His Poem called al-La`miya
Al-Kumayt recited before Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, his poem called al-Lamiya. This poem moved the feelings and sentiments of the Ima`m. For, in this poem, al-Kumayt mentioned the painful political events at that time. He also mentioned the
____________
1. Murujj al-Dhahab, vol. 2, p. 195.
( 322 )
persecutions from which the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, suffered. In the beginning of the poem, he said:
Does the one who commits sins, follows his caprice, pays no attention to wisdom, consider carefully the final results? Does the one whose heart evil and mistreatment control understand the truth?
Does the community wake for its own affair, rise from its lull and slumber, so it takes off the garment of laziness and cowardice, and removes the oppression and tyranny that have befallen it?
The silence (of the people) towards oppression has become long. If this oppression was changed, their silence would be better for them.
In these lines, al-Kumayt summoned the Moslems to end their silence. He warned them from lull and laziness. Then he encouraged them to revolt against the Umayyads, who persecuted the people.
In this wonderful poem, al-Kumayt said:
The (religious) precepts have been canceled.
It seams that we follow a religion other than our religion.
Our words are those of the leading prophets.
However, our deeds are those of the people
who lived before Islam.
We are satisfied with the world,
from which we do not want to separate our souls.
Yet, in it, we die and are killed.
We cling to it. It is like a shield of which we are afraid.
In the first line, al-Kumayt mentioned that the Umayyads stopped the religious precepts and the Islamic fundamentals. Thus, it seemed that the Moslems followed a religion other than the religion of Islam.
In the second line, he dispraised the Umayyad rulers. For their words were of the righteous. Still, their deeds were contrary to their words. Rather, their deeds were of the people who lived before Islam.
In the last two lines, he ascribed that state of the Moslems to their love for the world. So, they did not revolt against the Umayyad
( 323 )
government. Then al-Kumayt said:
The people are neglected. They are like the camels that graze without a driver.
O Politicians, answer what we ask you about. By my life, there are eloquent ones among you.
Are you the people of the Book? Do you rule the people according to it?
In the first line, al-Kumayt said that the Umayyads neglected the affairs of the people. So, the people became like the neglected camels, which had no driver to take care of them. In the last two lines, he asked those politicians if they were the people of the Book, and if they ruled the people according to it. If they were so, then why did they deviate from the religion? Why did they neglect its teachings? Then al-Kumayt went on asking the Umayyads about that negligence. He ascribed oppression and tyranny to them. He numbered their bad qualities. Then he summoned the Moslems to revolt against them. Then he mentioned Ima`m Husayn, the father of the free, peace be on him, saying:
Their swords selected al-Husayn and his companions, as the one who selected plants.
Their horses were covered with blood from the family of Mohammed.
The Prophet of Allah was absent from among them. His absence was a misfortune that befell
people.
Al-Kumayt's words and sentiments were truthful when he elegized al-Husayn, peace be on him. His lines moved Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, very much. Then al-Kumayt said:
The fighters hit him (al-Husayn) through the bow of other than them.
The first (Hisha`m) gave error to the last.
In this line, al-Kumayt said that the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, were liable to many disasters. The previous people were responsible for such disasters. For they helped the Umayyads seize the authority and rule over the Moslems. When
( 324 )
Ima`m Abu` Ja'far heard this line, he was full of sadness. So, he raised his hands towards the sky. Then he invoked Allah for al-Kumayt, saying: "O Allah, forgive al-Kumayt.
1
With this, we will end our talk about al-Kumayt's poem called Lamiya. In this poem it was mentioned that he elegized Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him. In it he said:
I will die for the Truth, as Abu` Ja'far died.
Surely, al-Kumayt composed this line after the death of Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him. Then the line has been added to his poem called al-Lamiya.
His Poem called al-'Ayniya
The following is another wonderful poem of his poems called al-Hashimiyats. Al-Kumayt came to Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, to recite this poem before him. He said to him: "I have written poetry. If I reveal it, I will be killed. If conceal it, I am afraid of Allah, the Most High." Then he recited for the Ima`m, peace be on him, this wonderful poem:
Sleeplessness has dismissed sleep from your eye.
