Tears of love in pre-Islamic poetry

Abstract

This research, titled Tears of Love in pre-Islamic Poetry, undertakes a contemplative and meticulous examination of the phenomenon of weeping in pre-Islamic poetry, framing it as a sublime emotional state employed with profound humanity by the poet. While the presence of tears in poems of love (ghazal) and farewells is often acknowledged, scholarly analysis frequently fails to explore their function beyond simple sorrow. This study addresses this gap by arguing that, within the arid and arduous pre-Islamic setting, tears function metaphorically as an "oasis in a barren desert." Weeping is more than an emotional release; it is a complex symbolic act signifying the weeper's deep understanding of a transient life. The tear is a visible regret and an existential response to the loss of a fleeting moment, serving as a station of emotional replenishment before the poet departs into another form of desolation. Accordingly, this paper analyzes the significance of the tear within the poem's structure and its relationship to the overall text and the poetic image it inhabits.