Explanation of the Seven Mu’allaqat

Imru’ al-Qais ibn Hujr ibn al-Harith al-Kindi (c. 130-80 BC = c. 497-545 AD) of the Banu Akl al-Marrar: the most famous Arab poet of all time. He was originally from Yemen and was born in Najd, or in the Sakasik district of Yemen. He was known by his nickname, although historians differed on his name, some saying it was Handaj, others saying it was Malika, and others saying it was ‘Adi. His father was the king of Asad and Ghatafan. Our contemporaries have studied his poetry and biography, with Salim al-Jundi writing (Imru’ al-Qais), Muhammad Abu Hadid (The Misguided King Imru’ al-Qais), Muhammad Hadi ibn Ali al-Daftar (Imru’ al-Qais and His Poems), Muhammad Salih Samak (The Prince of Poetry in the Ancient Era), Ra’if al-Khouri (Imru’ al-Qais), and similar works by Fu’ad al-Bustani and Muhammad Sabry. Tarafa ibn al-Abd ibn Sufyan ibn Sa’d, al-Bakri al-Wa’ili, Abu Amr: A pre-Islamic poet of the first rank (c. 86-60 BC = c. 538-564 AD). He was born in the desert of Bahrain and traveled throughout the regions of Najd. He became associated with King Amr ibn Hind, who made him one of his companions.