Ya’rub ibn Qahtan: The First to Speak Pure Arabic
The Wise King and His Timeless Testament
Ya’rub ibn Qahtan ibn Hud (peace be upon him) was the eldest son of Qahtan. His father Qahtan ibn Hud had sixteen sons: Ya’rub, Khiyar, Anmar, Al-Mu’tam, Al-Manahi, La’i, Ma’iz, Ghadib, Mani’, Jurhum, Al-Multamis, Al-Qatami, Zhalim, Al-Ghashim, Al-Mughtafir, and Baqir. Their mother was a woman from the people of ‘Ad.
All of these sons became kings and assumed positions of rule, except for Zhalim, who was never known to have held sovereignty, though he served as a military commander leading armies.
The Reign of Ya’rub
When Qahtan ibn Hud passed away, his son Ya’rub assumed leadership after him. He stood in his father’s place with the utmost excellence, succeeding him with the finest succession among his brothers and household. He governed the people according to his father’s way, preserved his counsel, remained steadfast upon it, and adorned his rule and policies with its wisdom.
Ya’rub was a wise and just king. He was divinely inspired with pure, eloquent Arabic speech, to the extent that it is said he was the first to speak the pure Arabic language. He possessed eloquent speech and clear expression—concise without deficiency, able to convey meaning with minimal words, removing excess without losing the intended message. The very name “Arabic” (al-‘Arabiyyah) is said to have been derived from his name, Ya’rub, meaning “to clarify” and “to articulate.”
A King of Great Stature
Ya’rub was the first whom his household honored with the veneration befitting kings, greeting him with royal salutations. They would say to him: “Abita al-la’n, wa an’im sabahan” (May you pass the night safe from curse, and good morning to you)—the traditional greeting reserved for monarchs.
He was a king of tremendous standing. He was not known for waging wars of conquest, yet the tribes of the children of Shem would not proceed with any matter except upon his counsel and consultation. His influence extended through wisdom rather than force, and his judgment was sought throughout the lands.
The Testament of Ya’rub ibn Qahtan
When death approached him, Ya’rub gathered his sons and delivered to them a comprehensive testament. He said:
“O my sons, preserve these ten qualities, and they will be for you a source of honor, remembrance, and treasure:”
1. Learn knowledge and teach it to others. Do not turn toward envy or pay it any heed, for it is the cause of severance and the instigator of enmity among brothers.
2. Avoid evil and its people, for evil begets nothing but evil.
3. Give people their due from yourselves, and beware of arrogance, for it distances the hearts of men from you.
4. Embrace humility, for it brings you closer to people and places your love in their hearts.
5. Preserve the rights of the neighbor, and pardon those who wrong you, for forgiveness cuts off enmity, increases the nobility of the noble, and adds virtue to the virtuous.
6. Give preference to the neighbor and the guest over yourselves, for honoring them is honoring yourselves, and it is better that one of you suffers hardship than for your neighbor to suffer.
7. Support your allies in peace and war, for they are from you and for you, and their rights upon you are as the rights you have upon one another.
8. When someone seeks your counsel, advise them as you would advise yourselves, for counsel is a trust.
9. Hold fast to cultivating relationships with worthy men, for through this you will prevail over others, and it will increase your honor and glory until the end of time.
10. Remember that these are not mere words, but the accumulated wisdom passed from your grandfather Hud through your father Qahtan to me, and now to you.
The Poetic Testament
Then Ya’rub composed verses to emphasize his counsel:
We remind you of what your father counseled,
Of what Qahtan ibn Hud counseled him,
He advised you with what his own father advised,
Wisdom passed down from the grandfathers.
Spread knowledge and then rise high,
For the learned is not like the dull fool,
Do not listen to envy lest you go astray,
The ruin of every envious bearer.
Keep evil away from you as much as you can,
For evil is not the character of the righteous,
And be fair to every near person,
As you wish fairness from the distant judge.
Hold to humility and do not add
Beyond the virtue of humility any addition,
For forgiveness is the best of what you seek
For honor, alongside steadfast sovereignty.
Do not forget the neighbor’s rights among you,
For the neighbor has a certain right,
Hold to doing good deeds until
You attain every noble quality and generosity.
Timeless Wisdom for Every Generation
The testament of Ya’rub ibn Qahtan represents more than the final words of an ancient king—it embodies principles that transcend time and culture. His ten counsels address the fundamental challenges of human society: the pursuit of knowledge, the poison of envy, the importance of justice, the power of humility, the obligations of neighborliness, the value of forgiveness, the sanctity of trust, and the cultivation of noble character.
What makes this testament particularly remarkable is its emphasis on others rather than self. Ya’rub does not counsel his sons to accumulate wealth, expand territory, or crush enemies. Instead, he teaches them to serve, to forgive, to honor guests and neighbors, to seek counsel before acting, and to build their legacy through kindness rather than conquest. These are the marks of a civilization built to endure—not through military might, but through moral authority.
The tradition holds that Ya’rub was the first to speak pure Arabic, and whether this is literal history or symbolic truth, it captures an essential insight: eloquence is not merely about words, but about wisdom. True speech clarifies rather than obscures, unites rather than divides, and builds rather than destroys. In this sense, Ya’rub’s legacy lives on not only in the Arabic language but in every act of clear communication, just governance, and compassionate leadership.
Source: Muluk Himyar wa Aqyal al-Yaman (The Kings of Himyar and the Lords of Yemen)
by Nashwan al-Himyari
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