ترفق يا عيينة باللقاح — Ahmad Muharram

تَرفّقْ يا عُيينةُ باللّقاحِ

وبالخيلِ المُغيرةِ والسّلاحِ

Be gentle, Uyaynah, with the milk-camels,

and with the raiding horses and the weapons.

وخَفِّضْ من غُرورِكَ والطّماحِ

فما مالُ النبيِّ بِمُسْتَبَاحِ

Lower your arrogance and ambition,

for the Prophet's property is not lawful prey,

ولا هو يَومُ حربٍ أو كِفَاحِ

أتَحسَبُها صنادِيدَ الرجالِ

nor is this a day of war or combat.

Do you take them for champions among men,

تداعَوا بالقواضبِ والعَوالي

وخفُّوا يا عُيينةَ للقتال

who summoned one another with keen swords and tall spears,

and hastened, Uyaynah, to battle,

يلفُّونَ الرِّعالَ على الرعالِ

فليس على الفوارِسِ من جُناحِ

massing troop upon troop,

so that the horsemen incur no blame?

رُويداً إنّها إبِلٌ تُساقُ

وراعٍ واحدٌ دَمُهُ يُراقُ

Easy! They are camels being driven,

and one herdsman whose blood is spilled.

وما بالُ التي احتملَ الرفاقُ

أَخِفْتُم أن يكونَ لها انْطِلاقُ

And what of her whom the companions carried away?

Did you fear she might break free,

فترميكم بِمُصْمَتَةٍ رَدَاحِ

كفى ابنُ الأكوعِ البَطلُ الجَسُورُ

and strike you with a solid, ponderous stone?

Ibn al-Akwa', the daring hero, sufficed.

فَذُوقُوا النَّارَ حاميةً تَفُورُ

رَمَى بالنَّبلِ فاضطرم السَّعيرُ

So taste the blazing fire that seethes!

He shot arrows, and the blaze flared up.

كذلكَ يفعلُ الرَّامي القديرُ

وتلك سِهامُهُ ما من بَراحِ

Thus acts the capable archer.

Those are his arrows—there is no escape.

يُوالي الكَرَّ ساعِدُهُ شديدُ

وبين ضلُوعه قلبٌ حديدُ

He presses charge upon charge, his forearm strong,

and between his ribs is a heart of iron.

عذابٌ إذ يكرُّ وإذ يحيدُ

يفوتُ الخيلَ منه ما تُريدُ

A torment when he charges and when he veers aside,

the horses cannot get from him what they seek,

وإن طارت بأجنحةِ الرياحِ

إذا طلبته لم تبلغ مَدَاهُ

even if they fly on the wings of the winds.

If they pursue him, they cannot reach his range,

وإن رجَعتْ فليس لها سِوَاهُ

يمزِّقها بما ترمي يَداهُ

and if they turn back, none but he awaits them.

He tears them with what his two hands shoot,

فتذهبُ كلَّما جاشتْ قُواهُ

حَوامِلَ لِلجِرَاحِ على الجِرَاحِ

so whenever his strength surges, they depart,

bearing wounds upon wounds.

تَخَطَّفَ لِقْحَةً من بعد أُخرى

وجَاهَدَ يُرْهِقُ الفرسانَ عُسْرا

He snatched one milk-camel after another,

and fought, burdening the horsemen with hardship.

يُريدُ لِقاحَ خَيرِ الخلقِ طُرّاً

ويَكرهُ أن يُساءَ وأن يُضَرَّا

He seeks all the milk-camels of the best of creation,

and hates that he should be mistreated or harmed.

وتلك مَشَاهِدُ البطلِ الصُّراحِ

أذاقَهُمُ البلاءَ فما استطاعوا

Such are the exploits of the genuine hero.

He made them taste affliction, and they could not withstand it.

وغَالَهُمُ ارتجافٌ وارتياعُ

قُوىً ضاقَتْ بها هِمَمٌ وِسَاعُ

Trembling and terror overcame them.

