Majma al-Zawaid — Hadith 16025

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates: Sayyiduna Farwah bin Amir al-Judhami (may Allah be pleased with him) sent word to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) of his acceptance of Islam, and sent him a white mule as a gift. Farwah was the governor, on behalf of Caesar, the ruler of Rome, over the nearby Arab territories, and he lived in Oman. When the Romans learned of his affair, they imprisoned Sayyiduna Farwah (may Allah be pleased with him), and there he composed these verses: "Sulayma came by night, around midnight, to my companions, while the Romans stood between the people and the mounts. The vision withdrew, and what I saw grieved me; I resolved to doze a little, but it made me weep. Never apply ithmid kohl to your eyes after me, O Salma, and do not display faith. O Abu Kabshah, you know that I am among the mighty, yet my tongue has not been cut off at the root. If I perish, the absence of your brother will be felt, and if I (reach them), they will come to know my standing. I am known for everything that a noble young man gathers: sound judgement, valour and eloquence." When they resolved to crucify him, they decided to crucify him beside a water (a spring or pool) called "Afra'" in Palestine. When he was raised up on the wooden beam, he said: "Has news reached Salma that her husband is on a wooden beam beside the water of Afra', a hadafah whose mother no stallion ever approached, spreading its fragrance in the place where (bodies) will be cut to pieces?" He also said: "Convey this message to the chiefs of the Muslims: that I am in such a state that my bones and my fingertips are submissive before (the command of) my Lord."
Imam al-Tabarani recorded it. Its chain contains Abdullah bin Salamah al-Rib'i, whom Imam Abu Zur'ah declared da'if (weak).