Imru' al-Qais

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Arabic epitaph of “Imru-l-Qays, son of 'Amr'.Found at Nemara in the Hauran (Southern Syria).

Ameru' al-Qays, or Imru'u al Quais, Ibn Hujr Al-Kindi, Arabic (امرؤ القيس بن حجر بن الحارث الكندي), was an Arabian poet of the 6th century, the author of one of the Muallaqat, an anthology of pre-Islamic Arabic literature.

He is the son of Hujr, the last king of Kindah which is part of nowadays The Republic of Yemen. He was born around 501 and died around 544. His mother was Fatmah bint Rabi’ah the sister of Kulib and Al-Muhalhl,, two of the well known, Arabic tribe leaders. Imru’ al-Qais was named after Imru’ al-Qais Ibn Aban a close friend to his uncle al-Muhalhl. Even though he was raised in luxury as a result of being the son of the king, he suffered because he was deprived from ruling after his father’s assassination. That’s why Arabs called him Al malek al delleel or the Shadow King. He loved wine so much to limit that when he was informed of his father’s death during drinking, he shocked every one around him by his response when he said “Tonight is for drinking and tomorrow we will see what the matter is.” It is believed that he avenged for his father, although that their relationship was not good enough.

He wrote passionate love poetry, and is believed to have invented the Qasida, or classical Arabic ode. He is believed to have been assassinated by Emperor Justinian I, who sent him a poisoned cloak, after al-Qays had an affair with a princess at his court.

His poems are contained in Wilhelm Ahlwardt's The Divans of the six ancient Arabic Poets (London, 1870), and have been published separately in William McGuckin de Slane's Le Diwan d'Amro'lkats (Paris, 1837); a German version with life and notes in Friedrich Rückert's Amrilkais der Dichter und König (Stuttgart, 1843). Many stories of his life are told in the Kitab al-Aghani, vol. viii. pp. 62-77.