قالوا: أبو الصَّغْرِ من شَيْبانَ قلتُ لهمُ
This poem by Ibn al-Rumi explores the concept of lineage and honor. The poet begins by addressing a claim that someone named Abu al-Sagr is from the tribe of Shayban. He refutes this by suggesting that it is Shayban who gains honor from Abu al-Sagr, not the other way around. This reversal of expectation highlights the idea that individuals can bring honor to their lineage, rather than merely inheriting it. The second part of the poem draws a parallel to the Prophet Muhammad, who elevated the status of his ancestor Adnan. Through this comparison, the poet emphasizes the power of individual greatness to uplift an entire lineage, suggesting that true honor comes from one's actions and legacy rather than mere ancestry.
| Word | In Arabic | In English | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| قالوا | أخبروا | they said | qālū |
| أبو | والد | father | abū |
| الصَّغْرِ | اسم شخص | name of a person | al-ṣaghr |
| من | من | from | min |
| شَيْبانَ | قبيلة | a tribe | Shaybān |
| قلتُ | أخبرت | I said | qultu |
| لهمُ | إليهم | to them | lahum |
| كَلّا | لا | no | kallā |
| لَعَمْرِي | بحياتي | by my life | la‘amrī |
| ولكنْ | لكن | but | walākin |
| منهُ | منه | from him | minhu |
| كَمْ | كم | how many | kam |
| مِنْ | من | of | min |
| أَبٍ | والد | father | abin |
| قد | قد | have | qad |
| علا | ارتفع | rose | ‘alā |
| بابنٍ | بابنه | by his son | bi-ibnin |
| ذُرى | قمم | heights | dhurā |
| شَرَفٍ | كرامة | honor | sharafin |
| كما | مثلما | like | kamā |
| برسولِ | بواسطة الرسول | by the Messenger | bi-rasūli |
| اللهِ | الله | God | Allāh |
| عدنانُ | اسم شخص | name of a person | ‘Adnān |
Ibn al-Rumi was a renowned Arab poet of the Abbasid era, known for his sharp wit and eloquent poetry. He lived during the 9th century and his works often reflected the political and social issues of his time.
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