Part 1 · Page 286
The War of Dahis
English rendering of the source section
Local English translation from the Arabic text; variants and editorial abridgements are noted.
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 sectionThe poem ends by recalling that Allah’s support turned the enemy back and that the defeated army returned in flight. Ibn Hisham then explains the War of Dahis: Dahis was a horse owned by Qays ibn Zuhayr, raced against al-Ghabra’, a mare belonging to Hudhayfah ibn Badr. Hudhayfah secretly ordered men to strike Dahis if he appeared to be winning. Dahis came in front, they struck him, and al-Ghabra’ won. When Qays learned what had happened, his brother Malik slapped the mare; Hamal ibn Badr then struck Malik. Retaliation followed, beginning a cycle of killings between ‘Abs and Fazara.