Layla and Majnun (English spelling)

Japanese: ライラとマジュヌーン（英語表記）Laylā wa‐Majnūn

A tragic love story that is widely loved in Islamic culture. In the Arab world, it is known as Majnun Layla. The two were from well-educated families, but the protagonist, Qais, who was a talented poet, accidentally included his lover Layla's name in a poem, severely damaging her family's reputation and resulting in her rejection of his marriage proposal. When his lover marries someone else, Qais's incurable lovesickness drives him mad, and he wanders the desert, nicknamed Majnun (a madman), in pursuit of the illusion of his lover. Layla is torn between her love for her lover and her loyalty to her husband, and eventually dies of exhaustion.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

イスラム文化圏で広く親しまれている悲恋物語。アラブ世界では〈マジュヌーン･ライラ〉として知られる。家柄も教養も良く育った2人であったが，詩才豊かな主人公カイスは恋人ライラの名前を，ある詩の中に叙してしまったために，恋人の家柄を著しく傷つけ，そのため求婚も拒絶されてしまう。恋人が他人に嫁ぎ，癒されぬ恋の病いはカイスを発狂させ，マジュヌーン(狂人)と呼ばれながら砂漠をさまよい，恋人の幻影を追い求める。ライラは恋人への愛と夫への忠節とのはざまに苦しみ，果ては衰弱して死ぬ。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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