The hunt as a subject was present in Arabic poetry since the earliest period. It appeared already in Imru al-Qays' famous mu'allaqa and in poems associated to the label of "Hunting days".
The most important hunting companions were of course the Arabic horse, described already by Imru al-Qays, the falcon (saqr) and the dog, the famous saluqi. Ibn al-Mu'tazz wrote about them:
The trainer brought out a lithe saluki-hound
that he had often used…,
She snatches her prey without hesitation,
Just as a mother hugs her children.
