the smallest independent word occurring in the language. Accordingly, he distinguished two pairs of metric components which he apparently regarded as such because some of the 4 words concerned (each with its particular sequence of ‘moving’ and ‘quiescent’ consonant) , could be derived from any of the other 3, whilst all 8 feet could be formed by combinations from these 4 words. He took the terms for these two pairs of components from two important parts of the tent, and he distinguished between:
A : The two Asbaab (sg. sabab “cord”) which consists ot two consonants each, namely:
1) sabab khafiif = 2 consonants, the first ‘moving’ , the second ‘quiescent’ , as in words like قدْ
2) sabab thakiil = 2 consonants, both ‘moving’ , e.g. words like لَكَ
B : The two Awtaad (s.g. watid “peg” ) which consist of three consonants each, namely :
1) watid madjmuu’ = 3 consonants, the first two ‘moving’ , the last ‘quiescent’ as in words like لقدْ
2) watid mafruuk = 3 consonants, the first and third moving, the middle one ‘quiescent’ e.g. words like وَقْتَ
In this manner, each of the 8 feet can be reduced to its metrics components as follows; thus مفا
عيـ
ـلن mafaa-‘ii – lun = B1 + A1 + A1 or مُتَفاعِلُنْ muta- faa- ‘ilun = A2 + A1 + B1 .
Each of the sixteen metres given in the circles can therefore be scanned on this basis, e. g. Waafir = mufaa‘alatun mufaa‘alatun mufaa‘alatun = B1 + A2 + A1, B1 + A2 + A1 , B1 + A2 + A1 or Sarii‘ = mustaf‘ilun mustaf‘ilun mustaf‘ilun = A1+ A1 + B1 , A1 + A1 + B1 , A1 + A1 + B2 .
Since it is thus possible to reduce all the metres to their basic components, one might assume this metric system to be complete. The fact remains, however, that the 16 metres never actually appear in the form in which they are given in the 5 circles, but nearly always deviate from this ideal form ___ at times to a
considerable extent. In other words, the sequence of ‘moving’ and ‘quiescent’ consonants in ancient Arabic poems does not correspond to the sequence determined by the circles. Therefore one can no longer split the metric forms used by the poets into the 8 ideal feet, not yet divide these into their two metric elements, because that method of scanning is based completely on the sequence of ‘moving’ and ‘quiescent’ consonants in the ideal metres of the circles. This fact was, of course, known to Al-Khaliil just as well as it is to us, and in
fact his circles are just a kind rhythmic Usul, from which the actual metric forms used by the poets deviate in a certain manner as Furu‘. Consequently, there are also two different terms designating the metres. The ideal forms in the circles are called buhUr ( sg. bahr “river , ??????” ) ; those deviating from them, and actually occurring in ancient poetry are called awzAn al-shi‘r ( = metres ).
The smallest of the deviations is the shortening of the metre. This is immediately visible, because then the metre no longer has its full (tam) number of adjza .
According to the degree of shortening , there are three possibilities. The line is either:
a) madjzuu’ , if there is one djuz’ missing in each of the two hemistiches ( if,
for instance, when the Hazadj , Kaamil or Radjaz the foot is repeated only
twice and not three times); or
b) mashtuur , when a complete half ( shatr ) is absent (as, for instance . when
the Radjaz is reduced to one hemistich ) ; or
c) manhuuk , when the line, on rare occasions, “ is weakened to exhaustion”
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