Books by Imru al-Qais

About the author

Imru al-Qais (c. 501–544), the son of a king of the tribe of Kinda, is said to have been banished by his father for writing love poetry. When he heard that his father had been murdered, he declared, 'Today wine, tomorrow business', and spent the rest of his life trying to avenge him and win back the kingdom.

According to legend, he travelled to Constantinople to seek the emperor's help and died on the way home. His Mu'allaqa, which begins 'Stop, let us weep at the memory of a beloved and a dwelling', is one of the most famous poems in Arabic, and he is often called the prince of the pre-Islamic poets.