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فإنك شمس والملوك كواكب إذا طلعت لم يبد مِنْهُنَّ كَوْكَب by النابغة الذبياني — Analysis & Translation

2 min read Arabic

Original Poem

فإنك شمس والملوك كواكب إذا طلعت لم يبد مِنْهُنَّ كَوْكَب

Translation (English)

For you are the sun and the kings are stars When you rise not a star is visible among them

About the Poet

النابغة الذبياني (Pre-Islamic)

Al-Nabigha Al-Dhubyani was a pre-Islamic Arab poet known for his eloquent poetry and his role as a court poet. He is considered one of the great poets of the pre-Islamic era, often praised for his mastery of language and metaphor.

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Historical Context

Literary Form
Classical Arabic poetry
When Written
Pre-Islamic era
Background
This poem is part of a praise poem where Al-Nabigha compares his patron to the sun, eclipsing other kings who are likened to stars. It reflects the tradition of panegyric poetry in which poets praised their patrons to gain favor and rewards.

Sources: https://www.futmak.com/arabic/poems/poem.php?pid=328, https://shamela.ws/book/17669/101, https://ar.wikisource.org/wiki/أتاني_أبيت_اللعن_أنك_لمتني, https://www.diwanalarab.com/النابغة-الذبياني.html, https://quran.ksu.edu.sa/tafseer/qortobi/sura24-aya35.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_poetry

Detailed Explanation

This poem by Al-Nabigha Al-Dhubyani uses a powerful metaphor to convey the superiority of the person being praised. The poet compares the subject to the sun, suggesting that their presence is so dominant and bright that it completely overshadows other kings, who are likened to stars. Just as stars are invisible in the presence of the sun's overwhelming light, other kings pale in comparison to the subject's greatness. This is a classic example of a panegyric, a poem written to praise and flatter a patron or ruler, which was a common practice in pre-Islamic Arabic poetry. The imagery of celestial bodies emphasizes the grandeur and unmatched status of the praised individual.

Themes

  • praise
  • superiority
  • metaphor

Literary Devices

  • metaphor: The poet uses the metaphor of the sun and stars to compare the subject's greatness to that of other kings.
  • imagery: The imagery of celestial bodies highlights the contrast between the subject and others.
  • contrast: The poem contrasts the brightness of the sun with the dimness of stars to emphasize the subject's dominance.

Word Dictionary

Word Meaning Translation Transliteration
فإنك لأنك for you are fa'innaka
شمس الشمس sun shams
والملوك والحكام and the kings wal-muluk
كواكب نجوم stars kawakib
إذا حينما when idha
طلعت ظهرت rise tala'at
لم لا not lam
يبد يظهر is visible yabdu
مِنْهُنَّ منهم among them minhunna
كَوْكَب نجم star kawkab

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