A study of the symbols of poet Tamim Al-Barghouthi’s “Hadith Al-Kisa” ode

Abstract

Using symbols is a literary technique to impress the recipient. It is clear that poets from ancient times until now have used symbols in their poems. First to be noticed is that there are meanings beyond these symbols that the researcher/reader should find them. Finding these meanings is not easy anyway. They will be found only after and through deep study of the poem. Second is the importance of symbolism among contemporary poets which will be clear if we pay attention to the high frequency of symbols they use to explain inward sentiments, political affairs, etc. This is also true when we look at palestinian poet Tamim Al-Barghouthi, the second figure of Arabic opposing/resistance literature. Al-Barghouthi forced himself to make poems and blank verses only to fight any enemy who wants to bring Islam’s sacredness into question in any way. Al-Barghouthi is rooted in Islamic culture’s earth and uses this heritage in his works. One of his influential works is a symbolic ode named “Hadith Al-Kisa” (the hadith of the cloak) which is full of human virtues and celebrates the greatness of Arabs and Muslims and invites them to brotherhood and to stick to Al-orwat-al-wothgha. Deep study of the symbols of this ode makes its core idea clear. It invites to unity and warns division and schism which all groups of Muslims are suffering from. This ode can be seen as a letter to governors who corrupt the earth. Last to say is about the method of this study; it is analytic-descriptive.