Original Poem
فإِنْ تَفُقِ الأنام وأنتَ مِنْهُمْ فإن المسك بعض دم الغزال
Translation (English)
If you rise above the people while being one of them,
Then musk is just a part of the gazelle's blood.
Historical Context
- Literary Form
- Classical Arabic Poetry
- When Written
- Classical era
- Background
- This line uses a metaphor to express the idea of someone standing out among others, similar to how musk is derived from the blood of a gazelle, symbolizing rarity and value.
Sources: https://answers.mawdoo3.com/ما-نوع-التشبيه-في-فإن-تفق-الأنام-وأنت-منهم-فإن-المسك-بعض-دم-الغزال, https://shamela.ws/book/147062/1639, https://islamport.com/l/adb/5616/121.htm, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_poetry
Detailed Explanation
This line of Arabic poetry employs a metaphor to convey the uniqueness and excellence of an individual among their peers. The poet compares the person to musk, which is a rare and valuable substance derived from the blood of a gazelle. This comparison implies that just as musk is a precious and distinguished product, so too is the individual exceptional and stands out among others. The use of such a metaphor highlights the person's extraordinary qualities and sets them apart from the ordinary, much like how musk is distinct and treasured. This type of metaphor is common in classical Arabic poetry, known for its rich imagery and symbolic language.
Themes
Literary Devices
Word Dictionary
| Word | Meaning | Translation | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|---|
| فإِنْ | إذا | if | fa'in |
| تَفُقِ | تتجاوز | surpass | tafuq |
| الأنام | الناس | the people | al-anam |
| وأنتَ | أنت | you | wa anta |
| مِنْهُمْ | من بينهم | among them | minhum |
| فإن | لأن | then | fa'inna |
| المسك | عطر | musk | al-misk |
| بعض | جزء | some | ba'd |
| دم | دماء | blood | dam |
| الغزال | ظبي | deer | al-ghazal |
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