Lessonsal-Ḥārith ibn Ḥillizah: Failed Refuge, Royal Power, Tribal Assembly and Mirage (verses 37–46)Quiz

إِذْ أَحَلَّ الْعَلْيَاءَ قُبَّةَ مَيْسُونَ فَأَدْنَى دِيَارِهَا الْعَوْصَاءُ
Meaning: When Maysūn’s tent was set up at al-ʿAlyāʾ, al-ʿAwṣāʾ was the nearest of her encampments.

Here aḥalla means to establish or settle someone at a place; qubbah is a prominent tent. Al-ʿAlyāʾ and al-ʿAwṣāʾ are place names, while Maysūn is the woman associated with the encampment.

The concrete location follows the general boasting for a reason: it sets a scene for the gathering of forces in the next verse. The poetry moves from a broad claim into a remembered episode.

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Verse 42: The encampment of Maysūn

al-Ḥārith ibn Ḥillizah: Failed Refuge, Royal Power, Tribal Assembly and Mirage (verses 37–46)

إِذْ أَحَلَّ الْعَلْيَاءَ قُبَّةَ مَيْسُونَ فَأَدْنَى دِيَارِهَا الْعَوْصَاءُ
Meaning: When Maysūn’s tent was set up at al-ʿAlyāʾ, al-ʿAwṣāʾ was the nearest of her encampments.

Here aḥalla means to establish or settle someone at a place; qubbah is a prominent tent. Al-ʿAlyāʾ and al-ʿAwṣāʾ are place names, while Maysūn is the woman associated with the encampment.

The concrete location follows the general boasting for a reason: it sets a scene for the gathering of forces in the next verse. The poetry moves from a broad claim into a remembered episode.