البعد العَقَدِي في الشعر الجاهلي

دراسة تحليلية وصفية

Abstract

Man’s need for religion is a pressing one. By nature, human beings are deep thinkers, full of questions—they wonder where they came from and what their destiny is. They are surrounded by mystery and threatened by dangers, constantly aware of the looming presence of death wherever they turn. This created a need for a higher power to protect and comfort them in a world full of perils. Humans turned to nature, venerating some of its phenomena, projecting onto them spiritual and sacred powers drawn from their imagination. They worshipped stars and planets, and some even gathered around specific totems, believing them to offer protection. The Arabs, like other peoples, worshipped celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, and Venus. They also attributed spiritual powers to stones (idols) and statues, believing these would bring them closer to God. The Qur’an referenced this, and their rituals and poetry reflected these beliefs. Some studies even suggest that they were close to practicing totemism. The Arabs established rituals and ceremonies for these religions, organizing acts of worship and pilgrimage, and offering sacrifices. They also believed in myths passed down from earlier generations. This legacy represents the theological dimension reflected in the poetry of that era. However, references to this heritage are rare in poetry due to narrators’ neglect of pre-Islamic pagan poetry. Nevertheless, some mentions can still be found in the works of a few pre-Islamic poets, though they are limited.