Original Poem
كأَنَّ سُهَيْلاً والنجوم وراءَهُ صفوف صلاة قام فيها إمامها
Translation (English)
As if Suhail and the stars behind him
Are rows of prayer led by their imam
Historical Context
- Literary Form
- Metaphorical verse
- When Written
- Classical period
- Background
- The poem uses celestial imagery to convey a sense of order and spirituality, common in classical Arabic poetry.
Sources: https://answers.mawdoo3.com/ما-إعراب-بيت-كأن-سهيلا-والنجوم-وراءه, http://www.ahlalloghah.com/showthread.php?t=4755, https://shamela.ws/book/9256/196, https://www.hindawi.org/books/85925824/2.1/, http://sastradanbahasaarab.blogspot.com/2013/06/blog-post.html
Detailed Explanation
This line of poetry uses a metaphor to compare the star Suhail (Canopus) and the stars behind it to rows of worshippers in prayer, led by an imam. Suhail is a prominent star in the southern sky, often associated with guidance and leadership in Arabic culture. The imagery suggests a sense of order and spirituality, as the stars are likened to a congregation in prayer, with Suhail as the leader. This reflects the poet's ability to find beauty and meaning in the natural world, using celestial bodies to evoke a sense of harmony and divine order.
Themes
Literary Devices
Word Dictionary
| Word | Meaning | Translation | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|---|
| كأَنَّ | مثل | as if | ka'anna |
| سُهَيْلاً | نجم | a star (Canopus) | Suhaylan |
| والنجوم | والكواكب | and the stars | wa-al-nujoom |
| وراءَهُ | خلفه | behind him | wara'ahu |
| صفوف | طوابير | rows | sufoof |
| صلاة | عبادة | prayer | salaah |
| قام | وقف | stood | qaama |
| فيها | داخلها | in it | feeha |
| إمامها | قائدها | its leader | imaamuha |
Want to analyze your own poem?
Paste any poem in 180+ languages and get an instant AI-powered analysis with translation, explanation, poet biography, and literary devices.
Try Poetry Explainer — Free