This panegyric (Qasida) is famous as Qasida Juljulia,1 which comprises the
matter of a letter which Amr Aas wrote to Muawiyah Ibne Abu Sufyan. He wrote
this in reply to the letter of Muawiyah in which he had demanded from him taxes
of Egypt, and since Amr hated transferring the monies to Muawiyah, he has
condemned the latter in this poem.
In Sharh Nahjul Balagha,2
Ibne Abil Hadeed has narrated some couplets of
this poem.
Ishaqi says in Lataiful Akhbaarud Dawl:3
Muawiyah wrote a letter to Amr
Aas saying:
“I have written to you many times to transfer the tributes of Egypt to me, but
you have not done so. I tell you for the last time and with emphasis to send the
taxes of Egypt to me. And peace.”
In reply Amr Aas also wrote a letter to him comprising of the panegyric
(Qasida) famous as Qasida Juljulia and these two couplets are from that poem:
“You do not have the least right to kingdom and before you, your ancestors
also did not have any right. O Muawiyah, what relation is possible between you
and Ali? Ali is like a wielded sword and you are like a blunt sword.”
When Muawiyah heard these lines, he never argued with Amr again and
allowed him to keep the tithes of Egypt to himself. Zanuzi, in the second part of
his book of Riyazul Jannah, has mentioned the whole poem and commented that:
This poem is named as Qasida Juljulia in accordance to its last word.
يَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ مَّا لَيْسَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَكْتُمُونَ
“They say with their mouths what is not in their hearts, and Allah best knows what they conceal.”4
Introduction to the poet
Amr Aas bin Wael bin Hashim was one of the five most deceitful persons of Arabs, who created mischief in order to turn the circumstances in their favor. His
expertise in creating mischief is confirmed and well known and his numerous
deceptions are recorded in books. Writings, books of history and biography have
narrated them.
If you want you speak about excess in corruption and destruction, you can
speak about Amr Aas; and whatever you say, you would not have exaggerated,
and no sin would be upon you. As we see the statements of senior companions
regarding this fellow. Yes, this low caste man without any proper lineage was as
such.5
In any case, we shall analyze his life history from some aspects.
Lineage of Amr Aas
His father was one, about whom the Holy Quran has clearly mentioned that his generations are cut off:
انَّ شَانِعَكَ هُوَ الْأَنتَم
“Surely your enemy is the one who shall be without posterity.”6
In the exegesis of this verse, such is the view of all scholars and
commentators.7
Even though in some exegesis the implication of this verse is uncertain
between Amr’s father, Abu Jahl, Abu Lahab, Uqbah bin Abi Muit and others, but
it can be said that the correct view is what Fakhre Razi has mentioned in the
exegesis of this verse. He says:
“Although all those mentioned above condemned the Messenger of Allah
(s.a.w.a.), but Aas bin Wael (father of Amr) had him insulted most from them.
On the basis of this, the holy verse includes all of them; but the degradation
mentioned therein with special emphasis for this accursed one. That is why it is
well known among exegesist that Aas bin Wael is meant in this verse.”
Senior companion of companions, Sulaym bin Qays Hilali writes in his
book:
The holy verse is regarding the named person. He was one of the critics of
the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.). When Ibrahim, the son of Prophet passed away, he
said:
“Muhammad has become heirless as he has no more male issues.”8
We conclude from this verse: That every son or daughter, who is related to
Aas bin Wael, whether Amr Aas or others, are not legitimate born. And the merit of Amr Aas from the aspect of ancestry is clear from this. In addition to that, his
mother is Laila Anzia Jallania.
Laila, his mother was the most well known prostitute of Mecca and she was
the cheapest of them. When she gave birth to Amr Aas, five persons, who had
shared her bed claimed to be the father of Amr. Since Amr resembled Aas most
and Aas paid her most, Laila said that Amr was his issue. When Urvi, daughter of
Harith bin Abdul Muttalib came to Muawiyah, she narrated this story.9
His Eminence, Imam Hasan Mujtaba (a.s.) in the gathering in which
Muawiyah and others were present said to Amr Aas:
“As for you O son of Aas. Your lineage is shared and your mother gave birth
to you through fornication. Four persons from Quraish10 claimed to be your father. And lowest in rank over others emerged victorious and became your father.
Later, your he stood up and said: I am one, who condemn Muhammad as
childless and Almighty Allah revealed that verse about him.”11
Abu Ubaidah MuAmmaar bin Muthanna, (d.209/211 A.H.) has narrated in
the book of Ansab:
On the day of the birth of Amr, two people disputed over his parentage: Abu
Sufyan and Aas. They said: “Leave the matter to the mother.” She said: “This is
the child of Aas bin Wael.”
Abu Sufyan said: “I have no doubt that I placed his seed in your womb,” but
she did not accept and chose Aas instead.
When she was told said that the lineage of Abu Sufyan was nobler, she
replied: “Aas bin Wael pays more and Abu Sufyan is a miser.”12