Tarikh (al-Tabari) 1413
The Expedition of Muʾtah
فَصْلٌ فِيمَا قِيلَ مِنَ الْأَشْعَارِ فِي غَزْوَةِ مُؤْتَةَ قَالَ ابْنُ إِسْحَاقَ: وَكَانَ مِمَّا بُكِيَ بِهِ أَصْحَابُ مُؤْتَةَ قَوْلُ حَسَّانَ: تَأَوَّبَنِي لَيْلٌ بِيَثْرِبَ أَعْسَرُ وَهَمٌّ إِذَا مَا نَوَّمَ النَّاسُ مُسْهِرُ لِذِكْرَى حَبِيبٍ هَيَّجَتْ لِيَ عَبْرَةً سَفُوحًا وَأَسْبَابُ الْبُكَاءِ التَّذَكُّرُ بَلَى إِنَّ فُقْدَانَ الْحَبِيبِ بَلِيَّةٌ وَكَمْ مِنْ كَرِيمٍ يُبْتَلَى ثُمَّ يَصْبِرُ رَأَيْتُ خِيَارَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ تَوَارَدُوا شُعُوبًا وَخَلْفًا بَعْدَهُمْ يَتَأَخَّرُ فَلَا يُبْعِدَنَّ اللَّهُ قَتْلَى تَتَابَعُوا بِمُؤْتَةَ مِنْهُمْ ذُو الْجَنَاحَيْنِ جَعْفَرُ وَزَيْدٌ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ حِينَ تَتَابَعُوا جَمِيعًا وَأَسْبَابُ الْمَنِيَّةِ تَخْطِرُ غَدَاةَ مَضَوْا بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَقُودُهُمْ إِلَى الْمَوْتِ مَيْمُونُ النَّقِيبَةِ أَزْهَرُ أَغَرُّ كَضَوْءِ الْبَدْرِ مِنْ آلِ هَاشِمٍ أَبِيٌّ إِذَا سِيمَ الظُّلَامَةَ مِجْسَرُ فَطَاعَنَ حَتَّى مَالَ غَيْرَ مُوَسَّدٍ بِمُعْتَرَكٍ فِيهِ الْقَنَا مُتَكَسِّرُ فَصَارَ مَعِ الْمُسْتَشْهِدِينَ ثَوَابُهُ جِنَانٌ وَمُلْتَفُّ الْحَدَائِقِ أَخْضَرُ وَكُنَّا نَرَى فِي جَعْفَرٍ مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ وَفَاءً وَأَمْرًا حَازِمًا حِينَ يَأْمُرُ وَمَا زَالَ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ مِنْ آلِ هَاشِمٍ دَعَائِمُ عِزٍّ لَا يَزُلْنَ وَمَفْخَرُ هُمُ جَبَلُ الْإِسْلَامِ وَالنَّاسُ حَوْلَهُمْ رِضَامٌ إِلَى طَوْدٍ يَرُوقُ وَيَقْهَرُ بِهَالِيلُ مِنْهُمْ جَعْفَرٌ وَابْنُ أُمِّهِ عَلِيٌّ وَمِنْهُمْ أَحْمَدُ الْمُتَخَيَّرُ وَحَمْزَةُ وَالْعَبَّاسُ مِنْهُمْ وَمِنْهُمُ عَقِيلٌ وَمَاءُ الْعُودِ مِنْ حَيْثُ يُعْصَرُ بِهِمْ تُفْرَجُ اللَّأْوَاءُ فِي كُلِّ مَأْزِقٍ عَمَاسٍ إِذَا مَا ضَاقَ بِالنَّاسِ مَصْدَرُ هُمُ أَوْلِيَاءُ اللَّهِ أَنْزَلَ حُكْمَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَفِيهِمْ ذَا الْكِتَابُ الْمُطَهَّرُ وَقَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ، ؓ: نَامَ الْعُيُونُ وَدَمْعُ عَيْنِكَ يَهْمُلُ سَحًّا كَمَا وَكَفَ الطِّبَابُ الْمُخْضِلُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ وَرَدَتْ عَلَيَّ هُمُومُهَا طَوْرًا أَحِنُّ وَتَارَةً أَتَمَلْمَلُ وَاعَتَادَنِي حُزْنٌ فَبِتُّ كَأَنَّنِي بِبَنَاتِ نَعْشٍ وَالسِّمَاكِ مُوَكَّلُ وَكَأَنَّمَا بَيْنَ الْجَوَانِحِ وَالْحَشَا مِمَّا تَأَوَّبَنِي شِهَابٌ مُدْخَلُ وَجْدًا عَلَى النَّفَرِ الَّذِينَ تَتَابَعُوا يَوْمًا بِمُؤْتَةَ أُسْنِدُوا لَمْ يُنْقَلُوا صَلَّى الْإِلَهُ عَلَيْهُمُ مِنْ فِتْيَةٍ وَسَقَى عِظَامَهُمُ الْغَمَامُ الْمُسْبِلُ صَبَرُوا بِمُؤْتَةَ لِلْإِلَهِ نُفُوسَهُمْ حَذَرَ الرَّدَى وَمَخَافَةً أَنْ يَنْكُلُوا فَمَضَوْا أَمَامَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَأَنَّهُمْ فُنُقٌ عَلَيْهِنَّ الْحَدِيدُ الْمُرْفَلُ إِذْ يَهْتَدُونَ بِجَعْفَرٍ وَلِوَائِهِ قُدَّامَ أَوَّلِهِمْ فَنِعْمَ الْأَوَّلُ حَتَّى تَفَرَّجَتِ الصُّفُوفُ وَجَعْفَرٌ حَيْثُ الْتَقَى وَعْثُ الصُّفُوفِ مُجَدَّلُ فَتَغَيَّرَ الْقَمَرُ الْمُنِيرُ لِفَقْدِهِ وَالشَّمْسُ قَدْ كَسَفَتْ وَكَادَتْ تَأْفِلُ قَرْمٌ عَلَا بُنْيَانُهُ مِنْ هَاشِمٍ فَرْعًا أَشَمَّ وَسُؤْدَدًا مَا يُنْقَلُ قَوْمٌ بِهِمْ عَصَمَ الِإِلَهُ عِبَادَهُ وَعَلَيْهِمُ نَزَلَ الْكِتَابُ الْمُنْزَلُ فَضَلُوا الْمَعَاشِرَ عِزَّةً وَتَكُرُّمَا وَتَغَمَّدَتْ أَحْلَامَهُمْ مَنْ يَجْهَلُ لَا يُطْلِقُونَ إِلَى السَّفَاهِ حُبَاهُمُ وَيُرَى خَطِيبُهُمُ بِحَقٍّ يَفْصِلُ بِيضُ الْوُجُوهِ تَرَى بُطُونَ أَكُفِّهِمْ تَنْدَى إِذَا اعْتَذَرَ الزَّمَانُ الْمُمْحِلُ وَبِهَدْيِهِمْ رَضِيَ الْإِلَهُ لِخَلْقِهِ وَبِجِدِّهِمْ نُصِرَ النَّبِيُّ الْمُرْسَلُ [ شِعْرُ قَيْسٍ فِي الِاعْتِذَارِ عَنْ تَقَهْقُرِ خَالِدٍ ] قَالَ ابْنُ إسْحَاقَ: وَقَدْ قَالَ فِيمَا كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِ النَّاسِ وَأَمْرِ خَالِدٍ وَمُخَاشَاتِهِ بِالنَّاسِ وَانْصِرَافِهِ بِهِمْ، قَيْسُ بْنُ الْمُسَحَّرِ الْيَعْمَرِيُّ، يَعْتَذِرُ مِمَّا صَنَعَ يَوْمَئِذٍ وَصَنَعَ النَّاسُ فَوَاَللَّهِ لَا تَنْفَكُّ نَفْسِي تَلُومُنِي عَلَى مَوْقِفِي وَالْخَيْلُ قَابِعَةٌ قُبْلُ وَقَفْتُ بِهَا لَا مُسْتَجِيرًا فَنَافِذًا وَلَا مَانِعًا مَنْ كَانَ حُمَّ لَهُ الْقَتْلُ عَلَى أَنَّنِي آسَيْتُ نَفْسِي بِخَالِدِ أَلَا خَالِدٌ فِي الْقَوْمِ لَيْسَ لَهُ مِثْلُ وَجَاشَتْ إلَيَّ النَّفْسُ مِنْ نَحْوِ جَعْفَرٍ بِمُؤْتَةِ إذْ لَا يَنْفَعُ النَّابِلَ النَّبْلُ وَضَمَّ إلَيْنَا حَجْزَتَيْهِمْ كِلَيْهِمَا مُهَاجِرَةٌ لَا مُشْرِكُونَ وَلَا عُزْلُ [ شِعْرُ كَعْبٍ فِي بُكَاءِ قَتْلَى مُؤْتَةَ ] وَقَالَ كَعْبُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ: نَامَ الْعُيُونُ وَدَمْعُ عَيْنِكَ يَهْمُلُ سَحًّا كَمَا وَكَفَ الطَّبَابُ الْمُخْضَلُ فِي لَيْلَةٍ وَرَدَتْ عَلَيَّ هُمُومُهَا طَوْرًا أَحِنُّ وَتَارَةً أَتَمَلْمَلُ وَاعْتَادَنِي حُزْنٌ فَبِتُّ كَأَنَّنِي بِبَنَاتِ نَعْشٍ وَالسِّمَاكِ مُوَكَّلُ وَكَأَنَّمَا بَيْنَ الْجَوَانِحِ وَالْحَشَى مِمَّا تَأَوَّبَنِي شِهَابٌ مُدْخَلُ وَجْدًا عَلَى النَّفَرِ الَّذِينَ تَتَابَعُوا يَوْمًا بِمُؤْتَةَ أُسْنِدُوا لَمْ يُنْقَلُوا صَلَّى الْإِلَهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ فِتْيَةٍ وَسَقَى عِظَامَهُمْ الْغَمَامُ الْمُسْبِلُ صَبَرُوا بِمُؤْتَةَ لِلْإِلَهِ نُفُوسَهُمْ حَذَرَ الرَّدَى وَمَخَافَةً أَنْ يَنْكُلُوا فَمَضَوْا أَمَامَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ كَأَنَّهُمْ فُنُقٌ عَلَيْهِنَّ الْحَدِيدُ الْمُرْفَلُ إذْ يَهْتَدُونَ بِجَعْفَرٍ وَلِوَائِهِ قُدَّامَ أَوَّلِهِمْ فَنِعْمَ الْأَوَّلُ حَتَّى تَفَرَّجَتْ الصُّفُوفُ وَجَعْفَرٌ حَيْثُ الْتَقَى وَعْثُ الصُّفُوفِ مُجَدَّلُ فَتَغَيَّرَ الْقَمَرُ الْمُنِيرُ لِفَقْدِهِ وَالشَّمْسُ قَدْ كَسَفَتْ وَكَادَتْ تَأْفِلُ قَرْمٌ عَلَا بُنْيَانُهُ مِنْ هَاشِمٍ فَرْعًا أَشَمَّ وَسُؤْدُدًا مَا يُنْقَلُ قَوْمٌ بِهِمْ عَصَمَ الْإِلَهُ عِبَادَهُ وَعَلَيْهِمْ نَزَلَ الْكِتَابُ الْمُنْزَلُ فَضَلُوا الْمَعَاشِرَ عِزَّةً وَتَكَرُّمًا وَتَغَمَّدَتْ أَحْلَامُهُمْ مَنْ يَجْهَلُ لَا يُطْلِقُونَ إلَى السَّفَاهِ حُبَاهُمْ وَيُرَى خَطِيبُهُمْ بِحَقٍّ يَفْصِلُ بِيضُ الْوُجُوهِ تُرَى بُطُونُ أَكُفِّهِمْ تَنْدَى إذَا اعْتَذَرَ الزَّمَانُ الْمُمْحِلُ وَبِهَدْيِهِمْ رَضِيَ الْإِلَهُ لِخَلْقِهِ وَبِجَدِّهِمْ نُصِرَ النَّبِيُّ الْمُرْسَلُ [ شِعْرُ حَسَّانَ فِي بُكَاءِ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ] وَقَالَ حَسَّانُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ يَبْكِي جَعْفَرَ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ ؓ: وَلَقَدْ بَكَيْتُ وَعَزَّ مُهْلَكُ جَعْفَرٍ حِبِّ النَّبِيِّ عَلَى الْبَرِيَّةِ كُلِّهَا وَلَقَدْ جَزِعْتُ وَقُلْتُ حِينَ نُعِيتَ لِي مَنْ لِلْجِلَادِ لَدَى الْعُقَابِ وَظِلِّهَا بِالْبِيضِ حِينَ تُسَلُّ مِنْ أَغْمَادِهَا ضَرْبًا وَإِنْهَالِ الرِّمَاحِ وَعَلِّهَا بَعْدَ ابْنِ فَاطِمَةَ الْمُبَارَكِ جَعْفَرٍ خَيْرِ الْبَرِيَّةِ كُلِّهَا وَأَجَلِّهَا رُزْءًا وَأَكْرَمِهَا جَمِيعًا مَحْتِدًا وَأَعَزِّهَا مُتَظَلِّمًا وَأَزَلِّهَا لِلْحَقِّ حِينَ يَنُوبُ غَيْرَ تَنَحُّلٍ كَذِبًا، وَأَنْدَاهَا يَدًا وَأَقَلِّهَا فُحْشًا وَأَكْثَرِهَا إذَا مَا يُجْتَدَى فَضْلًا، وَأَبْذَلِهَا نَدَى، وَأَبَلِّهَا بِالْعُرْفِ غَيْرَ مُحَمَّدٍ لَا مِثْلُهُ حَيٌّ مِنْ احْيَاءِ الْبَرِيَّةِ كُلِّهَا [ شِعْرُ حَسَّانَ فِي بُكَاءِ ابْنِ حَارِثَةَ وَابْنِ رَوَاحَةَ ] وَقَالَ حَسَّانُ بْنُ ثَابِتٍ فِي يَوْمِ مُؤْتَةَ يَبْكِي زَيْدَ بْنَ حَارِثَةَ وَعَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ رَوَاحَةَ: عَيْنِ جُودِي بِدَمْعِكَ الْمَنْزُورِ وَاذْكُرِي فِي الرَّخَاءِ أَهْلَ الْقُبُورِ وَاذْكُرِي مُؤْتَةً وَمَا كَانَ فِيهَا يَوْمَ رَاحُوا فِي وَقْعَةِ التَّغْوِيرِ حِينَ رَاحُوا وَغَادَرُوا ثَمَّ زَيْدًا نِعْمَ مَأْوَى الضَّرِيكِ وَالْمَأْسُورِ حِبَّ خَيْرِ الْأَنَامِ طُرًّا جَمِيعًا سَيِّدَ النَّاسِ حُبُّهُ فِي الصُّدُورِ ذَاكُمْ أَحْمَدُ الَّذِي لَا سِوَاهُ ذَاكَ حُزْنِي لَهُ مَعًا وَسُرُورِي إنَّ زَيْدًا قَدْ كَانَ مِنَّا بِأَمْرٍ لَيْسَ أَمْرَ الْمُكَذَّبِ الْمَغْرُورِ ثُمَّ جُودِي لِلْخَزْرَجِيِّ بِدَمْعٍ سَيِّدًا كَانَ ثَمَّ غَيْرَ نَزُورِ قَدْ أَتَانَا مِنْ قَتْلِهِمْ مَا كَفَانَا فَبِحُزْنٍ نَبِيتُ غَيْرَ سُرُورِ وَقَالَ شَاعِرٌ مِنْ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِمَّنْ رَجَعَ مِنْ غَزْوَةِ مُؤْتَةَ: كَفَى حَزَنًا أَنِّي رَجَعْتُ وَجَعْفَرٌ وَزَيْدٌ وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ فِي رَمْسِ أَقْبُرْ قَضَوْا نَحْبَهُمْ لَمَّا مَضَوْا لِسَبِيلِهِمْ وَخُلِّفْتُ لِلْبَلْوَى مَعَ الْمُتَغَبِّرِ ثَلَاثَةُ رَهْطٍ قُدِّمُوا فَتَقَدَّمُوا إلَى وَرْدِ مَكْرُوهٍ مِنْ الْمَوْتِ أَحْمَرِ
Translation
