Abstract
We expect poetry to be poetical, an expression of emotions, meditative and the like. It seems unusual to even consider the value of poetry as a historical source, but given the characteristics of early Arabic poetry this objective becomes less farfetched: Arab poets used their poetic compositions sometimes as the media of the time, to state publicly their points of view and their deliberations. By studying these we come across motivations, reflections of discussions and considerations of the options that these individuals had. For an era of turmoil like the beginning of Islam we can hardly come closer to the persons who witnessed it than reading and interpreting their own words.Keywords: Ancient Arabic poetry, early Islam, genesis of religions in context
Highlights
We expect poetry to be poetical, an expression of emotions, meditative and the like
One of the first attempts to assess the importance of poetry as a historic source was made by Omar FARRUKH in his Ph.D. thesis Das Bild des Frühislam in der arabischen Dichtung
What is more: it must have conveyed controversial opinions that were still widely held in early Islamic society
Summary
5. 5 Al-Qālī, (Dhayl) al-Amālī, iii: 105. 6 LYALL 1914: 68-9. 7 KHAN 1964: 249-87. 8 KHAN 1968: 75-91. AGHA points at the wide use that the akhbāriyyūn made of Arabic verse.9 He goes as far as to suppose that “one may even conjure up an outline ... Thomas BAUER recently discussed the role that ancient Arabic poetry can play in interpreting the Koran.11 He stresses the importance of intertextuality between the Koranic text and pre-Islamic poetry and arrives at convincing new interpretations of some koranic passages. BAUER’s argument for establishing an intertextual relationship between the Koran and early Arabic poetry is intriguing and convincing, and it promises relevant results. He hints to one aspect of this poetry that is of particular interest in this context: “... One might say: the poets, the major poets and the lesser ones, confronted with the
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
