Download PDF: [S] His one line of Poetry (Islamic story)

Abu Saeed Abdul Malik bin Quraib bin Abdul Malik bin Ali bin Asma’i Basri was considered as one of the leading authorities on Arabic language and considered to be “Hujjatul Adab” or a proof or testimony on Arabic classical language. He had such a good memory that it is reported that he had memorized nearly sixteen thousand couplets of various poems. (Sayrul Nublah 175.181)

 

He narrates:

 

One day I decided to go to someone’s house to get some financial assistance. I also had great hope that this person would help me. However, when I arrived at his home, I noticed that there was a guard standing at the door. This guard then informed me that the person inside had become extremely weak financially and he was standing at the door to stop people like me. When I heard this, I then wrote a couplet on a piece of paper and handed it over to him. In this couplet, I wrote: ‘When there is present an obstacle at the doorway of a generous and merciful person, then what is the difference between a person of mercy and a person who is lowly?’

 

The guard then took my piece of paper and went inside. After a few minutes, he returned and handed me the same paper, however there was something written on the opposite side of this paper which read: ‘When a kind person has less wealth, then he places a guard in front of his door to block those who he owes money to and for him, this is safety.’

 

The guard also handed me a sealed pouch in which there were five hundred Dinaars. When I saw this, I declared, “By Allah! I will certainly show this to the leader of the Muslims (with the intent of showing how merciful and kind this person was).”

 

When the leader of the Muslims saw me, he asked, “Are you well Asmaa’i and where have you come from?”

 

I replied that I was coming from the house of that person who after the leader of the Muslims was the most kind and merciful in the entire Kingdom.

 

The leader of the Muslims asked me who this kind and Shareef person was. I then placed the piece of paper which I had given him and he had given me including the pouch of five hundred Dinaars. However, when the King saw this pouch, his face turned red with anger. He then said to me that this pouch belonged to the Baitul Maal and wanted to know who this person was who had given me this pouch. I then said it would greatly shame me if I had to reveal the name of this person who might be greatly embarrassed by my action. However, it seemed like the King already knew who this person was and he commanded one of his guards to accompany me and to bring a certain person to his court. He also informed the guard that he was to tell this person that there was no need for this person to have any fear.

 

When this person presented himself in front of the leader of the Muslims, he asked this person, “Did you not tell me yesterday that your financial position was very bad and that you needed help as you have become poor and destitute. This is the reason that I had handed you this pouch of five hundred Dinaars so that your condition could change. However, what is the reason that simply because of one couplet of Asma’i, you had handed him this pouch of five hundred Dinaars?”

 

The person replied, “O Ameerul Mo’mineen! By Allah! My state which I had explained to you. There is not one atom of lies in it. However, I felt extreme shame to turn away someone who had come to me with a great hope in his heart and that I should turn him away.”

 

When the leader of the Muslims heard this, he replied, “By Allah! I swear that no one has given birth to someone as kind and merciful as you in the entire country.”

The King then handed him another one thousand Dinaars.

 

Asma’i then continues, “When I saw the kindness of the King, I then mentioned that he should also not ignore this poor servant.”

 

When the King heard this, he laughed out aloud and also handed me one thousand Dinaars. After this, the leader of the Muslims then took this person as one of his close confidants in his government. (Al Mustajaad)