Arabic poetry encyclopedia

Sihr al-Bayan

Sihr al-Bayan ("the magic of eloquence") brings together the great poems of Arabic literature across fifteen centuries. This site offers an introduction to 51 classical poets, six literary eras, and annotated poems with the original Arabic text and a glossary of difficult words (the Arabic pages carry the full commentary).

Browse poets & eras How to read Arabic poetry

Six eras of Arabic poetry

Pre-Islamic Era (Jahiliyya)

c. 150 years before Islam

Early Islamic Era

from the Prophet's mission to 41 AH

Umayyad Era

41 – 132 AH

Abbasid Era

132 – 656 AH

Andalusian Era

from the conquest in 92 AH to the fall of Granada

Later Eras: Ayyubid, Mamluk, Ottoman

13th – 19th centuries

What you will find

Pages for 51 classical poets, each with an original introduction and selected poems (Arabic).
About 160 poems with their own page: full text, themes, metre, rhyme letter and word meanings.
Thematic notes on love, separation, wisdom and prayer in modern Arabic short prose.

Start with al-Mutanabbi, Imru' al-Qais or Ibn Zaydun.

Read thousands of poems with search, favourites and a daily verse in the Sihr al-Bayan app.

⬇ Get the app on Google Play