Arabs were ardent lovers of poetry. The entire edifice of their art and culture was built by poets who composed verses and lyrics to express their glory. Hassan ibn Thabit, a poet, was well-versed in poetic expression of the ancient Arabic traditions. Initially, he composed hagiographical poetry in praise of the Arab kings. In return, they gave him invaluable presents.
The political chieftains of tribes in Arabia, whom he avidly praised in earlier times, offered him money and, in return, asked him to compose lines to denigrate the Prophet in his face. With this intent in mind, Thabit stood in one place waiting for the Prophet so he could see him and know some of his traits to depict them negatively in his poetry. But to his utter surprise, the moment he saw the Prophet’s bright face and magnanimous personality, his fascination for him knew no bounds. In fact, he fell deeply in love with him.
He returned the money given by political mongers of Arabia and said with conviction: “Here’s your money. I don’t care about it. As for the noble persona who you wanted me to malign, I witness he is the Prophet of God.” Astonished, they rebuked him: “What happened to you?” Thabit replied by composing in extempore these beautiful lyrics:
“When I saw his light shining forth,
In awe, I covered my eyes with my palms,
So I was scarcely able to look at him.
The lights from his light are drowned in his light,
His face shines out like the sun and moon in one.
I bore it until I could bear it no longer.
I found the taste of patience to be like bitter aloes.
I could find no remedy to bring me relief
other than delighting in the sight of the one I love.”
After this incident, Thabit composed lyrics in sincere and unconditional love for his beloved Prophet. He devotedly praised his personality traits — mercifulness (al-Rahmah), trustworthiness (al-Amanah), truthfulness (al-Sadaqah) and sympathy for all (al-Mowasat). His love for the Prophet reached higher culmination to the extent that he described him as the noblest and the most unparalleled persona in his poetry:
By God, no woman has conceived and born
One like the prophet of mercy and the guide.
Thabit became one of the revered lovers, among the Prophet’s companions. He was given the epithet of “Shair al-Rasool” (Proph-et’s poet). He gave his love beautiful expressions in his poetic imagination, filled with high veneration. He described his beloved Prophet as a light, a harbinger of light, a sun and a moon, he tells us:
He dawned on people with a light made new.
Whenever his forehead emerged in pitch-black darkness,
it would shine like the blazing luminary of dark night.
Using phrases from the Quran, Thabit’s poetry was instrumental in spreading the spiritual messages of the Prophet. On the day of his demise, Thabit became the most pained soul on earth. He recalled his beloved:
I shall never cease to praise him.
It may be for so doing I shall be forever with him,
With the chosen one for whose eternal company I hope,
And to attain to that day I devote all my efforts.
