قالت أبا القاسم استخففت بالغزل — Sahib Ibn Abbad

قالَت أَبا القاسِم اِستَخفَفتَ بِالغَزَلِ

فَقُلتُ ما ذاكَ مِن هَمّي وَلا شُغلي

She said, “Abu al-Qasim, you have slighted love verse.”

I said, “That is neither my concern nor my occupation.”

قالَت أُريدُ اِعتِذاراً مِنكَ تُظهِرُهُ

فَقُلتُ عُذراً وَما أَخشى من العَذلِ

She said, “I want you to offer an apology.”

I said, “My apologies, though I fear no reproach.”

قالَت أُلِحُّ عَلى تَكريرِ مَسأَلَتي

فَقُلتُ ما أَنا عَن رَأيي بِذي حَولِ

She said, “I insist on repeating my request.”

I said, “I will not turn from my opinion.”

قالَت أُريد رَشاداً مِنكَ أَتبعُهُ

فَقُلتُ سَمعاً فَاِنَّ الرُشدَ من قِبَلي

She said, “I want guidance from you that I can follow.”

I said, “Gladly, for guidance comes from me.”

قالَت أَبِنهُ فَاِنّي جدُّ سامِعة

فَقُلتُ كَيفَ اِجتِماع الشَيبِ وَالغَزَلِ

She said, “Explain it, for I am listening intently.”

I said, “How can gray hair and love verse go together?”

قالَت وَكَيفَ اِقتِضاك الشَيبُ تَركَ هَوىً

فَقُلتُ في الشَيبِ اِدناء من الأَجَلِ

She said, “How has gray hair required you to abandon love?”

I said, “Gray hair brings one nearer death.”

قالَت فَما اِختَرتَ مِن دَينٍ تَفوزُ بِهِ

فَقُلتُ اِنِّيَ شَيعي وَمعتَزلي

She said, “What faith have you chosen to gain salvation?”

I said, “I am a Shi‘i and a Mu‘tazili.”

قالَت أَقَلَّدتَ أَم قَد دَنتَ عَن نَظرٍ

فَقُلتُ كَلّا فَاِنّي واحِد الجَدَلِ

She said, “Have you followed authority blindly, or embraced belief through inquiry?”

I said, “No, for I am peerless in disputation.”

قالَت فَكَيفَ عَرَفتَ الحَقَّ هاتِ بِهِ

فَقُلتُ بِالفِكرِ في الأَقوالِ وَالعللِ

She said, “How, then, did you know the truth? Produce it.”

I said, “By reflecting on statements and their reasons.”

قالَت فَهل هذِهِ الأَجسام مُحدِثَةٌ

فَقُلتُ جِدّاً وَاِن رُمتِ الدَليلَ سَلي

She said, “Are these bodies, then, created?”

I said, “Certainly; if you seek proof, ask.”

قالَت أُريدُ دَليلاً فيهِ مُختَصَراً

فَقُلتُ أَن لَيسَ فيها غَيرُ مُنتَقِلِ

She said, “I want a concise proof of that.”

I said, “There is nothing in them that does not change.”

قالَت فَهل صانِعٌ تَدعو اِلَيه أَجِب

فَقُلتُ لا بُدَّ قَولاً غَيرَ ذي مَيلِ

She said, “Is there, then, a Maker to whom you call? Answer.”

I said, “There must be; I say this without bias.”

قالَت فَهَل مِن دَليلٍ فيهِ تذكُرُهُ

فَقُلتُ بَيت بِلا بانٍ من الخَطَلِ

She said, “Is there a proof of Him you can mention?”

I said, “A house without a builder is absurd.”

قالَت فَهل هو ذو شبهٍ وَذو مَثَلٍ

فَقُلتُ قَد جَلَّ عَن شِبهٍ وَعن مَثَلِ

She said, “Does He have a likeness and a counterpart?”

I said, “He is exalted above any likeness or counterpart.”

قالَت أَبِن لي أَجسمٌ ذاك أَم عَرَضٌ

فَقُلتُ بَل خالِقُ الجِنسَينِ فَاِنتَقِلي

She said, “Explain to me: is He a body or an accident?”

I said, “Rather, the Creator of both kinds; move on.”

قالَت وَما ضَرَّ لَو أَثبَتَّهُ جَسَداً

فَقُلتُ لا توجَدُ الأَجسامُ في الأَزَلِ

She said, “What harm would there be in declaring Him a body?”

I said, “Bodies do not exist from eternity.”

