111. A Lament on the Fall of Granada.

From Smith, Christians and Moors, vol.3

Within ten years of the fall of Alhama, the Christians finally reduced Granada itself (see also text 65). The anonymous poem that follows is part of a lament, 144 lines long, which reflects on the fate of the cities of the kingdom of Granada. The poet starts by inquiring whether the news of the fall of Ronda (in 1485) is true, and upon learning that it is, he weeps for the humiliation inflicted on the Muslims. He then reviews the fat of Málaga, al-Gharbiyya (the district around Málaga) and Vélez (all fell in 1487); Almunécar (1489) al-Iqlim (Lecrín); Granada (1492), and Guadix, Baza and Almería (all fell in 1489). The author then reflects that these disasters occurred because people had neglected their duties to God - a common theme (see also texts 87b, 104). The only remedy is repentance, a sincere return to godliness, and the vigorous pursuit of holy war.

The text is taken from the edition by Soualah Mohammad, Une élégie andalouse sur la guerre de Grenade (Algiers, 1914-19) from pp. 60-65. The editor gives a detailed commentary on the poem, and reviews the evidence for the identity of the poet, who might have come from either Ronda or Almería. For another ode written after the fall of Granada, see the anonymous poem addressed to the Ottoman sultan, in al-Maqqari, Azhar al-riyad, reproduced with an English translation by Monroe, pp. 376-89.

For the references to Moses at Sinai see Qur’an 7:139.

75. [Halt at] the seat of kingship, Granada, the exalted capital, whose flowers bedeck her;

76. There is nothing like her in the two noble Iraqa, nothing at all similar in all God’s lands.

77. Sadness contemplates her landmarks, which are cast down; her minbar and her throne shed tears.

78. Both the imam and those who are guided have become deranged; both those who visit her and those who are visited are attending a funeral.

79. What a situation for one whose souls have been stricken, whose right hand has been cut off and whose destruction has been decreed.

80. Her spirits are thunderstruck, beyond recovery; like the spirit of Moses ( kalim Allah) when mount Sinai was flattened.

81. These buildings [i.e. castles] all around her have been terrified [by bombardments], and her bleary-eyed walls are weeping.

82. Wadi al-Ash (Guadix) has been shaken and her territories are drunken, though she has not even rinsed her teeth with wine;

83. She has been plunged in such darkness, that because of her excessive mourning, those with eyes wide open can see no better than the blind [literally – one eyed].

84. Baza (Basta) the joyous (bast) has not worked out what has befallen her; how could her perceptions be working properly

85. After the magnitude of her misfortunes and the long duration of the mischief done there, and the disasters that her bosoms have endured?

86. Whatever I forget, I will not forget Almería, the victim of terrors it would be too despicable to excuse;

87. If bereavement burnt up those who had suffered, [even] the waves [of her harbor] would have been ignited by the heat of the commotion.

88. My friends, say farewell to her as a noble place, or else entrust her to whomever her affairs [will] belong to [i.e. God]

92. We have neglected the rights of the Lord so he has allowed us to perish; all but a few of the bonds of Islam have been broken.

93. Our [Muslim] community has never distinguished what it is right to do from what is forbidden; see how this disapproval is now [turned on us].

94. We have obtained what [God] has given us through what we deserved; such is the evil of life for those who lead it.

95. In our misery, splitting up [disunity] accompanies our unity; we have been brought to circumstances that are blameworthy.

96. Our enemy has gained power over us because of our sinfulness; the lions of the leopards of the enemy have wreaked havoc on us.

97. Yes, they have pillaged our homelands, our lives and our possessions; its abundance has been allowed [them] as legitimate spoils.

98. The have seized [ravished] her [Andalusia] without providing a bride price; no spears have been watered [whetted] for them, nor have her menfolk fought for her;

99. The Franks have howled down at us from every hilltop and their vows to the Cross have been completely achieved.