Ode in Praise of the Al-Mahallab Clan
The poet Al-Farazdaq says:
I shall extol the lineage of Al-Mahallab with praises
that shine brightly against the backdrop of poetry,
Like the stars themselves, foreseen by a moon
that dispels the darkness and lights the traveler’s night.
They inherited valor from Al-Mahallab and generosity
and virtues that overflow like rivers.
As for the sons, they cannot inherit.
The legacy of their father remains on the day of glory.
Every virtue has been distributed from his hand,
for when he died, resources for the widows vanished.
Al-Mahallab was a solace for Iraq,
a sanctuary in springtime and a refuge for the encamped.
How often did divine providence open doors for them,
as the horses crouched on the escarpments,
and the arrows were guided with every swiftness
from the agile legs of champions.
As for Yazid, he stands in defiance,
possessing a soul that is resolutely steadfast.
He strikes the very branches of fate with his spear,
as every opponent is left astounded.
Branches of the battlefield tremble in frenzy,
his breath fills the air with courage.
When souls are agitated and spirits stirred,
there lies a firm belief in the defense against foes.
Indeed, I have seen Yazid in his youth,
clad in piety and the awe of the mighty.
A king who instills respect in all,
a perfect moon by his side and the sun of daytime.
When men see Yazid, behold how they bow,
their necks humbled, their gaze lowered.
For in his presence, darkness retreats before his visage,
and all souls fall to his every decision.
Oh Yazid, for Al-Mahallab you surely attain
the best of mankind’s noble qualities.
No man is more deserving of praise for his deeds
than the one who faces great perils with honor.
Two generous hands wielding Yazid’s sword
are the strongest anchors of kinship.
Could it be that even if measured, the weight of his excellence
would enable him to claim every vault that stood firm?
Indeed, you have returned, and though all knights
bear witness to the most fearsome of challenges.
You left behind the greatest fears, as if the path you trod
would not be crossed even by the fiercest of men.
As for Iraq, there was no hope therein,
until you returned, overcoming the challenges of purity.
You united your hollowed legions after their fragmentation
and established a strong foundation for them once more.
Let the legacy endure in the lineage of Jilan,
whose waters once traversed the realm of past defeats.
A legion advances towards you, seeking hospitality,
unfazed by every harsh resolve.
In such strength, they reckon with the one who stands firm,
and the sky seems covered by dust.
Within it are tribes from the land of Yemen,
as well as those connected to Banu Nizar.
Should you reign peacefully, they will surely embrace you,
extending kindness long sought after with a resolute resolve.
Until they see the enrichment of your deeds,
and the prowess remains unmatched.
Horses once ridden by Yazid stride through every town,
mighty among the ruins and amidst the palm trees.
Adorned with valor upon their shoulders,
they are fierce lions when battle beckons.
Since the day he pledged allegiance,
he has grasped their fates tight.
As he approaches, five horses on foot,
their reins drawing close in intervals of dust.
And indeed, he constructed for the Al-Mahallab a household
that boasts the longest arms and pillars of glory.
Its foundations were erected on a mountain,
rising high among the gazes of its beholders.
It meets the champions of the ancient clan like lions
who have severed the reins of numbing fear.
Undaunted, they faced any challenge,
gathering the odds against them valiantly.
They wielded their swords against any foe,
swinging with valor until victory was attained.
Adorned with old relics, preparing for battle,
drawing their blades with well-honed strikes.
They undertake that which is hard against their enemies,
casting aside the devouring fear with each thrust.
Tribes flanked on both sides,
as the honed blades land on the enemies with alarming grace.
From aged warriors bearing high spirits,
who birthed the bravest swordsmen amongst their ranks.
Eager to defend their homes at daybreak,
they rise with each dawn on the battlefield.
Thus did I exalt the deeds of the valiant,
behold this reverence which time itself cannot erase.
The Best of Praises for Your Splendor
As Ibrahim Al-Aswad says:
Your praise is the best among all the praisers,
and my thanks are due with gratitude immense.
We, along with the verses that bloom,
exceed those who preceded us in eloquence.
In your praise, we have fashioned verses
as transcendent as stars, a precious necklace.
Though we may surpass those before us,
to describe you exceeds all our predecessors.
For we cannot reach to the heights of your grandeur,
I am constrained in expressing your vastness.
You filled the corners of this world with dignity,
and taught us the unequivocal truth.
If not for the light of your knowledge, we would be lost,
and without the downpour of your kindness, we would wither.
You descended upon the spirits of ours,
bestowing serenity as you graced us.
You were a source of strength in trying times,
and your kindness became a refuge for the weary.
Behold, they have searched with glowing looks,
for they have set their sights, longing for your favors.
Nowhere are they satisfied, except in your presence,
the sons of Lebanon, stirred by yearning,
They have roamed in your protection seeking deliverance,
as the sons of Beirut approach to earn your favor,
So extend your hand toward them with compassion,
for they reside in fortitude against all threats.
A Prayer for Protection from Slander Post-Praise
As Al-Sharif Al-Razi states:
I seek refuge for you from slander after praise,
from strife that follows peace fought.
You have been granted most of my verses; yet when
you acquired them, I was granted none in return.
My arm falters after great expectations,
wishing for the light with a failed endeavor.
You were my ally; yet my sword was dulled,
and you were my defender, but my spear has faltered.
