Al-Ḥujayjah (), also known as Safëyah bint Thaûlabah al-ShaybÃÂnëyah () was a pre-Islamic poet of the Banà « ShaybÃÂn tribe, noted for her work in the genre of taḥrëḠ(incitement to vengeance). Her dates of birth and death are unknown, and even her historicity is open to question. But she seems to have granted protection to al-Ḥurqah bint al-NuûmÃÂn when Khosrow II (r. 590-628) demanded her in marriage from her father al-Nu'man III ibn al-Mundhir around the beginning of the seventh century, and her surviving corpus relates to the Battle of Dhà «-QÃÂr in c. 609. Characterised as a 'warrior diplomat', she has been read as a key figure in pre-Islamic poetry.
As with other supposedly pre-Islamic poetry, there has been scholarly debate over whether Al-Ḥujayjah's work might actually have been fabricated later in the medieval period (even if she herself was real). It survives only in Bishr ibn MarwÃÂn al-Asadë's collection Ḥarb Banë ShaybÃÂn maûa Kisrá ÃÂnà «shirwÃÂn (), which identifies Al-Ḥujayjah's father as Thaûlabah al-ShaybÃÂnë. It is plausible that the poetry was composed in the Abbasid period to encourage ethnic Arabs to resist the claims for parity of status within the Caliphate by Persian members, known as the Shu'ubiyya movement.
According to Hamad Alajmi, 'Al-ḤujayjahâÂÂs poetry, in general, is similar to other female poets from the pre-Islamic period. Her poems are short and consist of one section as opposed to the standard tripartite pre-Islamic odes ... Her language is pragmatic and lacks metaphorical diction, but is rich in imperative verbs and direct language.'
An example of her poetry, as translated by Alajmi, is this incitement to her people to receive and protect al-Ḥurqah bint al-NuûmÃÂn:
<blockquote> 1. Oh Banà « ShaybÃÂn, give life to [the tradition] of protecting the neighbor for all<br> The Arabs have let it die.<br> 2. What is your excuse? When a noble freewoman [al-Ḥurqah] has wrapped herself<br> In my clothes, [she is] planted in pearls and coral.<br> 3. [She is] the daughter of the kings, the owners of kingdoms and high ranks,<br> She wears anklets and is the best of NuûmÃÂnâÂÂs [family].<br> 4. Will you urge each other, sharpen your swords,<br> Straighten your spears,<br> 5. And prepare your soldiers? O my people,<br> Will you prepare your battle-gear?<br> 6. For I have granted protection to a noble woman from the people of Kisrá ,<br> [To be protected] by the elders and the youths of our people.<br> 7. ShaybÃÂn are my people. Is there another tribe like them?<br> In combat and the charging of knights?<br> 8. No, by the best of the clans of Rabëûah.<br> No one is like them when disasters strike.<br> 9. My people grant protection to the refugee, from his enemy<br> And they protect my life from lifeâÂÂs misfortunes.<br> 10. The sons of my father arrive at the battlefield not fearing<br> The attacks of the enemy and the assaults of the opponents.<br> 11. Indeed, I am Ḥujayjah [of the tribe] of WÃÂüil, and with WÃÂüil,<br> A man pursued escapes on a mare or a stallion.<br> 12. O people of ShaybÃÂn, you have been victorious in the world,<br> Because of your honor, favor and beneficence. </blockquote>