Missing image Layla_persuading_Majnun.jpg Layla persuading Majnun

Leyli persuading Majnun

Leyli and Majnun, or Layla and Majnun, is a classical Middle Eastern love story. It is supposedly based on the real story of a young man called Qays ibn al-Muwallah in the Umayyad era, who upon seeing Layla fell violently in love with her, and went mad when his father prevented him from marrying her; for that reason, he came to be called Majnun Layla, literally "Layla's madman". To him were attributed a variety of violently romantic Arabic poems, considered among the foremost examples of the Udhari school. From Arab folklore, it passed into Persian literature, and the Persian poet Nezami wrote a famous account of their love. It is a story of undying love much like a Romeo and Juliet of an early age. In Azerbaijan, the story was made into an opera first staged on January 25, 1908 by Uzeyir Hajibeyov.

See Also

• Salaman and Absal by Ziao-od-Din Yusuf
• Leyli and Majnun art by Mohammad Hourian

External links

• The Legend of Leyli and Majnun (http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/63_folder/63_articles/63_legendleyli.html)
• The Story of Layla and Majnun (http://www.sheriarbooks.org/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SBO&Product_Code=0930872525&Category_Code=BOOK_BEAD_DISC)