LessonsLabīd ibn Rabīʿah: Hospitality, Justice, Trust and Tribal Leadership (Verses 70–88)Quiz

أَدْعُو بِهِنَّ لِعَاقِرٍ أَوْ مُطْفِلٍ بَذَلْتُ لِجِيرَانِ الْجَمِيعِ لِحَامُهَا
I call for the slaughter of barren or nursing camels alike and distribute their meat among all the neighbouring people.

ʿĀqir describes an animal without young; muṭfil has a young one. Their contrast emphasizes the range of animals offered. Liḥāmuhā refers to their meat.

The preceding verse concerns slaughter and allotment; this verse turns to sharing. The poet represents his generosity as extending beyond his own household to nearby people.

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Verse 74: Generosity as distribution

Labīd ibn Rabīʿah: Hospitality, Justice, Trust and Tribal Leadership (Verses 70–88)

أَدْعُو بِهِنَّ لِعَاقِرٍ أَوْ مُطْفِلٍ بَذَلْتُ لِجِيرَانِ الْجَمِيعِ لِحَامُهَا
I call for the slaughter of barren or nursing camels alike and distribute their meat among all the neighbouring people.

ʿĀqir describes an animal without young; muṭfil has a young one. Their contrast emphasizes the range of animals offered. Liḥāmuhā refers to their meat.

The preceding verse concerns slaughter and allotment; this verse turns to sharing. The poet represents his generosity as extending beyond his own household to nearby people.