I noted the signs of the coming feast.—Literally “I had
observed the flash or lightning of the feast.” The metaphor is
the one common with Ḥarîri of calling the index or promise of
anything its “flash.” As has been remarked in a note to an
earlier Assembly, the allusion is to the lightning-flash of a cloud,
from the aspect of which the Arabs prognosticated rain. The
name Barḳa‘îd enables the author to make an indifferent play on
words. The derivation of the word
Its rites, bounden or of free will.—According to the commentators the obligatory rite, which no Moslem might neglect, was the giving of alms at the end of the fast; while that which was optional, though praiseworthy, was to attend the public prayer on the day of the feast. The usual meaning of farḍ is an observance commanded in the Koran, or by the most weighty tradition; while nefl relates to something recommended as becoming in a believer, and undertaken spontaneously by him. For the literal meaning of the latter word, see Ta‘rîfât, p. 265. But the limits of obligation varied according to the interpretation of the Doctors, and one commentator interprets the passage according to the rite of Ash Shâfii‘î, to which Ḥarîri belonged.
In new apparel.—This is a Tradition originating with ‘Âyisheh, who related that the Prophet had said, “It is incumbent upon all of you besides your suit (of two garments) for common use, to have a suit for Friday and for the Feast.” Compare Koran vii. 29.
Brought up its horsemen and its footmen.—Paraphrased by De Sacy, “accompagné de toute sa pompe et de tout son éclat.” It may, however, be here taken literally, though used in a metaphorical sense in Koran xvii. 66. See notes to Ḥarîri’s Preface.
A pair of cloaks, or overalls, worn by beggars, instead of the
usual
Like a goblin.—
Each simple one.—Each that appeared as if he could be easily
imposed upon, and cheated of his money by the arts of the mendicant
couple. A long dissertation on the word
Sure I have become crushed, etc.—The metre of these verses is
To kin or lord.—This rendering of
The garb of the verses, i.e., the elaborate dress of assonance and rhyme in which they were arrayed.
A fee to an informer is lawful.—To one who is employed to
make a discovery, or to find lost articles. These words have reference
to the prohibition of Mohammed against paying money
to a divineress,
The Return.—I have thus rendered the word by which Moslems express the exclamation “We belong to God, and to Him we return.”
There remains not any pure.—The measure of these verses is
the third
Not any of worth. Much controversy has arisen on the lawfulness
of
Perdition on thee, Wretch.—
Both of the prey and the net, etc.—By these metaphors Abû
Zayd means to say “Shall we not only receive no alms from this
company, but also lose the written petitions by which we are accustomed
to obtain them?” A handful to the load is a proverbial
expression for ill upon ill, or in an opposite sense luck upon luck.
The word
A mite.—A small unstamped piece of metal used as a coin.
The polished, the engraved.—These words are adopted from the Mo‘allaḳah of ‘Antarah, v. 37. “After the heat of the noon subsides, I drink of old wine gotten by the polished, the engraved.” The epithets, however, in the opinion of some, apply to the goblet, so that the sense is “I drink of old wine from the polished, the engraved.” (Mo‘allaḳât, edition of Fr. Aug. Arnold, page 156).
It troubled my heart.—The sentence is here the fâ‘il to
I might test the quality.—Literally, that I might bite the wood,
as an Arab bites a piece of wood to test its soundness for making
an arrow or lance. In the Thirty-seventh Assembly it is said,
Henceforth be not hasty in censure, nor plane the wood till thou
hast bitten it; that is, proceed not in a charge until thou hast
made sure that it is well founded. Firâseh is originally skill in
judging of a horse, faras; and secondarily, the art of physiognomy,
or of discovering the disposition of men from their face
and form; and then discernment generally. A similar art was
that of
Save by treading on the necks of the congregation, a thing forbidden in the law.—It is forbidden to break through the rows of worshippers, and, as it were, to tread on their necks while they are making their prostrations. This prohibition is derived from the Prophet, who said, “Whoso treads on the necks of the people on the day of Congregation (Friday) is making for himself a bridge to hell.”