Kitāb al-Ghayba

وقيل أنه عاش مائة وعشرين سنة ولم يسقط من فيه سن ولا ضرس. وقال بعضهم: رأيته وقد بلغ الثمانين تزف غروبه. وكان كلما سقطت له ثنية تنبت له أخرى مكانها. وهو من أحسن الناس ثغرا.

It is said that Nabigha Jodi lived for 120 years without losing any of his teeth. A person says that his teeth were intact till he was eighty; when he lost a set of teeth, another one grew in its stead. He was best with regard to teeth.

ومنهم أبو الطمحان القيني من بني كنانة بن القين.قال أبو حاتم: عاش أبو الطمحان القيني من بني كنانة مائتي سنة، وقال في ذلك: حنتني حانيات الدهر حتى كأني خاتل أدنو لصيد قصير الخطو يحسب من رآني ولست مقيدا أني بقيد وأخباره وأشعاره معروفة.

Among those blessed with a long life span was Abu Tamhan Qaini, who belonged to the tribe of Bani Kinana bin Qain. Abu Hatim has said that he lived for 200 years and composed the following lines about himself: Neither prosperity nor the hardships of the age have weakened me; in such a way as if I have crouched to hunt or prey. Due to the severity of old age, I take such short steps that if they see me, they would think that my legs are tied up in chains; whereas it is not so. His reports and poetic compositions are well known.

ومنهم ذو الإصبع العدواني. قال أبو حاتم: عاش ثلاثمائة سنة، وهو أحد حكام العرب في الجاهلية، وأخباره وأشعاره وحكمه معروفة.

Zu Asbah Adwani According to Abul Hatim, he attained an age of 300 years. He was an Arab king during the period of Jahiliyya. His reports, poems and judgments are well known.

ومنهم زهير بن جناب الحميري،لم نذكر نسبه لطوله.قال أبو حاتم: عاش زهير بن جناب مائتي سنة وعشرين سنة، وواقع مائتي وقعة، وكان سيدا مطاعا، عاش شريفا في قومه.ويقال: كانت فيه عشر خصال لم يجتمعن في غيره من أهل زمانه: كان سيد قومه، وشريفهم، وخطيبهم، وشاعرهم، ووافدهم إلى الملوك، وطبيبهم، والطب في ذلك الزمان شرف، وحازى قومه، وهو الكاهن، وكان فارس قومه وله البيت فيهم والعدد منهم،وأوصى إلى بنيه فقال: يا بني إني كبرت سني وبلغت حرسا من دهري أي دهرا فأحكمتني التجارب والأمور تجربة واختبار فاحفظوا عني ما أقول وعوا، وإياكم والخور عند المصائب والتواكل عند النوائب،فإن ذلك داعية الغم وشماتة العدو وسوء الظن بالرب. وإياكم أن تكونوا بالأحداث مغترين ولها آمنين ومنها ساخرين، فإنه ما سخر قوم قط إلا ابتلوا، ولكن توقعوها فإنما الإنسان في الدنيا غرض تعاوره الزمان فمقصر دونه ومجاوز موضعه وواقع عن يمينه وشماله،ثم لا بد أن يصيبه. وأقواله معروفة وكذلك أشعاره.

Zuhair bin Janab also had a long lifespan and he lived for 220 years and participated in 200 battles. He was the leader of his tribe. It is said that he possessed ten extraordinary qualities: He was a chief of his tribe, he was of noble lineage and an eloquent speaker and a poet. He used to visit other kings as a diplomat; he was an accomplished physician, a soothsayer and a brave warrior. He was a wise advisor. In his will, he said to his children: My sons, indeed I have become old; I have been given a very long life, I have got good experience and have become an expert. Thus remember what I say. Lest in times of hardships you are degraded, lest when you are faced with difficult situations you forgive each other [and do not fulfill the desires of others] since for you this matter causes great anxiety and sorrow and brings condemnation of enemies and makes you suspicious of Almighty Allah. Lest you become arrogant and careless in face of hardships and think that you are in security and you ridicule it. Every nation that took tragedies lightly got involved in them; therefore take tragedies seriously as in the world, man is a target in such a way that archers have targeted the tragedies and they shoot arrows in its directions. Arrows are shot at it from right and left and finally the arrows of tragedies injure him. Statements and poetic compositions of Zuhair are also famous.

ومنهم دويد بن نهد بن زيد بن أسود بن أسلم بن ألحاف بن قضاعة.قال أبو حاتم: عاش دويد بن زيد أربعمائة وستا وخمسين سنة، ووصيته معروفة وأخباره مشهورة. ومن قوله: ألقى علي الدهر رجلا ويدا والدهر ما أصلح يوما أفسدا يفسد ما أصلحه اليوم غـــدا

He is Duwaid bin Nahad bin Zaid bin Aswad bin Aslam bin Haaf bin Qaza-a. Abu Hatim has said with regard to him: He lived for 456 years. His bequests and reports are famous and well known and a sample of his couplets is as follows: The passage of time has rendered my limbs useless and whatever is improved by this period, another day will corrupt it, because that which it has improved today, tomorrow it would destroy it.

