إِذْ دَخَلَ شَيْخٌ عَفْرِيَةٌ تَعْتُلُهُ امْرَأَةٌ مُصِيبَةٌ
An ungainly old man entered, dragged along by a woman with children.
ʿIfrīyah gives an impression of a rough, disagreeable exterior; muṣībah here means a woman with children, while taʿtuluhu means pulling or dragging him. The scene has dramatic force even before anyone speaks.
The striking presentation is not proof of either person’s character. The narrative will now let the woman state her case.
Opening interactive controls...
The Alexandrian Maqāmah — A Traveler’s Ambition and a Complaint before the Judge
إِذْ دَخَلَ شَيْخٌ عَفْرِيَةٌ تَعْتُلُهُ امْرَأَةٌ مُصِيبَةٌ
An ungainly old man entered, dragged along by a woman with children.
ʿIfrīyah gives an impression of a rough, disagreeable exterior; muṣībah here means a woman with children, while taʿtuluhu means pulling or dragging him. The scene has dramatic force even before anyone speaks.
The striking presentation is not proof of either person’s character. The narrative will now let the woman state her case.