Syrian Arabic Curriculum — Grade 10 — Page 4

Arabic text · النص

Line-by-line translation · المعاني

بُنَيَّ، الْعُصُورُ الْأَدَبِيَّةُ.

My son, the literary eras.

الْوَحْدَةُ الْأُولَى: قِرَاءَةٌ تَمْهِيدِيَّةٌ.

Unit One: Introductory Reading.

الدَّرْسُ الْأَوَّلُ: قَسَّمَ الْمُؤَرِّخُونَ وَالنُّقَّادُ الْأَدَبَ الْعَرَبِيَّ إِلَى عُصُورٍ أَسَاسِيَّةٍ هِيَ: عَصْرُ مَا قَبْلَ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَعَصْرُ صَدْرِ الْإِسْلَامِ الَّذِي يَبْدَأُ مِنْ ظُهُورِ الرَّسُولِ (ع) وَيَنْتَهِي سَنَةَ ٤٠ هـ، وَالْعَصْرُ الْأُمَوِيُّ الَّذِي يَمْتَدُّ طَوَالَ حُكْمِ أُمَيَّةَ مِنْ عَامِ (٤٠ - ١٣٢هـ)، وَالْعَصْرُ الْعَبَّاسِيُّ الَّذِي يَبْدَأُ بِسُقُوطِ الدَّوْلَةِ الْأُمَوِيَّةِ وَيَسْتَمِرُّ إِلَى سُقُوطِ بَغْدَادَ فِي يَدِ التَّتَارِ سَنَةَ ٦٥٦هـ، وَيُقَسِّمُ الدَّارِسُونَ هَذَا الْعَصْرَ، أَيِ الْعَبَّاسِيَّ، قِسْمَيْنِ: الْعَصْرُ الْعَبَّاسِيُّ الْأَوَّلُ وَيَمْتَدُّ نَحْوَ مِئَةِ عَامٍ، وَالْعَصْرُ الْعَبَّاسِيُّ الثَّانِي وَيَسْتَقِلُّ بِبَقِيَّةِ الْعَصْرِ، ثُمَّ يَبْدَأُ عَصْرُ الدُّوَلِ الْمُتَتَابِعَةِ بِاسْتِيلَاءِ التَّتَارِ عَلَى بَغْدَادَ وَيَسْتَمِرُّ إِلَى نُزُولِ الْحَمْلَةِ الْفَرَنْسِيَّةِ بِمِصْرَ سَنَةَ (١٢١٣هـ - ١٧٩٨م)، ثُمَّ الْعَصْرُ الْحَدِيثُ الَّذِي يَمْتَدُّ إِلَى أَيَّامِنَا الْحَاضِرَةِ.

Lesson One: Historians and critics have divided Arabic literature into primary eras: the Pre-Islamic era; the early Islamic era, which begins with the appearance of the Prophet (PBUH) and ends in 40 AH; the Umayyad era, spanning the Umayyad rule from 40 to 132 AH; and the Abbasid era, which begins with the fall of the Umayyad state and continues until the fall of Baghdad to the Tatars in 656 AH. Scholars divide the Abbasid era into two parts: the first, lasting about a century, and the second, which occupies the remainder of the period. This is followed by the era of successive states, beginning with the Tatar seizure of Baghdad and lasting until the French campaign in Egypt in 1213 AH (1798 AD), and finally the modern era, which extends to the present day.

١. عَصْرُ مَا قَبْلَ الْإِسْلَامِ: ثَمَّةَ مَنْ يَرَى مُعْتَمِدًا عَلَى الْمُكْتَشَفَاتِ الْأَثَرِيَّةِ أَنَّ هُنَالِكَ نُصُوصًا تَمْتَدُّ إِلَى (٦٠٠٠) سَنَةٍ قَبْلَ الْمِيلَادِ، اكْتُشِفَتْ فِي الْمَمَالِكِ السُّورِيَّةِ الْقَدِيمَةِ، تَحَدَّثَتْ فِي مَوْضُوعَاتٍ مُتَنَوِّعَةٍ تُثْبِتُ أَنَّ عَصْرَ مَا قَبْلَ الْإِسْلَامِ يَتَجَاوَزُ مَا ذَهَبَ إِلَيْهِ الْمُؤَرِّخُونَ أَنَّهُ يَمْتَدُّ (١٥٠) سَنَةً قَبْلَ الْبَعْثَةِ النَّبَوِيَّةِ، وَمِمَّا يَدْعُو إِلَى النَّظَرِ فِي هَذَا الْأَمْرِ أَنَّ النَّمَاذِجَ الشِّعْرِيَّةَ الَّتِي وَصَلَتْنَا بِمَا فِيهَا مِنْ نُضْجٍ فَنِّيٍّ تَدْفَعُنَا إِلَى الِاعْتِقَادِ أَنَّ بِدَايَةَ الشِّعْرِ الْعَرَبِيِّ أَقْدَمُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ بِكَثِيرٍ وَإِنْ لَمْ يَصِلْنَا مِنْ تِلْكَ الْبِدَايَاتِ شَيْءٌ.

