Labīd facts for kids

Labīd, whose full name was Abu Aqil Labīd ibn Rabī'ah, was a famous Arabian poet. He lived a very long time ago, from about 560 AD to 661 AD. He was known for his powerful poems and his good character.

Who Was Labīd?

Labīd belonged to a group of people called the Bani Amir. This group was part of a larger tribe known as the Hawazin. In his younger days, Labīd was a brave warrior. Many of his poems were about fights and disagreements between different tribes.

Labīd Becomes a Muslim

Later in his life, Labīd's uncle became sick. Labīd was sent to the city of Medina to ask the Prophet Muhammad for help. During this visit, Labīd was deeply impressed by a part of the Koran, especially a short chapter called 'Al-Kawthar'.

Because of this experience, Labīd soon decided to become a Muslim. After he accepted Islam, it seems he stopped writing poetry. During the time when Umar was the leader (called a caliph), Labīd is said to have moved to a city called Kufa. People believe he lived a very long life, though the exact dates are a bit unclear.

His Famous Poems

One of Labīd's most famous poems is part of a special collection called the Mu'allaqat. These were a group of seven long poems considered the best of their time in Arabia. They were so important that they were sometimes hung on the walls of the Kaaba in Mecca.

Labīd's Generosity

Labīd was also known for his great generosity and good character, which was called muruwwa. There's a story that shows how kind he was. He promised to feed people whenever the east wind started to blow. He would keep feeding them until the wind stopped.

A leader named Al-Walid 'Uqba, who was in charge of Kufa, heard about Labīd's promise. To help Labīd keep his word, Al-Walid sent him one hundred camels! This gift helped Labīd continue his generous act of feeding those in need.

A Wise Saying

Labīd once wrote a poem for a person named Nu'mh Mundhii. In this poem, he said a very wise line:

Every thing, but Allah, is vain

And all happiness, unconditionally, will vanish

This line means that everything in the world, except for God, is not lasting or truly important. The Prophet Muhammad himself said about this line: ❝The most truthful line of poetry any poet ever uttered is the phrase of Labīd, 'Indeed, everything, except for Allāh, is of no value.'❞ This shows how much respect Labīd's words earned.