day was extremely hot, there was no wind, and it was the middle of the day, and verily the noontide was blazing. And it so happened that he looked out in a certain direction, and observed a man coming towards him, who was being scorched by the heat of the ground, and limped in his barefoot walk. And Muʾâwiyah, after regarding him attentively, said to those about him, "Has God (may He be praised and exalted!) created a more miserable being than he who is forced to walk about in such weather and at such an hour as this?" Then answered one of them, "Perhaps, Commander of the Faithful, he brings a petition." Said Muʾâwiyah, "By Allâh! if he seeks anything from me, I will certainly give it him, and take upon myself his affair; or be he oppressed, I will surely help him. Ho, slave! stand at the door, and if this Arab asks for me, do not deny him access to me." So the youth went out and met him, and asked, "What seekest thou?" He replied, "The Commander of the Faithful." "Enter," said the slave. Then Muʾâwiyah asked him: "Whence art thou?" "From Tamîm,"[1] said he. "What is it that has
- ↑ The Benu-Tamîm, one of the most considerable tribes of Arabia, were dispersed over the north-east of Nejd from the Syrian desert to the borders of el-Yamâmah.
