the process of source authentication. However, the authenticity of the source does not automatically equate with the reliability of the content.

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