بانَتْ سُعاد

قصيدة البُردة الأولى — الصحابي كعب بن زهير رضي الله عنه (ت 26هـ)

أنشدها كعب بن زهير رضي الله عنه بين يدي النبي ﷺ في مسجده معتذرًا، فعفا عنه النبي ﷺ وخلع عليه بردته الشريفة، فسُميت «البردة». وهي أول قصائد المديح النبوي وأصلها.

Bānat Suʿād — Kaʿb ibn Zuhayr (may Allah be pleased with him)

Ka'b ibn Zuhayr, may Allah be pleased with him, recited this poem before the Prophet ﷺ in his mosque, offering his apology. The Prophet ﷺ forgave him and honored him by bestowing his noble mantle. Consequently, the poem became known as 'Al-Burdah'. It is regarded as the first and foundational work among all prophetic eulogies.

بانَتْ سُعادُ فَقَلْبي اليَوْمَ مَتْبولُ
مُتَيَّمٌ إثْرَها لم يُفَدْ مَكْبولُ

Su'ad has departed, and my heart today is consumed by her, enslaved in her wake, unredeemed and bound.

وَمَا سُعَادُ غَداةَ البَيْن إِذْ رَحَلوا
إِلاّ أَغَنُّ غضيضُ الطَّرْفِ مَكْحُولُ

On the morning of their departure, Su'ad was nothing less than a graceful gazelle, with modest, kohl-lined eyes.

هَيْفاءُ مُقْبِلَةً عَجْزاءُ مُدْبِرَةً
لا يُشْتَكى قِصَرٌ مِنها ولا طُولُ

Slender when she approaches and full-hipped when she turns away, her stature is perfectly proportioned, neither too short nor too tall.

تَجْلُو عَوارِضَ ذي ظَلْمٍ إذا ابْتَسَمَتْ
كأنَّهُ مُنْهَلٌ بالرَّاحِ مَعْلُولُ

When she smiles, she reveals front teeth of such pure beauty, they are like a spring of fresh water mixed with wine.

شُجَّتْ بِذي شَبَمٍ مِنْ ماءِ مَعْنِيةٍ
صافٍ بأَبْطَحَ أضْحَى وهْوَ مَشْمولُ

This pure water, mixed with coolness from Ma'niya's spring, lies in a wide valley, exposed to the northern breeze.

تَنْفِي الرِّياحُ القَذَى عَنْهُ وأفْرَطُهُ
مِنْ صَوْبِ سارِيَةٍ بِيضٌ يَعالِيلُ

The winds sweep away all impurities from it, and its overflow, from a night's downpour, forms white, flowing streams.

أكْرِمْ بِها خُلَّةً لوْ أنَّها صَدَقَتْ
مَوْعودَها أَو ْلَوَ أَنَِّ النُّصْحَ مَقْبولُ

How noble a companion she would be, if only she had kept her promises, or if advice were ever accepted by her.

لكِنَّها خُلَّةٌ قَدْ سِيطَ مِنْ دَمِها
فَجْعٌ ووَلَعٌ وإِخْلافٌ وتَبْديلُ

Yet she is a companion whose very blood is mixed with sorrow, intense passion, broken promises, and constant change.

فما تَدومُ عَلَى حالٍ تكونُ بِها
كَما تَلَوَّنُ في أثْوابِها الغُولُ

She never remains constant in any state, changing her disposition as swiftly as a ghoul changes its colors in its garments.

ولا تَمَسَّكُ بالعَهْدِ الذي زَعَمْتْ
إلاَّ كَما يُمْسِكُ الماءَ الغَرابِيلُ

She holds onto the promises she claims to make with no more firmness than sieves hold water.

فلا يَغُرَّنْكَ ما مَنَّتْ وما وَعَدَتْ
إنَّ الأمانِيَّ والأحْلامَ تَضْليلُ

So let not what she bestowed or promised deceive you, for wishes and dreams are but delusion.

كانَتْ مَواعيدُ عُرْقوبٍ لَها مَثَلا
وما مَواعِيدُها إلاَّ الأباطيلُ

Her promises are a proverb like those of 'Urqub, for her pledges are nothing but falsehoods.

أرْجو وآمُلُ أنْ تَدْنو مَوَدَّتُها
وما إِخالُ لَدَيْنا مِنْكِ تَنْويلُ

I hope and wish for her affection to draw near, yet I do not believe we shall receive any favor from you.