And a care brings tears from it.
The care has controlled the heart. It moves the illness and sadness (in the heart), which
has been prevented from happiness.
That is for the missing of the chiefs from Quraysh.
In these lines, al-Kumayt described his continuous cares. For they made him sleepless. They made him know nothing except sadness and sorrow. For he always thought about the disasters and misfortunes that befell his 'Alid masters. Those disasters and misfortunes burnt his heart. They filled him with sorrow and sadness.
In his poem called al-'Ayniya, al-Kumayt described his master, Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, peace be on him. He said:
( 325 )
With the Most Merciful (Allah), he (the Prophet) discloses al-Matha`ni (Surat al-Fa`tiha).
Abu` Hasan (Imam 'Ali) was a chosen one for him.
His cousin who degraded his own caprice.
He hastened to please his Creator.
The Prophet chose him, irrespective of those who refused to mention his outstanding
merits.
He announced his authority on the day of Ghadir Khum.
However, the men pledged allegiance to each other.
They forgot his right and wronged him.
In these lines, al-Kumayt mentioned Ima`m 'Ali, the commander of the faithful, peace be on him. He mentioned that the Ima`m, peace be on him, supported the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, when he announced his bright message. The Ima`m protected him from the oppressive aggressors. From that he wanted nothing except Allah's pleasure and the hereafter. The Ima`m, peace be on him, had outstanding spiritual abilities. So, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family, chose him. He made him his helper and the successor after him. He announced that in the general meeting he held at Ghadir Khum. He announced his Ima`mate and his succession (to authority) after him. In this connection, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and his family,
said: "Whoever I am the master of, this man, 'Ali is his master. O Allah, befriend whoever befriends, be hostile to whoever opposes him, support whoever supports him and desert whoever deserts him.
1 Thus, Allah and His Apostle pledged allegiance to Ima`m 'Ali, the Commander of the Faithful, and the first leader of the Islamic Message. However, the people paid no attention to this homage. They ignored their pledge of allegiance to the Ima`m and forgot his high rank. So, they held a meeting under the shelter
____________
1. The Tradition of al-Ghadir is repeateadly narrated by succseevi narrators. All Moslems have unanimously on its narration. All ( the books called) al-Shi'a have mentioned it.
( 326 )
(saqifa). History books have mentioned in detail this event.
Then al-Kumayt went on reciting his wonderful poem, saying:
Even you are afraid of the sword and the whip, say to the Umayyads wherever they are:
Fie on the time when I am cowardly and obedient to you.
May Allah make hungry him whom you have satisfied.
May He make full him whom you have made hungry through your tyranny.
1
In these lines, al-Kumayt mentioned the Umayyads. He invoked Allah against their hirelings. He asked Allah to starve them and to deprive them of His mercy. For they were full of the money and gifts of the Umayyds. Meanwhile he invoked Allah for those whom the Umayyads wronged. He asked Him to enrich them and to make them lead a happy life. Then al-Kumayt mentioned the Ha`shimites. He said that they were the leaders of the community. So, they would let the community live in comfort.
The historians said: "When Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, heard this poem, he admired it. Then he said: 'O Allah, be sufficient to al-Kumayt.
The Ima`m repeated this supplication three times. So, Allah saved al-Kumayt from the prison of the Umayyads.
2
His firm Struggle
Al-Kumayt struggled firmly for his beliefs and fundamentals. In the most critical circumstances, he proclaimed the laudable deeds and outstanding merits of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. He summoned the people to support them. In the meantime he summoned them to revolt against the tyrannical Umayyads. He played an important role in shaking and overthrowing the Umayyad entity. The following is some of his efforts in this connection:
____________
1. Al-Hashimiyat, pp. 81-82.
2. Akhbar Shu'ara' al-Shi'a, pp. 72-73.
( 327 )
1. His praising ahl al-Bayt
Al-Kumayt praised the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, very much. He numbered their noble deeds and their outstanding qualities in his poems called al-Hashimyat, which are the most
valuable masterpieces in Arab literature. Worth mentioning, his poems played an effective role in enlightening the Moslems. The made them detest the Umayyads.
