Pre-Islamic
literature
Poetry
We learn about pre-Islamic period from
legends, proverbs and poetry.
Poetry occupies a pre-eminent place in
the Arabic literary tradition.
The vast body of poetry composed by
classical Arab poets is generally regarded
as one of the most important elements of
Arabic intellectual heritage.
What do we mean by
‘classical’ Arabic poetry?
In the context of Arabic poetry, the term
‘classical’ is conventionally applied to the period
extending from the early 6th century C.E. to the
end of the ‘Abbasid caliphate (13th century C.E.).
It was during this period that the genres,
themes and stylistic techniques emerged.
By contrast, the later medieval/Ottoman period
tends to be characterised by imitation of the
classical models and a general lack of
innovation and creativity.
The origins of Arabic poetry:
The earliest extant examples of Arabic poetry
appear to date from the first half of the 6 th
century C.E. Although such poetry seems to
have emerged out of nothing it was clearly the
product of a long-established oral tradition. It
survived in the memory of the professional
reciters (ruwah- singular:rawi).
It was only towards the end of the 7th century
that pre-Islamic poetry was written down.
The best pre-Islamic poems are preeminent
classics of Arabic literature.
The role of the poet in pre-Islamic
Arabian society:
In pre-Islamic Arabia poetry was closely
linked to the nature of tribal society.
The poet was typically the spokesman of
his clan, and his craft was a means of
preserving the collective memory of the
clan. He was a propagandist, preacher,
entertainer, moralist…
The poet’s status:
The role of tribal poet was therefore seen
as an important one, as indicated in the
following well-known quote from a
medieval Arab critic: “They [the Arab
tribesmen of pre-Islamic times] used not to
wish each other joy but for three things:
the birth of a boy, the coming to light of a
poet,...