Labid
Arab poet and companion of Muhammad, author of a Mu'allaqat poem.
Abū Aqīl Labīd ibn Rabīʿa ibn Mālik al-ʿĀmirī, born around 560, was an Arab poet from the higher Nejd region and later a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He belonged to the Bani Amir, a branch of the Hawazin tribe. In his youth, Labīd was an active warrior, and his early poetry focused heavily on the conflicts between different tribes. His life took a significant turn when a sick uncle sent him to Medina to obtain a remedy from Muhammad. During this visit, Labīd was deeply moved by a portion of the Quran’s shortest chapter, Al-Kawthar, and soon after embraced Islam. His literary reputation is cemented by the inclusion of one of his poems in the celebrated collection known as the Mu'allaqat.
Labīd was noted for his muruwwa, or virtue, exemplified by a vow he made: whenever the east wind began to blow, he would feed people until the wind stopped. To help him fulfill this promise, Al-Walid ‘Uqba, the leader of Kufa, sent him one hundred camels. In an elegy composed for Nu’mh Mundhii, Labīd wrote verses that gained lasting fame, including the line, “Every thing, but Allah, is vain / And all happiness, unconditionally, will vanish.” The Prophet Muhammad himself praised this verse, stating that the most truthful words ever spoken by a poet were those of Labīd, and noted that Umaiya bin As-Salt was close to becoming a Muslim but did not. Labīd’s poetry also reflects on human vanity and divine judgment, as seen in lines where he writes that a man may think he has accomplished much, yet life is spent in hopes, and that on the day of reckoning, every person will be informed of their deeds before Allah. He died around 661.
- born
- c. 560
- died
- c. 661
- field
- Poetry
- nationality
- Arab (Bani Amir, Hawazin)
- known_for
- Mu'allaqat poet, companion of Muhammad, verse on inter-tribal disputes
Lore & Background
Labīd was an active warrior in his younger years, and his poetry largely focused on inter-tribal disputes. He later accepted Islam after being sent by a sick uncle to obtain a remedy from Muhammad at Medina, where he was influenced by a part of the Quran's shortest surah, 'Al-Kawthar'. His muruwwa (virtue) is highlighted in a story that he vowed to feed people whenever the east wind began to blow, continuing until it stopped. Al-Walid 'Uqba, leader of the Kuffa, sent him one hundred camels to enable him to keep this vow. In an elegy composed for Nu'mh Mundhii, Labīd wrote verses including 'Every thing, but Allah, is vain' and 'All happiness, unconditionally, will vanish'. Muhammad said of the first verse: 'The most true words said by a poet was the words of Labīd' and noted that Umaiya bin As-Salt was about to be a Muslim but did not embrace Islam.
Reader's Guide
Labīd holds significance as a pre-Islamic and early Islamic poet whose work bridges two eras. His inclusion in the Mu'allaqat, a collection of celebrated pre-Islamic odes, marks him as a major literary figure. His acceptance of Islam after encountering the Quran illustrates the transformative impact of the new faith on Arab poets. Muhammad's praise of Labīd's verse—calling it 'the most true words said by a poet'—underscores its theological resonance, particularly the line affirming that everything except Allah is perishable. The story of his vow to feed people during the east wind, supported by a gift of camels from Al-Walid 'Uqba, exemplifies the ideal of muruwwa (virtue) in Arab culture. Labīd's legacy endures through his poetry, his role as a companion of Muhammad, and his representation of the transition from pre-Islamic to Islamic values.
Did You Know?
- Labīd was a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
- One of his poems is included in the Mu'allaqat, a famous collection of pre-Islamic odes.
- Muhammad said of Labīd's verse: 'The most true words said by a poet was the words of Labīd'.
- He vowed to feed people whenever the east wind began to blow, until it stopped.
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