ومنهم الحارث بن كعب بن عمرو بن وعلة المذحجي، ومذحج هي أم مالك بن أدد،وسميت مذحجا لأنها ولدت على أكمة تسمى مذحجا. قال أبو حاتم: جمع الحارث بن كعب بنيه لما حضرته الوفاة فقال: يا بني قد أتت علي ستون ومائة سنة ما صافحت يميني يمين غادر ولا قنعت نفسي بحلة فاجر ولا صبوت بابنة عم ولا كنة ولا طرحت عندي مومسة قناعها ولا بحت لصديق بسر. وإني لعلى دين شعيب النبي عليه السلام وما عليه أحد من العرب غيري وغير أسد بن خزيمة وتميم بن مر،فاحفظوا وصيتي وموتوا على شريعتي. إلهكم فاتقوه يكفكم المهم من أموركم ويصلح لكم أعمالكم وإياكم ومعصيته لا يحل بكم الدمار ويوحش منكم الديار.يا بني كونوا جميعا ولا تتفرقوا فتكونوا شيعا، فإن موتا في عز خير من حياة في ذل وعجز. وكل ما هو كائن كائن، وكل جمع إلى تباين. الدهر ضربان؛ فضرب رجاء وضرب بلاء. واليوم يومان؛فيوم حبرة ويوم عبرة. والناس رجلان؛ فرجل لك ورجل عليك. تزوجوا الأكفاء وليستعملن في طيبهن الماء،وتجنبوا الحمقاء فإن ولدها إلى أفن ما يكون إلا أنه لا راحة لقاطع القرابة.وإذا اختلف القوم أمكنوا عدوهم، وآفة العدد اختلاف الكلمة، والتفضل بالحسنة يقي السيئة، والمكافأة بالسيئة الدخول فيها، والعمل بالسوء يزيل النعماء، وقطيعة الرحم تورث الهم، وانتهاك الحرمة يزيل النعمة، وعقوق الوالدين يورث النكد ويمحق العدد ويخرب البلد، والنصيحة تجر الفضيحة، والحقد يمنع الرفد، ولزوم الخطيئة يعقب البلية، وسوء الرعة يقطع أسباب المنفعة. الضغائن تدعو إلى التباين. ثم أنشأ يقول: أكلت شبابي فأفنيته وأفنيت بعد دهور دهورا ثلاثة أهلين صاحبتهم فبادوا فأصبحت شيخا كبيرا قليل الطعام عسير القيام قد ترك الدهر خطوي قصيرا أبيت أراعي نجوم السماء أقلب أمري بطونا ظهورا فهذا طرف من أخبار المعمرين من العرب، واستيفاؤه في الكتب المصنفة في هذا المعنى موجود.

Among the long lived persons of the world is Harith bin Kaab bin Amr bin Waala Madh-haji. Madh-haj was the mother of Malik bin Adad and the reason of her being named thus was that she was born on a hill named as Madh-haj. Abu Hatim says: When the death of Harith approached, he gathered his children and said: My children, I have reached an age of a hundred and sixty years, but so far I have neither made peace with any traitor nor befriended any transgressor or infidel, nor flirted with cousins and sisters-in-law. I have never kept a woman of loose character in my house. I have never exposed the secrets of my friends. I follow the religion of Prophet Shuaib (a.s) and except for me, Asad bin Khuzaima and Tamim bin Murrah, no one in the Arab Peninsula follows this faith. So remember my will and live on my religion. Continue to fear the Almighty Allah as He is sufficient for you in every way. Never disobey Him as you would be destroyed and your city and abode would be terrified of your destruction [It is an allusion of divine chastisement]. My sons, be united and never should you fall into discord. Without any doubt, a death of honor is better than a life of degradation and helplessness. What is destined would come to pass. Everything is of two different types. Thus time is also of two kinds: A time of prosperity and a time of troubles. People are also of two types: One kind will benefit you and another will harm you. Also remember that you should take in marriage, a woman who is compatible to your status and is chaste. Avoid foolish girls as their issues will be useless. Those who cut off relations will never get peace. There is enmity in discord with the people of your community. That is if you oppose them, they will become inimical to you. No matter how numerous you may be; if you have no unity, you are in great trouble. Goodness erases evil. To reciprocate evil with evil is to participate in evil. Sins destroy good deeds. Breaking off relations creates sorrow. Disrespect destroys blessings. Disowning of parents leads to destruction. It reduces population and houses are destroyed. Bad behavior cuts off benefits. Mutual enmity causes separations. He had composed the following couplets: I spent my youth and I wasted it; and I destroyed one day with another. I lived with three wives and all of them passed away and I have also become an old man. My food is less and my getting up is with difficulty and the long life span has shortened my steps. I remain awake the nights and observe the stars and contemplate on the hidden and apparent aspects of my life. These were some examples of Arabs who had the good fortune of having long life spans and their accounts are preserved in books of history.

