Structural and Content Analysis of Eulogy of the Prophet in the Poems of Ka'b Ibn Zuhayr and Ibn al-Sāʻātī

The prophetic eulogy is considered one the poetic techniques that poets have written innumerably since the time of the revelation of the Holy Qur’an to the present days. Ka'b Ibn Zuhayr had extended this technique by compiling eulogistic verses and during the course of history; many poets were influenced by his techniques and content. Ibn al-Sāʻātī, a Shia poet of the Ayyubi era, to imitate the ode of Ka'b bin Zuhayr, also composed one in praise of the prophet with the same prosody and rhyme. In terms of structure and content, similarities and differences in the two are visible such as ephemeral of the world, praise of the holy prophet and demanding his forgiveness, and the historical events are the most important common themes. The main difference between the two panegyrics is that Ka'b bin Zuhayr praises immigrants as loyal companions of the prophet while Ibn al-Sāʻātī - because of being Shia- praises the family of the prophet. However, both pay particular attention to the rhythm, structurally. This study intends to investigate the structure and content in the prophetic eulogy of both poets, through a descriptive-analytic method. Of the highlights of the findings, “Ibn al-Sāʻātī” has been influenced clearly by the praise of “Ka'b bin Zuhayr” in words, meaning and method. Regardless of many common points, there are two fundamental differences: the Shia and religious color is clearly seen in the panegyric of “Ibn al-Sāʻātī” while Ibn Zuhair composed his ode to apologize the prophet. “Ibn al-Sāʻātī” has been drunk to satiety of the beauty of the Holy Quran but “Ka'b bin Zuhayr”- due to its proximity to the time of revelation of the Quran-, was not familiar with this book and except for a few references, he did not use it.