`Abd Allah ibn `Urwa al-Qurashi

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ جَلَسَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ امْرَأَةً، فَتَعَاهَدْنَ وَتَعَاقَدْنَ أَنْ لاَ يَكْتُمْنَ مِنْ أَخْبَارِ أَزْوَاجِهِنَّ شَيْئًا‏.‏ قَالَتِ الأُولَى زَوْجِي لَحْمُ جَمَلٍ، غَثٌّ عَلَى رَأْسِ جَبَلٍ، لاَ سَهْلٍ فَيُرْتَقَى، وَلاَ سَمِينٍ فَيُنْتَقَلُ‏.‏ قَالَتِ الثَّانِيَةُ زَوْجِي لاَ أَبُثُّ خَبَرَهُ، إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ لاَ أَذَرَهُ، إِنْ أَذْكُرْهُ أَذْكُرْ عُجَرَهُ وَبُجَرَهُ‏.‏ قَالَتِ الثَّالِثَةُ زَوْجِي الْعَشَنَّقُ، إِنْ أَنْطِقْ أُطَلَّقْ وَإِنْ أَسْكُتْ أُعَلَّقْ‏.‏ قَالَتِ الرَّابِعَةُ زَوْجِي كَلَيْلِ تِهَامَةَ، لاَ حَرٌّ، وَلاَ قُرٌّ، وَلاَ مَخَافَةَ، وَلاَ سَآمَةَ‏.‏ قَالَتِ الْخَامِسَةُ زَوْجِي إِنْ دَخَلَ فَهِدَ، وَإِنْ خَرَجَ أَسِدَ، وَلاَ يَسْأَلُ عَمَّا عَهِدَ‏.‏ قَالَتِ السَّادِسَةُ زَوْجِي إِنْ أَكَلَ لَفَّ، وَإِنْ شَرِبَ اشْتَفَّ، وَإِنِ اضْطَجَعَ الْتَفَّ، وَلاَ يُولِجُ الْكَفَّ لِيَعْلَمَ الْبَثَّ، قَالَتِ السَّابِعَةُ زَوْجِي غَيَايَاءُ أَوْ عَيَايَاءُ طَبَاقَاءُ، كُلُّ دَاءٍ لَهُ دَاءٌ، شَجَّكِ أَوْ فَلَّكِ أَوْ جَمَعَ كُلاًّ لَكِ‏.‏ قَالَتِ الثَّامِنَةُ زَوْجِي الْمَسُّ مَسُّ أَرْنَبٍ، وَالرِّيحُ رِيحُ زَرْنَبٍ‏.‏ قَالَتِ التَّاسِعَةُ زَوْجِي رَفِيعُ الْعِمَادِ، طَوِيلُ النِّجَادِ، عَظِيمُ الرَّمَادِ، قَرِيبُ الْبَيْتِ مِنَ النَّادِ‏.‏ قَالَتِ الْعَاشِرَةُ زَوْجِي مَالِكٌ وَمَا مَالِكٌ، مَالِكٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ ذَلِكِ، لَهُ إِبِلٌ كَثِيرَاتُ الْمَبَارِكِ قَلِيلاَتُ الْمَسَارِحِ، وَإِذَا سَمِعْنَ صَوْتَ الْمِزْهَرِ أَيْقَنَّ أَنَّهُنَّ هَوَالِكُ‏.‏ قَالَتِ الْحَادِيَةَ عَشْرَةَ زَوْجِي أَبُو زَرْعٍ فَمَا أَبُو زَرْعٍ أَنَاسَ مِنْ حُلِيٍّ أُذُنَىَّ، وَمَلأَ مِنْ شَحْمٍ عَضُدَىَّ، وَبَجَّحَنِي فَبَجِحَتْ إِلَىَّ نَفْسِي، وَجَدَنِي فِي أَهْلِ غُنَيْمَةٍ بِشِقٍّ، فَجَعَلَنِي فِي أَهْلِ صَهِيلٍ وَأَطِيطٍ وَدَائِسٍ وَمُنَقٍّ، فَعِنْدَهُ أَقُولُ فَلاَ أُقَبَّحُ وَأَرْقُدُ فَأَتَصَبَّحُ، وَأَشْرَبُ فَأَتَقَنَّحُ، أُمُّ أَبِي زَرْعٍ فَمَا أُمُّ أَبِي زَرْعٍ عُكُومُهَا رَدَاحٌ، وَبَيْتُهَا فَسَاحٌ، ابْنُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ، فَمَا ابْنُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ مَضْجِعُهُ كَمَسَلِّ شَطْبَةٍ، وَيُشْبِعُهُ ذِرَاعُ الْجَفْرَةِ، بِنْتُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ فَمَا بِنْتُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ طَوْعُ أَبِيهَا، وَطَوْعُ أُمِّهَا، وَمِلْءُ كِسَائِهَا، وَغَيْظُ جَارَتِهَا، جَارِيَةُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ، فَمَا جَارِيَةُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ لاَ تَبُثُّ حَدِيثَنَا تَبْثِيثًا، وَلاَ تُنَقِّثُ مِيرَتَنَا تَنْقِيثًا، وَلاَ تَمْلأُ بَيْتَنَا تَعْشِيشًا، قَالَتْ خَرَجَ أَبُو زَرْعٍ وَالأَوْطَابُ تُمْخَضُ، فَلَقِيَ امْرَأَةً مَعَهَا وَلَدَانِ لَهَا كَالْفَهْدَيْنِ يَلْعَبَانِ مِنْ تَحْتِ خَصْرِهَا بِرُمَّانَتَيْنِ، فَطَلَّقَنِي وَنَكَحَهَا، فَنَكَحْتُ بَعْدَهُ رَجُلاً سَرِيًّا، رَكِبَ شَرِيًّا وَأَخَذَ خَطِّيًّا وَأَرَاحَ عَلَىَّ نَعَمًا ثَرِيًّا، وَأَعْطَانِي مِنْ كُلِّ رَائِحَةٍ زَوْجًا وَقَالَ كُلِي أُمَّ زَرْعٍ، وَمِيرِي أَهْلَكِ‏.‏ قَالَتْ فَلَوْ جَمَعْتُ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ أَعْطَانِيهِ مَا بَلَغَ أَصْغَرَ آنِيَةِ أَبِي زَرْعٍ‏.