Al-Kumayt praised the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. However, the Umayyds officially prevented the people from praising them. Rather, they forced the people to curse them on the pulpits. They ordered the teachers to make their pupils detest them. They formed committees to make traditions to defame them. Moreover, they punished severely those who mentioned their laudable deeds. So, al-Kumayt endangered himself when he praised the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. For he resisted the desires of the authority. Besides, he opposed its policies.
2. His dispraising the Umayyds
Al-Kumayt played a dangerous role in opposing the Umayyds. For he dispraised their kings. He numbered their bad deeds. In his poetry, he pictured them as the worst creatures. The people memorized what he composed about them. So, they turned away from the Umayyads. They were indignant with them. Thus, his dispraise was among the factors that overthrew the Umayyd government. Among his words on them are:
Even you are afraid of the sword and the whip, say to the Umayyads wherever they are:
Fie on the time when I am cowardly and obedient to you.
May Allah make hungry him whom you have satisfied.
May He make full him whom you have made hungry through your tyranny.
He recited these lines before Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him. So, the Ima`m asked Allah to forgive al-Kumayt and to be pleased with
(328)
him.
1 Al-Kumayt also dispraised Hisha`m b. 'Abd al-Malik. He said:
Our words are those of the leading prophets.
However, our deeds are those of the people
who lived before Islam.
2
Al-Kumayt also dispraised the supporters and the hirelings of the Umayyads. For example, he dispraised al-Hakim b. 'Ayya`sh al-Kalbi. He prided himself of dispraising the Umayyads.
So, his son al-Mustahal hastened to him and blamed him for boasting of the Umayyads, saying:
Father, you dispraised and defamed al-Kalbi. Then you boasted of the Umayyads. Yet you have regarded them as unbelievers. Would you boast of 'Ali and the Ha`shimites, whom you follow?
So, al-Kumayt replied:
My little son, al-Kalbi has devoted himself to the Umayyads, the enemies of 'Ali. If I mentioned 'Ali, al-Kalbi would leave mentioning my name, and he would dispraise him. Thus, I would expose 'Ali to
dispraise.
Thus, al-Kalbi refrained from answering al-Kumayt. However, he let sorrow and sadness hurt him.
3
3. His moving Tribalism between the Yemenis and the Naza`ris
Al-Kumayt played a dangerous role in destroying the Umayyad state. He spared no effort to stir up discord between the Yemenis and the Nazaris, the most important of the Arab tribes in number and influence and
supporting the Umayyad government. In his poems, al-Kumayt dispraised the Yemenis. He numbered their defects. Al-Mas'u`di reported the reason al-Kumayt dispraised the Yemenis. He said that al-Kumayt visited Abd Allah b. al-Hasan. The latter asked the former to compose poetry to sow division among the Arabs to
____________
1. Mu'jam al-Shu'ara', p. 348.
2. Ibid.
3. Al-Aghani, vol. 15, p. 129.
( 329 )
overthrow the Umayyad state. So, al-Kumayt accepted that. Then he composed wonderful poems. In them, he glorified the Yemenis, and mentioned their laudable deeds. Meanwhile he dispraised the Qahtanis.
His poetry had great effects on the hearts. Thus, it moved malice and hatred between the two tribes. Di'bil al-Khuza`'i, the Poet of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them, supported the Qahtanis. I think that there was a secret agreement between al-Kumayt and Di'bil. For they were among the poets of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them.
So, each tribe mentioned its own laudable deeds. Meanwhile they defamed each other. Thus, enmity took place between them. Then the enmity included the people of the villages and the desert. Accordingly, their hearts were full of malice and hatred. Discords occurred between the two families. Marwa`n b. Mohammed al-Ju'di, the last Umayyad king, sided with the Nazaris. The Yemenis deviated from the Umayyads. Then they joined the 'Abba`sids. With that the Umayyad state collapsed. Ahmed Amin said: "A short time after al-Kumayt, the Umayyad state was overthrown.
