Unaizah in the Poetic Imagery of Umru’ul Qays: A Michael Riffaterre’s Semiotic Analysis on Al-Mu’allaqat Poetry

Abstract

The Al-Mu’allaqāt poems are rich in themes of love, including vivid imagery of the beloved. In the Al-Mu’allaqāt composed by Umru’ul Qays, Unaizah as the female figure frequently emerges as a central image that operates both literally and symbolically. This study aims to reveal the symbolic meaning of the image of Unaizah in the poetry of Umru’ul Qays using Michael Riffaterre’s semiotic approach. The applied method includes heuristic reading, which focuses on the linguistic level, and hermeneutic reading, which operates at the literary level. Data are drawn from stanzas 31 to 41 of the Al-Mu’allaqat poetry, which prominently feature the image of Unaizah. The findings indicate that Unaizah is portrayed through idealized physical imagery, which evokes emotional effects such as love and profound longing. The image of Unaizah represents a beauty that stirs desire and becomes a field of meaning within the poem’s semiotic structure. Her symbolism transcends the role of a mere romantic figure, emerging as a poetic construct that intricately links form and meaning in the context of pre-Islamic poetry.