Sol 5.6

  1. The Prophet spoke; I did not lose heart, and he treated me with honor:

    while we were amid veils of the cave’s darkness,

  2. “Fear nothing, for God is the third of us,

    and we have placed our trust in Him for victory.

  3. It is only a plot whose first onslaughts need not be feared—

    a plot the devils devised for the unbelievers.

  4. God will destroy them all for what they have earned

    and make the Fire their final destination.

  5. You shall depart from them and leave them behind,

    whether setting out at dawn or journeying by night,

  6. and emigrate from their land, until there arise for us

    a people among whom are men of might and helpers.”

  7. At last, when night enfolded us within its folds

    and screened with curtains all we feared from view,

  8. al-ʿUrayqiṭ journeyed on as our guide, while his she-camels

    carried the party swiftly, necks outstretched beneath their saddles.

  9. They pressed across the breadth of the mountain passes, beyond their longest reaches,

    and every open plain of fine, shifting dust,

  10. until, just as I said, “They have reached the highlands,” there confronted us

    a horseman riding by night from a lofty lookout.

  11. He came galloping on his mount, surveying the horizons and cutting across our path,

    like a maned lion, lion-fierce and ravening.

  12. He cried, “Turn back!” We answered, “Indeed, our countercharge

    against you has the aid of the Creator, the Maker:

  13. that He make the earth swallow the dark steed and its rider.”

    It plunged into the earth on all four legs, sinking deep.

  14. He panicked when he saw his mare’s fetlocks

    had sunk into earth untouched by any digging tool.

  15. He said, “Would you release my horse

    and accept my solemn pledge to deal faithfully, even among wicked men?

  16. I shall turn the two tribal hosts away from you if I meet them

    and mislead every prying scout among them.

  17. Then call upon the One who restrained our attack from you

    to release my steed—for you are the best of the righteous.”

  18. Then God’s Messenger uttered these words in humble supplication:

    “My Lord, if he intends no betrayal of my protection,

  19. deliver him safely from the harm our invocation might bring,

    and free his colt from every wound that leaves a scar.”

  20. Then God brought forth its hooves as the Prophet prayed,

    and its rider escaped the terror of those perils.

Sol 5.6