POETS in Islam
Etymology and Translations
- Etymology: The term “poet” in Arabic is shāʿir (شاعر), and its plural form is shuʿarāʾ. The word is rooted in the concept of “awareness” or “perception,” reflecting the poet’s perceived ability to comprehend and express profound truths.
- Arabic: شاعر (shāʿir), جمع (shuʿarāʾ)
- Turkish: Şair
Islamic Perspective on Poetry
Qur’anic References
The Qur’an explicitly distinguishes Prophet Muhammad from poets. In Sūrah Yā Sīn (36:69), it is stated:
<p>“We have not taught him poetry, nor was it proper for him; it is but a reminder and a plain Qurʾān.”</p>
Similarly, Sūrah al-Ḥāqqah (69:40-41) clarifies:
<p>“Verily it is the speech of a noble apostle; and it is not the speech of a poet.”</p>
Despite the Qur’an’s rhythmic and poetic qualities, Muhammad’s protested identity as a non-poet puzzled commentators. Fakhr al-Dīn al-Rāzī provides a nuanced explanation, elaborating on the spontaneous and divine nature of the Qur’an’s composition, which distinguishes it from deliberate poetic creation.
Early Islamic and Pre-Islamic Poets
Arabic poetic tradition was highly developed even before Islam. Scholars classify Arabic poetry into six historical periods:
- Al-Jāhilīyūn: Pre-Islamic poets like Zuhair, Ṭarafah, Imruʾ-ʾl-Qais, ʿAmr ibn Kulthūm, al-Ḥārith, and ʿAntarah.
- Al-Mukhadramūn: Poets born in the pre-Islamic era who later embraced Islam, e.g., Labīd and Ḥassān.
- Al-Mutaqaddimūn: Early Islamic era poets, children of converts, e.g., Jarīr and Farazdaq.
- Al-Muwalladūn: Poets born to Muslim parents, e.g., Bashār.
- Al-Muḥdithūn: Third-generation Muslim poets, e.g., Abū Tammām and al-Buḥturī.
- Al-Mutaʾakhkhirūn: Successive poets.
Famous Ancient Poems: Muʿallaqāt
Seven celebrated pre-Islamic poems known as Muʿallaqāt (“suspended”) or Muẕahhabāt (“golden poems”) are noteworthy. Authored by poets like Zuhair, Ṭarafah, Imruʾ al-Qais, Labīd and others, these works were displayed in the Kaʿbah and compose a critical part of Arabic literary heritage.
The Role of Labīd in Islam
Labīd, one of the poets of Muʿallaqāt, embraced Islam, incorporating themes reflective of this new faith. Muhammad acknowledged Labīd’s poetic line, “Know that everything is vanity but God,” as profoundly truthful.
The Decline of Arabic Poetry
Poetry thrived briefly during Prophet Muhammad’s era but faced a gradual decline afterwards. The Abbasid period fostered poetic patronage, compelling poets to craft complex compositions favored by foreign lords. This cultivated a shift towards ornate, sometimes overly elaborate poetry.
French orientalist Baron MacGuckin de Slane lamented this literary decline in his introduction to Ibn Khallikan’s Biographical Dictionary, citing a divergence from the simplicity of early Arabic literature to intricate, sometimes obscure, compositions.
Literary Techniques and Metaphors
Arabic poetry is rich in allegory and metaphor, using terms like:
- Narcissus: eye
- Pearls: tears or teeth
- Cornelians/Rubies: lips
- Pomegranate flower: gums
- Sword: eye
- Scabbards: eyelids
These poetic devices embolden the expressive depth and emotive resonance intrinsic to Arabic poetic form.
Takeaways
- The Qur’an distinguishes itself from poetry despite its rhythmic qualities.
- Arabic poetry has six distinct historical periods with varying thematic evolution.
- Poetry saw magnificent articulations in pre-Islamic times through works like Muʿallaqāt.
- Post-Muhammad, Arabic poetry gradually shifted to more intricate, often less accessible forms.
Conclusion
Arabic poetry, encapsulated through nuanced metaphors and structured verses, presents an illustrious literary tradition. Initially thriving in pre-Islamic Arabia, it later reverberated through generations, subtly intertwining with the essence of Islamic thoughts despite its perpetual evolution and eventual decline.
Suggested Further Reading
- Pre-Islamic Arabic Poetry by Alan Jones
- Classical Poetry and Prose in Islamic Society by F. I. Lockhart
- Ibn Khallikān’s Biographical Dictionary translated by Baron MacGuckin de Slane
These resources provide deeper insights into the historical and stylistic contexts of Arabic poetry within Islamic culture.
