Abstract:

Omar b. al-Khattâb, is one of the rare figures in the Pre-Islamic and Islamic period who loves poetry, esteems poets and donates them. He wanted to be a poet thus he knew the place and role of the poem in the Arab society. He classified the poets and poems according to some criteria. Among these criteria there are poetry compliance with the universal principles of Islam, perfection in terms of language and style, telling the truth as it is, not exaggerating the praise and satire, and serving the social life. Omar b. alKhattâb is the first critic, who explained the reasons of his critical provisions in the history of literary criticism.

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