Original Poem
مَنْ يهُنْ يَسْهل الهوان عليه مالجرح بميت إيلام
Translation (English)
Whoever accepts humiliation, humiliation becomes easy for him.
For a wound does not pain a dead person.
About the Poet
Al-Mutanabbi (10th century)
Al-Mutanabbi was a renowned Arab poet of the Abbasid era, known for his eloquent and powerful poetry. He is considered one of the greatest poets in the Arabic language.
Read more on Wikipedia →Historical Context
- Literary Form
- Classical Arabic poetry
- When Written
- 10th century
- Background
- This line reflects Al-Mutanabbi's philosophical views on dignity and resilience. The poem emphasizes the idea that those who accept humiliation easily become desensitized to it, much like a dead body feels no pain from a wound.
Sources: https://www.almaany.com/answers/318727/معني-البيت-التالي-من-يهن-يسهل-الهوان-عليه-وما-لجرح-بميت-إيلام, https://x.com/wleed50/status/1810238203372130306?lang=en, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_poetry
Detailed Explanation
This verse by Al-Mutanabbi conveys a profound message about the nature of dignity and the human spirit. It suggests that when a person allows themselves to be humiliated, they become accustomed to it, and it no longer affects them. The metaphor of a dead body not feeling pain from a wound illustrates the idea that repeated humiliation can numb a person's sensitivity to it. Al-Mutanabbi uses this imagery to emphasize the importance of maintaining one's dignity and not succumbing to disgrace, as doing so can lead to a loss of self-respect and emotional resilience.
Themes
Literary Devices
Word Dictionary
| Word | Meaning | Translation | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|---|
| مَنْ | الذي | who | man |
| يَهُنْ | يذل | is humiliated | yahoon |
| يَسْهل | يصبح سهلاً | becomes easy | yash-hul |
| الهوان | الذل | humiliation | al-hawaan |
| عليه | فوقه | on him | alayhi |
| ما | ليس | not | maa |
| لجرح | للجرح | for a wound | li-jarh |
| بميت | لشخص ميت | to a dead person | bi-mayyit |
| إيلام | ألم | pain | i'laam |
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