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89 – Al-Ḥusayn b. ʿAbd al-Rahman related: Bakr b. al-Muʿtamir wrote from prison to Abu al-ʿAtāhiyah, complaining of the length of his confinement and the weight of his sorrow, so Abu al-ʿAtāhiyah replied:
[wāfir metre]
These passing days with all their twists and turns—
we wait for what Allah’s command will bring.
Will you despair of seeing any relief?
Where, then, are Allah and His decree?
٨٩ - حَدَّثَنِي الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ: كَتَبَ بَكْرُ بْنُ الْمُعْتَمِرِ إِلَى أَبِي الْعَتَاهِيَةِ مِنَ السِّجْنِ يَشْكُو إِلَيْهِ طُولَ الْحَبْسِ وَشِدَّةَ الْغَمِّ، فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ:
[البحر الوافر]
هِيَ الْأَيَّامُ وَالْغِيَرُ ... وَأَمْرُ اللَّهِ يُنْتَظَرُ
أَتَيْأَسُ أَنْ تَرَى فَرَجًا ... فَأَيْنَ اللَّهُ وَالْقَدَرُ