If you’ve been scrolling through social media lately, chances are you’ve come across the catchy ‘Tab Tabi Tab’ audio.

This viral meme has taken over platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, with users incorporating it into hilarious reels and relatable content.

While most memes are created for laughs, this one has a surprising 1,200-year-old backstory—it’s not just an internet trend but originates from an ancient Arabic poem!

Origins of ‘Tab Tabi Tab’

The famous ‘Tab Tabi Tab’ audio traces back to a legendary Arab poet from the Abbasid era named Al-Asma'i.

@psikologlv
tabtabitabtabtabitab
♬ orijinal ses - azr

According to historical accounts, Caliph Al-Mansur of the 8th century was known for his exceptional memory—so much so that he could memorize an entire poem after hearing it just once. The Caliph would often call poets to his court, listen to their recitals, and then repeat their verses perfectly, claiming he had heard them before. As a result, poets were left empty-handed without any reward.

@momoi.sing tab tabi tab cat #creatorsearchinsights #catsoftiktok #momoi #fyy #fyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy #fyp ♬ original sound - momoi

When Al-Asma'i learned of this, he devised a brilliant trick to challenge the Caliph. He composed a highly complex and rhythmic poem filled with tongue-twisting phrases and an unusual structure that made it nearly impossible to memorize.

Poem that outwitted a king

Al-Asma'i recited his unique poem in the royal court:

"Fi wasat bustan halī, bazhar wal-surur lī

Wa laudu dandan danālī, at-tabl tabtab tabālī

Tab tabi tab tab tabālī, tab tabi tab tab tabālī"

The rhythm and structure of the poem were so intricate that even the mighty Caliph was left speechless—for the first time, he couldn’t recall a poem after hearing it just once! None of his advisors could repeat it either.

@muslim My mind on this cat #dabdabsong #dabdab #cat #muslimtok ♬ tob tobi tob - wsszx.7

Al-Asma'i’s clever plan worked. The poet secured his reward and protected his art from being unfairly claimed by the caliph.

From ancient poetry to internet sensation

Fast forward to today, and this centuries-old poem has found new life as a viral meme. Memers are using the ‘Tab Tabi Tab’ audio to create fun and relatable content, proving that history and humour can sometimes go hand in hand.

So, the next time you hear ‘Tab Tabi Tab’ trending on social media, you’ll know—it’s more than just a meme; it’s a legendary poetic masterpiece from over a millennium ago!