waṣf

Arabic poetic device

Also known as: description

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June 17, 2026

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The term "waqf" refers to an Islamic endowment of property held in trust for charitable or religious purposes. It can also describe a Muslim religious or charitable foundation established through such a trust fund.1

In Arabic literature, wa\u1e63f is a poetic device that focuses on description. This genre involves poets depicting nature, animals, and scenes with detailed imagery, often drawing parallels between different elements. Early Arabic poetry, dating back to the pre-Islamic period, frequently featured vivid descriptions of camels and horses, essential to tribal life. This tradition continued through centuries, with poets in different regions and eras, like Ibn Khaf\u0101jah in 11th-century Spain, drawing inspiration from nature and gardens.23

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Arabic literature
Description
…from the outset: description (waṣf). Analysts of the earliest poetry chose to devote particular attention to the ways in which poets depicted animals and other aspects of nature and often indulged in complex patterns of imagery that likened attributes of one animal to those of another. The images of…
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…from the outset: description (waṣf). Analysts of the earliest poetry chose to devote particular attention to the ways in which poets depicted animals and other aspects of nature and often indulged in complex patterns of imagery that likened attributes of one animal to those of another. The images of…
Read More