Umm Al-Kiram facts for kids

Umm al-Kirām bint al-Mut'asim b. Sumādih (Arabic: أم الكرام بنت المعتصم ابن صُمادح) was a princess and a talented poet from a long time ago, in the late 11th century. She lived in a place called al-Andalus, which is now part of Spain. Her father was Abu Yahyà Muhammad ben Ma'n, also known as al-Mutasim. He was the king of the Taifa of Almería, a small kingdom in what is now the province of Almería, Andalusia.

Umm al-Kiram belonged to a royal family known as the Banu Sumadih. Her family was quite artistic! She had three brothers, and two of them, Raf al-Dawla and Ubayd Allah, were also poets. It seems like writing poetry ran in their family!

A Gifted Poet

Historians like Ibn Idhari tell us that Princess Umm al-Kiram was incredibly intelligent. Her father made sure she was educated alongside her brothers. She quickly became even better than them at writing beautiful poems.

The poems we still have from her today are mostly about love. They show her deep feelings and her skill with words. One of her most famous poems is shared below. It gives us a glimpse into her heart and her poetic talent.

Her Famous Poem

Here is one of Umm al-Kiram's most well-known poems:

Marvelously, friends,
of what has harvested a burning passion
therefore not for that, there would be lowered,
accompanied by the moon, the night,
from the highest heaven to Earth.
My passion is that I love in such a way
that if I broke up, my heart would follow him.

Oh, I wish I knew.

If there is a way to be alone together
which do not reach the ears of the spy.
How wonderful
I want to be alone with my beloved
living, even when it is in my gut and in my chest.