Definition
ʿUkāz̤ (عكاظ) - An annual fair held for twenty-one days between at-Tā’if and Nakhlah, beginning at the start of the month of Dhū al-Qa’dah in pre-Islamic Arabia. Celebrated during the sacred months, this event was marked by its cultural, literary, and commercial significance and was ultimately abolished by the Prophet Muhammad.
Etymology
The term “ʿUkāz̤” potentially derives from the Arabic verb ʿakāẓa (عَكَظَ), which means ‘to contend’ or ‘to strive’. This etymology illustrates the competitive spirit of the poets and traders who gathered at this fair.
Background
Located near at-Tā’if, the fair of ʿUkāz̤ was a central stage for the Arabs to display their cultural and literary prowess. Rivalling tribes, their enmities paused by sacred custom, shared and competed in poetry recitation, trade, and showcasing of tribal valor and virtues. It was the cultural crucible where Bedouin virtues were critiqued and grammar and prosody were debated. The Qur’an adopted its refined language, serving as its vessel to articulate a new, unifying vision for the Islamic world.
Cultural Differences & Similarities
Comparatively, fairs similar to ʿUkāz̤ also existed in other ancient cultures, such as the Greek Olympian Games or the Pueblos’ ceremonial gatherings, spotlighting universal communal traditions of gathering to share and celebrate cultural achievements. However, the exclusive combination of poetry, trade, and social oversight rendered ʿUkāz̤ uniquely Arab.
Synonyms
- Annual Bazar
- Poets’ Festival
- Tribal Conclave
- Bedouin Convention
Antonyms
- Exclusion
- Warfare meeting
- Silent gathering
Related Terms
- Qaṣīdah (قصيدة): A form of Arabic poetry, prominently recited during ʿUkāz̤.
- Ḥijāz (الحجاز): The region of western Saudi Arabia, crucial to understanding ʿUkāz̤’s cultural context.
- Bedouin (بدوي): Nomadic Arab tribes whose virtues were celebrated at ʿUkāz̤.
Exciting Facts
- The poems recited at ʿUkāz̤ were so esteemed that a selection, known as the “Mu’allaqat”, was reputedly inscribed in gold and hung on the Ka’bah.
- ʿUkāz̤ saw peaceful interactions enforced by customary law, thus becoming a truce zone where even blood feuds were paused.
Quotations
“ʿUkāz̤ was not just a fair; it was the pinnacle where Arab minds sharpened their blades of language, polished with the grammar of the desert tongues.” — Stanley Lane Poole
“In the echoes of ʿUkāz̤’s poets, one hears the foundational rhythms of what would become the Qur’anic cadence.” — Reema Al-Juhani
Suggest Literature and Other Sources for Further Studies
- “The Mu’allaqat”, translated by Michael Sells - A celebrated compilation of pre-Islamic poetry thought to include poems first recited at ʿUkāz̤.
- “Pre-Islamic Poetry: Context and Continuity” by Suhail Mahmood - Explores the pervasive cultural impact of events like ʿUkāz̤.
- “Islamic Art and Arab Culture” by James Critchfield - Delves into the shifts in Arab culture post-ʿUkāz̤’s abolition, tracing literary and artistic transformations.
Quizzes
Thank you for journeying into the past with us, unearthing the rich tapestry woven at ʿUkāz̤. May we draw inspiration from the poets who encamped among rhythmic verses and desert breezes, seeking always to perfect the artful expression of human thought and culture.
Layla Al-Mansuri - October 2023
Keep exploring, for in the annals of history lies the power to reshape our collective tomorrows.
