Abu al-Baqa al-Rundi
During the Andalusian era, poetry emerged as a pivotal form of literature that was widely celebrated among its people. The stunning landscapes of Andalusia inspired poets to create verses, particularly reflecting a yearning for the East. They composed numerous poems across various themes, including love, satire, praise, and lamentation. Notably, Andalusian poets innovated a new poetic form distinct from traditional poetry, known as muwashshahat. One of the most prominent figures in the realm of elegiac poetry was Abu al-Baqa al-Rundi, referred to by historians as the Poet of Lamentation for Andalusia due to his famed elegy.
Background and Life of Abu al-Baqa al-Rundi
Abu al-Baqa al-Rundi, whose full name is Salih ibn Yazid ibn Salih ibn Musa ibn Abu al-Qasim ibn Ali ibn Sharif al-Nifri al-Rundi, was born in 651 AH (1253 AD) in the city of Ronda in southern Andalusia, from which he took his name. There is some disagreement regarding his nickname; while it is recorded that he was known as Abu al-Baqa, the more widely accepted name is Abu al-Tayyib. As a scholar, poet, and jurist, he made significant contributions to his local community, even overseeing judicial matters in his hometown. Al-Rundi was renowned for his linguistic prowess, excelling in both prose and poetry, particularly in vivid descriptions, although he is best remembered for his poignant elegies.
Works of Abu al-Baqa al-Rundi
Abu al-Baqa al-Rundi’s contributions to the fields of jurisprudence, religious obligations, and authorship were relatively modest. He wrote a book titled “A Section on the Hadith of Gabriel,” and he produced a work on poetry entitled “The Complete Guide in the Science of Rhymes.” Additionally, he authored a substantial book named “The Gardens of Andalusia and the Recreation of the Soul,” along with a classification in prosody and another in religious obligations.
The poetry of Abu al-Baqa is characterized by its robust diction, clarity, and delicate meanings. He penned exquisite poems across diverse poetic themes, exploring human nature, both good and ill, and depicting the beauty of nature—mountains, seas, and rivers. His works include a variety of topics, such as:
- Poems praising Muslim heroes and denouncing the infidels, as exemplified in his lines:
And thickly armed battalions
Dragged the tails of the mighty forces
In the gardens of death between the swords
Where the banners were paraded like flowers
In it, warriors are like lions, as if they
Were born from moons among the threatening spears
Cheerfully awaiting the encounter as if their faces
Were created from light
From every lion ready to strike
With their right hand the fate of destinies
From every past one who donned such a role
That seizes life spans through time
- His reflections on false companionship that disappears in times of need:
Sisterhood is not merely by the tongue
For when true kinship is sought, it is of no benefit
Neither shall you relieve my burdens in this world
Nor intercede for me on the Day of Judgment
- His descriptions of seas and rivers:
The sea is far greater than you might imagine
For whoever has not seen the sea has never witnessed a marvel
It surges with foam that sails upon a vessel
Like the sky when filled with stars
- His verses on the beauty of the basil plant:
And the fresh green basil, charming in hue
Delights the eyes with its lovely sight
I envy the tangerine, for it is adorned
And has a thousand variants added to its name
The Elegy of Abu al-Baqa al-Rundi
Lamentation is an ancient poetic genre that reached the shores of Andalusia, where its poets expanded and refined its concept. This evolution led to a form that encompassed not only the mourning of loved ones, relatives, and kings but also the lamentation of entire cities and nations. Following the fall of Islamic cities to Christian forces and the subsequent displacement of Muslims, Andalusian poets became acutely aware of the magnitude of their loss. They began to compose verses that rallied the resolve of kings to seek revenge. As those rulers failed to protect their cities, poets turned to elegizing their lost lands and kingdoms, establishing city lamentation as a distinguished literary genre within Andalusian literature.
Among these poets, Abu al-Baqa al-Rundi composed a famous elegy for Andalusia, which stands out as one of the most significant laments of its kind. Unlike other poets who mourned specific cities, his poem celebrated all of Andalusia. He penned this work as a plea for support from the Murabitan realm during the time when Ibn al-Ahmar began conceding various castles and cities to Alphonse in a bid to please him. This poem is also known as the “Nuniya of Abu al-Baqa al-Rundi in Lamentation for Andalusia,” commencing with the lines:
For everything, when it reaches completion, diminishes
Let no man be deceived by the comforts of life
Such are matters, as I have witnessed them as kingdoms
Whoever finds joy in one era will find sorrow in another
This abode leaves no one enduring
Nor does it last for any circumstance
Time will surely tear apart all prosperous matters
When peaks rise up and fortunes decline
Every sword is drawn for annihilation, even if
It were Ibn Dhi Yazan, with sword in hand
Where are the kings with crowns from Yemen?
Where are the wearers of crowns and diadems?
Where is what Shaddad built in Iram?
And where is what Sasan ruled among the Persians?
Where is what Qarun amassed in gold?
And where are ‘Aad, Shaddad, and Qahtan?
Examining the poem reveals its profound meanings and straightforward language, free from pretense or artifice. The poet’s intention was to ensure that his poem resonated with every individual who rejects humiliation and maintains a deep love for their homeland, refusing to forget or replace it, even under compulsion:
And walking joyfully, his homeland distracts him
Would a person turn away from their homeland after leaving Homs?
The Death of Abu al-Baqa al-Rundi
Abu al-Baqa al-Rundi passed away in 684 AH (1285 AD), leaving instructions for the following couplets to be inscribed on his grave:
My friends, for the bond that unites us, let it be known
When I die, my grave is a place for supplication
Perhaps a Muslim will come near and pray for mercy
For I am in need of a Muslim’s prayer