✧ Section on the poems that were said regarding the Expedition of Muʾtah Ibn Isḥāq said: Among the elegies composed for the companions of Muʾtah was the saying of Ḥassān: A night at Yathrib visited me, left-handed, and a care that keeps awake when people sleep, because of remembrance of a beloved that stirred for me a copious tear, and the causes of weeping are remembering. Indeed, the loss of the beloved is a trial, and many a noble one is tested and then endures. I saw the best of the Muslims went in succession to the mountain passes, while after them a remnant tarries. May God not keep far away those slain who followed one another at Muʾtah—among them the possessor of the two wings, Jaʿfar, and Zayd and ʿAbd Allāh when they followed one another all together, while the causes of death stalked. On the morning they went with the believers, leading them to death, a fortunate of disposition, radiant, a noble one like the light of the full moon of the family of Hāshim, proud, a breaker when injustice is imposed. He thrust until he fell, without a pillow, in a battle-field where the spears were shattered. Then he became among the martyrs; his reward is gardens and the tangled greenery of orchards. We used to see in Jaʿfar, from Muḥammad, faithfulness and a firm command when he orders. And the family of Hāshim have not ceased to be in Islam pillars of glory that do not slip, and a pride. They are the mountain of Islam, and the people around them are boulders beside a peak that shines and overwhelms. Among them are chiefs: Jaʿfar and the son of his mother, ʿAlī, and among them Aḥmad the chosen, and Ḥamzah and al-ʿAbbās are among them, and among them ʿAqīl, and the water of al-ʿūd from where it is pressed. Through them hardship is dispelled in every narrow pass, obscure, when the way out is constricted for the people. They are the friends of God; He sent down His decree upon them, and in them is the purified Book. And Kaʿb b. Mālik, ؓ, said: Eyes slept, while the tears of your eye flow copiously, pouring like the dripping of wet saddle-cloths, in a night whose cares came to me; at times I yearn, and at times I toss. Grief has become habitual to me, so I spent the night as if I were entrusted to the stars of Banāt Naʿsh and al-Simāk. And it is as if between the ribs and the vitals, from what visited me, a blazing star has been inserted, out of love for the company who followed one another one day at Muʾtah, laid down and not carried away. May God bless them, from a band of youths, and may the pouring clouds water their bones. At Muʾtah they surrendered their souls for God, fearing destruction and the dread of failing. So they went before the Muslims as if they were tall camels clad in trailing iron, when they were guided by Jaʿfar and his banner at the front of the first of them—so excellent was the first. Until the ranks parted, and