ABSTRACT
The Umayyad ‘Udhri romances – as codified, constructed in and viewed through an ‘Abbasid lens – are only ostensibly about a monogamous bond between a pair of lovers. The ninth-century ‘Abbasid litterateur al-Jahiz in his Risalat al-Qiyan, or Epistle on Singing Girls, relays a narrative unit that illuminates certain aspects of the love triangles found in Majnun Layla and the other Udhri love stories. In Majnun Layla and in the other ‘Udhri love stories, the third party role initially is enacted by the ‘Udhri lover; however, it is subsequently usurped by the beloved’s husband or another rival suitor. The ‘Udhri lover continues endlessly to desire his beloved because the narrative mandates his remaining center stage in the romance for heightening ‘Abbasid male audiences’ pleasures and entertainment. The narratives are selected from the Aghani renditions of the ‘Udhri romances of Majnun Layla and Jamil Buthayna, respectively.
