She threw down her staff and her seeds became rooted just as the wayfarer finds joy at the oasis
Fatimah, ‘Ali, and their sons
March 5, 2019Fabricated virtues of Abu Bakr
March 5, 2019BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
She threw down her staff and her seeds became rooted just as the wayfarer finds joy at the oasis
فألقت عصاها و استقرت بها النوى كما قر عينا بالإياب المسافر
She threw down her staff and her seeds became rooted just as the wayfarer finds joy at the oasis
They suppose that Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha expressed malicious joy at Sayyidina ‘Ali’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu demise by quoting this couplet. They cite Hafiz Ibn ‘Abdul Barr’s statement as proof,
و روي أن عائشة تمثلت بهذا البيت حين اجتمع الأمر لمعاوية
It has been reported that ‘Aisha cited this couplet when Muawiyah gained full control of the caliphate.[1]
The Rawafid take advantage of every opportunity to hold negative thoughts and cast allegations against Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha. This couplet is not a source of criticism nor is it regarded as a ridicule for Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu as they have supposed, even if its sanad is established. Firstly, just consider how Hafiz narrated it. He used words depicting disapproval which indicate to the weakness of the narration.
Moreover, this poetry is ancient. The Arabs would quote it when a matter is settled for a person after dispute or the like. It is not as they assume that it is an expression of malicious joy at Sayyidina ‘Ali’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu demise.
The Arabs refer to the staying of a traveller as ‘asan (staff) and the settlement of the matter as istiwa’ ‘asah (settlement of his staff). When the traveller is not in need of departure, they say: He has cast down his staff. The poet says:
فألقت عصاها و استقرت بها النوى كما قر عينا بالإياب المسافر
She threw down her staff and her seeds became rooted just as the wayfarer finds joy at the oasis
So when people unite after division and matters settle after dispute, the same metaphor is used.
Hafiz Ibn ‘Asakir says:
يقال للإنسان إذا اطمأن بالمكان و اجتمع له أمره قد ألقى بوانيه و كذلك يقال ألقى أرواقه و ألقى عصاه قال الشاعر فألقت عصاها و استقرت بها النوى
It is said about a person when he settles at a place and his affairs are set in order, qad alqa bawanih (lit. he has cast down his seeds). Similarly, it is said alqa arwaqah (lit. he cast his papers) or alqa ‘asah (he cast his staff). The poet says: She threw down her staff and her seeds became rooted.
Hence, this couplet become proverbial. It refers to the establishment of a matter after dispute. And the objective here was to voice the people’s unifying on one man after division among them. There is no expression of malicious joy at Sayyidina ‘Ali’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu demise. In fact, it is not established through a sanad at all. It is just related with words indicating weakness as Hafiz Ibn ‘Abdul Barr quoted in al Tamhid.
Next⇒ Fabricated virtues of Abu Bakr
[1] Ibn ‘Abdul Barr: al Tamhid vol. 19 pg. 162.
BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
She threw down her staff and her seeds became rooted just as the wayfarer finds joy at the oasis
فألقت عصاها و استقرت بها النوى كما قر عينا بالإياب المسافر
She threw down her staff and her seeds became rooted just as the wayfarer finds joy at the oasis
They suppose that Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha expressed malicious joy at Sayyidina ‘Ali’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu demise by quoting this couplet. They cite Hafiz Ibn ‘Abdul Barr’s statement as proof,
و روي أن عائشة تمثلت بهذا البيت حين اجتمع الأمر لمعاوية
It has been reported that ‘Aisha cited this couplet when Muawiyah gained full control of the caliphate.[1]
The Rawafid take advantage of every opportunity to hold negative thoughts and cast allegations against Sayyidah ‘Aisha radiya Llahu ‘anha. This couplet is not a source of criticism nor is it regarded as a ridicule for Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu as they have supposed, even if its sanad is established. Firstly, just consider how Hafiz narrated it. He used words depicting disapproval which indicate to the weakness of the narration.
Moreover, this poetry is ancient. The Arabs would quote it when a matter is settled for a person after dispute or the like. It is not as they assume that it is an expression of malicious joy at Sayyidina ‘Ali’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu demise.
The Arabs refer to the staying of a traveller as ‘asan (staff) and the settlement of the matter as istiwa’ ‘asah (settlement of his staff). When the traveller is not in need of departure, they say: He has cast down his staff. The poet says:
فألقت عصاها و استقرت بها النوى كما قر عينا بالإياب المسافر
She threw down her staff and her seeds became rooted just as the wayfarer finds joy at the oasis
So when people unite after division and matters settle after dispute, the same metaphor is used.
Hafiz Ibn ‘Asakir says:
يقال للإنسان إذا اطمأن بالمكان و اجتمع له أمره قد ألقى بوانيه و كذلك يقال ألقى أرواقه و ألقى عصاه قال الشاعر فألقت عصاها و استقرت بها النوى
It is said about a person when he settles at a place and his affairs are set in order, qad alqa bawanih (lit. he has cast down his seeds). Similarly, it is said alqa arwaqah (lit. he cast his papers) or alqa ‘asah (he cast his staff). The poet says: She threw down her staff and her seeds became rooted.
Hence, this couplet become proverbial. It refers to the establishment of a matter after dispute. And the objective here was to voice the people’s unifying on one man after division among them. There is no expression of malicious joy at Sayyidina ‘Ali’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu demise. In fact, it is not established through a sanad at all. It is just related with words indicating weakness as Hafiz Ibn ‘Abdul Barr quoted in al Tamhid.
Next⇒ Fabricated virtues of Abu Bakr
[1] Ibn ‘Abdul Barr: al Tamhid vol. 19 pg. 162.