620 – Saʿīd ibn Yaḥyā al-Umawī narrated to us; my father, Yaḥyā ibn Saʿīd, narrated to us; from al-Muḥabbar ibn Qaḥdham; from Hishām ibn ʿUrwah; from his father, who said:

When the children of Muḥammad ibn Abī Bakr were brought to Medina, ʿĀʾishah gathered them under her wing. After they had grown and become able to look after themselves, she sent for her brother ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Bakr and said,

“I have a favour to ask. I sense in you a readiness that someone should take charge of your brother’s children—and there is nothing blameworthy in appointing a guardian who will keep an eye on the unbecoming behaviour that youngsters are bound to show. Be for them what Ḥujayyah ibn al-Muḍarrib once was. He went out on campaign, leaving his brother’s son with the boy’s aunt. When he returned, the lad and his aunt were wailing and had fallen into misconduct. He questioned them; they pointed out what had happened, sat down here and there, and said, ‘She used to allow this!’ So he summoned his clan and announced, ‘Bear witness that my camels, my sheep, and my slaves now belong to my brother’s son.’

His wife flew into a rage. She drew a curtain between herself and him, then kept alternately darkening her eyes with kohl and raising her voice in lament. On that occasion he composed the following verses:

[al-Baḥr al-Ṭawīl] ⦗822⦘
We both persisted—she as well—in swelling wrath,
A curtain slammed between us and all converse.
With my own stick she traced the kohl around her eye,
Hoping to kiss me, while Zaynab’s mate pulled tight her veil.
The orphans—who will meet their ceaseless need?
My gifts reach them in every well-worn wooden bowl.
So I told our two house-boys, “Relieve them both,
Lest my home become the hut of yet another wanderer.”
I showed them mercy—tell Miqdād in between—
My hand still circles them, and many a lean-backed beast.
I vie with one who, had I matched his wealth in full,
My two young sons and I would still outpace all welcomes.
Must I, for fear of my father, leave the greatness he desires?
Should I grow angry, to the sword his anger turns.
So I declared, “Take it, all of you! For your uncle
Today has better claim than you to earn a living.”