rithāʾ

The term "rithāʾ" refers to the Arabic poetic genre of elegy. This genre, along with panegyric and lampoon, was one of the principal purposes for the public performance of poetry in classical Arabic tradition. Elegies were composed to commemorate fallen heroes and express grief for the deceased. The preservation of pre-Islamic poetry, including elegies, was largely dependent on professional reciters known as rāwīs. These individuals memorized and recited poetry, playing a crucial role in its transmission until it was written down in the 8th century. However, this oral tradition was imperfect and could lead to variations and inaccuracies in the preserved texts.12