siyar shaʿbiyyah

Siyar sha'biyyah refers to Arabic saga literature, which traditionally includes epic tales recited by storytellers in public spaces. These narratives often feature the exploits of legendary figures and tribal confederacies. Examples include the tales of the poet-cavalier 'Antar, the Banu Hilal tribal confederacy, and the warrior-princess Dhat al-Himmah. While these sagas were a significant part of oral tradition, their status within the formal Arabic literary canon has been debated, particularly in comparison to works like The Thousand and One Nights. The term "saga" itself originated from Icelandic prose narratives of the 12th and 13th centuries and has since broadened to include long stories of heroic deeds, often spanning significant periods of time.12