Components of the “Jadak Al-Ghayth” Muwashshah
The “Jadak Al-Ghayth” muwashshah is classified as a complete form of muwashshah, characterized by a series of phrases (ghusn) and closures (qafl), along with an introduction (matal) and an exit (khurja). Its structure can be outlined as follows:
Introduction (Matal)
This is the first closure in the poem:
Jadaka al-ghaythu idha al-ghaythu hamá
O time of connection with Al-Andalus
Your union was nothing but a dream
In moments of slumber or the stealth of the thief
First Stanza (Dur Al-Awwal)
This section consists of the first phrase and the second closure:
- First Phrase (Ghusn Awwal)
As time guides scattered aspirations,
Steps are carried forth upon what is inscribed;
Between heights and valleys,
As the seasons summon the guests.
With the rains, the meadows shimmer,
And the flowers, in their beauty, smile.
- Second Closure (Qafl Thani)
The Noman told of the celestial waters,
How Malik would relate from Anas;
Adorned by beauty in garments illustrious,
He dazzles with the finest attire.
Second Stanza (Dur Al-Thani)
This section consists of the second phrase and the third closure:
- Second Phrase (Ghusn Thani)
In nights that concealed the secret of desire,
Were it not for the illustrious suns;
The star of the cup swayed and fell
In the straight path of fortunate fate.
Only flaw therein was how fleeting it was,
As quick as the blink of an eye.
- Third Closure (Qafl Thalith)
When pleasure mingled with the sweetness of the flame,
Morning surged like an eager guard;
The shooting stars struck us, or perhaps
They were influenced by the eyes of the daffodils.
Third Stanza (Dur Al-Thalith)
This section consists of the third phrase and the fourth closure:
- Third Phrase (Ghusn Thalith)
What does a person have in solitude,
When bloom is given dominion therein?
Will the flowers seize fortunate moments,
Free from the snares of what they seek to evade?
Then, if the water converses and stones,
And every beloved confides with his companion.
- Fourth Closure (Qafl Rabi)
You see the rose, jealous and resentful,
Garbed in wrath, what it may wear;
The myrtle seems wise and clever,
Stealing sound with the ears of a horse.
Fourth Stanza (Dur Al-Rabi)
This section consists of the fourth phrase and the fifth closure:
- Fourth Phrase (Ghusn Rabi)
O dwellers of the valley near Al-Ghutha,
Your abode resides within my heart;
Vastness shrinks before my longing for you,
It matters not if it’s east or west.
Restore the bond of joy that has passed,
And free yourselves from its burdens.
- Fifth Closure (Qafl Khamsi)
Fear God and revive a passion,
Which dissolves breath within breath;
The heart is held in honor for you,
Will you accept the silence of confinement?
Fifth Stanza (Dur Al-Khams)
This section consists of the fifth phrase and the sixth closure:
- Fifth Phrase (Ghusn Khams)
My heart is drawn to you,
With tales of desires from afar;
A moon that has risen from the west,
Delighted by its lure, yet joyous.
Equally, a good doer or a sinner
In love, from promises and threats.
- Sixth Closure (Qafl Sadi)
A sorcerer of eyes, sweet in longing,
Moves within the soul like breath;
He steadies the arrow and names it and shoots,
So my heart is plundered by the hunter.
Sixth Stanza (Dur Al-Sadi)
This section consists of the sixth phrase and the seventh closure:
- Sixth Phrase (Ghusn Sadi)
If a neighbor’s hope fails,
And the heart of the yearning melts with desire,
For it is the soul’s first beloved,
In love, there are no sins for the beloved.
His affairs remain steadfast and he complies,
Within chests that kindness has awakened.
- Seventh Closure (Qafl Sabi)
By the decree of glances, let them judge,
No heed was paid to the weakness of souls;
A just ruler for the wronged and the wrongdoer,
And recompense for the innocent and the guilty.
Seventh Stanza (Dur Al-Sabi)
This section consists of the seventh phrase and the eighth closure:
- Seventh Phrase (Ghusn Sabi)
What can my heart feel every time the breeze blows,
But a new celebration of longing arises;
On the tablet of time, it is inscribed,
His words, indeed my punishment is severe.
