Introduction and Analysis of the Gurāni Religious Epic The Conquest of Khaybar
摘要
Religious epic is a genre that encompasses the valorous and heroic deeds of religious and spiritual figures nestled within the broader epic category. Notably, Kurdish literature boasts a rich collection of religious epics penned in the Gurāni dialect. These texts portray the bravery of heroes, some of whom are religious leaders, with particular emphasis on ʿAli ibn Abi Tāleb, the first Shiʿite Imam. Kurdish epic poets, drawing inspiration from Ferdowsi’s Shāhnāmeh and the religious epics popular during the Safavid era—such as Hamleh-ye Heydari (The Attack of Heydari) by Bāzel Mashhadi—have woven narratives that celebrate heroism. This research introduces the religious epic manuscripts of Fath-e Khaybar (The Conquest of Khaybar), examines the characteristics of this epic, and conducts a comparative analysis with Persian religious epics. Serving as a comprehensive resource, this research enhances our understanding and appraisal of both Persian and Kurdish religious epics, demonstrating how these works are deeply rooted in the celebrated Persian religious epics and the national epic of Iran.