Objectivity of Meaning in the Poetry of Zafir Al-Haddad

Ẓafir al-Ḥaddad is regarded as one of the prominent poets of the Fatimid period. He is distinguished by a refined linguistic style, strong expressive capacity, and the aesthetic quality of his poetic imagery and diction. His poetry is characterized by clarity and accessibility, being free from obscure or archaic expressions. It is also notable for its focus on themes drawn from the lives of ordinary and lower social classes. This orientation may be attributed to the poet’s own background, as he originated from the working class and practiced blacksmithing before circumstances brought him into contact with the ruling elite, after which he became one of the court poets. His poetic corpus has received considerable attention from scholars, as it constitutes a valuable historical and geographical source. Al-Ḥaddād references numerous geographical locations and addresses a variety of religious and social occasions of the Fatimid era. Furthermore, his poetry offers insights into the intellectual and cultural context of the period, including aspects of prevailing beliefs and representations of everyday life, such as food culture and social practices.