The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 3 of 4

IMAM ABO AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATH~R 8 1
of al-Zubayr and was the aunt of the Prophet (SAAS); may God be pleased
with them all.
'Are you, sisters of mine, asking, in fear, those present at Uhud, the ignorant and
knowledgeable alike?
The knowledgeable replied, "Hamza is dead! The adviser, the very best adviser of
the Messenger of God!
The God of truth and the throne has summoned hi
to paradise, where he will live
in joy."
That was what we had hoped for; we anticipate for Hamza the best of fortunes on
assembly day.
By God, I'll not forget you so long as the winds blow; I will mourn and be sad
whether I am at home or away.
For God's lion who was a defender who protected Islam from all who disbelieved.
How I wish my limbs and bones had been there then, for the hyenas and vultures
to attack me!
I say, my family having made louder their lament, "May God reward well this
brother, this champion!""'
Ibn Ishaq stated, "Nucm%n, wife of Shammas b. WthmZn, spoke the following
verses in mourning for her husband; but God, to whom all praise and credit are
due, knows best.
'Eyes, weep copiously and without stop for a noble, brave warrior,
A man of firm conviction and fine disposition, a standard-bearer and a horseman.
When his death was announced, I cried in pain, "Gone is the man of generosity!
Gone is he who fed and clothed!"
And I said, when his usual places were empty of him, "May God not distance from
us our nearness to ShammB!"'
"Her brother al-Hakam b. SaFd b. Yarbiic responded as follows in consoling her,
'Guard your modesty, in seclusion and dignity; Shammi% was just one of our men.
Do not kiU yourself because his death has come, in obedience of God, and on a day
of violence and terror.
Now Jjanua was God's lion; so bear up, for he tasted from S hm's cup that day.'
"Hind, daughter of Wtba, the wife of Aba Sufyzn, recited, upon their return
from mud,
'I have returned home with my mind in much confusion, some of those I was after
having escaped me,
Those of Quraysh at Badr, and others, including some of Bano H%shim and of the
people of Yathrih.
However, I did gain one thing, even if it was not all as I had hoped in my journey."'
Ibn Ishnq gives many more such poems. We have left out the others because
of our concern not to be long-winded and boring; those poems we have given
suffice. And to God be all praise.