أمْسَتْ سُعادُ بِأرْضٍ لا يُبَلِّغُها
إلاَّ العِتاقُ النَّجيباتُ المَراسِيلُ

Su'ad has settled in a land that can only be reached by noble, swift, and excellent camels.

ولَنْ يُبَلِّغَها إلاَّ غُذافِرَةٌ
لها عَلَى الأيْنِ إرْقالٌ وتَبْغيلُ

And nothing will reach her except a strong, swift camel that, despite fatigue, maintains a fast trot and a powerful gait.

مِنْ كُلِّ نَضَّاخَةِ الذِّفْرَى إذا عَرِقَتْ
عُرْضَتُها طامِسُ الأعْلامِ مَجْهولُ

(It must be) a camel whose temples sweat profusely when she perspires, whose destination is a land of effaced and unknown landmarks.

تَرْمِي الغُيوبَ بِعَيْنَيْ مُفْرَدٍ لَهِقٍ
إذا تَوَقَّدَتِ الحَزَّازُ والمِيلُ

She pierces the distant horizons with the keen eyes of a solitary white gazelle, even when the mirage shimmers and the heat intensifies.

ضَخْمٌ مُقَلَّدُها فَعْمٌ مُقَيَّدُها
في خَلْقِها عَنْ بَناتِ الفَحْلِ تَفْضيلُ

Her neck is thick and her fetlock is full, a creation that shows superiority over other female camels.

غَلْباءُ وَجْناءُ عَلْكومٌ مُذَكَّرْةٌ
في دَفْها سَعَةٌ قُدَّامَها مِيلُ

She is strong, broad-faced, mature, and robust like a male, with ample breadth in her sides, and miles stretch before her.

وجِلْدُها مِنْ أُطومٍ لا يُؤَيِّسُهُ
طَلْحٌ بضاحِيَةِ المَتْنَيْنِ مَهْزولُ

Her skin is of tough hide, not worn out by acacia trees in the exposed area of her back, even if she appears emaciated.

حَرْفٌ أخوها أبوها مِن مُهَجَّنَةٍ
وعَمُّها خالُها قَوْداءُ شْمِليلُ

She is a lean, swift she-camel whose father is like her brother and whose paternal uncle is her maternal uncle, making her long-backed and exceedingly agile.

يَمْشي القُرادُ عَليْها ثُمَّ يُزْلِقُهُ
مِنْها لِبانٌ وأقْرابٌ زَهالِيلُ

So smooth and sleek are her chest and flanks that even a tick attempting to walk upon her would slip and fall off.

عَيْرانَةٌ قُذِفَتْ بالنَّحْضِ عَنْ عُرُضٍ
مِرْفَقُها عَنْ بَناتِ الزُّورِ مَفْتولُ

She is a powerful, swift she-camel, broadly endowed with strong muscles, whose elbow is powerfully set away from her ribs, indicating a wide and strong stride.

كأنَّما فاتَ عَيْنَيْها ومَذْبَحَها
مِنْ خَطْمِها ومِن الَّلحْيَيْنِ بِرْطيلُ

It is as if a long, pendulous lip extends from her muzzle and jaws, passing beyond her eyes and throat, a mark of her distinguished breed.

تَمُرُّ مِثْلَ عَسيبِ النَّخْلِ ذا خُصَلٍ
في غارِزٍ لَمْ تُخَوِّنْهُ الأحاليلُ

She moves with the flowing grace of a palm frond with its fibers, traversing soft, deep sand that the rains have not hardened or made treacherous.

قَنْواءُ في حَرَّتَيْها لِلْبَصيرِ بِها
عَتَقٌ مُبينٌ وفي الخَدَّيْنِ تَسْهيلُ

She possesses a prominent nose bridge, and for the discerning eye, her temples reveal a clear nobility, while her cheeks are smooth and even.

تُخْدِي عَلَى يَسَراتٍ وهي لاحِقَةٌ
ذَوابِلٌ مَسُّهُنَّ الأرضَ تَحْليلُ

She trots swiftly on her forelegs, her lean legs barely brushing the ground as she rapidly covers the distance.

سُمْرُ العَجاياتِ يَتْرُكْنَ الحَصَى زِيماً
لم يَقِهِنَّ رُؤوسَ الأُكْمِ تَنْعيلُ

Her dark hooves scatter pebbles as she moves, and no shoeing protects them as they traverse the rocky hilltops, attesting to her hardiness.