Jaʿfar, where the rough ground of the ranks met, lay prostrate. The shining moon changed because of his loss, and the sun was eclipsed and almost set. A lord whose edifice rose from Hāshim, a lofty branch and a lordship not to be transferred. A people by whom God protected His servants, and upon them the sent-down Book descended. They surpassed the nations in might and honor, and their clemency covered those who were ignorant. They do not let go their forbearance to folly, and their orator is seen deciding with truth. White-faced; you see the palms of their hands moist when the barren time begs pardon. By their guidance God was pleased for His creation, and by their fortune the sent Prophet was aided. [Qays' poem in apology for Khālid's retreat] Ibn Isḥāq said: Concerning the affair of the people and the affair of Khālid, his withdrawing with the people, and his turning back with them, Qays b. al-Musaḥḥar al-Yaʿmarī said, apologizing for what he did that day and what the people did: By God, my soul will not cease to blame me for my stopping, while the horses were crouching before. I stood there, neither seeking refuge and passing through, nor preventing one for whom death had been decreed. Yet I shared myself with Khālid—surely Khālid among the people has no equal. My soul surged toward Jaʿfar at Muʾtah, when arrows availed not the archer. And there joined us, he girded up both their waists, a band of Emigrants—not polytheists and not unarmed. [Kaʿb's poem in weeping for the slain of Muʾtah] And Kaʿb b. Mālik said: Eyes slept, while the tears of your eye flow copiously, pouring like the dripping of wet saddle-cloths. In a night whose cares came to me; at times I yearn, and at times I toss. Grief has become habitual to me, so I spent the night as if I were entrusted to the stars of Banāt Naʿsh and al-Simāk. And it is as if between the ribs and the vitals, from what visited me, a blazing star has been inserted, out of love for the company who followed one another one day at Muʾtah, laid down and not carried away. May God bless them, from a band of youths, and may the pouring clouds water their bones. At Muʾtah they surrendered their souls for God, fearing destruction and the dread of failing. So they went before the Muslims as if they were tall camels clad in trailing iron, when they were guided by Jaʿfar and his banner at the front of the first of them—so excellent was the first. Until the ranks parted, and Jaʿfar, where the rough ground of the ranks met, lay prostrate. The shining moon changed because of his loss, and the sun was eclipsed and almost set. A lord whose edifice rose from Hāshim, a lofty branch and a lordship not to be transferred. A people by whom God protected His servants, and