A reading in the MuCallaqa of Tarafa Ibn al-c Abd

Associate Professor, Department of Arabic Literature, Faculty of Arts, Mutah University, Mu'tah, JordanThis paper investigates the pre-Islamic (Jahill) man's view towards civilization and beduinism in the pre-Islamic era in the light of'farafa Ibn al-" Abd's Mu"allaqah. Textual analysis of the poem reveals the relationships, symbols and images which unveil his vision of civilization in the light of his understanding of "a!-talal", women, camels, wine, death and generosity. I see that the "Jahill" poet understood the problems ofbeduinism and the desert more than any other member of his society. In addition, he fortells and calls for agricultural and industrial civilization in Arabia. Thus, the different subject matters of the poem in terms of its surface structure lead to one unified idea which forms the essence and the central theme of the poem: the idea of the search for civilization