Strength before which even vast ambitions fell short!

فأسلمتِ الأكُفَّ قُوىً شَعاعُ

وألقت بالبُرودِ وبِالرِّماحِ

Their scattered strength abandoned their hands,

and cast down their cloaks and spears.

ويَا لكِ صَيْحَةً ذَهَبَتْ تَرَامى

فَنَبَّهَتِ الأُلَى كانوا نِياما

And what a cry went spreading far and wide!

It awakened those who had been asleep.

تَلَقَّاها النبيُّ فما أقاما

وهبَّ الجيشُ يَحتَدِمُ احْتِدَامَا

The Prophet received it and did not linger.

The army sprang up, raging fiercely,

وحانت وَقعةُ القَدَرِ المُتاحِ

وطار الأخرمُ الأَسَديُّ فَرْدَا

and the encounter of allotted fate drew near.

Al-Akhram al-Asadi sped forth alone,

يَسُبُّ المجرمينَ وما تَعَدَّى

ولم يَرَ مِن وُرُودِ الموتِ بُدّاً

reviling the criminals without exceeding bounds.

He saw no escape from meeting death,

فجادَ بنفسِهِ ورَعاهُ عَهْدا

دَعَا دَاعِيهِ حيَّ على الفلاحِ

so he gave his life and honored his pledge.

His caller called, “Come to success!”

هِي الرُّؤْيَا التي قَصَّ القتيلُ

على الصِّدِّيقِ صَدَّقَهَا الدليلُ

It was the vision the slain man had recounted

to al-Siddiq, confirmed by the evidence.

مَضى لِسَبيلِهِ نِعمَ السَّبيلُ

فَتىً كالسَّيفِ مَشهدُهُ جَليلُ

He went his way—what an excellent way!

A youth like a sword, majestic in his presence,

هَوَى بِمَصَارِعِ البيضِ الصِّفاحِ

أتَى جَيشُ النبيِّ فأيُّ خَطبِ

he fell where bright, broad swords lay men low.

The Prophet's army came—what a calamity

أصابَ القومَ من فَزَعٍ ورُعْبِ

إذا خفَقَ اللِّواءُ فكلُّ قلبِ

of panic and terror befell the people!

When the banner flutters, every heart

مِنَ الخَفَقَانِ في هَمٍّ وكَرْبِ

فرِفقاً يا ابنَ زيدٍ بالقِدَاحِ

throbs in worry and distress.

So gently, son of Zayd, with the arrows!

رَمَوْا وَرَمَيْتَ بالأَبْطالِ شُوسا

تَخُوضُ إلى الوَغَى يَوماً عَبُوسا

They cast, and you cast, fierce-eyed heroes,

plunging into battle on a grim day,

تُفَلِّقُ من أَعَادِيها الرُّؤوسا

وَتَبذُلُ دُونَ بَيْضَتِها النُّفُوسا

splitting their enemies' heads,

and giving their lives to defend their stronghold.

كذلِكِ فَلْيَكُنْ بَذلُ السَّماحِ

إلى ابنِ عُيينةَ انطلَقَ القضاءُ

Thus let generous giving be.

Fate sped toward Uyaynah's son,

فما بأبيهِ إذ أودى غَناء

له من حولِ مَصرعِهِ عُواءُ

and his father could not help him when he perished.

Around his place of death, howling rises for him.

إذا شَفَتِ الصَّدَى البِيضُ الظِّماءُ

فأهوِنْ بالعُواءِ وبالنُّباحِ

When the thirsty bright swords have quenched their thirst,

how little howling and barking matter!

وأين دَمُ ابنِ نَضْلَةَ هل يَضِيعُ

ويَبقى بعده الحَدَثُ الفظيعُ

And where is Ibn Nadlah's blood—shall it be wasted,

while the dreadful deed remains after him?

لَعمرُكَ ما لقاتِلِهِ شَفيعُ

صَريعٌ طاحَ في دَمِهِ صَرِيعُ

By your life, his killer has no intercessor.

