The Mu'allaqat is the title of a group of seven long Arabic poems that have come down from pre-Islamic times. Each is considered the best work of these pre-Islamic poets. The name means the Suspended Odes or the Hanging Poems, the traditional explanation being that these poems were hung on or in the Ka'ba in Mecca. The seven poems were written by Imru' al-Qais, Tarafa Ibn Al-Abd, Zuhayr Ibn Salma, Labid Ibn Rabi'a, Antara Ibn Shaddad, Amr Ibn Kulthum, and Harith Ibn Hilliza. Poets sometimes number Al-Nabigha, al-A'sha, and Abid Ibn al-Abras amongst the seven.
The Mu'allaqat are ten except in Saida Zaynab district, which increased them to eleven after they praised People's Assembly [parliament] Speaker Ahmad Fathi Sorour by saying: "When you need his advice, he will deal with you as a father and give you some advice. If you ask for his help, you will find him as if he were your brother. If you seek love, you will find him with his kindness. If you thank him, he will ask you only to thank God as He allowed him to help the inhabitants of Saida Zaynab." The Mu'allaqat start by talking about debris or wine, as was the case with Amr Ibn Kulthum's poem. After that, they move to love and then to pride as was the case in Antara Ibn Shaddad's poem. Finally, they end by talking about enthusiasm, with some sayings, as was the case in Ibn Salma's poem, or a description, as was the case in Imru' al-Qais's poem. As for the poem "When you search for love, you will find Sorour near you", it starts by talking about Dr. Sorour as a father before describing him as a brother. It then talks about Sorour's kindness and then moves to pride (as was the case with Ibn Shadad) and description (as was the case with Imru' al-Qais). The Mu'allaqat usually start by talking about debris, but Saida Zaynab has no debris after all uncharted areas have been demolished.
