Mālik b. al-Rayb (d. 58/677) was said to be a bandit poet before he had embraced Islam and later joined the army of Sa‘īd ibn Affān (d.c. 60/680). Among his notable works is the self-elegy (rithā’ nafs), a poetic genre that delves into the anticipation of his own death and the introspective exploration of the self and mortality. This article aims to first examine how Mālik b. al-Rayb navigates the complexities of time, memory, and personal identity while facing the reality that he will inevitably cease to exist. It then illuminates the poet’s adept manipulation of temporal layers, juxtaposing past, present, and future to construct his reflection on mortality, loss, grief, and the transience of human existence. This analysis also explores his poetic talent and achievements by uncovering reflections about his remarkable and courageous past, highlighting his physical strength, chivalrous exploits, and spiritual qualities, such as wisdom, intelligence, and rich discourse, all while grappling with the looming inevitability of his own mortality. Through a close analysis of Mālik b. al-Rayb’s poem, this study intends to explore the poet’s engagement with themes of time and loss, longing, and existential contemplation. Furthermore, it investigates the linguistic devices, such as metaphor and imagery, employed by the poet to evoke profound emotional responses and convey complex ideas concerning the image of time, highlighting how he comes to realize the fragility of his existence in the face of impending death. Consequently, death serves as a vantage point from which he gains a profound appreciation for the significance of his life experiences. By elucidating the significance of Mālik b. al-Rayb’s self-elegy, this article contributes to a deeper understanding of both the poet’s literary legacy and the cultural milieu in which he operated, shedding light on a universal theme—death—that resonates within the Arab literary tradition.