Slain, he fell in his blood—a slain man.

أُحِيْطَ بِهِ فَعُوجِلَ باجْتياحِ

هو المِقْدَادُ إن دُعِيَتْ نَزالِ

He was surrounded and swiftly overwhelmed.

He is al-Miqdad: when “To battle!” is called,

تَقَدَّمَ لا يَهابُ ولا يبالي

وما بأبي قَتَادَةَ في الرجالِ

he advances, neither fearing nor caring.

And Abu Qatadah among men is not

خَفَاءٌ حين تَشْتَجِرُ العَوالِي

وحين يُقالُ أينَ ذَوُو النّطاحِ

hidden when the tall spears clash,

and when they ask, “Where are those who lock horns?”

أصابَ السَّهمُ وَجهاً منه نَضْرا

وأبصرَهُ النبيُّ فقالَ صَبْرا

An arrow struck his radiant face.

The Prophet saw him and said, “Patience!”

وعَالَجَهُ فأخرجَ منه شَرّا

وألقى نَفْثَةً كَرَماً وبِرّا

He treated him and removed the harm,

and bestowed a gentle breath in generosity and kindness.

فراحَ يَزِفُّ في القومِ الصِّحاحِ

تزوَّدَ منه كَنْزاً ليس يَفْنَى

So he went hurrying among the hale.

He took from him a treasure that never perishes.

تَزَوَّدَ دَعوةً سعداً ويُمنا

تزوَّدَ رحمةً وَهُدىً وأمْنا

He took as provision a prayer of happiness and blessing.

He took as provision mercy, guidance, and safety.

تَزَوَّدَ ما أحبَّ وما تَمَنَّى

وجاوزَ كلَّ سُؤْلٍ واقتراحِ

He took as provision what he loved and wished,

and exceeded every request and proposal.

شَفِيْتَ أبا قَتَادَةَ كلَّ صادِ

لَهِيفِ الصّدرِ حرّانِ الفُؤادِ

You healed, Abu Qatadah, every thirsty soul,

anguished in breast and burning at heart,

يَبيتُ على أَسىً مِمّن يُعادِي

رَسولَ اللهِ في دِينِ الجهادِ

who spends the night grieving because of those who oppose

the Messenger of God in the faith of jihad,

وفي دُنيا المُروءةِ والصّلاحِ

غَنِمْتَ سِلاَحَ مسعدَةَ الشقِيِّ

and in the world of chivalry and righteousness.

You took the weapons of wretched Mas'adah as spoil,

وَفُزْتَ بِطَرْفِهِ فَوْزَ التَّقِيِّ

عَطاءٌ من جَوادٍ أريحِيِّ

and won his steed with the triumph of the devout.

A gift from a generous, openhanded man,

غَطاءُ اللَّهِ مِن يَدَي النَّبيِّ

رسولِ اللَّهِ أفضلِ مُستَماحِ

God's covering, from the hands of the Prophet,

God's Messenger, the best of those asked for gifts.

لقد أحدثتَ للأبطالِ شُغْلاً

وَهَمَّاً ما أشدَّ وما أجَلَّا

You gave the heroes much to occupy them,

and anxiety—how intense, how immense!

سُقُوا مَكْرُوهَهُ نَهَلاً وَعَلَّا

ولولا فَضلُ رَبِّكَ ما تَجَلَّى

They were made to drink its bitterness, first draught and second.

But for your Lord's grace, it would not have cleared away.

دَعَوْا إذ أبصروا البُرْدَ المخَلَّى

على الجَسَدِ الذي أوجعتَ قتلا

They cried out when they saw the cloak left lying

upon the body you had grievously slain:

نَعاءِ أبا قَتَادَةَ إذ تَوَلَّى

نَعاءِ الفارسَ البطلَ المُدِلّا

“Mourn Abu Qatadah, now that he has departed!

Mourn the horseman, the confident hero!”