2
His Arrest
Al-Kumayt satirized the Yemenis. His satire became famous. The people talked about it in their assemblies and clubs. Kha`lid b. 'Abd Allah al-Qasri, the governor of Ku`fa heard of it. He sided with the Yemenis. He said: "By Allah, I will kill al-Kumayt."The historians said: "Kha`lid b. 'Abd Allah al-Qasri bought a very beautiful slave girl. He made her memorize al-Kumayt's poems called al-Ha`shimiya`t. After she had memorized them, he gave her as a gift to Hisha`m b. 'Abd al-Malik. He wrote to him about al-Kumayt's stories and satire against the Umayyads. He sent him al-Kumayt's poem, in which he said:
____________
1. Hayat al-Imam Musa b. Ja'far, p. 1, p. 315.
2. Duha al-Islam, vol. 3, p. 206.
( 330 )
O Lord, victory is sought through You.
O Lord, reliance is on You.
It is a long poem. In it al-Kumayt elegized Zayd b. 'Ali, the great martyr, and his son al-Husayn b. Zayd, the immortal martyr. In it, he also praised the Ha`shimites. When Hisha`m received the poem and read it, he became very angry. He wrote Kha`lid a letter, in which he ordered him to cut off al-Kumayt's tongue and hand. So, Kha`lid b. 'Abd Allah al-Qasri ordered the police to arrest al-Kumayt. The police arrested him and imprisoned him. He remained in prison for some days. During them he suffered from persecutions.
1
His Escape from Prison
Al-Kumayt remained in prison. He was afraid and worried. Cares and troubles controlled him. He did not know the time of his execution. The historians said: "Al-Kumayt had a close friend called Aba`n b. al-Walid al-'Ajali. The Umayyads had appointed Aba`n governor over Wa`sit. When Aba`n heard of al-Kumayt's news, he wrote him a letter. In the letter, he said: 'You will be executed. Send for your wife. Put on her clothes, and order her to stay in prison.' He gave the letter to his retainer and ordered him to go quickly to al-Kumayt. Al-Kumayt did that and escaped from prison.
2
Al-Kumayt received Forgiveness
The authorities sought for al-Kumayt everywhere, but could not find him. For he hid himself from them. Al-Kumayt intended to praise Hisha`m and the Umayyads to save himself from them. He had sent his nephew, Ward, to Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him, to ask his permission before he did that. Thus, the Ima`m, peace be on him, permitted him. Then Ward came back to his uncle and told him about the Ima`m's pleasures.
3So, al-Kumayt and a group of the Asadis headed for Damascus. When they arrived in it, they went to a group of the chiefs of Quraysh. They told them about the matter. They accepted
____________
1. Al-Aghani, vol. 15, p. 114.
2. Muqaddamat al-Hashimiyat, p. 17.
3. Ibid.
( 331 )
that, and then they except al-Kumayt went to 'Unbisa b. Sa'id b. al-'As. They said to him:
O Abu` Kha`lid, Allah has given you this noble deed. This is al-Kumayt b. Zayd, the poet of Madar. The Commander of the Faithful (i. e. , Hisha`m) ordered him to be killed. However, he escaped. He has come to you and us.
'Unbisa responded to them. He went to Moslima b. Hisha`m and said to him: "O Abu` Shakir, I have brought you a noble deed through which you reach the pleiades.""What is it?"asked Moslima. They told him about the matter. So, Moslima protected al-Kumayt.
1That became famous. When Hisha`m heard of it, he summoned his son Moslima and asked him: "Why have you protected al-Kumayt without an order from the Commander of the Faithful?"
I have been waiting for the calmness of his anger," replied Moslima.
Bring him immediately," Hisha`m commanded.
Moslima left the assembly of his father. He went to al-Kumayt and said to him: "O Abu` al-Mustahal, the Commander of the Faithful has commanded me to bring you to him.
Abu` Shakir, do you want to submit me to him?" asked al-Kumayt.
