The Sixteen Arabic Poetic Meters: Al-Khalil's Science of Prosody

The Founder

Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad al-Farahidi (100–170 AH), teacher of Sibawayh, invented Arabic prosody ('ilm al-'arud). Legend has it he conceived the theory while listening to the rhythmic clang of copper pots in a Meccan market.

The Basic Unit

Every line consists of a sadr (opening hemistich) and 'ajuz (closing hemistich), each built from taf'ilat; rhythmic feet like fa'ulun, mafa'ilun, mustaf'ilun, and fa'ilatun.

The 16 Meters

Al-Khalil enumerated 15 meters; his student al-Akhfash added the 16th (al-Mutadarak):

1. al-Tawil: the noblest, most common (e.g., Imru' al-Qays's "Qifa nabki…")
2. al-Madid: rare
3. al-Basit: solid, ceremonial
4. al-Wafir: powerful (Ahmad Shawqi's "Idha al-sha'bu…")
5. al-Kamil: expressive
6. al-Hazaj: song-like
7. al-Rajaz: used for didactic poems (like the Alfiyya!)
8. al-Ramal
9. al-Sari'
10. al-Munsarih
11. al-Khafif
12. al-Mudari': rare
13. al-Muqtadab: rare
14. al-Mujtathth
15. al-Mutaqarib
16. al-Mutadarak (added by al-Akhfash)

Why Learn Prosody Today

• Cultivates your poetic ear.
• Prevents you from writing broken-meter verse.
• Sharpens phonetic awareness.
• Assists in Qur'anic recitation rhythms.
• Provides context for parsing Arabic verse.

Read the full Arabic version: «بحور الشعر العربي الستة عشر»

Keywords: Arabic prosody, 16 poetic meters, al-Khalil ibn Ahmad, arud, Arabic poetry rhythm.