LessonsImruʾ al-Qays: Movement, Mirror, Gaze, and Gazelle Imagery (Verses 30–34)Quiz

تَصُدُّ وَتُبْدِي عَنْ أَسِيلٍ وَتَتَّقِي
بِنَاظِرَةٍ مِنْ وَحْشِ وَجْرَةَ مُطْفِلِ
“She turns away and reveals a smooth, delicate feature; she looks with the gaze of a wild creature of Wajrah that has a young one beside it.”

Taṣuddu wa-tubdī contrasts withdrawing or turning away with revealing. Asīl suggests a smooth, delicate facial contour, especially the cheek. The second hemistich focuses on bi-nāẓirah, the eye or gaze.

Wajrah is a place name, while muṭfil describes an animal accompanied by its young. That qualification gives the look alertness as well as beauty.

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Verse 33: turning away and the animal-gaze simile

Imruʾ al-Qays: Movement, Mirror, Gaze, and Gazelle Imagery (Verses 30–34)

تَصُدُّ وَتُبْدِي عَنْ أَسِيلٍ وَتَتَّقِي
بِنَاظِرَةٍ مِنْ وَحْشِ وَجْرَةَ مُطْفِلِ
“She turns away and reveals a smooth, delicate feature; she looks with the gaze of a wild creature of Wajrah that has a young one beside it.”

Taṣuddu wa-tubdī contrasts withdrawing or turning away with revealing. Asīl suggests a smooth, delicate facial contour, especially the cheek. The second hemistich focuses on bi-nāẓirah, the eye or gaze.

Wajrah is a place name, while muṭfil describes an animal accompanied by its young. That qualification gives the look alertness as well as beauty.