Diwan al-Layla wal-Majnuun: a poetic tale of love

by nashid fareed-ma'at

An adaptation of a classic ancient Arabian story of love in this tale, a young boy named Qays falls madly in love with a beautiful girl named Layla. When social forces prevent the pursuit of such love, he goes insane. But out of his madness emerges an unrealized poet within who recites verses so beautiful they melt the hearts of most who hear them and are repeated throughout the land. In this way, Qays becomes the famous Majnuun, which means “mad man.” Layla’s family, fearing his...