Poetry in the First Saudi State is one of the literary arts that served as a means of expression in the First Saudi State, reflecting the social, political, and religious aspects of the time. Poetry played a significant role in promoting national unity, loyalty to the state, and defending it, in addition to being a source of Saudi history. The rulers of the First Saudi State took an interest in poetry and poets, and the poetry featured a variety of themes and artistic styles. Moreover, colloquial poetry experienced development in its meters, compared to the classical form.
Interest of the Imams of the First Saudi State in poetry
The society of the First Saudi State had a deep appreciation for poetry, and they composed it with great skill. Although some of them were not proficient in reading and writing, their mastery of the vernacular language helped them avoid linguistic errors when composing poetry. They would transmit their poems orally, which would later be written down. The Imams of the Al Saud family would attract distinguished poets from across the Arabian Peninsula to Diriyah, generously rewarding those who excelled in composing poetry.
Themes of poetry in the First Saudi State
The establishment of the First Saudi State and its peace and security played an important role in the growth of scientific, intellectual, and literary activities. During this period, serious themes entered poetry, and some poets, such as Abdulrahman al-Makki and Muhammad Qabil al-Jeddawi, tried to compose poetry in the Baghdad and Andalusian styles, using newly developed meters and muwashshahat (strophic poems). Additionally, there was a blending of colloquial and classical Arabic poetry among some poets. In Najd, classical Arabic poetry flourished, keeping pace with the scientific development in the region.
Poets of this period were closely linked to knowledge, being regarded as scholars before they were recognized as literary figures. They held prominent scholarly positions, often working as judges, muftis, or teachers, with the exception of Ahmad Bin Musharaf, who was known among the people as a poet before he gained recognition in the fields of jurisprudence and fatwas. One of the manifestations of the connection between knowledge and poetry was the composition of poetry by scholars and poets on legal texts, fatwas, recorded issues for preservation, and the recording of historical events, as seen in the poetry of Ahmad Bin Musharaf on history and ethics, as well as in the poetry of Abu Bakr al-Mulla, Muhammad al-Hafthi, and Suleiman Bin Sihman. The phenomenon of poetic historiography continued, and they also composed poetry in riddles, puzzles, and scientific jokes.
Meters of colloquial poetry in the First Saudi State
Poets of the First Saudi State were able to develop colloquial poetry meters by introducing other meters that were more in tune with their environment, catering to the needs of popular taste. This is evident in the meters known as 'al-Far'i,' 'al-Majroor,' and 'al-Yamani.' This development can also be seen in the poetry of Abdullah al-Umayr, who wrote poetry with two rhymes, containing some eloquence, yet its style and meter were closer to the melodies commonly used in Najdi and Iraqi poetry among colloquial poets.
During this period, Samri meters were introduced into popular poetry by the poet Mohsen al-Hazani. He also introduced the system of two rhymes, breaking away from the traditional Hilali meter in poetic composition. He brought in the "Mashoob" meter with two obligatory rhymes, which became the standard for poets who followed him. Additionally, the "Marouba" form was introduced, in which each verse consists of four lines. After him came the poet Mohammed Bin Laboun, who invented new meters, developed existing ones, and created new artistic innovations in Nabati poetry.
Poetic structure in the First Saudi State
In the poetry of the First Saudi State, verbal craftsmanship, both simple and complex, was widespread, particularly in the poetry of al-Ahsa and Hejaz. Alongside this, there was poetry of "mubasatat" (exchanges) and "mutarahat" (debates), which was recited in social gatherings, exchanged among poets, and circulated among the people. Additionally, delicacy and ease were more common in Hejazi and Hasawi poetry than in Najdi poetry.
As for the structure of poetry, poets followed the tradition of combining the preservation of the opening lyrical sections with thematic introductions, a method inherited from the previous literary eras. They attempted innovation in the introductions by incorporating descriptions of coffee, a practice seen in the poetry of al-Ahsa, notably by the poet Abdullatif Bin Abdulaziz al-Mubarak, who said:
Qum fasqini al-bunn sarfan wa-malla' al-qadha (Get up and pour me pure coffee, and fill the cup)
Fa inna zind al-hana wa al-sa‘ad qad qadaha (For the soul of happiness and joy has been stirred)
Poets of the First Saudi State
Poetry in the First Saudi State is divided into two types: classical poetry and Nabati poetry. Several poets distinguished themselves in both types, and the poetry of this period was characterized by the large number of poets and their prolific output compared to those who came before them. The poets also stood out for their attempts to engage with political and social events, as seen in the poetry of Hussein Bin Ghannam and Jaafar al-Bayti. This involvement elevated their poetry to a high status. Among these poets were:
Hussein Bin Ghannam (died in 1810).
Muhammad al-Hafthi (1764 -1822).
Muhammad Qabil al-Jeddawi, known for his poetry in 1787.
Abdulrahman al-Makki, known for his poetry in 1797.
Jaafar al-Bayti (1698 -1768).
Yusuf Abu Dheeb (died in 1786).
Ahmad Abdulqader (1702 -1763).
Ahmad Bin Musharaf (died in 1868).
Othman Bin Sand (1766 -1826).
Abdulaziz Bin Muammar (died in 1829).
Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Laboun (1790-1831).
Muhammad al-Abdullah al-Qadi (1809-1868).
Mohsen al-Hazani (1732-1824).
Related quizzes