1. The Pre-Islamic Era: Some believe, based on archaeological discoveries in ancient Syrian kingdoms, that there are texts dating back to 6000 BC. These texts cover various topics that suggest the Pre-Islamic era extends well beyond the 150 years before the Prophetic mission that historians traditionally claim. It is worth considering that the poetic models we possess, with their artistic maturity, suggest that the origins of Arabic poetry are much older, even if no evidence from those earliest days has survived.

وَلَعَلَّ وِلَادَةَ الشِّعْرِ الْعَرَبِيِّ فِي بِيئَةٍ غَلَبَ عَلَيْهَا الطَّابِعُ الصَّحْرَاوِيُّ، وَتَمَيَّزَتِ الْحَيَاةُ فِيهَا بِالِاضْطِرَابِ وَالتَّنَقُّلِ الْمُسْتَمِرِّ بَحْثًا عَنْ مَسَاقِطِ الْمَطَرِ وَمَوَارِدِ الْمَاءِ وَمَنَابِتِ الْكَلَإِ، رَسَمَتْ صُورَةً وَاضِحَةً لِلْقَصِيدَةِ الْعَرَبِيَّةِ الَّتِي نَلْمَحُ أَثَرَهَا فِي الْمُقَدِّمَاتِ الطَّلَلِيَّةِ الَّتِي عَبَّرَتْ عَنْ تِرْحَالِهِمُ الدَّائِمِ، وَعَنْ مُشَاهَدَاتِهِمْ فِي التِّرْحَالِ، وَمَا يُمْكِنُ أَنْ يَتَعَرَّضُوا لَهُ مِنْ مَوَاقِفَ وَمَخَاطِرَ كَثُرَ الْحَدِيثُ عَنْهَا فِي قَصَائِدِهِمْ.

The birth of Arabic poetry in a desert environment—characterized by instability and constant movement in search of rain, water, and grazing land—shaped the Arabic poem. We see this influence in the ruins-based introductions that reflect their nomadic life, their observations during travel, and the situations and dangers they frequently described in their poems.

يُضَافُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ مَا فَرَضَتْهُ الْبِيئَةُ عَلَى سُكَّانِ الْجَزِيرَةِ الْعَرَبِيَّةِ مِنْ نَمَطٍ اقْتِصَادِيٍّ اعْتَمَدَ عَلَى التِّجَارَةِ وَالرَّعْيِ، وَتَعَذَّرَتْ فِيهِ الزِّرَاعَةُ وَضَعُفَتِ الصِّنَاعَةُ، وَنَتَجَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ تَبَنِّي الْمُجْتَمَعِ الْعَرَبِيِّ مَجْمُوعَةً مِنَ الْعَادَاتِ وَالتَّقَالِيدِ الَّتِي تَحَوَّلَتْ مَعَ مُرُورِ الزَّمَنِ إِلَى قَوَانِينَ ثَابِتَةٍ كَالْكَرَمِ وَالْعِفَّةِ، وَإِغَاثَةِ الْمَلْهُوفِ وَحِمَايَةِ الْجَارِ وَالْوَفَاءِ بِالْعَهْدِ، وَهَذِهِ الْعَادَاتُ طَالَمَا تَغَنَّى بِهَا الْعَرَبُ فِي قَصَائِدِهِمْ وَجَعَلُوهَا مِنْ أَهَمِّ مَصَادِرِ التَّفَاخُرِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُمْ.

