ہجرتِ مدینہ کی سیرت نگاری میں عربی شاعری سے استشہاد: تجزیاتی جائزہ

The Use of Arabic Poetry in the Historiography of the Hijrah to Madinah: An Analytical Study

Abstract

Arabic poetry from the pre-Islamic (Jāhiliyyah) and early Islamic periods constitutes a significant source in the study of the Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) biography (Sīrah). Several classical biographers incorporated such poetry into their works to support and elucidate various dimensions of the Sīrah, employing it as both a literary and evidentiary tool. While the majority of Sīrah literature is composed in prose, a considerable number of texts also include poetic elements that reflect the historical, cultural, and emotional context of the time. Notable works such as Sīrat Ibn Hishām—a refined version of Sīrat Ibn Isḥāq—along with its well-known commentary Al-Rawḍ al-Unuf, al-Wāqidī’s Kitāb al-Maghāzī, Ṭabaqāt Ibn Saʿd, and Ansāb al-Ashrāf, exemplify this integrative approach by incorporating Arabic poetry to provide deeper insight into the events and themes of the Prophet’s life.This paper focuses on the role of Arabic poetry as a historical and cultural source in documenting the Prophet’s migration (Hijrah) to Madinah. It offers a critical analysis of selected poetic excerpts cited in classical Sīrah works, highlighting their value in verifying historical events and portraying the socio-cultural atmosphere of the time. Through this examination, the study aims to underscore the importance of poetic tradition in the historiography of the Sīrah and its relevance in constructing a nuanced understanding of early Islamic history.