Abu Al-Ala Al-Maarri, one of the most prominent Arab writers and philosophers, was described for his depth of thought and accuracy of language, in addition to his prowess in grammar, poetry, and prose. He left an immortal mark in the history of Arabic literature, and as Yaqut al-Hamawi pointed out, Abu Al-Alaa was of great fame and reputation in the fields of science and literature. Among his most famous poetic works are "Al-Luzumiyat", "Saqat Al-Zand", and "Light of Falling", which were translated into multiple languages ​​due to their wide influence and spread among different cultures. As for prose, he has many books that deal with issues of philosophy and literary criticism, such as "The Tree of Love and the Branches," "Taj al-Hurra," and "The Abuse of al-Walid," works that established his prestigious literary status.
Among his works, "The Message of Forgiveness" stands out as one of the most important literary texts in the Arab heritage. Al-Maarri wrote this work when he was sixty years old, and it is a unique literary text that reviews a journey in the afterlife, exploring the depths of heaven and hell in an intellectual form that mixes imagination and philosophy. The "Message of Forgiveness" is often compared to the Divine Comedy of the Italian poet Dante Alighieri, as some similarities appear between the two ideas, which led some critics to question the possibility of Dante being influenced by this Arabic work, which is a literary mystery that has not been resolved until today. Also, this work had an impact on Western literature, It was influenced by the English poet John Milton in his famous poem "Paradise Lost".