The Tale of the Broken Promises of Arqoub
During the pre-Islamic era, the Arabs admired loyalty and honesty in speech, while they condemned those who failed to keep their promises. A well-known story highlights this disgraceful trait, serving as a cautionary example for anyone who does not honor their commitments, often referred to as “the promises of Arqoub.” Arqoub was a Jewish man living in Yathrib, who had a needy brother. He promised his brother that he would share some fruits from his palm tree when it bore fruit. When the tree finally yielded, his brother came to claim the promised share.
Arqoub told him to return when the fruits turned to dates. His brother complied and returned when the fruits had ripened. Again, Arqoub dismissed his brother, instructing him to come back when the fruits became fully ripe. When his brother returned once more, Arqoub told him to return again when the dates had dried. Patiently, the brother awaited the promise of receiving the dried dates, only to find that when the time came, Arqoub went out at night to gather all the dates, leaving none for his brother. This tale became a well-known proverb, and Arqoub was immortalized in poetry as an exemplar of broken promises, highlighting the shame attached to failing to fulfill a promise one is capable of keeping.
The Tale of Dhul-Imamah
This is a saying well-known among the people of Mecca, associated with Saeed ibn al-Aas ibn Umaiya. He was known for his extraordinary beauty; whenever he left his house, women would gaze upon him from their windows. When he wore a turban, he would don a color that no one else dared to wear, earning him the nickname “Dhul-Imamah.” This title was also a euphemism for leadership, as it was customary among the Arabs to refer to a person as “Mu’amam,” implying that any wrongdoing associated with them was attributed to their lineage. When Caliph Abdul Malik ibn Marwan sought to marry Saeed’s daughter, Saeed’s brother responded with a line of poetry which reflected his status:
A girl whose father is Dhul-Imamah,
Her brother is thus not easily matched.
The Tale of “Shan and Tabaqah” Agreement
This saying is applied to two individuals who agree in terms of opinion and thought. The story revolves around two traveling companions, one named Shan, who asked his friend during their journey, “Will you carry me or shall I carry you?” His companion was bewildered by this question and chose not to respond. As they continued, they passed by a field and Shan asked, “Is this crop harvested or not?” His companion, still puzzled, remained silent. They soon encountered a funeral procession, prompting Shan to ask, “Is the person in the coffin alive or dead?” His friend was left astonished and chose to stay silent until they arrived at Shan’s residence.
Once there, Shan invited his friend for dinner and informed his daughter to prepare a meal for them. He mentioned that his companion was asking the most bizarre questions. Upon hearing this, his daughter understood Shan’s inquiries. She explained to her father that by asking whether he would carry his friend or vice versa, Shan meant, “Will we converse for distraction during our travel?” As for the crops, he was inquiring if they had been sold and the payment received. When it came to the funeral, he wished to know if the deceased had left behind any children.
When dinner was ready, the man told Shan he would share the answers to his questions. Shan, curious, asked, “Who informed you?” The man replied, “My daughter Tabaqah.” Shan then sought her hand in marriage, and they became a paragon among the Arabs, with people saying, “Shan agreed with Tabaqah.”
The Tale of Al-Harith ibn Abbad and Adi ibn Abi Rabi’ah
Al-Harith ibn Abbad was from the Bakar tribe, embroiled in a war against the Taghlib tribe over a she-camel— a conflict famously known as the War of Al-Basous. Al-Harith was renowned for his wisdom and commendable qualities. Tragically, his son, Jir, was killed by Adi ibn Abi Rabi’ah from Taghlib, stirring Al-Harith’s desire for revenge. When his tribe mobilized for war, he captured a Taghlib man and promised to set him free if he revealed Adi ibn Abi Rabi’ah’s location for retribution. The captive agreed only under the condition of being granted safety, so Al-Harith confirmed his assurance. To his surprise, the captive revealed he was Adi ibn Abi Rabi’ah himself, leading Al-Harith to release him in accordance with his oath.
