485 — Al-‘Abbās ibn Hishām ibn Muhammad related to me, from his father, from Khālid ibn Sa‘īd ibn ‘Amr al-Umawī, who said: Kuthayyir came before ‘Abd al-Malik ibn Marwān and said, “O Commander of the Faithful, you own an estate called Ghurrab. I sometimes go there with my children and household, and we obtain some of its fresh and dried dates—sometimes by purchasing them and sometimes as a gift. If the Commander of the Faithful sees fit to grant me its produce, let him do so.”

‘Abd al-Malik told him, “It is yours.”

The people then made him regret his request, saying, “You are the Caliph’s poet and hold a position of great favor with him. Why did you not ask him to grant you the land itself as an estate?”

He therefore went to al-Walīd and said, “I have a request to make of the Commander of the Faithful.” Al-Walīd replied, “You will have no opportunity to approach him. His horse will simply be brought to him, and he will mount it as he departs Mecca”—for he was then in Mecca.

Kuthayyir said, “Seat me near the horse.” Al-Walīd seated him nearby. When ‘Abd al-Malik had mounted the horse, Kuthayyir rose. ‘Abd al-Malik said to him, “Go on,” realizing that he had a request to make. Kuthayyir then recited:

[Long meter]

May the rewards of your noble deeds repay you
With radiance for your friend, and may my Lord draw you near
Among the favored company brought close to Him.

You give no enemy grounds for grievance against you,
Nor do you turn away anyone who seeks your favor.

Whatever you withhold, you withhold by right;
And whatever you grant can never be called into question.

‘Abd al-Malik said, “Perhaps it is Ghurrab that you want?”

“Yes, O Commander of the Faithful,” he replied.

‘Abd al-Malik said, “Draw up a deed granting it to him.” And they did so.