كأنَّ أَوْبَ ذِراعَيْها إذا عَرِقَتْ
وقد تَلَفَّعَ بالكورِ العَساقيلُ

The movement of her forelegs, when she sweats and mirages shimmer around the saddle, is a testament to her enduring strength.

يَوْماً يَظَلُّ به الحِرْباءُ مُصْطَخِداً
كأنَّ ضاحِيَهُ بالشَّمْسِ مَمْلولُ

This happens on a day so intensely hot that the chameleon remains still and silent, its exposed back seemingly roasted by the sun.

وقالَ لِلْقوْمِ حادِيهِمْ وقدْ جَعَلَتْ
وُرْقَ الجَنادِبِ يَرْكُضْنَ الحَصَى قِيلُوا

Their camel-driver, seeing the grey grasshoppers scattering pebbles in the intense heat, told the people to take their midday rest.

شَدَّ النَّهارِ ذِراعا عَيْطَلٍ نَصِفٍ
قامَتْ فَجاوَبَها نُكْدٌ مَثاكِيلُ

The forelegs of a tall, strong, middle-aged she-camel, enduring the day's hardship, move with a sound that is answered by the wailing of barren, bereaved women.

نَوَّاحَةٌ رِخْوَةُ الضَّبْعَيْنِ لَيْسَ لَها
لَمَّا نَعَى بِكْرَها النَّاعونَ مَعْقولُ

She is like a wailing woman, her upper arms loose with grief, who loses all reason when the announcers of death lament her firstborn.

تَفْرِي الُّلبانَ بِكَفَّيْها ومَدْرَعُها
مُشَقَّقٌ عَنْ تَراقيها رَعابيلُ

She tears at her chest with her hands, her garment ripped from her collarbones and hanging in tatters, in her profound grief.

تَسْعَى الوُشاةُ جَنابَيْها وقَوْلُهُمُ
إنَّك يا ابْنَ أبي سُلْمَى لَمَقْتولُ

The slanderers walk beside him, whispering their words, "Indeed, O son of Abu Sulma, you are surely destined to be killed!"

وقالَ كُلُّ خَليلٍ كُنْتُ آمُلُهُ
لا أُلْهِيَنَّكَ إنِّي عَنْكَ مَشْغولُ

Every friend in whom I had placed my hope said, "I cannot distract you, for I am preoccupied and unable to assist you."

فَقُلْتُ خَلُّوا سَبيلِي لاَ أبالَكُمُ
فَكُلُّ ما قَدَّرَ الرَّحْمنُ مَفْعولُ

So I declared, "Leave my path, may you be without kin, for everything that the Most Merciful has decreed shall surely come to pass!"

كُلُّ ابْنِ أُنْثَى وإنْ طالَتْ سَلامَتُهُ
يَوْماً على آلَةٍ حَدْباءَ مَحْمولُ

Every human being, no matter how long their life may be, will one day be carried upon a curved bier.

أُنْبِئْتُ أنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ أَوْعَدَني
والعَفْوُ عَنْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ مَأْمُولُ

I have been informed that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ has threatened me, yet forgiveness from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is earnestly hoped for.

وقَدْ أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ مُعْتَذِراً
والعُذْرُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللهِ مَقْبولُ

I have indeed come to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ seeking forgiveness, for an apology is always accepted by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

مَهْلاً هَداكَ الذي أَعْطاكَ نافِلَةَ
الْقُرْآنِ فيها مَواعيظٌ وتَفُصيلُ

Gently, may He guide you who bestowed upon you the supererogatory gift of the Qur'an, within which are profound admonitions and detailed elucidations.

لا تَأْخُذَنِّي بِأَقْوالِ الوُشاةِ ولَمْ
أُذْنِبْ وقَدْ كَثُرَتْ فِيَّ الأقاويلُ

Do not hold me accountable for the words of the slanderers, for I have committed no sin, though many tales have been spread concerning me.

لَقَدْ أقْومُ مَقاماً لو يَقومُ بِه
أرَى وأَسْمَعُ ما لم يَسْمَعِ الفيلُ

Indeed, I stand in a presence so awe-inspiring that were an elephant to stand there, it would perceive and hear what it had never before encountered.

لَظَلَّ يِرْعُدُ إلاَّ أنْ يكونَ لَهُ
مِنَ الَّرسُولِ بِإِذْنِ اللهِ تَنْويلُ

It would surely remain trembling, unless it were to receive from the Messenger ﷺ, by God's permission, a calming reassurance.

