Saudi Arabia

Page 103

HISTORIC SAUDI IMRU’ AL QAIS

The Poet-Prince He began composing poetry from his childhood days, an activity that was condemned by his father. In his poetry, he used language that was easy to understand. While the content of his poems have been criticized, the prose is widely praised. He is the author of one of the odes in the Muallaqat, a compilation of Arabic literature attributed to seven famous Arabian poets.

The inspiring story of Imru’ Al Qais. By Mohammed Mirza

Born in the 6th century A.D. in the Najd region, Imru’ Al Qais is considered by many to be one of the founding fathers of Arabic poetry.

His personal life was just as interesting

as his poems. He was sent in to exile by his father. While in exile he heard of his father's killing by the Asad tribe. He takes it on himself to avenge his father's death, which he managed to do after many years. Imru’ Al Qais has been a source of literary and national inspiration for Arabic intellectuals all the way to the 20th century.

Like many historic figures of ancient Arabia, due to a lack of a formal writing system and a heavy reliance on oral transmission of stories, the details of the life of Imru' Al Qais are hard to determine with certainty. But historians believe based on the content of his poems that he was born into royalty, in the house of the Kindah Kingdom's regent.

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