—one whose weight rests lightly on the limbs and shields them from harm.

ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb once asked ʿAmr ibn Maʿdīkarib about weaponry. ʿAmr said, “The Commander of the Faithful is free to ask whatever he wishes.” He asked, “What do you say about the spear?” ʿAmr replied, “It is your brother, yet it may betray you by snapping or (1) splintering.” He said, “And the shield?” ʿAmr answered, “It is the pivot; on it the turns of battle depend.” He said, “And the arrows?” ʿAmr answered, “Messengers of death that sometimes miss and sometimes hit.” He said, “And the coat of mail?” ʿAmr replied, “It tires the foot-soldier and distracts the rider, yet it is a mighty fortress.” He said, “And the sword?” ʿAmr retorted, “There—may your mother lose you!” So ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with him—struck him with his whip (2) and said, “Rather, may your mother be bereaved—you who have no mother!” (3)

Section

The best and most beneficial hand-bows are those composed of wood, sinew, horn, and glue. In this there is profound wisdom and an exalted, noble workmanship, for (4) it is fashioned according to the very pattern of man: his frame is built on four elements—bone, flesh, veins, and blood—just as the bow is fashioned from four:
– The wood corresponds to the bones of a human being;
– The horn corresponds to the flesh firmly bound over every limb.