Al-Khayalani-A Variation of the Khayal Motif
Abdul-Qadir Al-Rabbai, Department of Arabic Language and Literature, Yarmouk,University, Irbid, Jordan.
Abstract
The Khayal or tayf is a "vision" of the beloved, appearing by night, a favourite motif of Arabic love poetry from the time of the Jahiliyya. It was first conceived as a ghost, confronting the poet in the external world, not always welcome, and sometimes even terrifying him. Later, from the early 7th century onwards, it was referred to as a vision the poet sees in his dream, longed
for and fulfilling his secret wishes, granting favours the beloved herself refused. This last aspect is dwelled upon with satisfaction especially in the Umayyad period. Dreaming about a person in love with is a universal experience, by no means limited to Arabic poets. Some of them realized and said so plainly in their verses that the appearance of the Khayal was the result of wishful thinking.[Translator]