Aesthetic and Functional Representation of Women in Imru’ al-Qays’s Mu‘allaqa: From Individual Description to Collective Symbol

Abstract

The pre-Islamic Arabic poetry, especially the Mu‘allaqat, has long been considered one of the most important sources for understanding the culture, history, and identity of the Arabs before Islam. Among these works, the Mu‘allaqa of Imru’ al-Qays occupies a distinguished position, as it not only presents aesthetic values and stylistic innovations but also reflects a multilayered representation of women in both individual and social contexts. This paper, using an analytical-descriptive approach, explores the different dimensions of women’s representation in Imru’ al-Qays’s Mu‘allaqa. The findings reveal that Imru’ al-Qays depicts women at two levels: first, at the individual level, where the focus is on physical beauty, movements, and emotional states of the beloved; second, at the socio-symbolic level, where the woman embodies tribal honor, continuity of lineage, and collective memory. Analysis of the verses shows that these two levels are often intertwined; the individual description of beauty simultaneously carries a social meaning. For instance, comparing the beloved to a gazelle or a noble horse not only emphasizes personal beauty but also signifies tribal nobility and authenticity. Thus, Imru’ al-Qays combines individual aesthetics with social functions to present a multidimensional image of women, one that transcends the one-dimensional views of women in pre-Islamic poetry. By relying on both classical and modern Arabic literary sources, this study demonstrates that the representation of women in Imru’ al-Qays’s Mu‘allaqa simultaneously carries artistic and cultural values, offering new perspectives for interdisciplinary studies in Arabic literature, cultural criticism, and gender studies.