The Impact of the Quran on Poetry During the Umayyad Era
The cultural landscape of the Arab world has long been marked by a profound appreciation for poetry, which has served various themes throughout history. With the advent of Islam and the revelation of the Holy Quran to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), poets—especially during the Umayyad period—began to draw inspiration from the Quran in their works.
Umayyad poetry was significantly influenced by the structures and meanings found within the Quran. Certain poetic themes that contradicted the principles of faith were excluded, and many expressions in Umayyad poetry incorporated words and phrases from the Quran, a phenomenon known as intertextuality.
Subjects Reflecting the Influence of the Quran on Umayyad Poetry
The Quran, regarded as the essence of eloquence and rhetoric, had a substantial impact on the themes, vocabulary, and structures of Umayyad poetry. Some of the most notable subjects include:
Influence of Quranic Legal Principles on Poetry
The Quran states: “O you who have believed, testify [in the case of] two just men from among you or two others from outside, if you are in doubt about [the testimony of] the witnesses…” (Quran 5:106). This divine guidance influenced Umayyad poets, shaping their perspectives on justice and the role of witnesses. For example, the poet Al-‘Urji reflects this in his verse:
Let there be between us an agreement,
I’m not unjust to you, nor you to me.
And know that in justice, there are witnesses,
So bring forth your two witnesses.
Similarly, Hamyl bin Ma’mar comments on the concept of justice in his poetry:
So why, when they heard my news, did they not ask,
If I have wronged someone behind their back?
Show me a reason, or bring forth a witness,
A just witness among the people, if they’ve wronged me.
Impact of Prohibition of Usury on Umayyad Poetry
The Quranic injunction against usury deeply influenced Umayyad poets. As the Quran states: “Those who consume interest cannot stand on the day of resurrection except as one stands who has been driven to madness by a touch of Satan…” (Quran 2:275). This verse is echoed in the poetry of Al-Farazdaq, who alludes to the prohibition of usury in his tribute to Al-Walid bin Abdul Malik:
When the whips are upon us by day,
We take up usury in the silk market.
We have surely entered Hell through our taking
Of interest without manifestation.
Influence of the Prohibition of Killing on Umayyad Poetry
The teachings of the Quran concerning the sanctity of life are evident in Umayyad poetry. The Quran proclaims: “And do not kill your children for fear of poverty. We provide for them and for you…” (Quran 17:31). This respect for life resonates in works by various poets:
- For example, Jareer states:
Let calamity come upon us, but do not kill me,
You have no right to take my life.
- Omar bin Abi Rabi’a adds:
Do not kill me, O ‘Uthaym, for I fear,
The punishment of your Lord for my blood.
If you show mercy and compassion,
Then pity for my death would be a sin.
- Yazid bin Al-Tathriya questions:
Ask if Allah has allowed the killing of a Muslim
Without rightful cause, or if my fate is sealed.
- Additionally, Al-Farazdaq laments:
Alas, O sister of Banu Kinanah,
She is avaricious toward the innocent.
If blood is shed without justification,
You would share in eternal torment.
The Influence of Quranic Narratives on Umayyad Poetry
Umayyad poetry also exhibits a clear impact from the stories recounted in the Quran, as seen in the metaphors and allegories they employed. For instance, Al-Farazdaq draws upon the account of Adam’s expulsion from Paradise in his verse:
Adam was cast out, while he remained calm,
And his wife from the finest abode.
And you swore, O Iblis, you were an advisor,
To him and her, with false oaths.
Thus, they began to stitch the leaves with their hands,
From that which was forbidden, they did consume.
These lines illustrate the poet’s reflection on the deception of Iblis and the subsequent fall of Adam.