No," replied Moslima.
Moslima paved the way to his salvation. He said to him: "Mu'a`wiya b. Hisha`m has recently died. He (Hisha`m) is very sad for him. When the night comes, sit by his grave. I will send you his children. When he summons you, ask them to tie their clothes to your clothes. Ask them to say: This man has sought protection with the grave of our father. We are worthy of protecting him."Then Moslima left al-Kumayt and went away. When it got dark, al-Kumayt headed for the grave and sat by it. When Hisha`m entered upon morning, he came to the grave of his son. Then he asked: "Who is that over there?""Perhaps, he is a seeker of protection with the grave,"they
____________
1. Al-Ghadir, vol. 2, p. 206.
( 332 )
replied. "Everyone is given protection except al-Kumayt,"Hisha`m said. It was said to him: "He is al-Kumayt."He ordered him to be brought. He was brought. The children had tied their clothes to his clothes. When Hisha`m looked at them, he burst into tears. Then the children said: "O Commander of the Faithful, he has sought protection with the grave of our father. My father has died. Forgive al-Kumayt for him and us."So, Hisha`m wept.
Then al-Kumayt praised Hisha`m with some lines of poetry. So Hisha`m said: "Poetry should be like these lines. I am pleased with you"
Al-Kumayt thanked him for that. He asked him to prevent Kha`lid b. 'Abd Allah al-Qasri from pursuing him. Hisha`m accepted that. Then he ordered forty thousand dirhams and thirty garments to be given to al-Kumayt. Then he wrote to Kha`lid to release al-Kumayt's wife and to give her twenty thousand dirhams and thirty garments. So, Kha`lid did that.
1
Al-Kumayt could overcome the events with his cleverness, his eloquent words, and his strong character. He showed neither weakness nor fear before the tyrannical ruler, Hisha`m. Rather he showed sold will and firm determination. He was not satisfied with safety and salvation. Rather, he asked Hisha`m to prevent Kha`lid, the governor of Ku`fa, from pursuing him.
Admonition and Apology
Al-Kumayt came to Ima`m Abu` Ja'far, peace be on him. The Ima`m welcomed him, sat beside him, smiled at him, and blamed him in a friendly manner, saying:
O al-Kumayt, is it you who said:
Now I have joined the Umayyads?"
Thus, al-Kumayt apologized to the Ima`m for that. He answered as the knowledgeable jurist did:
Yes, I have said that. I do not want the world through these
____________
1. Al-Aghani, vol. 15, pp. 115-119.
( 333 )
words. For I have recognized your outstanding merits.
Ima`m al-Ba`qir, peace be on him, was pleased with al-Kumayt. Then he said to him: "If you said that out of precautionary dissimulation, there would be no harm on you. For precautionary dissimulation
is lawful.
1That occurred for he asked no permission from the Ima`m to praise the Umayyads.
Al-Kumayt sincerely loved the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. He was obedient to them. Many tribulations befell him for them. Namely, he was liable to the wrath and adversities of the Umayyads. He ended part of his lifetime in prison. There he was full of fright. From that he wanted nothing except Allah's pleasure and the hereafter.
To Paradise
Al-Kumayt was a brave man. He defended the rights of the members of the House (ahl al-Bayt), peace be on them. Thus, Allah willed to grant him martyrdom at the hand of the most wicked ones of His creatures. That was as follows: Kha`lid al-Qasri, who punished al-Kumayt severely, was removed from the office. Then Yousif b. 'Amr was appointed ruler over Iraq. So, al-Kumayt went to him to praise him with a poem. Meanwhile he dispraised Kha`lid al-Qasri. However, Yousif's guards sided with him. So, they stabbed al-Kumayt in the abdomen with their swords.
2 He went out of Yousif's room. He fainted, and then he recovered. He was heard
say: "O Allah, Mohammed's family! O Allah, Mohammed's family!
3 Then he passed away.
____________
1. Ibid, p. 126.
2. Ibid, p. 121.
3. Ibid, p. 130.
