The Paradox in al-Nābighah al-Dhubyānī's Apologetic Ode to al-Nuʿmān ibn al-Mundhir"

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the presence of paradox in al-Nābighah al-Dhubyānī’s apologetic ʿAyniyyah and to examine its role in constructing the apologetic discourse, shaping meaning, and enhancing its rhetorical effect. It also explores the relationship between paradox, persuasion, and directing the discourse toward restoring approval and status. The study adopts an inductive-analytical approach to identify and analyze instances of paradox in the poem, drawing on the functional stylistic approach and selected concepts from pragmatics, viewing apology as a communicative act aimed at influencing and persuading the recipient. The study concludes that paradox is a significant element in the construction of al-Nābighah’s apologetic ʿAyniyyah and is not merely a stylistic embellishment, but an artistic and semantic device that reveals the depth and underlying dimensions of the text. The poet employs paradox to portray the desolation of place, the anxiety of the self, and the disruption of justice, transforming apology from a mere request for forgiveness into a complex discourse that combines self-defense, criticism of the informers, and an attempt to appease authority. Paradox also highlights the psychological depth of the poem, revealing the poet’s struggle between fear of threats, confidence in his innocence, and the desire to regain his status. The study demonstrates that the ʿAyniyyah is a rich text open to rereading through modern critical concepts, highlighting the capacity of pre-Islamic Arabic poetry to accommodate profound artistic structures.