The Marginalized Voice in the Poetry of al-Mutalammis al-Dhuby’i

Abstract

This study sheds light on the nature of marginalization experienced by al-Mutalammis al-Dhuby’i, as his poetic practice embodies a form of hidden protest discourse excluded from the canonical pre-Islamic poetic narrative. His poetry is not merely satirical; rather, it bears the marks of a suppressed voice of resistance against the cultural and political center of his society. Al-Mutalammis expresses the individual’s struggle against injustice and tyranny, particularly those exercised by authority or tribe. The significance of this topic lies in its revelation of an early consciousness of dissent within pre-Islamic poetry one that manifests itself through the critique of despotism and the defense of personal dignity. Thus, al-Mutalammis stands as a dissonant voice within the cultural context of his tribe and era. Through his verse, he articulates a rejection of social and political oppression, granting the marginalized a language through which their protest is inscribed and their struggle for survival and dignity immortalized. His poetic texts, therefore, represent a unique model in expressing the concerns of the marginalized and the suffering of ordinary people, endowing his work with an ethical and social dimension that transcends the traditional framework of pre-Islamic poetry.