قالَت فَقُل لي أ بِالأَبصارِ نُدرِكُهُ

فَقُلتُ جَلَّ عَن الاِدراكِ بِالمُقَلِ

She said, “Tell me, then: do we perceive Him with our sight?”

I said, “He transcends perception by the eyes.”

قالَت وَلِم ذا وَهل شَيءٌ يُغَيِّبُهُ

فَقُلتُ ما هو مَحجوبٌ فَيظهرُ لي

She said, “Why is that? Does anything conceal Him?”

I said, “He is no veiled thing that could appear to me.”

قالَت لَعَلَّ حِجاباً عَنكَ يَستُرُهُ

فَقُلتُ أَخبَرتِ عَن شَخصٍ وَعن طَلَلِ

She said, “Perhaps a veil hides Him from you.”

I said, “You are speaking of a person and a visible form.”

قالَت فَما القَولُ في القُرآن سُقهُ لَنا

فَقُلت ذاكَ كَلامُ اللَهِ أَينَ تُلي

She said, “What is your view of the Qur’an? Set it forth for us.”

I said, “It is God’s speech wherever it is recited.”

قالَت فَأَينَ دَليلُ الخَلقِ فيهِ أَبِن

فَقُلتُ تَركيبُهُ من أَحرُفِ الجُمَلِ

She said, “Where is the proof that it is created? Explain.”

I said, “Its composition from letters arranged in sentences.”

قالَت فَأَعمالُنا مَن ذا يُكَوِّنُها

فَقُلتُ نَحنُ مقالاً صِينَ عَن خَلَلِ

She said, “Who, then, brings our actions into being?”

I said, “We do—a statement free of flaw.”

قالَت وَلِم لا يَكونُ اللَهُ خالِقَها

فَقُلتُ لَو كُنَّ خَلقاً لَم يَكُن عَمَلي

She said, “Why should God not be their creator?”

I said, “Were they His creation, they would not be my doing.”

قالَت أَيُلزِمُ نَفساً فَوقَ طاقَتِها

فَقُلتُ حاشاهُ هذا فِعلُ ذي خَبَلِ

She said, “Does He burden a soul beyond its capacity?”

I said, “Far be it from Him! That is the act of one deranged.”

قالَت يَشاءُ معاصينا وَيؤثِرُها

فَقُلتُ لَو شاءَها نَخشَ من زَلَل

She said, “Does He will our sins and favor them?”

I said, “If He willed them, would we fear a lapse?”

قالَت فَمَن صاحِبُ الدينِ الحَنيفِ أَجِب

فَقُلتُ أَحمَدُ خَيرُ السادَةِ الرُسُلِ

She said, “Who is the bearer of the upright faith? Answer.”

I said, “Ahmad, best of the noble messengers.”

قالَت فَهَل مُعجِز وافى الرَسولُ بِهِ

قُلتُ القرانُ وَقَد أَعيا عَلى الاولِ

She said, “Did the Messenger bring a miracle?”

I said, “The Qur’an, which baffled the people of old.”

قالَت فَمَن بَعدَهُ يُصفى الوَلاءُ لَهُ

قُلتُ الوَصِيُّ الَّذي أَربى عَلى زُحَل

She said, “To whom after him is undivided allegiance due?”

I said, “The appointed successor, who towered above Saturn.”

قالَت فَهَل أَحَد في الفَضلِ يقدمُهُ

فَقُلتُ هَل هضبةٌ تَرقى عَلى جبلِ

She said, “Does anyone surpass him in excellence?”

I said, “Can a hill rise above a mountain?”

قالَت فَمَن أَوَّلُ الأَقوامِ صَدَّقَهُ

فَقُلتُ مَن لَم يَصِر يَوماً الى هُبَلِ

She said, “Who was the first of the people to believe him?”

I said, “He who never once turned to Hubal.”

قالَت فَمَن بات مِن فَوقِ الفِراشِ فدىً

فَقُلتُ أَثبَتُ خَلقِ اللَه في الوَهل

She said, “Who spent the night upon the bed, offering himself as ransom?”

I said, “The most steadfast of God’s creatures amid dread.”

قالَت فَمن ذا الَّذي آخاه عَن مِقةٍ

فَقُلتُ مَن حازَ رَدَّ الشَمسِ في الطَفَلِ

She said, “Whom did he take as a brother out of love?”

I said, “He who obtained the sun’s return at dusk.”

