Natural Geographical Thought in the Poetry of the Mu‘allaqat) An Analysis of Spatial Perception and Its Reflections on Ancient Arab Culture)

Abstract

This study aims to explore the natural geographical thought in the Mu‘allaqat poems and to analyze spatial perception and its impact on early Arab culture. It focuses on understanding the relationship between the Arabs in ancient times and their desert environment, as reflected in the poetic verses. The study also examines the natural and environmental factors that contributed to the formation of meanings and the creation of cultural symbols .The research relied on the analytical method to integrate literary and geographical elements, the descriptive method for analyzing the texts, and the historical method to understand the environment and its social context. The findings of the study indicate that the Mu‘allaqat poems serve as rich cognitive documents, reflecting the awareness of the ancient Arab individual regarding space. Natural geographical phenomena played a fundamental role in shaping poetic meanings and cultural symbols. Moreover, the study highlighted the close connection between the environment, lifestyle patterns, and culture in pre-Islamic Arab society, revealing the significance of place and spatial representation in studying pre-Islamic poetry and elucidating human interactions with their environment.