With the final cargo planes of occupying American forces departing Afghanistan and the clamor of an uncertain future for the nation ringing throughout the media, one is reminded of the following verses of poetry from Dīwān al-Ḥammāsah.
In response to lines from someone of a neighboring, warring tribe telling the poet and his clan to give up, surrender, and join “their brothers” – promising the poet and his clan protection and security from themselves and all outside enemies if they stop fighting for their independence – the poet Ibrahīm ibn Kunayf al-Nabhanī composes a few lines of beautiful poetry directed at his tribesmen in response to this offer:
تعز فإن الصبر بالحر أجمل
وليس على ريب الزمان معول
Be patient, for indeed being free is better I There is no protection from the trials of time.
فلو كان يغني أن يرى المرء جازعا
لحادثة او كان يغني التذلل
And even if it was more beneficial for a man to worry I About everything – or even if such humiliation would prove beneficial
لكان التعزى عند كل مصيبة
ونائبة بالحر أولا و أجمل
Then still, patience through every test and trial I In freedom is preferable and better.
And Allah knows best.
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