Niʿāj can commonly refer to female sheep, but in this context the accompanying commentary identifies them as female wild cattle. Relying only on the familiar general meaning would distort the hunting scene.
ʿAdhārā, plural of ʿadhrāʾ, means maidens. Their youthful appearance and garments provide the image through which the animals’ color and visual grace are described.
The comparison humanizes the visual impression of the herd, without claiming the figures are actual people.
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Imruʾ al-Qays: The Horse’s Form, Similes, and Wild Quarry (Verses 59–64)
Niʿāj can commonly refer to female sheep, but in this context the accompanying commentary identifies them as female wild cattle. Relying only on the familiar general meaning would distort the hunting scene.
ʿAdhārā, plural of ʿadhrāʾ, means maidens. Their youthful appearance and garments provide the image through which the animals’ color and visual grace are described.
The comparison humanizes the visual impression of the herd, without claiming the figures are actual people.