Labid ibn Rabi'a

A Poet of the Seven Golden Odes

“Thus seven such odes of tribute known as the Seven Golden Odes, which were written by Imra’-ul-Qays ibn Hijr al-Kindi, Zuhayr ibn Abi Salma al-Muzani, Labid ibn Rabi’a, Amr ibn Kulthum and Antarah al-Absi.” 1 History of Islam · Vol 1 · pp. 72 — Najeebabadi — Labid ibn Rabi'a among the authors of the Seven Golden Odes.

’Everything Other Than Allah Is Vanity’

“Uthman ibn Maz’un was returning when he noticed the famous poet Labid ibn Rabi’a ibn Malik ibn Kilab al-Qaysi reciting poetry to a gathering of the Quraysh. Uthman sat with them as Labid was reciting a couplet which meant, ‘Behold! Everything other than Allah has no substance.’ Uthman bin Madh’un congratulated him by saying, ‘That’s true.’ Labid then recited another couplet which meant, ‘And every bounty must definitely come to an end.’ To this, Uthman bin Madh’un commented, ‘You are mistaken, because the bounties of Jannah will never come to an end.’ Labid said, ‘O assembly of Quraysh! A person in your company is usually never offended. Since when has this started among you?’” 2 Hayatus Sahaba · Vol 1 · pp. 310–311 — Kandhlawi — Uthman ibn Maz'un congratulates Labid on his couplet at Makkah and corrects the next.