The Tale of “More Generous than Harim”
This aphorism signifies extraordinary generosity and is attributed to Harim ibn Abi Sanan Al-Harithiy Al-Mari. He was famously known for his lavish generosity and was mentioned in poetry by Zuhair ibn Abi Sulma. When Harim’s daughter visited Umar ibn Al-Khattab during his caliphate, he inquired about the gifts Harim had bestowed upon Zuhair which led to the latter composing verses in his praise. Harim’s daughter responded, stating that he had given Zuhair transient gifts: “he gave him horses that tire, camels that decay, clothes that wear out, and wealth that diminishes.” Umar, astonished, remarked that her father had given Zuhair things that are forgotten, while what Zuhair gave him would be remembered forever. In praise of Harim, Zuhair noted:
The miser is to be censured wherever they are,
Yet the generous, despite their faults, is Harim.
He is the generous one who gives in good faith
And, at times, is wronged yet still remains generous.
The Tale of Al-Basous’s Misfortune
Al-Basous was an Arab woman known for her calamity and misfortune, eventually becoming a proverbial example of woe. She was the daughter of Al-Munqith Al-Tamimi, headed to visit her sister, Um Jassas ibn Murrah, accompanied by a neighbor named Saad ibn Shams, who owned a she-camel. The camel accidentally grazed on Kulaib’s pasture, who, upon seeing it, shot it, resulting in the camel returning to its owner with its milk mixed with blood. Distressed, Al-Basous expressed her grief with cries of despair, “Alas, what a disgrace!” and composed poetry that would later be known as “Poetry of Vanquishment.”
Her nephew Jassas, enraged by the incident, sought vengeance and confronted Kulaib, ultimately killing him. The fallout ignited a war between the Bakar and Taghlib tribes that lasted for forty years, with Al-Basous becoming synonymous with misfortune and severed ties due to her role in instigating the conflict.
The Tale of “The Mute Does Not Nullify Marriage”
This saying is common among Arabs and originates from a story where a man sought to marry another’s daughter. The father responded that his daughter was “mute of the tongue, mute of the bracelets, mute of the anklets,” asking the suitor if he accepted. The suitor agreed, assuming she was a less talkative but robust woman. However, upon marriage, he found she was unable to speak entirely, leading him to confront the father. The father insisted he had not concealed any fact, and the couple brought their case before a judge. The husband explained his assumption that “mute of the tongue” merely meant quietness. The judge ruled in favor of the marriage’s validity since this flaw did not prevent the union from continuing. The husband returned to his wife, and they lived harmoniously, raising intelligent children, of whom he often boasted through poetry.
The Tale of “A Day Like Halima’s Mystery”
This saying is used to denote a well-known day, associated with the story of Al-Harith ibn Abu Shamar, who engaged in a war against Al-Mundhir ibn Ma’a al-Sama. Al-Mundhir sent an army of nearly a hundred thousand to confront Al-Harith. Fearful for his people, Al-Harith consulted a man named Shamar ibn Omar ibn Bakr ibn Wa’il, who was aggrieved with Al-Mundhir. Shamar proposed a plan to delay Al-Mundhir’s attack. Al-Harith then selected one hundred men from his tribe to speak to Al-Mundhir and profess their allegiance.
He instructed his daughter Halima to perfume the men. Among them was a young man named Labid ibn Amr, who, when approached by Halima, was kissed and punched in surprise, causing her to weep as she rushed to her father to express her distress. He advised her to remain silent until the men’s return from war, given that Labid was the wisest among them. They reported their fealty to Al-Mundhir, who fell into a state of negligence due to the overconfidence and was ultimately ambushed by the men and killed. Consequently, the phrase “What a day like Halima’s mystery” became a proverb.
The Tale of Antarah and Abla
Antarah was a famous pre-Islamic poet and valiant warrior, whose bravery led his father to recognize him after initially disowning him. Antarah fell in love with his cousin Abla and sought her hand in marriage. However, her father refused to grant him this request due to Antarah’s mother’s non-Arab background, preferring to marry her to an Arab warrior of noble lineage. It was even said that he demanded Antarah provide a bride price of a thousand camels belonging to Al-Nu’man. Determined, Antarah faced numerous trials and returned with the promised camels, only to find that his uncle had forsaken his promise and married Abla to someone else. Throughout his life, Antarah continuously reminisced about Abla in his poetry, longing for their youthful days.
These narratives illustrate the eloquence, courage, and generosity of the Arabs in their pre-Islamic era. Readers can see that the proverbs passed down through generations stem from various circumstances in their lives, with each saying rooted in its own story. The tales transcended their time, becoming a part of the cultural heritage that future generations continue to share and learn from.