Qays ibn al-Khatim
- Died
- 1 BH
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Qays ibn al-Khatim (d. ca. 2 BH / 620 CE) was a pre-Islamic Arabian poet and warrior from Yathrib (later Medina), celebrated as the champion and foremost poet of the Aws tribe.
Lineage and Early Life
His full lineage is Qays ibn al-Khatim ibn Adi ibn Amr ibn Sawad (also vocalized as Sawd) ibn Zufr al-Awsi al-Zafari, and his kunya was Abu Yazid. He was noted for his physical beauty. His father, al-Khatim, had been killed by a member of the Khazraj, and his grandfather, Adi, had been slain by a man of Abd Qays. During his childhood, his mother concealed their deaths by pointing him to a false grave to dissuade him from seeking vengeance. Upon reaching adulthood, an opponent taunted him during an altercation for neglecting to avenge his father and grandfather, prompting him to uncover the truth.
Qays sought the assistance of Khidash ibn Zuhayr, a chieftain of Abs (or Banu Amir), who aided him in tracking down and slaying the killers of both his father and his grandfather. His pursuit of this blood revenge brought him widespread renown, and he commemorated the act in celebrated verses later included in the Hamasa of Abu Tammam.
Tribal Wars and Poetic Standing
Qays served as a leading warrior and the principal poetic voice of the Aws in their conflicts with the Khazraj, composing extensive verses on tribal engagements, including the pre-Islamic Battle of Bu'ath. He engaged in poetic rivalries with the Khazraji poet Hassan ibn Thabit; Qays addressed Hassan's wife, Amrah, in his verses, while Hassan responded by mentioning Qays's sister, Layla bint al-Khatim. Literary scholars commended the craftsmanship of his poetry, with some ranking his verse above that of Hassan ibn Thabit.
Encounter with Islam and Death
Qays was married to Hawwa' bint Yazid ibn Sinan (also named Hawwa' bint Yazid ibn al-Sakan), who secretly accepted Islam in Medina. When Qays traveled to Mecca with an Aws delegation seeking an alliance with Quraysh, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ presented Islam to him. Qays deferred his decision until his return to Medina, whereupon the Prophet ﷺ informed him of Hawwa's conversion and asked him to treat her well and not harm her. Qays honored this request, and when news reached the Prophet ﷺ, he praised his fidelity.
Qays hesitated in embracing Islam and was assassinated shortly before the Hijra. According to an account by al-Mufaddal, men from the Khazraj targeted him for his past actions; as he walked near the stronghold of Banu Haritha, he was struck by an arrow in his chest. His kinsmen regarded Abu Sa'sa'ah ibn Zayd of Banu al-Najjar as an equal match, assassinated him in retaliation, and brought Abu Sa'sa'ah's head to Qays as he lay dying. Qays died of his wounds prior to the Prophet's arrival in Medina. His son, Thabit ibn Qays ibn al-Khatim, became a Companion and later fought alongside Ali ibn Abi Talib.
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List of Works
This work is a collected poetry collection (diwan) originating from pre-Islamic Yathrib. Its verses predominantly center on tribal conflicts, including the Battle of Bu'ath between the Aws and Khazraj, the pursuit of blood revenge, and poetic polemics against rival tribal poets, alongside love poetry.