Albabtain: Maintaining the quality of the poem and its eloquent language to reach the pinnacle of poetic creativity.

Speakers: It is an honor in itself that it is the language of the Holy Quran.

There are numerous distinctive attributes inherent to Arabic poetry that set it apart from its counterparts in other languages. Additionally, the Arabic language possesses a unique sanctity that distinguishes it from other languages worldwide. This is primarily due to its role as the language of the Holy Quran—an achievement that instills a sense of pride. Furthermore, poets have managed since the pre-Islamic era to transform the Arabic language into a vast sea, even an ocean, from which researchers draw their sustenance and creativity. This enrichment of their intellects, the pleasure it brings to their ears, and the resonance it evokes in their hearts make Arabic poetry an unparalleled art form. We can say that there exists no phoneme that the tongue articulates without finding its place within the Arabic language. Just as the Nile poet Hafez Ibrahim eloquently expressed through the Arabic language, "I am the sea, concealing pearls within my depths. Have they inquired of the diver about my treasures?"

As a result of all these factors, the theme of "Arabic Language and Poetry" served as the focal point for a session held during the third meeting of the Arab Poetry Diwan. The session was adeptly moderated by the poet Salem Khalid Al-Rumaidhi, the esteemed President of the Poetry Academy, member of the board of directors of the Kuwaiti Writers Association, and the professor at the General Authority for Applied Education and Training. Enriched by insightful discussions, this session brought together a selection of poets, intellectuals, and literary figures who engaged in a spirited discourse, extolling the virtues of the Arabic language and its unique attributes. They emphasized that the Arabic poetry possesses distinctive characteristics that are absent in other languages. They also added that the Arabic language is not a static entity borrowed by poets whenever inspiration strikes; rather, it is a recurring creation. In each poem, it emerges as a novel and distinct entity, diverging from what came before it and what will follow, except in terms of its formal structure.

What distinguished the session was its synchronization with the celebration of the International Day of the Arabic Language, observed on the eighteenth of December each year. The session was adorned with insightful contributions that shed light on the significance and richness of the Arabic language. Additionally, it was graced by the recitation of poetic verses that passionately celebrated and extolled the language's virtues.

The first contribution came from the patron of the Diwan, the poet Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain, who also serves as the President of the Board of Trustees of the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation. He discussed the academic endeavors of Albabtain Academy for Arabic Poetry in its pursuit of enhancing the position of Arabic poetry within the hearts of generations. He emphasized its importance as a significant source of the Arabic language, a commitment that the Foundation has long upheld. This commitment extends not only within the Arab world but also beyond, through the establishment of sessions and academic chairs, all with the aim of disseminating Arabic language and poetry.

He further added that preserving the quality of Arabic poem, its eloquent language, and adhering to the rules of meter and rhyme constitute a noble task. This task is embodied through teaching and training on proper usage, all with the goal of achieving the lofty objective of reaching the zenith of poetic creativity while adhering to the principles of the Arabic language. This is accomplished by simplifying the methods of teaching through courses that equip learners with the correct foundation, guided by scientific, educational, and procedural principles. These courses are conducted by experienced specialists in the field. Such an approach enables the learner to proficiently read and compose poetry, comprehending its characteristics, themes, meters, and forms.

The session's moderator, poet Salem Al-Rumaidhi, directed a question to poet Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain regarding the use of the Arabic language in sung poetry and his emotions following the victory of his poem "لن أسلاكمُ" (I Will Not Forsake You) in winning the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Award for Arabic Poetry as the best sung poem in the fourth season of 2022.

Albabtain spoke about his award-winning achievement, considering it an honor beyond measure due to the fact that the award bears the name of the late poet and scholar, Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal. He emphasized that this distinction is particularly significant because Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal was a revered and veteran poet, a prominent figure among the poets of Arabic sung poetry, whose verses were celebrated by many of the Arab world's renowned music stars.

Albabtain also affirmed that when a poem converges with the voice of a singer and the music within its proper framework, it presents a complete artistic expression in an appealing manner that captivates and reminds the audience of the beauty of the Arabic language. This also highlights the Arab language's capabilities and its ability to remain close to people despite the passage of time. The singer Wala'a Al-Jundi successfully achieved this harmony with her wonderful voice, collaborating with the composer Muhammad Al-Aswad, who skillfully combined his music and distinctive melodies with my poetic verses, creating a remarkable fusion.

Subsequently, poetic contributions and interventions followed in succession as the poets vied in their affection and adoration for the "ضاد" language. It commenced with a brief discourse by Professor Dr. Mohammed Hassan Al-Tayan about the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation, stating, "For many years, the Abdulaziz Albabtain Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation has carried the torch of Arab culture. Numerous pioneering projects have been embraced by this colossal institution, one of which is the distinguished 'Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Academy for Arabic Poetry."

Poet Raja Al-Qahtani's presence was marked by a splendid poem that expressed his profound affection for the Arabic language. Likewise, Dr. Falah bin Taflah mesmerized the audience with his masterpiece "شمس كل الجهات" (The Sun of All Directions), in which he lavished praise upon the "ضاد" language. The same sentiment was echoed by the poetess Rabee'ah Al-Moumeni in her poem "بنت عدنان" (Daughter of Adnan).

The poet Nadi Hafiz was present as usual, gracing the occasion with his beautiful poetic verses, captivating the audience with one of his compositions. Meanwhile, Dr. Abdullah Ghlees, specialized in Arabic language and literature, succinctly discussed the fundamentals of "علم العروض" (the science of prosody), the meters of Arabic poetry, and the science of rhyme.

The session witnessed a substantial attendance of academics and enthusiasts in the fields of the Arabic language and Arabic poetry. Dr. Fatima Al-Azmi, the head of the Arabic Language Department at the College of Basic Education, delivered a presentation discussing the role that educational institutions at various stages can play in preserving the Arabic language through studies, by acknowledging the efforts of ancient linguists, organizing cultural activities, as well as including Arabic language teaching in schools. Dr. Ahmed Al-Faraj from the College of Arts at Kuwait University echoed similar sentiments. Tariq Al-Anzi, the Secretary-General of the Kuwaiti Association for the Arabic Language, discussed the association's future objectives and projects. Dr. Safaa Hegazy, the head of the Arabic Language Department at the American School in the Ahmadi region, recited a poem titled "عربيتي" (My Arabness), which was well-received by the audience.