ANALYSIS OF THE "MANZUMAH"
The Reasons behind the composition Al-Sahili would not have written manzumah had poet called Abubakar not written a satiric poem.
In other word, "Al-Sahili wrote poem to serve as a reply to a satiric poem written by Abubakar which was disparaging and demeaning of Al-Sahili."¹ In this retort, Al-Sahili manifests high level of maturity and convincingly displays his literary prowess in an ideal manner devoid of vituperations though sarcastic in nature.
Youthful Exulberance: A Deterrence
Verse 1-5 of manzumah stand as prelude not a love lyric as was common in ancient Arabic poetry preludes but a serious deterrence and warning from amusement of youth.
Al-Sahili emphases in his prelude on Abubakar's passion for women and love lyric (Gasal) "I can see you love a women in her boudoir, who has been totally poem forsaken by the wise. Ibn wardi, A popular poet of Ottoman period of Islam, also condemned love lyric and passing of women, he says:
اغتزل ذكر الأغاني والغزل وقل الفصل وجانب من هزل²
Meaning:
"Stay away in remembering the women and love lyric,
And always recite the separation (Al-Quran) and Abstains from a clown."
Almighty Allah say's: indeed, it (Al-Qur'an) is a decisive
statement, and it is not Amusement of joke"(Q86 v 13-14)³
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1. http:en. Wikipedia. Org/wiki/ Al-sahili poem 6/6/2013 7.30am
2. Adam Abdullah Al-ilori: u© yunul Al-la'miyah Al-Aarobiyah 1966, Islamic Culture Printing Press, Agege.P20
3. A.A Yussuf: the holy Quran, text, Translation and commentary 1963, Baerut, Labana: Arabiyah