‏ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ كُنْتُ لَكِ كَأَبِي زَرْعٍ لأُمِّ زَرْعٍ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ عَنْ هِشَامٍ وَلاَ تُعَشِّشُ بَيْتَنَا تَعْشِيشًا‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ فَأَتَقَمَّحُ‏.‏ بِالْمِيمِ، وَهَذَا أَصَحُّ‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha:Eleven women sat (at a place) and promised and contracted that they would not conceal anything of the news of their husbands. The first one said, "My husband is like the meat of a slim weak camel which is kept on the top of a mountain which is neither easy to climb, nor is the meat fat, so that one might put up with the trouble of fetching it." The second one said, "I shall not relate my husband's news, for I fear that I may not be able to finish his story, for if I describe him, I will mention all his defects and bad traits." The third one said, "My husband, the "too-tall"! if I describe him (and he hears of that) he will divorce me, and if I keep quiet, he will keep me hanging (neither divorcing me nor treating me as a wife)." The fourth one said, "My husband is (moderate in temper) like the night of Tihama: neither hot nor cold; I am neither afraid of him, nor am I discontented with him." The fifth one said, "My husband, when entering (the house) is a leopard (sleeps a lot), and when going out, is a lion (boasts a lot). He does not ask about whatever is in the house." The sixth one said, "If my husband eats, he eats too much (leaving the dishes empty), and if he drinks he leaves nothing; if he sleeps he sleeps he rolls himself (alone in our blankets); and he does not insert his palm to inquire about my feelings." The seventh one said, "My husband is a wrong-doer or weak and foolish. All the defects are present in him. He may injure your head or your body or may do both." The eighth one said, "My husband is soft to touch like a rabbit and smells like a Zarnab (a kind of good smelling grass)." The ninth one said, "My husband is a tall generous man wearing a long strap for carrying his sword. His ashes are abundant (i.e. generous to his guests) and his house is near to the people (who would easily consult him)." The tenth one said, "My husband is Malik (possessor), and what is Malik? Malik is greater than whatever I say about him. (He is beyond and above all praises which can come to my mind). Most of his camels are kept at home (ready to be slaughtered for the guests) and only a few are taken to the pastures. When the camels hear the sound of the lute (or the tambourine) they realize that they are going to be slaughtered for the guests." The eleventh one said, "My husband is Abu Zar` and what is Abu Zar` (i.e., what should I say about him)? He has given me many ornaments and my ears are heavily loaded with them and my arms have become fat (i.e., I have become fat). And he has pleased me, and I have become so happy that I feel proud of myself. He found me with my family who were mere owners of sheep and living in poverty, and brought me to a respected family having horses and camels and threshing and purifying grain. Whatever