وأما الفرس فإنها تزعم أن فيما تقدم من ملوكها جماعة طالت أعمارهم، فيروون أن الضحاك صاحب الحيتين عاش ألف سنة ومائتي سنة وأفريدون العادل عاش فوق ألف سنة،ويقولون إن الملك الذي أحدث المهرجان عاش ألفي سنة وخمسمائة سنة استتر منها عن قومه ستمائة سنة.وغير ذلك مما هو موجود في تواريخهم وكتبهم لا نطول بذكرها. فكيف يقال إن ما ذكرناه في صاحب الزمان خارج عن العادات؟

As for the Persians: According to them, in the past, there were some rulers, who got long life spans. Therefore they have narrated that Zahhak, the owner of two snakes [a couple of snakes perched on his shoulders] lived for 1200 years; or Faridoon the Just, lived for more than a thousand years. In the same way they say: A king initiated the celebration of Meherjan festival (spring feast). He lived for 2500 years after which he disappeared from his people for 600 years. In addition, there are those mentioned in the history of Iranians and their books and we will not prolong this book by quoting them. Thus [with attention to all these long-lived persons] how can it be said that the long lifespan of the Master of the Age (a.s) is extraordinary?

ومن المعمرين من العرب يعرب بن قحطان، واسمه ربيعة، أول من تكلم بالعربية، ملك مائتي سنة على ما ذكره أبو الحسن النسابة الأصفهاني في كتاب الفرع والشجر، وهو أبو اليمن كلها وهو منها كعدنان إلا شاذا نادرا.

Similarly, among those who had a long lifespan among the Arabs was Yarab bin Qahtan. His real name was Rabia. He was the first to speak the Arabic language. According to Abal Hasan Nasaba Isfahani and his book, Al Fara wash Shajar (The branch and tree) he ruled for 200 years and he was a Yemenite progenitor. He was as Adnan was in Hijaz with a little difference.

ومنهم عمرو بن عامر مزيقيا. روى الأصفهاني عن عبد المجيد بن أبي عيس الأنصاري والشرقي بن قطامي أنه عاش ثمانمائة سنة أربعمائة سنة سوقة في حياة أبيه وأربعمائة سنة ملكا، وكان في سني ملكه يلبس في كل يوم حلتين،فإذا كان بالعشي مزقت الحلتان عنه لئلا يلبسهما غيره فسمي مزيقيا.وقيل إنما سمي بذلك لأن على عهده تمزقت الأزد فصاروا إلى أقطار الأرض،وكان ملك أرض سبإ فحدثته الكهان بأن الله يهلكها بالسيل العرم فاحتال حتى باع ضياعه وخرج فيمن أطاعه من أولاده وأهله قبل السيل العرم ومنه انتشرت الأزد كلها والأنصار من ولده.

Amr Aaamir Maziqiya He was also a long lived Arab. Isfahani has narrated from Abi Ais Ansari and Sharqi bin Qattami that he lived for 800 years. Four hundred years during the lifetime of his father and another four hundred years afterwards, when he was a ruler. His practice was to wear two kinds of garments everyday. Every night he tore up his clothes, so that no one else may wear them. That’s why he is known as Maziqiya (one who tears). It is said that he was called Maziqiya, because during his reign, people of Azd migrated to various parts of the world. Amr was a king of the Saba kingdom. Soothsayers told him that his country would be destroyed by the floods of Iram. So he sold his land and migrated to some other place with his subjects. Therefore all the tribes of Azd and Ansar are his descendants.

ومنهم جلهمة بن أدد بن زيد بن يشجب بن عريب بن زيد بن كهلان بن يعرب، ويقال لجلهمة طيئ وإليه تنسب طيئ كلها وله خبر يطول شرحه، وكان له ابن أخ يقال له يحابر بن مالك بن أدد، وكان قد أتى على كل واحد منهما خمسمائة سنة وقع بينهما ملاحاة بسبب المرعى فخاف جلهمة هلاك عشيرته فرحل عنه وطوى المنازل فسمي طيئا،وهو صاحب أجأ وسلمى جبلين بطيئ ولذلك خبر يطول معروف.

Another long-lived ruler of Arabs was Jalhama bin Adad bin Zaid bin Yashjab bin Arib bin Zaid bin Kahlan bin Yarab. He is also known as Lajalmaha Tai and Bani Tai are his descendants. His account is very long. Yahabir bin Malik bin Adad was one of his nephews. Each of them lived for 500 years and there was a battle between them regarding a pasture land. Jalhama thought that in this way his whole clan will be destroyed. So he left that place and traveled a great distance; that is why he began to be called as Tai. He was the owner of two mountains in Tai, named Aja and Salma. He is also having a very lengthy account.