STYLISTIC FEATURES OF YUNUS ABDULLAHI’S “YA LAIMI” ARABIC PRAISE POEMS TO PROPHET MOHAMMED

Abstract

Eulogizing the prophet has generated a lot of controversies among the Muslims just as this genre of poetry has been
mostly ignored and seen as having no significant content. In the Islamic era (Al-Asrul Islami), the prophet permitted
Hassan bn Thabit, his poet to compose poem to defend Islam and praise him. Later he condemned extoling and over
praising him by referring to him as Allah or son of Allah as a form of commendation or praise. The aim of this study
is to identify the methods used by the poet being studied to eulogize the Prophet and describe the stylistic features of
the panegyric poem. The methods adopted in this paper of research are descriptive and analytic. The author stated
and described the methods implored by the author in praising the prophet and then highlighted and analyzed the
stylistic features embedded in the poem. The results of the study revealed that the author used three major methods
to praise the prophet and these include reference to his spiritual status, emphasis on his practices and traditions and
describing his religious struggle. The styles adopted by the author include clarity and simplicity in the use of
language, use of imagery, Iqtibas (adaptation and citation of Quran verses) and rhetorical questions. It is
recommended therefore, that the poems should be completely translated to English and other international
languages for the benefit of none speakers of Arabic language and for wider circulation