Argumentation in ‘Ubayd Allãh bin Qays al-Ruqayyãt's Poetry

Abstract

This study aims at exploring the argumentative construction employed in Ubayd Allãh bin Qays al-Ruqayyãt’s poetry in defending the Zubayrī call. The study analyzes a set of argumentative techniques that ‘Ubayd Allãh bin Qays Al-Ruqayyãt has built his position and premises on, such as the assumption that the Zubayris are more worthy of the caliphate than the Umayyads. These premises, indeed, are based on the deconstruction strategy which implies two components, mainly: deconstruction and reconstruction. The first premise deals with the question: From where did the Zubayrīs derive their right to the caliphate? While the second is set up to discuss the reasons for the Umayyads’ ineligibility for the caliphate. In so doing, the poet used a set of argumentation techniques to promote his ideas in advocating the Zubayrīs, including their Quraysh lineage, religious authority, ethical value, pragmatic argument, proverbs, the argument of contradiction, incompatible arguments, etc. Moreover, to deconstruct the Umayyad’s premises, the poet managed to deal with a real argument stemming from their actions and behaviors. What is more, the poet also investigated the argumentative energy to underestimate them.