The Hadith of Shaddad Ibn ‘ad Ibn Iram

Kamāl al-Dīn wa Tamām al-Niʿma|Volume 1|Book 2|Chapter 51
Kamāl al-Dīn wa Tamām al-Niʿma

Book 2, Chapter 51

The Hadith of Shaddad Ibn ‘ad Ibn Iram

و عاش رداءة بن كعب‌ بن ذهل بن قيس النخعي ثلاثمائة سنة و قال‌ لم يبق يا خذلة من لداتي‌ أبو بنين لا و لا بنات‌ و لا عقيم غير ذي سبات‌ إلا يعد اليوم في الأموات‌ هل مشتر أبيعه حياتي‌
Thalaba bin Kaab bin Zaid bin Abdul Ash-hal Ausi lived for two hundred years and composed the following verses: I spent life with many groups But all of them went away. They became so silent That when I call them, they don’t respond Thus, my life was lengthened too much for me after them Hence, I used to sit in a corner of my house whole day And spent those days wishing for death. Rida-ah bin Kaab bin Dhahl bin Qais Nakh-I’ lived for three hundred years and composed the following verses: And it did not remain, alas, what an infamy I am neither the father of sons nor of daughters Nor am I a barren woman for whom there is no sleep But the dead are counted daily Is there anyone who would buy my life and I would sell it to him?