وضَجُّوا بالتي في الخطبِ تُتْلَى

فَتنفعُ مَن تَجَلَّدَ أو تَسَلَّى

They cried aloud the words recited in calamity,

which help those who bear up or seek consolation.

فَقَالَ مُحمدٌ يا قومُ كلّا

أخوكم لم يَزَلْ حَيَّاً فَمَهْلا

But Muhammad said, “No, my people!

Your brother is still alive, so be calm.

كَفَاكُمْ رَبُّكُمْ فَقْداً وثُكْلا

فأشرقَتِ الوجوهُ وكان فَضْلا

Your Lord has spared you loss and bereavement.”

Then faces shone, and it was a grace

طَوَى قَرْحَى القُلوبِ على ارْتِيَاحِ

تَدَاعَى القومُ صَفّاً بعد صَفِّ

that enfolded wounded hearts in relief.

The people fell apart, rank after rank,

وَوَلَّوْا بعدَ إقدامِ وَزَحْفِ

مَضَوْا بالنّصفِ لو ذهبوا بألفِ

and turned away after advancing and marching.

They left with half; even had they taken a thousand

من اللائي اصطَفَى النُّعْمَانُ صِرْفِ

لَمَا فَرحوا بفوزٍ أو نجاحِ

of the purebreds al-Nu'man had chosen,

they would not have rejoiced in victory or success.

وأقبلتِ الأخيذَةُ بعد يأسِ

على العَضْبَاءِ في شَعَثٍ وبُؤْسِ

The captive woman came back after despair,

upon al-'Adba', disheveled and wretched.

عَنَاها الضُّرُّ من أسرٍ وحَبْسٍ

وسُوءِ الصُّنْعِ مِن ظُلمٍ وَوَكْسِ

Distress from captivity and confinement had afflicted her,

and ill-treatment, injustice, and degradation,

على يدِ كلِّ عِرِّيضٍ وَقَاحِ

أتت للمسلِمِينَ بها ابتهاجُ

at the hands of every overbearing, shameless man.

She came, bringing the Muslims joy,

وللكُفّارِ إذ نَجَتِ اهْتِيَاجُ

أبا ذَرٍّ وللضِّيقِ انفراجُ

and the unbelievers rage at her escape.

Abu Dharr, distress, too, has relief,

وَرُبَّتَما حَلا الوِردُ الأُجاجُ

هنيئاً بات صدرُكَ في انشراحِ

and sometimes a briny draught turns sweet.

Joy be yours: your breast passed the night at ease.

أَتذكُرُ إذ يقولُ لكَ الرَّسولُ

أقم فالأمرُ باطِنُهُ مَهُولُ

Do you remember when the Messenger said to you,

“Stay, for the affair's hidden depth is fearsome,

وما تَدْرِي إلامَ غَداً يَؤُولُ

ستعرفُهُ وتذكرُ ما أقولُ

and you know not where it will lead tomorrow.

You will know it and remember what I say,

إذا ما الغيبُ آذَنَ بِاتّضاحِ

أتت فَرْحَى وقالت حلَّ نَذرِي

when the unseen announces its becoming clear.”

She came rejoicing and said, “My vow has fallen due.

فإن أَذِنَ الرّسولُ قَضيتُ أَمْرِي

هِيَ العضباءُ تُعقَرُ ما لإِصْرِي

If the Messenger permits, I shall carry out my intent.

Al-'Adba' shall be slaughtered; none can meet my binding vow

سِوَاها إن أردتَ شِفَاءَ صَدْرِي

عَليَّ اليومَ بعد فكاكِ أسرِي

but her, if you wish to heal my breast.

Today, after release from captivity, I owe

وفاءُ النَّذرِ ما لي من مَفَرِّ

وقَانِي اللَّهُ من سُوءٍ وشَرِّ

fulfillment of the vow; I have no escape.

God shielded me from harm and evil.

له سُبحانَهُ حَمدِي وشُكري

على أن صِرْتُ مطلقة السَّراحِ

To Him—glory be to Him—go my praise and thanks

for having been set free.”

