Part 1 · Page 171
‘Atikah’s Elegy for Her Father
English rendering of the source section
Local verse translation from the Arabic text; lexical notes and variant readings are included separately.
This local English rendering may condense the Arabic narration and editorial notes. It is not a complete published English edition. Consult the Arabic source for exact wording and context.
Read the corresponding Arabic section‘Atikah bint Abd al-Muttalib said, mourning her father: My eyes, be generous and do not withhold your tears after the sleepers have gone to rest. My eyes, stream forth, pour out, and mingle your weeping with the women’s lamentation. My eyes, let the tears flow and fall heavily for a man neither weak nor feeble with age; for the mighty leader in times of trial, noble in endeavor and faithful to his pledge; for Shaybat al-Hamd, who kindled the fire, a man of proven worth and steadfast position; a sword in war, sharp and unsparing, who brought down an opponent in dispute; easy in temperament, open-handed, a man of the great, powerful clan of ‘Abd Manaf; firmly rooted in a lofty house, high in lineage and difficult to match.
[4] The verb describes rain pouring abundantly; al-iltidam is women striking their faces in mourning. [5] Istakhrata means to persist in weeping; kaham is a dull, aged man. She means he was neither weak nor dull. [6] Jahfal describes a great man and generous chief. [7] The ya in “wafi” is shortened to preserve the meter. [8] ‘Admali means large-bodied; allaham means abundant in good. [9] Tabannaka means to become firmly rooted and established.