He brought grief and sorrow,
For he struggles heavily with aches.
- Eighth Closure (Qafl Thamani)
A fiery yearning within my ribs,
It’s a fire in the tinder of fragility;
Nothing remained in my heart but sorrow,
Like the persistence of dawn after twilight.
Eighth Stanza (Dur Al-Thamani)
This section consists of the eighth phrase and the ninth closure:
- Eighth Phrase (Ghusn Thamani)
O soul, submit to fate’s decree,
Bring your time to a return and reflection;
Forget the remembrance of a time gone by,
Between grievances that have faded and reproaches.
Divert your words to the Gracious Lord,
For in Him lies success, the core of our script.
- Ninth Closure (Qafl Tasi)
The noble end and refuge,
The lion of the wilderness, and the full moon of the assembly;
Victory descends upon him like,
Revelation comes with the spirit of holiness.
Ninth Stanza (Dur Al-Tasi)
This section consists of the ninth phrase and the tenth closure:
- Ninth Phrase (Ghusn Tasi)
The chosen one of God, the name of the chosen,
The one who needs no one but God;
When he binds a contract, he fulfills it,
And when he opens an affair, he completes it,
From the tribe of Qais Ibn Sa‘d, and that suffices,
Where the house of victory has elevated its supports.
- Tenth Closure (Qafl ‘Ashr)
Where the house of victory is guarded,
And the favor reaped is from a pure harvest;
And love is a shaded shelter,
And the dew has blown to the cultivated soil.
Tenth Stanza (Dur Al-‘Ashr)
This section comprises the tenth phrase and the exit:
- Tenth Phrase (Ghusn ‘Ashr)
Here it is, O scion of the supporters of the nobility,
And should victory falter, he will help.
A trait acquired by beauty that dazzles,
Revealing clarity and brightness.
It opposed words, meaning, and beauty,
What those in love declared.
- Exit (Khurcha)
This is the eleventh closure.
Does the deer of the sanctuary know that it has sheltered
The heart of a lovesick one from a hidden need?
For it is in the beating of heat like,
The breeze of dawn upon the ember.
Definition of Muwashshah
Muwashshah is a genre of poetry characterized by various forms, phrases, and metrics, wherein the poet is not confined to a single rhyme scheme. It originated among the people of Al-Andalus and is named for its resemblance to a shawl due to its intricate patterns. Typically, it consists of seven lines, while the lyrical muwashshah is a poem composed of three equal stanzas and a repeated section, specifically designed for singing.
Components of Muwashshah
The muwashshah is divided into two types: the complete muwashshah, which comprises six closures, and the bare muwashshah, consisting of five closures. Each type contains various components as outlined below:
- Introduction (Matal)
The introduction serves as the first part of the muwashshah, paralleling the introduction of a traditional poem. While its presence is not mandatory—if included, it classifies the muwashshah as complete, and if omitted, it is termed bare. The introduction acts as the first closure.
- Phrase (Ghusn)
The phrase follows the introduction in the complete muwashshah and begins the bare muwashshah directly. It consists of three lines or more, with the lines in a single phrase sharing a rhyme scheme distinct from those of other phrases.
- Closure (Qafl)
The closure follows the phrase and must adhere to the same meter and rhyme as the introduction. Consistency in meter and rhyme is required throughout all closures. In the complete muwashshah, the closure appears six times, while in the bare muwashshah, it occurs five times.
- Stanza (Dur or Bayt)
A stanza consists of the entirety of each phrase along with its subsequent closure, often leading to a total of five stanzas.
- Subphrase (Simtat)
A subphrase refers to any segment or line of the phrase. Each phrase must contain at least three lines, which may be singular or comprise multiple lines. The amount present in the first phrase of the muwashshah dictates how many will appear in subsequent phrases. Lines within a phrase rhyme among themselves but are not required to align with those of other phrases. The term subphrase is applicable to both the components of the phrase and those of the closure.
- Exit (Khurja)
The exit is the final closure of the muwashshah and plays an essential role in its structure. It is preferable for the language of the exit to differ from that of the rest of the muwashshah, thereby widening its appeal to various socio-cultural audiences. The exit can be informal, in a foreign language, or in classical Arabic unaltered.