A Word That Said to Its Speaker, ‘Leave Me’
The poet, Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Jabala ibn Muslim al-Khurasaani, known as al-Akawk. He was born blind and was black with leprosy.
Al-Jahiz said: “He was the most beautiful reciter among Allah’s creation.” He is the one who said about Abu Dulaf, the Amir:
“The world is Abu Dulaf,
Between his departure and his presence.
When Abu Dulaf leaves,
The world follows in his footsteps.
Everyone on earth, Arab or not,
From the desert to the city,
Borrows their honor from you,
Wearing it on their day of pride.”
Ibn al-Mu’tazz, in Tabaqaat al-Shu’ara (The Classes of Poets), said: “When al-Ma’mun heard about this poem, he became angry and said, ‘Find him!’ They searched for him but could not find him because he was residing in the mountains. He fled to al-Jazira and then to al-Shamat, but they eventually captured him. He was brought to al-Ma’mun in chains. Al-Ma’mun said, ‘O son of a vile woman, are you the one who said:
“Everyone on earth, Arab or not…
You made us borrow our virtues from him?’
Ali replied, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, you are a household beyond comparison.’
Al-Ma’mun said, ‘By Allah, you have spared no one. You have made your blood lawful by your disbelief when you said:
“You are the one who determines the fate of days,
And shifts time from one state to another.
Whenever you extend your gaze to someone,
You decree their provisions and their lifespans.”
That, by Allah, is true. Cut out his tongue from the back of his neck.’ They did so, and he died.”
(Siyarul A’laamin Nubalaa: 10/192)
