As far as the qa{ida is concerned, the distinction between the two types is a very important one and we shall return to it later on in our discussion. With the radical change in the poet's social status and hence his function, as a result of the arrival of the new religion of Islam with its fundamentally different set of spiritual values, the poet's image and role underwent considerable change. Despite super- ficial resemblances the Secondary Qa{ida is, therefore, a different type of thing from the Primary: alike in its nature and its function and indeed in its raison d'etre.