26: Poets
This chapter of eleven sections
and 227 mostly Meccan verses was revealed after
The Inevitable 56 and before the next chapter on The Ants 27. Verse 197
however and VV. 224-226 at the end of the final section (XI) date from
the Madinese
period.
The next four chapters display a different style, being rather long but
using
short verses; thus they form a special unit. One notices how each prophetic
parallel
and refrain mentioned brings home the fact that while prophets may use
poetic
utterances, this illustrates the patterns they need, so as to show mankind
how
history and man's fate should be understood. Moses (II), then Abraham's
attitude
toward idols, plus his prayer (V), are first presented: Noah (VI), then
the early
Arabian messengers Hud (VII), Salih or Methusaleh (VIII), Lot (IX), and
shu`ayb
(X) follow.
This motif in fact sounds like that of a symphony as it moves along and
is
gradually worked out, or like the kharja or refrain in an Andalusian choral
lyric.
The concern is directed toward God as the Lord of the Universe. The chapter
ends
with a dramatic description of how early Arabian poets went staggering
around
in every river valley