I say, he does not rebuke or insult me. When I sleep, I sleep till late in the morning, and when I drink water (or milk), I drink my fill. The mother of Abu Zar and what may one say in praise of the mother of Abu Zar? Her saddle bags were always full of provision and her house was spacious. As for the son of Abu Zar, what may one say of the son of Abu Zar? His bed is as narrow as an unsheathed sword and an arm of a kid (of four months) satisfies his hunger. As for the daughter of Abu Zar, she is obedient to her father and to her mother. She has a fat well-built body and that arouses the jealousy of her husband's other wife. As for the (maid) slave girl of Abu Zar, what may one say of the (maid) slavegirl of Abu Zar? She does not uncover our secrets but keeps them, and does not waste our provisions and does not leave the rubbish scattered everywhere in our house." The eleventh lady added, "One day it so happened that Abu Zar went out at the time when the milk was being milked from the animals, and he saw a woman who had two sons like two leopards playing with her two breasts. (On seeing her) he divorced me and married her. Thereafter I married a noble man who used to ride a fast tireless horse and keep a spear in his hand. He gave me many things, and also a pair of every kind of livestock and said, Eat (of this), O Um Zar, and give provision to your relatives." She added, "Yet, all those things which my second husband gave me could not fill the smallest utensil of Abu Zar's." `Aisha then said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me, "I am to you as Abu Zar was to his wife Um Zar

وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، وَحَسَنٌ الْحُلْوَانِيُّ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ زَيْدٍ، قَالَ حَسَنٌ حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ، حَدَّثَنِي الضَّحَّاكُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ لَمَّا بَدَّنَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَثَقُلَ كَانَ أَكْثَرُ صَلاَتِهِ جَالِسًا ‏.‏

A'isha reported:When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) grew bulky and heavy he would observe (most of his Nafl) prayers sitting

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لِزُهَيْرٍ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ تَزَوَّجَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي شَوَّالٍ وَبَنَى بِي فِي شَوَّالٍ فَأَىُّ نِسَاءِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ أَحْظَى عِنْدَهُ مِنِّي ‏.‏ قَالَ وَكَانَتْ عَائِشَةُ تَسْتَحِبُّ أَنْ تُدْخِلَ نِسَاءَهَا فِي شَوَّالٍ ‏.‏

A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported:Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) contracted marriage with me in Shawwal and took me to his house as a bride during Shawwal. And who among the wives of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was dearer to him than I, and' A'isha liked that the women (of her family) should enter the houses as brides during the month of Shawwal