حَتَّى وَضَعْتُ يَميني لا أُنازِعُهُ
في كَفِّ ذِي نَغَماتٍ قِيلُهُ القِيلُ

Until I placed my right hand, without contention, into the palm of one whose utterances are melodious and whose word is the ultimate decree.

لَذاكَ أَهْيَبُ عِنْدي إذْ أُكَلِّمُهُ
وقيلَ إنَّكَ مَنْسوبٌ ومَسْئُولُ

Therefore, he is more awe-inspiring to me when I address him, and it has been said that you (the poet) are held accountable and will be questioned.

مِنْ خادِرٍ مِنْ لُيوثِ الأُسْدِ مَسْكَنُهُ
مِنْ بَطْنِ عَثَّرَ غِيلٌ دونَهُ غيلُ

He emerges from a lurking lion, one of the jungle's formidable beasts, whose dwelling is deep within Aththar, a dense thicket beyond which lies another.

يَغْدو فَيُلْحِمُ ضِرْغامَيْنِ عَيْشُهُما
لَحْمٌ مَنَ القَوْمِ مَعْفورٌ خَراديلُ

He goes forth to feed two mighty lions, whose sustenance consists of the dust-covered, torn flesh of their adversaries.

إِذا يُساوِرُ قِرْناً لا يَحِلُّ لَهُ
أنْ يَتْرُكَ القِرْنَ إلاَّ وهَوَ مَغْلُولُ

When he grapples with an adversary, it is not his custom to leave that foe unless utterly vanquished and bound.

مِنْهُ تَظَلُّ سَباعُ الجَوِّ ضامِزَةً
ولا تَمَشَّى بَوادِيهِ الأراجِيلُ

Because of him, the beasts of the air remain hushed, and no timid or cowardly person dares to traverse his valleys.

ولا يَزالُ بِواديهِ أخُو ثِقَةٍ
مُطَرَّحَ البَزِّ والدَّرْسانِ مَأْكولُ

And in his valley, a trusted companion (lion) always leaves behind the discarded garments and worn clothes of its consumed prey.

إنَّ الرَّسُولَ لَسَيْفٌ يُسْتَضاءُ بِهِ
مُهَنَّدٌ مِنْ سُيوفِ اللهِ مَسْلُولُ

Indeed, the Messenger ﷺ is a radiant sword from which light is sought, a finely crafted Indian blade drawn from the very swords of God.

في فِتْيَةٍ مِنْ قُريْشٍ قالَ قائِلُهُمْ
بِبَطْنِ مَكَّةَ لَمَّا أسْلَمُوا زُولُوا

He is among youths from Quraish, whose leader in the heart of Mecca commanded them, upon their embracing Islam, "Depart!"

زالُوا فمَا زالَ أَنْكاسٌ ولا كُشُفٌ
عِنْدَ الِّلقاءِ ولا مِيلٌ مَعازيلُ

They departed, yet they were neither weaklings nor exposed, nor did they ever waver or flee when confronting the enemy.

شُمُّ العَرانِينِ أبْطالٌ لُبوسُهُمْ
مِنْ نَسْجِ دَاوُدَ في الهَيْجَا سَرابيلُ

They are noble-nosed heroes whose battle attire consists of coats of mail, woven like those of David.

بِيضٌ سَوَابِغُ قد شُكَّتْ لَهَا حَلَقٌ
كأنَّها حَلَقُ القَفْعاءِ مَجْدولُ

These are white and ample, with rings so tightly interlocked that they resemble the twisted rings of the Qaf'a plant.

يَمْشونَ مَشْيَ الجِمالِ الزُّهْرِ يَعْصِمُهُمْ
ضَرْبٌ إذا عَرَّدَ السُّودُ التَّنابِيلُ

They advance with the majestic gait of noble camels, protected by their striking prowess when the dark, contemptible foes turn and flee.

لا يَفْرَحونَ إذا نَالتْ رِماحُهُمُ
قَوْماً ولَيْسوا مَجازِيعاً إذا نِيلُوا

They do not exult when their spears strike down a people, nor do they despair when they themselves are afflicted.

لا يَقَعُ الطَّعْنُ إلاَّ في نُحورِهِمُ
وما لَهُمْ عَنْ حِياضِ الموتِ تَهْليلُ

The thrusts of battle fall only upon their chests, and they show no hesitation from the pools of death.