Al-Bidayah wa an-Nihayah - Ibn Kathir - (5/55)

Al-Bidayah wa an-NihayahIbn Kathir

We found Farwah’s rule the very worst of kingdoms—
a donkey whose snout is smeared with filth.

And whenever you caught sight of Abū ʿUmayr,
you saw a squint born of wickedness and betrayal.

I say: He later returned to Islam, his Islam became exemplary, and he took part in many of the conquests during the days of al-Ṣiddīq and ʿUmar al-Fārūq, may Allah be pleased with them both. He was counted among the celebrated warriors, renowned champions, and accomplished poets. He died in 21 AH after being present at the capture of Nihāwand; others say he fought at al-Qādisiyyah and was killed there.

Abū ʿUmar Ibn ʿAbd al-Barr said: his arrival as part of a delegation to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was in the ninth year (AH); some—among them Ibn Isḥāq and al-Wāqidī—say it was in the tenth.

I add: a statement of al-Shāfiʿī appears to support this. Allah knows best.

Yūnus narrated from Ibn Isḥāq:
It is also said that ʿAmr ibn Maʿdi-Karib never came to the Prophet ﷺ, and he expressed this in verse:

My soul is certain of the Prophet,
though my eyes did not behold him face to face.

Master of all creation, the one
who stood closest to God when his rank was shown.

He brought us the Revelation from our Lord,
aided and trustworthy in conveying it.

Wisdom upon wisdom, and a radiant light
by whose glow we were guided out of blindness.

We mounted the path, as soon as we mounted it,
anew—whether grudgingly or gladly.

We worshipped the one true God, whereas before
in our ignorance we had worshipped idols.

Through him we grew together after enmity,
and through him we were restored as brothers.

Upon him be peace and greeting from us
wherever we may be and wherever he may be.

If our eyes never saw the Prophet,
our faith has nonetheless followed his way.

(1) As in al-Usul; in al-Sirah and its commentary it reads “himaran.” See the marginal note to ‘Amr’s poetry for a more detailed discussion. (2) In ‘Amr’s poetry it reads “baqdar.” (3) The version of the verse in ‘Amr’s poetry runs: “Wa-innaka law ra’ayta Abu Umayr… mala’ta yadayka min ghadar wa khatar” (“And were you to see Abu Umayr… you would fill your hands with treachery and danger”). (4) al-Isti‘ab, vol. 3, p. 1202. (5) ‘Amr ibn Ma‘d Yakrib’s poetry (pp. 168–169), where the qasidah comprises sixteen lines. (6) In ‘Umar’s poetry: “Wa ra’ayna al-sabil hina ra’aynahu” (“And we beheld the path when we saw it”). (7) After this line in ‘Amr’s diwan (p. 169) there are seven further lines.

وَجَدْنَا مُلْكَ فَرْوَةَ شَرَّ مُلْكٍ … حمارٌ (١) سَافَ منخرُهُ بِثَفْرِ (٢) وَكُنْتَ إذا رَأَيْتَ أبا عُمَيْرٍ … تَرى الحَوْلاءَ مِنْ خُبثٍ وغَدْرٍ (٣) قلتُ: ثم رجعَ إلى الإسلام، وحَسُنَ إسلامُه، وشهدَ فتوحاتٍ كثيرةً في أيام الصِّديق وعمر الفاروق (رضي الله عنه) ، وكان من الشجعان المذكورين، والأبطال المشهورين، والشعراء المجيدين. توفي سنة إحدى وعشرين، بعدما شهد فتح نهاوند، وقيل: بل شهد القادسية وقتل يومئذ. قال أبو عمر بن عبد البر (٤) : وكان وفودُه إلى رسول الله ﷺ سنة تسعٍ، وقيل: سنة عشر. فيما ذكره ابن إسحاق والواقديّ. قلت: وفي كلام الشافعيّ ما يدلّ عليه. فالله أعلم. قال يونس عن ابن إسحاق: وقد قيل إن عمرو بن معد يكرب لم يأتِ النبيّ ﷺ ، وقد قال في ذلك (٥) : [الخفيف] إنّني بالنَّبي مُوقِنَةٌ نَفْـ … ـــسي وإنْ لَمْ أرَ النبيّ عِيانَا سَيّدُ العَالمينَ طُرًا وأَدْنَا … هُمْ إلى الله حينَ بَانَ مَكَانا جَاءَنا بالنَّامُوسِ منْ لَدُنِ اللـ … ــــه وكانَ الأمينَ فيهِ المُعَانَا حِكْمةً بَعْدَ حِكْمةٍ وضياءً … فاهْتدَيْنا بِنورِهَا منْ عَمَانَا ورَكِبْنَا السَّبيلَ حِينَ رَكِبنَا … هُ جَديدًا بكُرْهِنَا وَرِضَانا (٦) وعَبَدْنا الإلَهَ حَقًا وَكُنَّا … لِلجهَالاتِ نَعْبُدُ الأوثَانَا وَائتَلَفْنَا بهِ وكُنّا عَدُوًّا … فَرُجِّعْنا بهِ مَعًا إخْوَانا فَعَلَيْهِ السلامُ والسِّلْم مِنَّا … حَيْثُ كُنَّا منَ البلادِ وكانا إنْ نَكُنْ لَمْ نَرَ النبيَّ فإنّا … قَدْ تَبِعْنَا سَبيلَهُ إيمَانَا (٧)

(١) كذا في الأصول. وهو في السيرة وشرحها: (حمارًا) وانظر هامش شعر عمرو ففيها تفصيل أكثر. (٢) في شعر عمرو: (بقذر). (٣) رواية البيت في شعر عمرو: وإنك لو رأيت أبا عمير … ملأتَ يديك من غدر وخترِ (٤) الاستيعاب (٣/ ١٢٠٢). (٥) شعر عمرو بن معد يكرب (١٦٨ - ١٦٩) وبلغت فيه القصيدة ستة عشر بيتًا. (٦) في شعر عمر: (ورأينا السبيل حين رأيناه). (٧) بعد هذا البيت في ديوان عمرو (١٦٩) سبعة أبيات.