Furthermore, the environment imposed an economic pattern on the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula that relied on trade and grazing, while agriculture was difficult and industry remained weak. Consequently, Arab society adopted customs and traditions that eventually became fixed codes of conduct, such as generosity, chastity, aiding the distressed, protecting neighbors, and keeping promises. Arabs often celebrated these values in their poetry, making them a primary source of pride.

الشِّعْرُ فِي عَصْرِ مَا قَبْلَ الْإِسْلَامِ وَأَبْرَزُ أَعْلَامِهِ: قَامَتِ الْحَيَاةُ الْعَرَبِيَّةُ قَبْلَ الْإِسْلَامِ عَلَى نِظَامِ الْقَبِيلَةِ، وَقَدِ اقْتَضَى هَذَا النِّظَامُ الْقَبَلِيُّ مَنْ يَنْطِقُ بِاسْمِهِ وَيَحْمِيهِ، فَكَانَ الشَّاعِرُ هُوَ الَّذِي يُسَجِّلُ مَآثِرَ قَوْمِهِ وَيُذِيعُ مَفَاخِرَهُمْ، وَيَنْشُرُ مَحَامِدَهُمْ، وَيُخَوِّفُ أَعْدَاءَهُمْ، وَيَخْذُلُ خُصُومَهُمْ.

Poetry in the Pre-Islamic era and its most prominent figures: Arab life before Islam was based on a tribal system that required someone to speak for and defend it. The poet was the one who recorded the achievements of his people, proclaimed their glories, spread their praises, intimidated their enemies, and demoralized their opponents.

وَهَذَا مَا أَبْرَزَ أَهَمِّيَّةَ الشَّاعِرِ الَّذِي يُعَبِّرُ عَنْ وُجْهَاتِ نَظَرِهِمْ بِأُسْلُوبٍ شِعْرِيٍّ تَتَنَاقَلُهُ الرُّوَاةُ، كَمَا أَبْرَزَ ضَرُورَةَ شِعْرِهِ لِلْحَيَاةِ الْعَرَبِيَّةِ آنَذَاكَ، فَصَارَتِ الْقَبَائِلُ يُهَنِّي بَعْضُهَا بَعْضًا إِذَا نَبَغَ بَيْنَهُمْ شَاعِرٌ.

This highlighted the importance of the poet, who expressed their viewpoints in a style transmitted by narrators, and underscored the necessity of poetry in Arab life at the time. Tribes would even congratulate one another when a talented poet emerged among them.

وَيُعَدُّ الشِّعْرُ مِنْ أَشْرَفِ الْكَلَامِ عِنْدَ الْعَرَبِ وَتَعْلِيقُ الشِّعْرِ بِأَسْتَارِ الْكَعْبَةِ - كَمَا يَرَى بَعْضُ الْمُؤَرِّخِينَ.

Poetry was considered the most honorable form of speech among the Arabs, as evidenced by the tradition—according to some historians—of hanging poems on the curtains of the Kaaba.

Vocabulary · المفردات (48 verbs · 119 nouns)

