237 — Al-Abbās ibn Hishām ibn Muhammad informed me, from his father, from Yahyā ibn Thalaba al-Ansārī, who said: During the time of Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—a young man from Yemen named al-Marājil arrived. He began with his mother, giving her first choice of a garment. He then offered his wife her choice, and she selected a fine garment. The mother subsequently set her sights on the wife’s garment and said to him, “Give it to me.” He refused and told her, “I gave you first choice.” She became angry with him and turned away from him. She then went to Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—and sought redress against him. Umar summoned him and said, “You angered her so much that she sought redress against you!” The young man recounted the matter to him, whereupon Umar said to her, “Your desire has indeed grown covetous—but by what right?” She replied:

[rajaz meter]

“O man who asks of me
By what right I lay claim to al-Marājil:
For nine full months I carried him
Within my womb—none bore him in my stead.
Then, when the midwives drew near,
Truth stood clear and falsehood fled.
I married him to this woman here, who now contests me,
And from my own wealth supplied the finest things for him:
Slaves who had belonged to us, and a herd of camels.
That is my right, and for it I contend.”

Tears streamed from the eyes of Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—and he ordered the young man to hand the garment over to her.