قالَت فَمَن زُوِّجَ الزَهراءَ فاطِمَةً

فَقُلتُ أَفضَلُ من حافٍ وَمُنتَعِلِ

She said, “Who was married to al-Zahra, Fatima?”

I said, “The best of all who go barefoot and shod.”

قالَت فَمن والِدُ السبطين اِذ فرعا

فَقُلتُ سابِقُ أَهلِ السَبقِ في مَهَلِ

She said, “Who fathered the two grandsons as they branched forth?”

I said, “He who outstrips the foremost without haste.”

قالَت فَمن فازَ في بَدرٍ بِمَفخرِها

فَقُلتُ أَضرَبُ خَلقِ اللَهِ لِلقُلَلِ

She said, “Who at Badr won its glory?”

I said, “The greatest smiter of heads among God’s creatures.”

قالَت فَمن سادَ يَوم الرَوع من أُحُدٍ

فَقُلتُ مَن هالَهُم بَأساً وَلم يُهَلِ

She said, “Who prevailed on Uhud’s day of terror?”

I said, “He who terrified them with his valor, yet felt no terror.”

قالَت فَمن فارِسُ الأَحزابِ يفرسُها

فَقُلتُ قاتِلُ عمرو الضَيغَم البَطَلِ

She said, “Who was the horseman against the Confederates, laying them low?”

I said, “The slayer of ‘Amr, the lionlike champion.”

قالَت فَخَيبرُ مَن ذا هَدَّ معقَلَها

فَقُلتُ سائِقُ أَهلِ الكُفرِ في عُقُلِ

She said, “As for Khaybar, who demolished its stronghold?”

I said, “He who drove the unbelievers in fetters.”

قالَت فَيَومَ حُنَينٍ مَن بَرى وَفَرى

فَقُلتُ حاصِدُ أَهلِ الشِركِ في عَجَلِ

She said, “On the day of Hunayn, who hewed and cleaved?”

I said, “He who swiftly reaped the idolaters.”

قالَت فَمن صاحِبُ الرايات يَحمِلُها

فَقُلتُ مَن حِيطَ عَن غُشٍّ وَعن نَغَلِ

She said, “Who is the standard-bearer who carries the banners?”

I said, “He who was guarded against deceit and corruption.”

قالَت بَراءَةُ مَن أَدّى قَوارِعَها

فَقُلتُ مَن صِينَ عَن خَتلٍ وَعن دَغَلِ

She said, “Bara’a—who proclaimed its dire warnings?”

I said, “He who was protected from guile and malice.”

قالَت فَمن ذا دُعي لِلطَّيرِ يَأكُلُهُ

فَقُلتُ أَقرَبُ مَرضِيٍّ وَمُنتَحَلِ

She said, “Who was summoned to eat the bird?”

I said, “The closest of those approved and chosen.”

قالَت فَمن راكِعٌ زَكى بِخاتِمِهِ

فَقُلتُ أَطعَنُهُم مُذ كان بِالأَسَلِ

She said, “Who gave his ring as alms while bowing?”

I said, “Their greatest lancer, from his earliest days.”

قالَت فَفيمن أَتانا هَل أَتى شَرفاً

فقُلتُ أَبذَلُ خَلقِ اللَهِ لِلنَّفَلِ

She said, “In whose honor did ‘Has There Come’ reach us?”

I said, “The most generous of God’s creatures with gifts.”

قالَت فَمن تَلوهُ يَومَ الكَساءِ أَجِب

فَقُلتُ أَنجَبُ مَكسُوٍّ وَمُشتَمِلِ

She said, “Who followed him on the day of the cloak? Answer.”

I said, “The noblest of those clothed and cloaked.”

قالَت فَمن باهلَ الطهرُ النَبِيُّ بِهِ

فَقُلتُ تاليه في حَلٍّ وَمُرتَحلِ

She said, “Whom did the pure Prophet take to the mutual imprecation?”

I said, “His follower, at rest and in travel.”

قالَت فَمن ذا قَسيمُ النارِ يُسهِمُها

فَقُلتُ مَن رَأيُهُ أَذكى من الشُعَلِ

She said, “Who is the apportioner of the Fire, assigning its shares?”

I said, “He whose judgment is brighter than flames.”

قالَت فَمن شبهُ هارونٍ لِنَعرِفَهُ

فَقُلتُ مَن لَم يَحل يَوماً وَلَم يَزُلِ

She said, “Who is Harun’s counterpart, so we may recognize him?”

I said, “He who never changed nor wavered.”

