The Poet as Chronicler, Diplomat, and Moral Authority in Pre-Islamic Arab Tribal Society

Abstract

This article examines the multifunctional role of the poet in pre-Islamic Arabian tribal society and argues that poetry functioned not merely as an aesthetic practice but as a powerful institutional, political, and ethical force. The society of the djāhiliyya period was based on oral tradition, tribal identity, and a code of honor (sharaf), where social order was regulated through reputation, collective memory, and the preservation of dignity. Within this framework, the poet (shāʿir) emerged as the “voice” of the tribe and a bearer of symbolic authority.

The study analyzes the poet’s role in three main dimensions: as historian, diplomat, and moral authority. First, the poet functioned as an architect of historical memory. The works of the Moʿallaqāt poets including Imruʼ al-Ḳays, ʽAntara b. Shaddād and Zuhayr Abi Sulmā preserved genealogies, accounts of wars, heroic ideals, and structures of social hierarchy. In an oral culture, poetry served as an archive and shaped the narrative of collective identity.

Second, the poet acted as a political agent. Satirical poetry (hidjāʼ) could provoke intertribal conflict, while praise poetry (madḥ) could legitimize leadership and promote reconciliation. Particularly in the poetry of Zuhayr Abi Sulmā, peace is presented not as weakness but as a rational and honorable political choice. Thus, poetry functioned as a medium of mediation, transforming violent conflict into a symbolic and negotiable discourse.

Third, the poet held moral authority. Through praise and satire, poets defined the boundaries between honor and shame, reinforcing ethical norms such as courage, loyalty, and hospitality. In the absence of formal legal institutions, poetic discourse operated as a mechanism of social regulation and moral evaluation.

The article also addresses the transformation of the poet’s role following the rise of Islam. The rhetorical power of the Qur'an redefined the status of poetry, distinguishing divine revelation from poetic speech. Nevertheless, poetic practice was not abolished but integrated into the emerging Islamic order. This transformation demonstrates that poetry had already functioned as a strong institutional force in pre-Islamic society, requiring reinterpretation within the new religious framework.