A contrastive intertextual analysis of the American constitution and Imam Ali's (p. b. u. h.)‎ epistle to Malik al-Ashter

Abstract EN

This study attempts to present an intertextual analysis of two texts, the American Constitution (henceforth, AC), as one of the earliest secular written documents.

It is written to regulate people's lives in America after the war of independence in the 18th century and Imam Ali's (p.b.u.h.) Epistle to Malik Al-Ashter (henceforth, IAE) as one of the earliest Islamic documents that is written in the 6th century for Malik Al-Ashter to help him in managing people's lives in Egypt.

The two texts affect and affected by other texts.

The study aims at showing how both texts are drawn on other texts and are influenced by them.

Accordingly, it is hypothesised that AC is influenced by the Magna Charta whereas IAE is influenced by the Holy Quran and Prophet's Mohammed (p.b.u.h.) tradition.

To investigate this hypothesis and reach the aim, the next procedure is followed: (1) Presenting a theoretical background of intertextual analysis.

(2) Analysing the two texts selected according to Bazerman (2004) model of analysis.