لا تُنْكِرِي عُطْلَ الكريم من الفنى فالسيل حرب للمكان العالي
This line from Abu Tammam's poem uses the metaphor of a flood to illustrate the idea that those in high positions or with noble qualities may face challenges or adversities, just as a flood threatens elevated places. The poem suggests that being noble or in a high position does not exempt one from difficulties, and in fact, such positions may attract challenges. The imagery of a flood conveys the overwhelming nature of these challenges, while the reference to nobility and high places underscores the poem's philosophical reflection on status and adversity.
| Word | In Arabic | In English | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| لا | ليس | not | laa |
| تُنْكِرِي | تنفي | deny | tunkiri |
| عُطْلَ | نقص | lack | utla |
| الكريم | الشخص النبيل | the noble | al-kareem |
| من | من عند | from | min |
| الفنى | الفناء | annihilation | al-fanaa' |
| فالسيل | الفيضان | the flood | fa-as-sayl |
| حرب | عدو | enemy | harb |
| للمكان | للموقع | to the place | lil-makaan |
| العالي | المرتفع | high | al-‘aalee |
Abu Tammam (c. 796–845) was an Abbasid-era Arab poet known for his innovative use of language and metaphors. He was a prominent figure in the Arabic literary world and served as a court poet.