| Abstract | The Banū ʿUdhra have long been associated with an intense, idealized, and often tragic form of love that came to be known in the Arabic literary tradition as ʿudhrī love. Drawing primarily on narratives and poetic accounts preserved in Abū al-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī’s Kitāb al-Aghānī (The Book of Songs), this article examines the origins, development, and literary construction of the ʿudhrī tradition. It investigates the cultural and literary conditions that shaped theʿudhrī ghazal, while also addressing questions concerning the historical authenticity of its narratives and the role of ruwāt (transmitters) in shaping, transmitting, and elaborating the stories of ʿudhrī lovers. Particular attention is given to the narrative structure of the ʿudhrī love story and to the distinctive conventions and characteristics through which it is constituted. The article concludes by tracing the enduring influence and transhistorical circulation of the ʿudhrī tradition in world literature, highlighting its contribution to the representation of idealized, unattainable, and tragic love across different literary and cultural contexts.
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