Offering a vast panorama of the history of Arabic verse in its relation to Semitic verse, this work follows stages of its evolution from parallelistic pattern to the emergence of the three basic rhythms and then of the unique system of ‘Arūḍ. It proposes a new interpretation of the original Arabic metrical theory including the famous "circles of Khalī as a kind of generative device and traces its relation to the grammatical and lexicographical theories of al-Khalīl ibn Aḥmad. The monograph provides the largest so far statistical data of the metrical repertory of Classical Arabic poetry, puts forward a hypothesis about the existence of the archaic Hiran metrical school side by side with the Bedouin school and describes main metrical types of Arabic poetry: Bedouin, ḥīran, (‘Abbasid), Classical, Andalusian.

Abundance from the Desert provides a comprehensive introduction to classical Arabic poetry, one of the richest of poetic traditions. Covering the period roughly of 500-1250 c.e., it features original translations and illuminating discussions of a number of major classical Arabic poems from a variety of genres. The poems are presented chronologically, each situated within a specific historical and literary context. Together, the selected poems suggest the range and depth of classical Arabic poetic expression; read in sequence, they suggest the gradual evolution of a tradition. Moving beyond a mere chronicle, Farrin outlines a new approach to appreciating classical Arabic poetry based on an awareness of concentric symmetry, in which the poem’s unity is viewed not as a linear progression but as an elaborate symmetrical plot. In doing so, the author presents these works in a broader, comparative light, revealing connections with other literatures. The reader is invited to examine these classical Arabic works not as isolated phenomena—notwithstanding their uniqueness and their association with a discrete tradition—but rather as part of a great multicultural heritage. This pioneering book marks an important step forward in the study of Arabic poetry. At the same time, it opens the door to this rich tradition for the general reader.

Verse and prose, from the 6th century CE (pre-Islamic) to the early 18th century CE.

ANTHOLOGY OF CLASSICAL ARABIC POETRY(From Pre-Islamic Times to Al-Shushtari)Translations, Introduction and Notes by Paul SmithCONTENTS: Classical Arabic Poetry… page 7, The Qasida… 10, The Qit'a… 11, The Ghazal… 12, The Ruba'i… 16, Selected Bibliography… 17: THE POETS (In Order of Appearance) Imra' ul-Qays 17, Zuhair 29, Harith 39, Antara 46, Tarafa 58, Amru 71, Al-A'sha 80, Suhaym 82, Labid 84, Ka'b 96, Khansa 100, Hazrat Ali 102, Ali Ibn Husain 111, Omar Ibn Abi Rabi'a 106, Majnun (Qays ibn al-Mulawwah) 109, Rab'ia of Basra 116, Bashshar 123, Abu Nuwas 126, Abu Tammam 151, Dhu'l-Nun 155, Bayazid Bistami 163, Al-Nuri 163, Junaid 169, Sumnun 171, Mansur al-Hallaj 173, Ibn 'Ata 181, Shibli 183, Al-Mutanabbi 185, Al-Ma'arri 211, Ibn Sina 233, Al-Ghazali 236, Gilani 239, Abu Madyan 243, Suhrawardi 248, Ibn al-Farid 250, Ibn 'Arabi 265, Al-Busiri 278, Al-Shushtari 284. Pages 287.COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'.“It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. If he comes to Iran I will kiss the fingertips that wrote such a masterpiece inspired by the Creator of all. ” Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran.“Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith.” Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator of many mystical works in English into Persian and knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart. “Smith has probably put together the greatest collection of literary facts and history concerning Hafiz.” Daniel Ladinsky (Penguin Books author of his own poems inspired by Hafiz). Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of over 80 books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages… including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Mu'in, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Omar Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, Mahsati and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and twelve screenplays. www.newhumanitybooksbookheaven.com

This work deals with "wasf" or description which is one of the salient characteristics of the "qasidah" (classical Arabic poetry) tradition. It examines descriptive passages in a selected group of Arabic "qasidah" from different ages, with the motifs of horses, and bees and honey-gathering.

The classical period of Arab civilization produced the most extensive and highly developed bacchic tradition in world literature, In this book, the author traces the history of classical Arabic wine poetry from its origins in sixth century Arabia to its heyday in Baghdad at the turn of theninth century. The focus is on the greatest and perhaps most likeable of Arabic poets, Abu Nuwas. Although wine poetry is only one of the many genres for which he is known, it is the one that has ensured his fame, and the one on which this book concentrates. The wine songs of the poet are analysedand their connections with poetics, ethics, and religion are explored. The author also puts Abu Nuwas in perspective by comparing him with his most important predecessors and contemporaries and by discussing his interaction with other poetic genres such as amatory, invective, ascetic, or gnomicverse.