قالَت فَمن ذا غَدا بابَ المَدينَةِ قُل

فَقُلتُ مَن سَأَلوهُ العِلمَ لَم يَسَلِ

She said, “Who became the gate of the city? Tell me.”

I said, “He whom they asked for knowledge, but who himself never asked.”

قالَت فَمن سادَ في يَوم الغَديرِ أَبِن

فَقُلتُ مَن صارَ لِلاِسلامِ خَيرَ وَلي

She said, “Who was master on the day of Ghadir? Explain.”

I said, “He who became Islam’s best guardian.”

قالَت فَمَن قاتَلَ الأَقوامَ اِذ نَكَثوا

فَقُلتُ تَفسيرُهُ في وَقعَةِ الجَمَلِ

She said, “Who fought the people when they broke their pledges?”

I said, “The answer lies in the Battle of the Camel.”

قالَت فَمن حارَبَ الأَنجاسِ اِذ قَسَطوا

فَقُلتُ صَفّينُ تُبدي صَفحَةَ العَمَلِ

She said, “Who fought the unclean when they acted unjustly?”

I said, “Siffin reveals the record of that deed.”

قالَت فَمن قارَعَ الأَرجاسِ اِذ مَرَقوا

فَقُلتُ مَعناهُ يَومَ النَهرَوانِ جَلي

She said, “Who battled the impure when they broke away?”

I said, “The answer is plain on the day of Nahrawan.”

قالَت فَمن صاحب الحَوضِ الشَريفِ غَداً

فَقُلتُ مَن بَيتُهُ في أَشرَفِ الحِلَلِ

She said, “Who will keep the noble Pool tomorrow?”

I said, “He whose house stands in the noblest quarters.”

قالَت فَمن ذا لِواءُ الحَمدِ يَحمِلُهُ

فَقُلتُ مَن لَم يَكُن في الرَوعِ بِالوَكِلِ

She said, “Who carries the Banner of Praise?”

I said, “He who was never fainthearted amid terror.”

قالَت أَكُلُّ الَّذي قَد قُلتَ في رَجُلٍ

فَقُلتُ كُلُّ الَّذي قَد قُلتُ في رجلِ

She said, “Is all that you have said about one man?”

I said, “All that I have said is about one man.”

قالَت وَمَن هو هذا المَرءُ سَمِّ لَنا

فَقُلتُ ذاكَ أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ عَلي

She said, “Who is this man? Name him for us.”

I said, “That is the Commander of the Faithful, Ali.”

قالَت مُعاوِيَةُ الطاغي أَتَلعَنُهُ

فَقُلتُ لِعنَتُهُ أَحلى مِنَ العَسَلِ

She said, “Mu‘awiya the tyrant—do you curse him?”

I said, “Cursing him is sweeter than honey.”

قالَت تُكَفِّرُهُ فيما أَتى وَعتا

فَقُلتُ أي والهِ السَهلِ وَالجَبَلِ

She said, “Do you declare him an unbeliever for his deeds and defiance?”

I said, “Yes, by the God of plain and mountain.”

قالَت أَهلٌ لَكَ من نُظم لِنَرويهِ

فَقُلتُ اِنَّ جَوابي فيهِ حَيَّ هَلِ

She said, “Have you any verse for us to recite?”

I said, “My answer to that is: by all means!”

قالَت فَأَملِ عَلى هذا الفَتى عَجِلاً

فَقُلتُ هذا وَلم أَلبَث وَلم أَتُلِ

She said, “Then dictate it to this youth at once.”

I said, “Here it is,” without lingering or delay.

قالَت أَمُبتَدِهاً في القَولِ مُرتَجِلاً

فقُلتُ ما قُلتُ شِعراً غَيرَ مُرتَجَلِ

She said, “Are you composing on the spot, improvising as you speak?”

I said, “I have spoken no verse that was not improvised.”

قالَت أَتَيتَ اِبنَ عَبّادٍ بِمُعجِزَةٍ

فَقُلتُ لا تَعجَبي فَالشِعرُ من خَولي

She said, “Ibn ‘Abbad, you have performed a miracle!”

I said, “Do not marvel, for poetry is among my servants.”

قالَت فَهَل مُنشِدٌ تَرضى لِينشدها

قُلتُ اِبنُ صالِحٍ النَحرير يُنشَدُ لي

She said, “Is there a reciter you approve to recite it?”

I said, “Ibn Salih, the accomplished master, recites for me.”