Arabic influence on metre in Somali Sufi religious poetry

It has generally been assumed that there has not been any direct influence on Somali
poetic metre from the metrical forms of Arabic. For the most part, this certainly seems
to hold, but this article presents a poem which is of a type on which, it is argued, Arabic
influence can be seen. The poem, ‘Taaj Awliyo’ by Sheekh Caaqib Cabdullaahi Jaamac
(ca. 1922-?) is presented in detail and, although it has been described as being in the
jiifto metre, it is demonstrated that this description of the metre is incorrect. It actually
follows a previously undocumented metrical pattern which is the equivalent of four
maqalaay warlaay lines. The article also shows how the metrical pattern can be seen as
a Somalized analogue of the Arabic kāmil metre in its majzūʾ or dimetric form. Evidence
is given both from comparison of the line structure itself and from brief comments on
reports of what the poet himself had said. The poem considered in detail is part of the
Qaadiriya Sufi tradition in which poetry composed in Arabic plays an important role
including poems in the kāmil metre.