for every wealthy man or pauper, (1)
is but a beggar before you—even were he to reach the very sky.
To you all glory from every quarter has converged;
wherever it alights, it goes no farther than you. (2)
You are Iyad’s full-moon—none deny it;
and Iyad, for humankind, are moons that ever shine.
You refused, out of humility, to be called “the Emir,”
yet you are the Emir of everyone so styled. (3)
No generosity exists save that its place is with you,
and no lofty rank but points in your direction. (4)

I say: The poet was gravely mistaken in this and indulged in blatant excess of hyperbole. (5)

Aḥmad ibn Abī Duʿād once said to a certain man, “Why do you never ask anything of me?” He replied, “Because, were I to ask, I should have to pay the price (6) of whatever you gave me.” Aḥmad answered, “You have spoken the truth,” and sent him five thousand dirhams. (7)

Ibn al-Aʿrābī said: A man from among the [companions] (8) of Ibn Abī Duʿād asked him to provide him with a donkey (9). He said, “Boy, give him a donkey, a mule, a sturdy riding horse (10), a thoroughbred, and a maidservant. Had I known of any other mount, I would have given you that as well.” (11)

Al-Khaṭīb (12) then transmitted—with his chains of narration—reports from numerous people that attest to Aḥmad’s generosity, eloquence, refined manners, forbearance, eagerness to meet people’s needs, and the great (13) esteem in which the caliphs held him.

He likewise related (14) on the authority of Muḥammad al-Muhtadī ibn al-Wāthiq: An elderly man once entered upon al-Wāthiq and offered him the greeting of peace. The caliph did not return it; instead he said, “May Allah not grant you peace.” The man responded, “Commander of the Faithful, your teacher instructed you poorly indeed. Allah, Exalted is He, says: “When you are greeted with a greeting, respond with one better than it, or [at least] return it” ⦗Q 4:86⦘. You neither greeted me with something better nor even returned my greeting.” He then said