The Lapses and Defect of Bunyamin Zakariyya Ayagi's Poetr, Study of Arabic Prosody

Student: FATIMA Abdurrahman ABDUL (Project, 2025)
Department of Arabic
Bayero University, Kano, Kano State

Abstract

Abstract This research examines the lapses and defects found in the poetry of Bunyamin Zakariyya Ayagi, focusing on the application of Arabic prosody (ʿArūḍ)—the system that governs poetic meters, zihāfāt (metrical alterations), and ʿilal (metrical defects). The study aims to identify the poet’s adherence to and deviation from the established rules of Arabic meter, analyzing how such deviations affect the musical rhythm, balance, and aesthetic harmony of his verse. Using descriptive and analytical methods, the research explores selected poems to uncover patterns of prosodic irregularities and their artistic or unintentional nature. The findings reveal that while Ayagi demonstrates a commendable command of Arabic poetic structure, several lapses occur in his use of meter and rhythm, reflecting both creative experimentation and occasional technical oversight. The study concludes that these lapses, though sometimes viewed as defects, can also represent individual stylistic expression within modern Arabic poetic practice. This work contributes to the field of Arabic literary studies by providing an applied example of prosodic analysis and by deepening the understanding of how modern poets negotiate between traditional structure and personal innovation.

Keywords
lapses defect bunyamin zakariyya ayagi poetr arabic prosody
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