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ الْخَلِيلِ، وَسُوَيْدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْهِرٍ، قَالَ إِسْمَاعِيلُ أَخْبَرَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، قَالَ كُنْتُ أَنَا وَعُمَرُ بْنُ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، يَوْمَ الْخَنْدَقِ مَعَ النِّسْوَةِ فِي أُطُمِ حَسَّانٍ فَكَانَ يُطَأْطِئُ لِي مَرَّةً فَأَنْظُرُ وَأُطَأْطِئُ لَهُ مَرَّةً فَيَنْظُرُ فَكُنْتُ أَعْرِفُ أَبِي إِذَا مَرَّ عَلَى فَرَسِهِ فِي السِّلاَحِ إِلَى بَنِي قُرَيْظَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَأَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ قَالَ فَذَكَرْتُ ذَلِكَ لأَبِي فَقَالَ وَرَأَيْتَنِي يَا بُنَىَّ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَمَا وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ جَمَعَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمَئِذٍ أَبَوَيْهِ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ فِدَاكَ أَبِي وَأُمِّي ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Abdullah b. Zubair reported on the Day of the Battle of the Trench:I and Umar b. Abu Salama were with women folk in the fort of Hassan (b. Thabit). He at one time leaned for me and I cast a glance and at anothertime I leaned for him and he would see and I recognised my father as he rode on his horse with his arms towards the tribe of Quraizah. 'Abdullah b. 'Urwa reported from Abdullah b. Zubair: I made a mention of that to my father, whereupon he said: My son, did you see me (on that occasion)? He said: Yes. Thereupon he said: By Allah, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) addressed me saying: I would sacrifice for thee my father and my mother

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ السَّعْدِيُّ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ جَنَابٍ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ عِيسَى، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ حُجْرٍ - حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَخِيهِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، أَنَّهَا قَالَتْ جَلَسَ إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ امْرَأَةً فَتَعَاهَدْنَ وَتَعَاقَدْنَ أَنْ لاَ يَكْتُمْنَ مِنْ أَخْبَارِ أَزْوَاجِهِنَّ شَيْئًا قَالَتِ الأُولَى زَوْجِي لَحْمُ جَمَلٍ غَثٌّ عَلَى رَأْسِ جَبَلٍ وَعْرٍ لاَ سَهْلٌ فَيُرْتَقَى وَلاَ سَمِينٌ فَيُنْتَقَلَ ‏.‏ قَالَتِ الثَّانِيَةُ زَوْجِي لاَ أَبُثُّ خَبَرَهُ إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ لاَ أَذَرَهُ إِنْ أَذْكُرْهُ أَذْكُرْ عُجَرَهُ وَبُجَرَهُ ‏.‏ قَالَتِ الثَّالِثَةُ زَوْجِي الْعَشَنَّقُ إِنْ أَنْطِقْ أُطَلَّقْ وَإِنْ أَسْكُتْ أُعَلَّقْ ‏.‏ قَالَتِ الرَّابِعَةُ زَوْجِي كَلَيْلِ تِهَامَةَ لاَ حَرٌّ وَلاَ قُرٌّ وَلاَ مَخَافَةَ وَلاَ سَآمَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَتِ الْخَامِسَةُ زَوْجِي إِنْ دَخَلَ فَهِدَ وَإِنْ خَرَجَ أَسِدَ وَلاَ يَسْأَلُ عَمَّا عَهِدَ ‏.‏ قَالَتِ السَّادِسَةُ زَوْجِي إِنْ أَكَلَ لَفَّ وَإِنْ شَرِبَ اشْتَفَّ وَإِنِ اضْطَجَعَ الْتَفَّ وَلاَ يُولِجُ الْكَفَّ لِيَعْلَمَ الْبَثَّ ‏.‏ قَالَتِ السَّابِعَةُ زَوْجِي غَيَايَاءُ أَوْ عَيَايَاءُ طَبَاقَاءُ كُلُّ دَاءٍ لَهُ دَاءٌ شَجَّكِ أَوْ فَلَّكِ أَوْ جَمَعَ كُلاًّ لَكِ ‏.‏ قَالَتِ الثَّامِنَةُ زَوْجِي الرِّيحُ رِيحُ زَرْنَبٍ وَالْمَسُّ مَسُّ أَرْنَبٍ ‏.‏ قَالَتِ التَّاسِعَةُ زَوْجِي رَفِيعُ الْعِمَادِ طَوِيلُ النِّجَادِ عَظِيمُ الرَّمَادِ قَرِيبُ الْبَيْتِ مِنَ النَّادِي ‏.