فقالَ لها رسولُ اللَّهِ إيهِ

لبئسَ جَزَاءَها أن تفعليهِ

Then God's Messenger said to her, “Well now,

what a wretched reward for her, to do that!

دَعِي النَّذرَ المحرَّمَ واتركيهِ

وخافي اللَّهَ ربَّكِ واتَّقِيهِ

Leave the forbidden vow; abandon it.

Fear God, your Lord, and be mindful of Him.

لَشَرُّ النَّذرِ مالا يرتضيهِ

وما لا حَقَّ للإنسانِ فيهِ

The worst vow is what He does not approve,

and what a person has no right to.

دَعِي لي ناقتي وتعلَّميهِ

قضاءً ما اهتدى من لا يَعِيهِ

Leave my she-camel to me, and learn this

ruling: whoever fails to grasp it has not found guidance.

وكيف تُقاسُ مَنزلةُ الفقيهِ

بمنزلةِ الغَبيِّ أوِ السَّفِيهِ

How can a jurist's standing be measured

against that of the stupid or foolish?

هُنالِكَ حيُّ أهلِكِ فاطلبيهِ

على بَرَكاتِ رَبِّكَ واحمديه

Your family's encampment is there; seek it

with your Lord's blessings, and praise Him,

إلَهاً ما لما يَقضِيهِ ماحِ

قَضيتَ الحقَّ فاغتنمِ الجزاءَ

a God whose decrees none can erase.”

You have fulfilled your duty; reap the reward,

وَزِدْ يا سعدُ في الدنيا عَلاَءَ

وَسِعْتَ غُزاةَ ذِي قَرَدٍ سَخَاءَ

and rise still higher in this world, Sa'd.

Your generosity embraced the warriors of Dhu Qarad,

وكنتَ لهم أخاً يَرْعَى الإخاءَ

بَعثتَ التَّمْرَ يُعجِبُهُم نَماءَ

and you were a brother to them, tending brotherhood.

You sent dates, delighting them with abundance,

وَسُقْتَ البُدْنَ تُطربُهُم رُغَاءُ

قِراكَ إذا هُمُ التمسوا الغذاءَ

and drove the sacrificial camels, whose bellowing delighted them.

Your hospitality, whenever they sought food,

وَبِرُّكَ لا يزالُ لهم رَجاءَ

كذلكَ أنتَ ما تألو وفاءَ

and your kindness are ever their hope.

Such are you: you stint nothing in loyalty

وَحُبّاً للأُلَى صدقوا البلاءَ

بُنَاةُ الحقِّ مَا مَلُّوا البِنَاءَ

and love for those true in trial,

builders of truth who never tired of building,

وإن عَلَتِ الدِّمَاءُ بهِ الدِّماءَ

أجَلْ يا سَعْدُ فارفعها سماءَ

even when blood rose above blood in its cause.

Yes, Sa'd, raise it to the heavens,

تُجاوزُ كُلَّ مُطَّلَعٍ سَناءَ

جَرَى الكُرَماءُ فانتبهوا الثّناءَ

surpassing every summit in splendor.

The generous raced, then heeded praise,

وما بلغوكَ جُوداً أو عَطَاءَ

رُزِقْتَ البأسَ أجمعَ والمضاءَ

but did not reach you in generosity or giving.

You were granted valor in full, and resolve,

فكنتَ أحقَّ من مَنَعَ اللّواءَ

بِشُكْرٍ في الهزاهزِ وامتداحِ

so of all who guarded the banner, you were most deserving

of thanks and praise amid upheavals.

رسولُ اللَّهِ يُؤذِنُ بالإيابِ

وَيَرجِعُ بالأحبّةِ والصّحابِ

God's Messenger announces the return,

and returns with loved ones and companions.

يَسيرُ مِنَ الجلالةِ في رِكَابِ

تَدينُ لِعِزِّهِ غُلْبُ الرقابِ

He travels in a cavalcade of majesty.

