 In Pre-Islamic Arabian the Qareen is said to be able to inspire poets for their works.One of the seven mu'allaqat—Arabic poems recognized as masterpieces during the pre-Islamic period—uses the word as a metaphor.To describe his tribe's excellence in battle, poet Amr bin Kulthum says that "every tribe has taken fear of us as a "qarin" (or 'constant companion')," meaning that their fear of Amr's tribe is always present.