the day of Ẓahr al-Dahnāʾ — Aws ibn Ḥāritha's war on Asad for Bishr's satire

يوم ظهر الدهناء — حرب أوس بن حارثة على بني أسد بسبب بشر بن أبي خازم

c. 590 CE

Envy over a royal robe al-Nuʿmān gave Aws ibn Ḥāritha led his kinsmen to commission a satire — al-Ḥuṭayʾa refused («how can I satirize a man whose gifts fill my house?») but Bishr ibn Abī Khāzim accepted the three hundred camels and lampooned Aws's mother Saʿdā. Aws seized the camels, hounded him to Banū Asad, and when they sheltered him he marched Jadīla of Ṭayyiʾ against them at Ẓahr al-Dahnāʾ, routing them. Bishr wandered refused asylum by every tribe until Jundub ibn Ḥiṣn surrendered him; on his mother's counsel — «only your praise will wash his satire» — Aws freed him, restored the camels and gave him a hundred more. Bishr swore to praise no other man till he died, beginning «do you know the trace of a camp at Hanīda?» ¹.

Depth

At a glance

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In time

Pre-Islamic Arabia

Sides

Jadīla of Ṭayyiʾ

Commanders: Aws ibn Haritha ibn La'm al-Ta'i

Banū Asad

Summary

The Day of Zahr al-Dahna was fought between Judayla of Tayy and Banu Asad. Its cause was a satire by Bishr ibn Abi Khazim against Aws ibn Haritha al-Ta'i and his mother Sa'da, after his own people envied him for a robe that al-Nu'man ibn al-Mundhir had put on him. Al-Hutay'a refused to satirise Aws and said: how can I satirise a man whom I see no wealth in my house except from him? Aws seized Bishr's camels and went after him. Banu Asad protected him, and Aws defeated them at Zahr al-Dahna with a terrible slaughter. Bishr could find no one to protect him until he was handed over to Aws. His mother advised him to seek pardon and return the property, for only praise could wipe away his satire. Aws forgave him and gave him a hundred camels, and Bishr swore that he would not praise anyone else until he died, and he composed his ode. ¹

Connections

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Occurred at: al-Dahna'
Had participant: Aws ibn Haritha ibn La'm al-Ta'i· Bishr ibn Abi Khazim al-Asadi· Hatim al-Ta'i

People and things also explored

Hatim al-Ta'i

Sources

al-Kamil fi'l-Tarikh of Ibn al-Athir , p. 471-472

Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “the day of Ẓahr al-Dahnāʾ — Aws ibn Ḥāritha's war on Asad for Bishr's satire”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/event/yawm-zahr-al-dahna/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-22.

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Hatim al-Ta'i

The proverb of generosity — his grave at Baqqa above the wadi al-Khabil is flanked by eight stone maids with loosed hair like mourners, whose laments are heard by night; the tale of Abu al-Bakhtari whose camel Hatim hamstrung from the grave until Adi replaced it, sent in a dream, made his tomb proverbial for hospitality itself.