Menelaah Simbolisme Dan Makna Cinta Dalam Syair “Mu’allaqat” Karya Imru’ Al-Qais

Abstract

This study aims to explore the symbolism and meaning of love in the poem Mu’allaqat by Imru’ al-Qais, one of the greatest poets in pre-Islamic Arabic literature. Using a qualitative approach with a library research method, this research analyzes the original Arabic text and relevant scholarly sources to uncover how love is represented through diction and poetic symbols. The findings indicate that love in Imru’ al-Qais’ poetry is portrayed as an all-encompassing emotional experience, filled with longing, sacrifice, and existential reflection. Natural symbols such as winds, traces of the camp, tears, and journeys of separation reinforce the image of love as an integral part of the human life cycle. The chosen diction such as "دمع العين" (tears of the eye) and "خدر عنيزة" (the beloved’s tent) demonstrates both the depth of feeling and the poet’s courage in expressing the fragility and resilience inherent in love. Love in this poetry is not idealized, but rather presented as a profoundly human experience, rich with bittersweet nuances that remain relevant to readers across time. This study hopes to enrich the understanding of classical Arabic literature and offer new perspectives on the role of love symbolism in world literary traditions.