hijāʾ
Quick Summary
The term hijāʾ refers to a genre of Arabic poetry characterized by lampooning or satire. This poetic form was a significant part of pre-Islamic Arab culture, where poets, known as shāʿir, held positions of tribal importance. Their verses could be used as a potent weapon, praising their own tribe and denigrating enemies.12
The practice of lampooning often went hand-in-hand with boasting (fakhr), as poets would verbally attack adversaries to elevate their own community. This tradition continued through the Islamic period, with poets using hijāʾ to criticize rivals, political figures, and even rulers. While the qaṣīdah was a more formal and often laudatory poetic form, the qiṭʿah was a less serious genre used for occasional poems, satire, jokes, and word games. The power of words to shame and insult was deeply ingrained in Arabic poetic tradition.134
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Arabic literatureGenres and themes…period; second, praise’s opposite—lampoon (hijāʾ)—whereby the poet would be expected to take verbal aim at the community’s enemies and impugn their honour (most often at the expense of women); and third, praise of the dead, or elegy (rithāʾ).
Read More…period; second, praise’s opposite—lampoon (hijāʾ)—whereby the poet would be expected to take verbal aim at the community’s enemies and impugn their honour (most often at the expense of women); and third, praise of the dead, or elegy (rithāʾ).
Read More- Arabic literatureLampoon
The themes of hijāʾ (“lampooning”) and fakhr (“boasting”) thus often occur together, and poets noted above for their contributions to the panegyric were equally at home with the lampoon. Al-Mutanabbī, in particular, is also famous for his withering attacks on Abū al-Misk Kāfūr, the enslaved Ethiopian who was…
Read MoreThe themes of hijāʾ (“lampooning”) and fakhr (“boasting”) thus often occur together, and poets noted above for their contributions to the panegyric were equally at home with the lampoon. Al-Mutanabbī, in particular, is also famous for his withering attacks on Abū al-Misk Kāfūr, the enslaved Ethiopian who was…
Read More - qaṣīdah
…or panegyric, often coupled with hijaʾ (satire of enemies), is last and is the poet’s tribute to himself, his tribe, or his patron.
Read More…or panegyric, often coupled with hijaʾ (satire of enemies), is last and is the poet’s tribute to himself, his tribe, or his patron.
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