Al-Nabigha facts for kids
Al-Nābighah (النابغة الذبياني), also known as Al-Nābighah al-Dhubiyānī or Nābighah al-Dhubyānī, was a very important Arabian poet who lived a long time ago, before the religion of Islam began. His real name was Ziyad ibn Muawiyah, and he lived from about 535 AD to 604 AD. The name "Al-Nabigha" actually means "genius" in Arabic, which shows how talented he was!
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Who Was Al-Nābighah?
Al-Nābighah was one of the last great poets of the time before Islam. He was known for his amazing skill with words. His tribe, the Banu Dhubyan, lived in an area not far from the holy city of Mecca.
His Life and Travels
Even though his tribe was near Mecca, Al-Nābighah didn't stay there much. He spent most of his time traveling and living at the courts of powerful rulers. He visited the courts in places like Hirah and Ghassan. These courts were like royal palaces where kings and leaders lived. Poets like Al-Nābighah would often entertain the rulers with their poems.
A Poet's Journey: Hirah and Ghassan
Al-Nābighah first stayed in Hirah with a ruler named Mundhir III. After Mundhir III, he stayed with the next ruler who took over in 562 AD.
Later, he traveled to the court of Ghassan. But he eventually returned to Hirah to serve another ruler named Numan III. However, something happened with his poems about the Queen, and he had to leave Hirah quickly. He fled back to Ghassan for safety. Around the year 600 AD, he was able to return to Hirah. When Numan III died about five years later, Al-Nābighah decided to go back and live with his own tribe.
What Kind of Poems Did He Write?
Al-Nābighah wrote many different kinds of poems. Most of his poems were either eulogies or satires.
- Eulogies are poems that praise someone or something, often a powerful ruler or a brave warrior.
- Satires are poems that make fun of someone or something, often in a clever way.
His poems often talked about the disagreements and fights between the rulers of Hirah and Ghassan. He also wrote about the conflicts between his own tribe, the Banu Dhubyan, and another tribe called the Banu Abs.
The Famous Muʿallaqat Poems
Al-Nābighah is considered one of the six most important poets from the time before Islam. Their poems were so highly regarded that they were collected very early on. These poems were seen as the best examples of Arabic poetry. Some people even think Al-Nābighah was the most important of these six poets.
These poets wrote very long and impressive poems. They are known as the Muʿallaqat (معلقات). The word "Muʿallaqat" means "the hung ones." This is because these special poems were said to have been hung on the walls of the Kaaba in Mecca. This was done so everyone could admire and read them.
His Legacy and Collected Works
Even though he lived so long ago, Al-Nābighah's poems were carefully saved and studied. His collected poems were put together by Wilhelm Ahlwardt in a book called Diwans of the Six Ancient Arabic Poets in London in 1870. His poems were also published separately by H. Derenbourg in Paris in 1869.
See Also
In Spanish: Al-Nabigha para niños
