[216]. A poet of Mohammed’s day.
[217]. A singer and composer of the first century (A.H.)
[218]. Arab. = a roe, a doe; also the Yoni (of women, mares and bitches). It is the Heb. Tabitha and the Greek Dorcas.
[219]. Within the Hudúd al-Haram (bounds of the Holy Places), at Al-Medinah as well as Meccah, all “Muharramát” (forbidden sins) are doubly unlawful, such as drinking spirits, immoral life, etc. The Imam Malik forbids slaying animals without, however, specifying any penalty. The felling of trees is a disputed point; and no man can be put to death except invaders, infidels and desecraters (Pilgrimage ii. 167).
[220]. A poet of the first century (A.H.)
[221]. In Arab. = a fawn beginning to walk; also the 28th lunar mansion or station, usually known as Batn al-Hut or Whale’s belly. These mansions or houses, the constellations through which the moon passes in her course along her orbit, are much used in Moslem astrology and meteorology.
[222]. Arab. Kalla-má = it is seldom (rare) that etc. used in books.
[223]. Dishonoured by his love being made public. So Hafiz, Petrarch and Camoens.
AL AMIN SON OF AL-RASHID AND HIS UNCLE IBRAHIM BIN AL-MAHDI.
Al-Amin[[224]], brother of Al-Maamun, once entered the house of his uncle Ibrahim bin Al-Mahdi, where he saw a slave-girl playing upon the lute; and, she being one of the fairest of women, his heart inclined to her. Ibrahim, seeing how it was with him, sent the girl to him, with rich raiment and precious ornaments. When he saw her, he thought that his uncle had lain with her; so he was loath to have to do with her, because of that, and accepting what came with her sent her back to Ibrahim. His uncle learnt the cause of this from one of Al-Amin’s eunuchs; so he took a shift of watered silk and worked upon its skirt, in letters of gold, these two couplets:—