‏ قَالَتِ الْعَاشِرَةُ زَوْجِي مَالِكٌ وَمَا مَالِكٌ مَالِكٌ خَيْرٌ مِنْ ذَلِكِ لَهُ إِبِلٌ كَثِيرَاتُ الْمَبَارِكِ قَلِيلاَتُ الْمَسَارِحِ إِذَا سَمِعْنَ صَوْتَ الْمِزْهَرِ أَيْقَنَّ أَنَّهُنَّ هَوَالِكُ ‏.‏ قَالَتِ الْحَادِيَةَ عَشْرَةَ زَوْجِي أَبُو زَرْعٍ فَمَا أَبُو زَرْعٍ أَنَاسَ مِنْ حُلِيٍّ أُذُنَىَّ وَمَلأَ مِنْ شَحْمٍ عَضُدَىَّ وَبَجَّحَنِي فَبَجِحَتْ إِلَىَّ نَفْسِي وَجَدَنِي فِي أَهْلِ غُنَيْمَةٍ بِشَقٍّ فَجَعَلَنِي فِي أَهْلِ صَهِيلٍ وَأَطِيطٍ وَدَائِسٍ وَمُنَقٍّ فَعِنْدَهُ أَقُولُ فَلاَ أُقَبَّحُ وَأَرْقُدُ فَأَتَصَبَّحُ وَأَشْرَبُ فَأَتَقَنَّحُ ‏.‏ أُمُّ أَبِي زَرْعٍ فَمَا أُمُّ أَبِي زَرْعٍ عُكُومُهَا رَدَاحٌ وَبَيْتُهَا فَسَاحٌ ‏.‏ ابْنُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ فَمَا ابْنُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ مَضْجِعُهُ كَمَسَلِّ شَطْبَةٍ وَيُشْبِعُهُ ذِرَاعُ الْجَفْرَةِ ‏.‏ بِنْتُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ فَمَا بِنْتُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ طَوْعُ أَبِيهَا وَطَوْعُ أُمِّهَا وَمِلْءُ كِسَائِهَا وَغَيْظُ جَارَتِهَا ‏.‏ جَارِيَةُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ فَمَا جَارِيَةُ أَبِي زَرْعٍ لاَ تَبُثُّ حَدِيثَنَا تَبْثِيثًا وَلاَ تُنَقِّثُ مِيرَتَنَا تَنْقِيثًا وَلاَ تَمْلأُ بَيْتَنَا تَعْشِيشًا ‏.‏ قَالَتْ خَرَجَ أَبُو زَرْعٍ وَالأَوْطَابُ تُمْخَضُ فَلَقِيَ امْرَأَةً مَعَهَا وَلَدَانِ لَهَا كَالْفَهْدَيْنِ يَلْعَبَانِ مِنْ تَحْتِ خَصْرِهَا بِرُمَّانَتَيْنِ فَطَلَّقَنِي وَنَكَحَهَا فَنَكَحْتُ بَعْدَهُ رَجُلاً سَرِيًّا رَكِبَ شَرِيًّا وَأَخَذَ خَطِّيًّا وَأَرَاحَ عَلَىَّ نَعَمًا ثَرِيًّا وَأَعْطَانِي مِنْ كُلِّ رَائِحَةٍ زَوْجًا ‏.‏ قَالَ كُلِي أُمَّ زَرْعٍ وَمِيرِي أَهْلَكِ فَلَوْ جَمَعْتُ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ أَعْطَانِي مَا بَلَغَ أَصْغَرَ آنِيَةِ أَبِي زَرْعٍ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ كُنْتُ لَكِ كَأَبِي زَرْعٍ لأُمِّ زَرْعٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

A'isha reported that (one day) there sat together eleven women making an explicit promise amongst themselves that they would conceal nothing about their spouses. The first one said:My husband is a sort of the meat of a lean camel placed at the top of a hill, which it is difficult to climb up, nor (the meat) is good enough that one finds in oneself the urge to take it away (from the top of that mountain). The second one said: My husband (is so bad) that I am afraid I would not be able to describe his faults-both visible and invisible completely. The third one said: My husband is a long-statured fellow (i. e. he lacks intelligence). If I give vent to my feelings about him, he would divorce me, and if I keep quiet I would be made to live in a state of suspense (neither completely abandoned by him nor entertained as wife). The fourth one said: My husband is like the night of Tihama (the night of Hijaz and Mecca), neither too cold nor hot, neither there is any fear of him nor grief. The fifth one said: My husband is (like) a leopard as he enters the house, and behaves like a lion when he gets out, and he does not ask about that which he leaves in the house. The sixth one said: So far as my husband is concerned, he eats