فإنك شمس والملوك كواكب إذا طلعت لم يبد مِنْهُنَّ كَوْكَب
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.
| Word | In Arabic | In English | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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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