Narration Democracy in Ibn Ud’daye’s “Al-Mokafat” Story Collection

Considering the complexity and newness of democracy as a category it is natural that many works of Arabic classic literature that adhere to dogmatic traditions, significant principles, and rules lack it. But in some of the works the writer by conversing the narration into a context for reflecting different voices, cultures, and ideas tries to express problems of ordinary people and society’s different classes with a democratic approach. This process provides the way for releasing the story from dogmatism and one-sided view and has resulted in the fusion of ideas, cultures, and induction of more readings. In the story book Al-Mokafat, Ibn Ud’daye by following realism has reflected socio-political conditions of Tulunian period in Egypt. And as a writer with democratic thought, aims for normalization of culture and reconciliation of beliefs, ideas, and tastes. Ibn Ud’daye’s activity in Cairo’s court and political center of Al-Tulun period which accompanied with vast reforms was an influential subject in adopting such an approach. Considering the necessity of exploring this issue in Arabic classic works this article is about to study the democratic narration and its main features in Ibn Ud’daye’s Al-Mokafat. The results indicate that mentioned story collection includes characteristics such as diversity of voices and tones, inclusion and comprehensiveness, pluralism and reconciliation of cultures, ideas, and fusing them, reflecting popular culture and application of oral language. It is a work with a democratic approach that is narrated by depending on free-thinking concept and avoiding dogmatism