You were my shield, yet doomed was my sanctuary,
your entrance marked my tongue with defeat.
Oh lion, I summoned you to guard
my refuge from foes, but my heart is now heavy with scars.
Oh healer, I hoped for restoration from your touch,
yet all you brought were compounding afflictions.
Oh moon, whom I wished to shine upon my sorrows,
yet darkness wrapped you, cloaked with might.
I will thrust my resolve against the shadowed abyss,
with the resolve to tame unwanted storms.
For restrained is my spirit amidst the night,
as it wanders seeking dawn at its door.
And if inquiries towards your generosity reach me,
let them follow the footsteps of fate.
I will stave off every collapse,
and choose my sought-after solace for good.
Threats have been cast upon me, yet I seen no beauty,
and I have encountered only repulsion following repulsion.
An Ode to Prince Khalid, the Son of Shihab
As Ibrahim Al-Aswad articulates:
An ode to the Prince Khalid, son of Shihab,
I will adorn my verses as long as I breathe.
Emerging from a tree that bears the fruits
of a noble, generous, and illustrious lineage.
From Banu Makhzum, their lineage esteemed,
known for their generosity and valor.
Hailing from steps where the forebears walked,
to realms of pride and glory that they established.
Their stories echo through time without sound,
and they remain unchallenged by any in denial.
A hereditary right leads them, passed down in strength,
and the brilliance of excellence flows through them.
In this time, if Khalid is blessed, how many
young men carry the weight of honor alongside him.
Ask of Lebanon how many have expressed gratitude,
in response to his grand gestures and noble traits.
And if you query those in the halls of Parliament,
they will testify to his virtues in their honor.
He shines with wisdom and keen insight,
a beacon amidst sources of revenue and spiritual wealth.
I adore him as silver exudes elegance,
and his paths shine bright like pearls and dawns.
The Day We Encountered the Fiery Ones
As Antar bin Shaddad recounts:
We faced a day of ignited fierce confrontation,
when they were determined in their combat.
We met them with sharp blades,
and lions who do not flee from death.
Their chief was a lion,
undaunted and steadfast in misfortune.
We left him amidst the dust,
as I sought the remnants of the battle.
We rushed forth with swords toward them,
to highlands where struggles lie concealed.
How many knights did we leave behind,
defeated by our blades in the chase?
We, the warriors from Banu Abs,
lions in battle on this land of bravery.
We excel in facing foes, wielding sharp swords,
and delivering blows with great valiance.
And whenever we unleash our steed,
they charge forth from noble houses of vigor.
On the day of giving, we spare no cost,
for our belongings and abundant blessings.
We, the just ones whenever we command,
and show concern for our nobilities.
We stand firmly in the face of any challenge,
and we strike with spears in deadly endeavors.
We are victorious whenever we charge,
on swift steeds we contend effortlessly.
We are the igniters of every battle,
and we strike fiercely with every heart.
We filled the land with terror at our might,
while kings trembled at our legacy.
Ask about us in the lands of the Levant,
and of the warriors amongst emperors.
I am the servant raised in lands of Abs,
living with pride and unwavering courage.
Ask Al-Nu’man about me, as I remember
the valiant knights unrelenting in honor.
I have rendered the marketplace of death with my blade,
and achieved lofty ranks by my own valor.
With Your Sword, Justice Prevails and Right Triumphs
As Ahmed Shawqi proclaims:
With your sword, truth ascends and triumphs,
and the religion of God prevails whenever you strike.
For the sword is a symbol of sovereignty among mankind,
and command belongs only to those who prevail.
With it, teach the tyrants, for indeed
it is an excellent discipline for oppressive rulers.
And heal the states from every affliction,
for indeed your blade is the remedy to wounds.
The storms of dominion lay still, if he remains awake,
while sleep leads to restlessness and emergence of troubles.
Is it in our nights that we fear an incident,
while Armenia weeps and Horan ages in sorrow?
The Kingdom of Greece bound in chains,
while your hope grants it relief.
You have threatened the Emir of the believers’ existence,
with the aura of your dawn shining brightly.
And indeed, the dawn of Osman remains steadfast,
witnessing the brilliance of your intellect like a star.
Whenever you sunder the tide with your resolve,
the dark threats emerge to expose their shades.
Your adversaries fear the might you possess,
wherein lies for them a requirement and for God a purpose.
You were elevated, O servant of the Beneficent,
with honors of grandeur concealed in respect.
Your reign is an embodiment of sometimes firm authority,
while sometimes it displays divinely bestowed grandeur.
The stars of the king, glowing at dawn,
may they unite in celestial crowns for a better tomorrow.
Should these luminous stars unify, far from the grip of time,
they shall attest to the splendor of both legacy and grace.
Indeed, the sun shall not stray from its heavenly course,
and among us shines the radiance of pride and glory.
You have lifted a throne that time upholds,
It sways in reverence while the nights cast their terrors.
Existing as a strong embodiment upon the earth,
all shall arise with appreciation for your efforts.
Thus did you awaken the lives long lost to the sands,
as if you reprised the mission of the closest brethren.
You have erected a beacon for one who leads among mankind,
one who shines within, as the sun sets upon the world.
While you awaken in delight the dreams of the faithful,
the sleeping ones stir, thinking of their greatest fears.