‘Qasida’: Arabic word for poem is filled with intention

A word that dates from the pre-Islamic period is still used today

Qasida is the Arabic word for poem, but not poetry

Simply put, the word qasida means poem. Not poetry as a genre or a collection of poems, but one single poem.

Under the umbrella of Arabic literature there are two main arms of study and expression: nather, which translates to prose; and she'er, which translates to poetry.

Qasida is a subset of she'er. Usually a qasida will have a specific title and focuses on a single topic. Officially defined as a praising, satiric or mournful poem, a qasida’s form and meaning has changed since its origins during the pre-Islamic period.

Arabic poetry is one of the earliest forms of Arabic literature, coveted as an oral and written art form pre-dating the sixth century. During the pre-Islamic period, a qasida was often a form of public speech recited in praise of a tribe leader, king or nobleman.

This classic form has a single, elaborate rhythmic structure or verse formation and usually runs from 15 to 80 lines and sometimes more than 100.

Due to the wide spread of Islam in the latter half of the sixth century, the form and practice of the qasida also ventured far and wide, and developed into different strains across Turkish, Persian and Urdu languages. Even the word qasida came to mean different forms and practices of the poem.

In Indonesia, qasida refers to Islamic music in general; in Urdu poetry it became a publicly performed verse often recognising significant events. The qasida was taken and vastly developed by the Persians after the 10th century and it was used as a means to explore philosophy, theology and ethics.

Even in its modern use, qasida, as mentioned earlier, is a poem that explores one topic or issue. This single presiding subject is often expressed, developed and concluded within the poem. In many ways, this singular focus could be a result of the root meaning of the word qasida.

The root of the word qasida is qasada, which translates to intention. And so to write and perform a qasida, involves the very act and intent of wanting to express, celebrate or mourn a particular issue or person.

The form and style of the qasida has changed over time to include free verse poems and more modern and contemporary ways of exploring Arabic in poetry.

Arabic poetry has had a great influence on culture and music. Many of the great classic songs of the Arab world are based on famous Arab poems.

One of many celebrated Arabic songs is Qareat El Fengan, which literally translates to Reader of Cup, but a more accurate translation would be The Fortune Teller. The song, recorded and performed by the great Egyptian singer and actor Abdel Halim Hafez in 1976 was originally a poem by the celebrated Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani.

The poem details a man’s visit to a fortune teller who foretells his unhappy journey and voyage in search of love.

Scroll through the gallery below to see The National's pick of Arabic words of the week

Hob is the Arabic word for love, but can be used in many contexts

The Arabic word helu translates, in English, to sweet

Nashef is the Arabic word for dry, but has many connotations, depending on the context in which you use it

The Arabic word hurriyeh translates to freedom in English

The Arabic word tayeb can mean delicious or good, depending on the context

The Arabic word mustaqbal is best expressed as future in English

Waqaa, the Arabic word for fall, can signify a loss of power, stature, health or grace

Hudood means borders in English

The Arabic word rooh translates to spirit or soul in English

The Arabic word ain means eye in English

Waraq, the Arabic word of the week means paper in English

Bahr, the Arabic for sea, has a poetic lilt

Kareem means generous in English

Bab means door in English

Eid means holiday or festival

Najm means star for the night sky and cosmos, but also has plenty of other meanings, including ambition or fame

Alwan, the Arabic word for colours, has many shades of meaning

Akel can refer to home-cooked meals, embezzlement, fire and rust

Jamal is the Arabic word for beauty, be it literal or figurative

Herfe translates to profession or craft

Tabiaa translates to nature and can frame landscapes and portraits

Sehha is the Arabic word for health

Ijaza is Arabic for holiday and shines in summer but is not stress-free

Aamal is the Arabic word for work

Al dahr translates to time

Qalb is a word for heart, with poetic roots

Lugha in Arabic translates to language in English

Insaan means human being

Na'eeman is an idiomatic expression used when someone has had a shower or bath, a haircut or had their beard trimmed

The Arabic word for life touches on eternity, death and accomplishment

Qamar is the Arabic for moon

The Arabic word for strength or power is quwwa

Burj is Arabic for tower

The Arabic word for sun is shams

Sabr in English can translate to patience

Hayba is the Arabic word for prestige

The Arabic term al shay'e translates as 'the thing' in English

The Arabic word for road is tareeq

The Arabic word for read has mystical and scholarly connotations

Istikan is the Arabic word for a type of tea cup

The Arabic word hanan means affection in English

The Arabic word atlal means ruins in English

Kura is the Arabic word for ball, in all its forms

Janaah in Arabic means wing in English

The Arabic word sana translates to year in English

Qasida is the Arabic for poem, not poetry

Ameer, the Arabic word for prince, which influenced another English title

Nakhla translates to palm tree in English

Al samt is the Arabic for silence

Kalimaat translates to words in English

Markaz is Arabic for centre

Beshara is the Arabic word for good news

Bayt is the Arabic for house or home

Fann is the Arabic word for art, and can be either a verb or an adjective

Isim, which means name, is made up of three letters, alif, seen and meem

Dunya is the Arabic word for world

Nazaafah translates to cleanliness in English

Many traditions revolve around drinking coffee, including weddings, funerals and business meetings

Fajr is the Arabic word for dawn

Maghrib is the Arabic word for sunset

The Arabic language is filled with idioms, quotes and colloquial quips involving the mirror

Raei is the Arabic word for opinion

Wa'ed is a multifaceted word for 'promise', as well as a female name

Qussa is the Arabic word for story

Sadaaka is the Arabic word for friendship

Akhbaar is the Arabic word for news

Rasem is made up of the three Arabic letters Rah, Seen and Meem. While it can simply mean a drawing or a sketch it’s also a malleable word whose definition can change depending on context and dialect – particularly between colloquial and classical Arabic.

As well as finishing a task, khatem denotes a deeper sense of finality

Commonly translated to blessed, mubarak is used as a popular greeting on auspicious days

The Arabic word for lighthouse is also a term that has become closely associated with Islam

Siyaam, the Arabic word for fasting is also connected to silence

Tawbah, the Arabic word for repentance, is also connected to Ramadan

Safar, the Arabic Word for travel can also refer to sunny days, a brighter-blazing fire or exile. The National