Al-Zubayr’s Poem about the Serpent Quraysh Feared

Before revelation came to him, Quraysh called the Messenger of Allah al-Amin, “the Trustworthy.” When the rebuilding was complete, al-Zubayr ibn Abd al-Muttalib said about the serpent Quraysh had feared while building the Ka‘bah: I marvel at the eagle swooping down upon the serpent as it writhed; it used to hiss, and at times it would spring— when we began the foundations, it tightened its coils, frightening us away from the building. When we feared punishment, an eagle came and dived upon it in a swift descent; it seized the serpent and carried it away, leaving us to build, with no barrier before us. So we gathered in force to raise a House whose foundations and earth were ours; at dawn we lifted its base, with none of those leveling it wearing clothes; Allah honored Banu Lu’ayy through it, whose roots among them shall not depart; Banu ‘Adi and Murrah gathered there, and Kilab had preceded them; Allah granted us honor through it, and reward is sought from Allah.

[1] Wathab means a leap or spring. [2] Rijz means punishment; another reading is zajr, a warning or restraint. [3] Tatala’ib means that the bird followed through in its swoop. [4] Recension A reads “those leveling it”; other copies have a corrupted form. [5] They used to carry stones unclothed, considering it part of energetic devotion. [6] Bawwa’na means “settled us” or “granted us a place.” [7] Musawwinā means the men leveling the building; other copies have a corrupted word.