The image of the warrior in the poetry of Abu Firas al-Hamdani

Abstract

God has ordained jihad for Muslims to exalt His word and resist aggressors, to support and protect Muslims and their homelands. From this premise, and as a result of the numerous wars and battles fought by Muslims against their enemies, a genre of literature emerged that focused on covering the events of the ongoing conflict, calling for jihad and the liberation of the land and holy sites, depicting the dangers threatening the nation, glorifying heroes, and celebrating their victories.

Abu Firas al-Hamdani was among the Abbasid-era poets who witnessed the events of the conflict, and the wars raging influenced his poetry. He began to depict the battles between the two sides, delving into their minute details, from descriptions of armies and their weapons to their military plans. His life, spent amidst the battlefields and the glory of his emirate, greatly contributed to this. Abu Firas's ideas were closely linked to his personality and his worldview. Although he was a poet, he was also a knight, a prince, and a commander. For him, poetry was a form of culture, knowledge, and a kind of passion to which the human soul naturally inclines.

The heroic poems that Abu Firas included in his Diwan (collection of poems) inspired me to focus my research on: (The Image of the Warrior in the Poetry of Abu Firas al-Hamdani).

My study is organized into three sections. The first section discusses al-Hamdani's biography, name, lineage, birth, and death. The second section examines his poetry, which presents many ideas and images through:

1- Images and characteristics of the warrior and the roles of commanders.

2- Images of war equipment and their symbolism.

3- Images of horses and their symbolism.

I have concluded with the following findings, which I have presented in the end