محمد مقدم نژاد

This study presents a comparative analysis of the narration of the Battle of Qadisiyyah in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and Tabari’s Tarikh al-Tabari based on Gérard Genette’s narrative theory. It examines how narrative elements are employed in these two works to represent this historical event and its role in shaping Iranian-Islamic identity. The Battle of Qadisiyyah, as one of the most pivotal moments in the history of Iran and Islam, has been depicted from various perspectives in literary and historical works. This research aims to explore the differences in the portrayal of this battle in the two texts by focusing on narrative elements such as order, frequency, focalization, and narrative techniques. The findings indicate that in the Shahnameh, the Battle of Qadisiyyah is depicted with an emphasis on Iranian heroism and resistance, particularly through the character of Rostam Farrokhzad. Narrative elements are used in a way that highlights Iranian identity and national values. Ferdowsi employs a linear structure and the repetition of certain events across different sections to emphasize the resistance and collapse of Iran before Islam. In contrast, Tarikh al-Tabari places greater emphasis on the Islamic aspects of this battle, narrating it from the Arab perspective in an attempt to highlight Islamic identity over Iranian identity. Tabari strengthens the religious interpretation of the battle by using external focalization and sequential accounts of the Muslim victory and martyrdom. This research also demonstrates that Tarikh al-Tabari, by emphasizing Islam as the superior identity and the triumph of righteousness over falsehood, constructs the Islamic aspect of Iranian-Islamic identity. Meanwhile, the Shahnameh, by highlighting national and heroic identity, emphasizes the Iranian dimension of this identity. These differences reflect the distinct ideologies of the authors of these works, which directly influence how the Battle of Qadisiyyah is portrayed. Ultimately, this study examines how narrative elements in both works play a crucial role in representing the Battle of Qadisiyyah and contribute to the formation of different aspects of Iranian-Islamic identity.