• قَسَمَ — to divide
• بَدَأَ — to begin
• انْتَهَى — to end
• امْتَدَّ — to extend
• اسْتَمَرَّ — to continue
• اسْتَقَلَّ — to be independent
• رَأَى — to see
• اعْتَمَدَ — to rely
• اكْتَشَفَ — to discover
• تَحَدَّثَ — to speak
• أَثْبَتَ — to prove
• تَجَاوَزَ — to exceed
• ذَهَبَ — to go
• دَعَا — to call
• وَصَلَ — to arrive
• دَفَعَ — to push
• غَلَبَ — to overcome
• تَمَيَّزَ — to be distinguished
• رَسَمَ — to draw
• لَمَحَ — to glimpse
• عَبَّرَ — to express
• تَعَرَّضَ — to be exposed
• كَثُرَ — to be frequent
• أَضَافَ — to add
• فَرَضَ — to impose
• تَعَذَّرَ — to be impossible
• ضَعُفَ — to weaken
• نَتَجَ — to result
• تَبَنَّى — to adopt
• تَحَوَّلَ — to transform
• تَغَنَّى — to sing
• جَعَلَ — to make
• قَامَ — to stand
• اقْتَضَى — to require
• نَطَقَ — to speak
• حَمَى — to protect
• سَجَّلَ — to record
• أَذَاعَ — to broadcast
• نَشَرَ — to spread
• خَوَّفَ — to frighten
• خَذَلَ — to abandon
• أَبْرَزَ — to highlight
• تَنَاقَلَ — to transmit
• صَارَ — to become
• هَنَّأَ — to congratulate
• نَبَغَ — to excel
• عَدَّ — to count
• عَلَّقَ — to hang
• بُنَيّ — son (diminutive)
• عَصْر — era
• أَدَب — literature
• وَحْدَة — unit
• قِرَاءَة — reading
• دَرْس — lesson
• مُؤَرِّخ — historian
• نَاقِد — critic
• عَرَبِيّ — Arab
• أَسَاس — foundation
• إِسْلَام — Islam
• صَدْر — beginning
• ظُهُور — appearance
• رَسُول — messenger
• سَنَة — year
• حُكْم — rule
• عَام — year
• سُقُوط — fall
• دَوْلَة — state
• يَد — hand
• تَتَار — Tartars
• دَارِس — student
• قِسْم — part
• مِئَة — hundred
• بَقِيَّة — remainder
• اسْتِيلَاء — seizure
• نُزُول — descent
• حَمْلَة — campaign
• مِصْر — Egypt
• حَدِيث — modern
• يَوْم — day
• مُكْتَشَف — discovery
• أَثَر — archaeological
• نَصّ — text
• مِيلَاد — birth; nativity
• مَمْلَكَة — kingdom, monarchy
• مَوْضُوع — topic
• بَعْثَة — mission
• نَظَر — view
• أَمْر — matter
• نَمُوذَج — model
• شِعْر — poetry
• نُضْج — maturity
• فَنّ — art
• اعْتِقَاد — belief
• بِدَايَة — beginning
• بِيئَة — environment
• طَابِع — character
• حَيَاة — life
• اضْطِرَاب — turmoil
• تَنَقُّل — movement
• بَحْث — search
• مَسْقَط — place of falling
• مَطَر — rain
• مَوْرِد — source
• مَاء — water
• مَنْبَت — place of growth
• كَلَأ — pasture
• صُورَة — copy, image
• قَصِيدَة — poem
• مُقَدِّمَة — introduction
• طَلَل — ruin
• تِرْحَال — traveling
• مُشَاهَدَة — observation
• مَوْقِف — situation
• مَخْطَر — danger
• سُكَّان — inhabitants
• جَزِيرَة — peninsula
• نَمَط — pattern
• تِجَارَة — trade
• رَعْي — herding
• زِرَاعَة — agriculture
• صِنَاعَة — industry
• مَجْمُوعَة — group
• عَادَة — habit
• تَقْلِيد — tradition
• مُرُور — passage
• زَمَن — time
• قَانُون — law
• كَرَم — generosity
• عِفَّة — chastity
• إِغَاثَة — relief
• مَلْهُوف — distressed
• حِمَايَة — protection
• جَار — neighbor
• وَفَاء — loyalty
• عَهْد — covenant
• مَصْدَر — source
• تَفَاخُر — boasting
• نِظَام — system
• قَبِيلَة — tribe
• شَاعِر — poet
• مَأْثَرَة — feat
• قَوْم — people
• مَفْخَرَة — source of pride
• مَحْمَدَة — praiseworthy attribute
• عَدُوّ — enemy
• خَصْم — opponent
• أَهَمِّيَّة — importance
• وُجْهَة — point of view
• أُسْلُوب — style
• رَاوِي — narrator
• ضَرُورَة — necessity
• كَلَام — speech
• سِتْر — curtain
• كَعْبَة — Kaaba
• وَاضِحَة — clear, obvious (adjective)
• أُولَى — first (feminine)
• أَسَاسِيَّة — basic/fundamental
• أَشْرَف — more honorable
• قَدِيمَة — ancient (adj.)
• أَقْدَم — older
• فَرَنْسِيَّة — French
• كَثِير — a lot
• مُتَنَوِّعَة — diverse
• اِسْم — name
• ثَابِتَة — constant
• وِلَادَة — birth
• مُتَتَابِعَة — consecutive