Stout necks submit to his might.

تُسَايِرُهُ بآياتِ الكتابِ

مُرَتَّلَةً بأنغامٍ عِذَابِ

Keeping pace with him with verses of the Book,

chanted in sweet melodies,

صُفوفٌ من ملائكةٍ طِرَابِ

تُظَلِّلُهُ بأجنحةٍ رِطابِ

are ranks of joyful angels,

shading him with supple wings

تَرِفُّ على الرَّوابِي والبطاحِ

حبا ابنَ الأكوعَ الشَّرَفَ المُنِيفَا

that flutter above the hills and plains.

He granted Ibn al-Akwa' lofty honor,

وحَسْبُكَ أن يكونَ له رَدِيفَا

كَذَلِكَ يَرفَعُ اللَّهُ الشَّريفا

and it is enough that he should ride behind him.

Thus God exalts the noble,

وَيَجْزِي المؤمِنَ البَرَّ الحنيفا

أطيلي ناقةَ اللَّهِ الوَجِيفا

and rewards the righteous believer, true to the faith.

Prolong your swift pace, God's she-camel,

وَوَالِي الخطوَ مُرْتَجَلاً خَفيفا

حَملتِ أجلَّ مَن يحمي الضَّعيفا

and follow step with step, freely and lightly.

You bore the noblest protector of the weak,

وأعدل مَن يُحاذِرُ أن يَحيفا

حَماكِ وعَطَّلَ النذرَ السَّخيفا

and the most just of those wary of injustice.

He protected you and annulled the foolish vow,

وأمضى حُكْمَهُ سَمْحاً عَفيفا

حَملتِ اللّيثَ فالتمسِي الغريفا

and carried out his ruling, generous and pure.

You bore the lion; seek his thicket.

جُزيتِ كرامةً وَرُزِقْتِ رِيفا

وبُورِكَ في غُدوِّكَ والرَّواحِ

You were rewarded with honor and granted verdant land,

and your morning and evening journeys were blessed.

رسولُ الخيرِ جاءَ بكلِّ سَمْحِ

مِنَ الأخلاقِ في صدقٍ ونُصْحِ

The Messenger of goodness brought every gracious trait

of character, with truthfulness and sincerity.

تَدَارَكَ سَوْرةَ البطلِ المُلِحِّ

وأوصاهُ بإحسانٍ وصَفْحِ

He checked the persistent hero's fiery surge,

and counseled him to kindness and pardon.

وكان القومُ في جُهدٍ وبَرْحِ

وَرَاءَ الماءِ ما ظَفروا بِرَشْحِ

The people were in hardship and torment,

pursuing water without gaining a trickle.

تَنَحَّوْا عنه إذ كُرِهَ التنحِّي

فما ابتلَّتْ جَوانِحُهُم بِنُضْحِ

They withdrew from it when withdrawal was hateful,

and their breasts were not moistened by a sprinkling.

ولو أُخِذُوا بتقتيلٍ وذَبْحِ

لما اعتصموا بِسَيْفٍ أو بِرُمْحِ

Had they been subjected to killing and slaughter,

they could not have found shelter in sword or spear.

صنيعةُ مُحسنٍ يُمسي وَيُضْحِي

له تاجانِ من شُكْرٍ وَمَدْحِ

The deed of a benefactor who, evening and morning,

has two crowns of thanks and praise,

رَحِيمِ القلبِ يأسو كلَّ جُرْحِ

ويَعْتَدُّ الجميلَ أجلَّ فَتْحِ

tenderhearted, healing every wound,

and counting kindness as the greatest conquest.

وما ينفكُّ في كَدٍّ وكَدْحِ

يُقيمُ الحقَّ صَرْحَاً بعد صَرْحِ

He never ceases from toil and labor,

raising truth, edifice after edifice,

ويَحْمِي الدِّينَ مِن كلِّ النواحي

and guarding the faith on every side.