upon them the sent-down Book descended. They surpassed the nations in might and honor, and their clemency covered those who were ignorant. They do not let go their forbearance to folly, and their orator is seen deciding with truth. White-faced; you see the palms of their hands moist when the barren time begs pardon. By their guidance God was pleased for His creation, and by their fortune the sent Prophet was aided. [Ḥassān's poem in weeping for Jaʿfar b. Abī Ṭālib] And Ḥassān b. Thābit said, weeping for Jaʿfar b. Abī Ṭālib, ؓ: I wept, and the death of Jaʿfar was hard—the beloved of the Prophet over all creation. And I grieved and said, when his death was announced to me: Who is for the sword-fighting at al-ʿUqāb and its shade, with the white blades when they are drawn from their scabbards, striking, and the pouring of spears and their second attack, after the son of Fāṭimah, the blessed Jaʿfar, the best of all creation and its most sublime in loss, and its most generous in origin altogether, and its most mighty when seeking redress and its most ready for the truth when it befalls, without false pretence, and its most moist-handed and its least indecent, and its most abundant when asked for bounty, and its most open-handed in giving, and its most moist in kindness—except for Muḥammad, there is no one like him, living among all the living of creation. [Ḥassān's poem in weeping for Ibn Ḥārithah and Ibn Rawāḥah] And Ḥassān b. Thābit said on the day of Muʾtah, weeping for Zayd b. Ḥārithah and ʿAbd Allāh b. Rawāḥah: O eye, be generous with your scant tears, and remember in ease the people of the graves. And remember Muʾtah and what happened there on the day they departed in the battle of the noonday heat, when they departed and left Zayd there—an excellent refuge for the poor and the captive, beloved of the best of mankind, all together, the master of the people; his love is in the breasts. That is Aḥmad, beside whom there is none; that is my grief for him together and my joy. Indeed Zayd was among us with a matter that is not the affair of the lying, deluded one. Then be generous with tears for the Khazrajī, a chief he was there, not stinting. There has come to us from their killing what suffices us, so in grief we spend the night, not in joy. And a poet of the Muslims, one of those who returned from the expedition of Muʾtah, said: Enough of grief that I returned while Jaʿfar and Zayd and ʿAbd Allāh are in the dust of graves. They fulfilled their vows when they went on their way, and I was left behind for trial with the dust-covered ones. Three men of the band who were sent ahead, and they advanced to a watering-place of loathsome, red death.
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