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“The king conveys his greetings to you and says:
‘Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, has asked for your hand in marriage …
He has sent me a letter authorizing me to conclude the marriage contract on his behalf, so appoint whomever you wish to represent you.’ ”
Umm Ḥabībah all but soared (1) with joy and exclaimed, “May Allah give you good news … may Allah give you good news …!”
She began at once to remove the jewelry she was wearing: she slipped off her bracelets and handed them to Abraha, then added her anklet (2); after that she gave her earrings (3) and her rings. Had she possessed the treasures of the whole world, she would have bestowed them upon her at that very moment.
(1) Overcome with joy: she nearly flew from the intensity of her happiness.
(2) Khilkhāl (anklet): a type of jewelry that a woman wears on her leg.
(3) Qurt (earring): the earring.
إنَّ الملك يحيِّيك ويقول لك:
إنَّ محمَّدًا رسول الله قد خطبك لنفسه ...
وإنَّه بعث إليه كتابًا وكَّله فيه بأن يعقد له عليك ... فوكِّلي عنك من تشائين.
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استطارت (١) أمُّ حبيبة فرحاً، وهتفت:
بشَّرك الله بالخير ... بشَّرك الله بالخير ...
وطفقت تخلع ما عليها من الحليِّ؛ فنزعت سواريها، وأعطتهما لأبرهة ...
ثمَّ ألحقتهما بخُلخالها (٢) ... ثمَّ أتبعت ذلك بقُرطيها (٣) وخواتيمها ...
ولو كانت تملك كنوز الدُّنيا كلَّها لأعطتها لها في تلك اللَّحظة.
(١) استطارت فرحاً: كادت تطير من شدَّة الفرح.
(٢) الخلخال: ضربٌ من الحلي تضعه المرأة في رجلها.
(٣) القرط: الحلق.