{"collection":"Islam","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/isl/mhm/mhm26.htm","path":"isl/mhm/mhm26.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/isl/mhm/mhm26.htm","text":"The Maq\u00e1m\u00e1t of Bad\u00ed\u2018 al-Zam\u00e1n al-Hamadh\u00e1n\u00ed, tr. W.J. Prendergast [1915]\n\u2018\u00cdS\u00c1 IBN HISH\u00c1M related to us and said: In the year A.H. 75 3 I took part in a raid, on the frontier of Qazw\u00edn, 4 with those that raided it. We crossed not a rugged upland, but we also descended into a valley, until our march brought us to one of the villages. The scorching noon-day heat impelled us to seek the shade of some tamarisk trees in the centre 5 of which was a spring, like unto the flame of a torch, 6 more limped than a tear, gliding over the stony ground as glides the restless serpent. We took what food we were inclined to take, then we sought the shade and addressed ourselves to the noon-day nap. But sleep had not yet overcome us when we heard a voice more disagreeable than the braying of an ass 7 and a footfall lighter than that of a camel's colt; accompanying these two was the sound of a drum which seemed to proceed from the jaws of a lion and which drove away\nthe scout of sleep from the people. I opened both my eyes 1and looked towards him, but the trees intervened between us. So I listened and lo! he was reciting to the beat of the drum:--\nNow, when he reached this verse, he said: 'O people! I have entered 2 your dwelling with a resolution which love hath not excited, nor poverty impelled. I have left behind my back gardens planted with trees, and vineyards, damsels 3 of equal age with swelling breasts, and excellent horses, 4 heaped up wealth, 5 equipments, a numerous tribe, mounts and slaves: But I came forth as the serpent issues from its hole, 6 and the bird goes forth from its nest, preferring my religion to my worldly possessions, bringing my right to my left, 7 and joining my day march to my night journey. Now I pray ye will ye combat the fire with its own sparks, 8 and stone the Byzantine empire with its own missiles, and with assistance and aid, with support and succour, and help me in invading them, but not exceeding bounds, every one according to his several ability and in proportion to his wealth? I will not regard a bag of ten thousand dirhems too much; I will accept a mite 9 and not decline a date. For each one from me\nthere will be two arrows, 1 one of which I will sharpen for future recompense, and the other I will notch with prayer 2 and with it from the bow of darkness 3 shoot at the gates of Heaven.' Said \u2018\u00cds\u00e1 ibn Hish\u00e1m 'His admirable diction excited me, so I cast off the robe of sleep and ran to the company and lo! it was our Shaikh, Ab\u00fa\u2019l-Fat\u1e25 al-Iskander\u00ed, with a sword which he had drawn, and in a garb which he had adopted as a disguise. Now when he saw me he winked his eye at me and said: 'May God be merciful to him who from his abundance 4 will help us and apportion to us a share of his favours.' Then he took what he got, then I led him aside and said: 'Art thou of the sons of the Nabateans? 5 He answered:--\n78:3 The year A.H. 75: If we accept this date the author goes back to the raid made by al-Bara ibn \u2018Az\u00edb appointed governor of Rai in A.H. 24. If we take it to be A.H. 375 which is the more probable date, that would place the episode five years before Hamadh\u00e1n\u00ed is said to have left his native city. De Sacy has adopted the latter view (Chrestomathie Arabe, iii, 243.) The year 375 was an eventful one, but there is no allusion to a raid on the frontier of Qazw\u00edn. See Ibn al-Ath\u00edr, ix, 29-33.\n78:4 Qazw\u00edn: A well-known city and the capital of the province of the same name situated ninety-two miles by road from Teheran.\n78:5 The centre: Literally, the enclosure.\n78:6 The flame of a torch: Literally, the tongue of a torch, in its purity and sheen.\n78:7 More disagreeable than the braying of an ass: An allusion to Qur\u2019\u00e1n, xxxi, 18.\n79:1 Eyes: Literally, twins.\n79:2 I invite to God: Metre, sari\u2018.\n79:3 To a lofty garden: An allusion to Qur\u2019\u00e1n lxix, 22.\n79:4 The fruits whereof: An allusion to Qur\u2019\u00e1n lxix, 23.\n79:5 \u2026 Returning: In the sense of repenting. Another reading \u2026 bred which is more agreeable to the context.\n79:6 And committed the questionable thing: Another reading, I have adored the Cross.\n79:7 Al-L\u00e1t: One of the three goddesses worshipped by the ancient Arabians. The other two were al-\u2018Uzza and Man\u00e1h.\n79:8 \u2026 Before me does not yield a good sense: \u2026 by my side, would be better.\n80:1 Assistance from God and a speedy victory: Qur\u2019\u00e1n lxi, 13. This text was the battle cry of the early Muslims. Cf. De Sacy, \u1e24ar\u00edr\u00ed, p. 231, line 4.\n80:2 I have entered: Literally, I have trodden.\n80:3 Damsels: Qur\u2019\u00e1n lxxviii, 32-3.\n80:4 Excellent horses: Qur\u2019\u00e1n iii, 12.\n80:5 \u2026 Heaped up wealth: Qur\u2019\u00e1n iii, 12.\n\u2026 a large quantity or aggregate of property, or much property heaped up. Its weight in the present day is one hundred pounds. \u2026 aggregated, the latter word is corroborative. \u2026 (centenarius) in the author's time was equal to 120 ratls (Mafati\u1e25 al\u2018Ul\u00fam p. 179, edited by Vloten).\n80:6 As the serpent issues from its hole: i.e. with nothing.\n80:7 Bringing my right to my left: Either (1) bringing the feet together as a preliminary to a determination to step forward, opposite of, I advanced one foot and drew back the other, as a sign of indecision, or (2) bringing the hands together as a sign of resolution, or (3) clenching the hands as a sign of determination.\n80:8 Combat the fire with its own sparks: This appears to be a proverbial expression.\n80:9 \u2026 A mite: the weight of an ant. See Qur\u2019\u00e1n xxxiv, 3.\n81:1 \u2026 Two arrows: The primitive meaning of \u2026 is missile with which one draws lots in the game called al-maisar, then applied to the thing won by him whose arrow is successful in the game above mentioned.\n81:2 \u2026 With prayer: for present need.\n81:3 \u2026 From the bow of darkness: A reference to the belief that prayer at night is more effectual; another reading is \u2026 thirst.\n81:4 His abundance: Literally, his superfluous skirts.\n81:5 \u2026 Art thou of the sons of the Nabateans? Another, and more appropriate reading in the Constantinople edition, and in the Cambridge MS is 'Art thou of the children of the daughters of the Greeks'?\n81:6 As is my state with fate: Cf. p. 13 of the Text. Metre, Khafif.\nThis maq\u00e1ma is a strange medley of references to paganism, Christianity and Isl\u00e1m based upon the imaginary conversion of a Greek to Mu\u1e25ammadanism.","title":"The Maqamat of al-Hamadhani: The Maq\u00e1m\u00e1t: XVIII. The Maqama of Qazw\u00edn","type":"page"}