Antarah ibn Shaddad, the pre-Islamic Arab knight and poet, is famous for his story and noble legacy. His poetry is sweet, blending the tenderness of romance, the beauty of description and argument, along with wisdom, dignity, character, and chastity. He, the virtuous one, says:
“I lower my gaze when my neighbor appears, until her dwelling conceals her. I am a man of generous and noble nature, I do not follow the stubborn soul’s desires.”
Such is his noble character, expressed through his beautiful poetry. His poetic description of nature is unparalleled, as in his depiction of a meadow he passed by:
“The fly lingered there, never leaving, humming like a singing drunkard. It rubs its arm against its arm, like one striking a fire stick on a flint.”
What a wondrous description of that lush, vibrant nature, adorned with flowers and roses, where a cloud has poured its fresh water onto the meadow. The fly rubs its arm against its arm, as is its habit in pleasant times and places. Here, Antarah’s poetic genius shines as he describes the fly in that meadow, as if it had drunk wine, began to hum and sing, and perform that movement. He compares it to someone who has lost their upper limbs, bending over to strike a fire stick under those conditions. How beautiful this description and comparison are.
His stories of chivalry are numerous, and he is used as a symbol of courage and daring. It is said that this exceptional knight once encountered a raging bull in a narrow alley, facing two options: confrontation or evasion to escape the predicament. He chose evasion and retreated backward to save himself, doing so without harm. People blamed him, saying, “How could you, Antarah, retreat from a raging bull?” He replied with his famous saying: “The bull doesn’t know I’m Antarah.”
This scene seems to repeat itself in the conflict between Iran and the United States. Iran attempted to continue uranium enrichment at unauthorized levels, exceeding all prohibitions. Perhaps it knew it was exposed by satellites and massive security breaches within Iran, whether at enrichment sites or elsewhere, or perhaps it did not. But it persisted in its transgression until events unfolded, losing much in the nuclear, missile, and infrastructure fields. Its capabilities and economy were constrained, and it suffered a diplomatic loss of trust from its neighbors and other nations. It found no support when calamity struck, remaining alone and unaided. Meanwhile, the disgruntled Iranian people grew more dissatisfied, as their purchasing power declined, prices rose, and job opportunities dwindled.
Here, it is worth reflecting on this approach. Wisdom before action requires assessing the path and the ability to traverse the distance to reach the goal. It seems that decision-makers there failed to evaluate risks and calculate gains and losses based on human, military, and economic capabilities, as well as the endurance under constant pressure across all sectors. Had they acted like Antarah and retreated quietly, even temporarily, it might have been more beneficial. Blessed is the person who knows their own worth in every situation they face.
Antarah ibn Shaddad
Iran
Antarah ibn Shaddad
Iran
United States
Persepolis
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