so much that nothing is left back and when he drinks he drinks that no drop is left behind. And when he lies down he wraps his body and does not touch me so that he may know my grief. The seventh one said: My husband is heavy in spirit, having no brightness in him, impotent, suffering from all kinds of conceivable diseases, heaving such rough manners that he may break my head or wound my body, or may do both. The eighth one said: My husband is as sweet as the sweet-smelling plant, and as soft as the softness of the hare. The ninth one said: My husband is the master of a lofty building, long-statured, having heaps of ashes (at his door) and his house is near the meeting place and the inn. The tenth one said: My husband is Malik, and how fine Malik is, much above appreciation and praise (of mine). He has many folds of his camel, more in number than the pastures for them. When they (the camels) hear the sound of music they become sure that they are going to be slaughtered. The eleventh one said: My husband is Abu Zara'. How fine Abu Zara' is! He has suspended in my ears heavy ornaments and (fed me liberally) that my sinews and bones are covered with fat. So he made me happy. He found me among the shepherds living in the side of the mountain, and he made me the owner of the horses, camels and lands and heaps of grain and he finds no fault with me. I sleep and get up in the morning (at my own sweet will) and drink to my heart's content. The mother of Abu Zara', how fine is the mother of Abu Zara'! Her bundles are heavily packed (or receptacles in her house are filled to the brim) and the house quite spacious. So far as the son of Abu Zara' is concerned, his bed is as soft as a green palm-stick drawn forth from its bark, or like a sword drawn forth from its scabbard, and whom just an arm of a lamb is enough to satiate. So far as the daughter of Abu Zara' is concerned, how fine is the daughter of Abu Zara', obedient to her father, obedient to her mother, wearing sufficient flesh and a source of jealousy for her co-wife. As for the slave-girl of Abu Zara', how fine is she; she does not disclose our affairs to others (outside the four walls of the house). She does not remove our wheat, or provision, or take it forth, or squander it, but she preserves it faithfully (as a sacred trust). And she does not let the house fill with rubbish. One day Abu Zara' went out (of his house) when the milk was churned in the vessels, that he met a woman, having two children like leopards playing with her pomegranates (chest) under her vest. He divorced me (Umm Zara') and married that woman (whom Abu Zara') met on the way. I (Umm Zara') later on married another person, a chief, who was an expert rider, and a fine archer: he bestowed upon me many gifts and gave me one pair of every kind of animal and said: Umm Zara', make use of everything (you need) and send forth to your parents (but the fact) is that even if I combine all the gifts that he bestowed upon me, they stand no comparison to the least gift of Abu Zara'. 'A'isha reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said to me: I am for you as Abu Zara' was for Umm Zara