وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd narrated to usغَيْرُهُsomeone other than himقَالَ:saying:
And someone other than him narrated to us, saying:
اصْطَحَبَaccompaniedرَسُولٌa messengerلِلْفَضْلِof al-Fadlوَرَجُلٌand a manكُوفِيٌّfrom Kufaفِيonطَرِيقِthe road toخُرАСَانَKhorasan
A messenger of al-Fadl and a Kufan man accompanied each other on the road to Khorasan.
فَأَقْبَلَSo beganالْكُوفِيُّthe Kufanيَسْأَلُaskingعَنْaboutأَفْعَالِthe deeds ofالْفَضْلِ،al-Fadl,
So the Kufan began asking about the deeds of al-Fadl,
فَأَخْبَرَهُand he informed himبِإِنْهَابِهِof his lavish giving awayالْأَمْوَالَof wealthالْجَلِيلَةَgreatفِيinالْعَطَايَا،gifts,
and he informed him of his lavish giving away of great wealth in gifts.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himالْكُوفِيُّ:the Kufan:خَبِرْنِيTell meعَنْaboutهَذِهِtheseالْأَمْوَالِwealthالَّتِيthatيَهَبُهَاhe gives away
The Kufan said to him: "Tell me about this wealth that he gives away,
أَيَرَاهَاdoes he see itوَيَنْظُرُand lookإِلَيْهَا؟at it?
does he see it and look at it?"
فَقَالَ:He said:لَا،"No,"
He said: "No."
قَالَ:He said:فَمِنْ"Then fromهُنَاكَthereتَهُونُit is easyعَلَيْهِ.for him."
He said: "That is why it is easy for him."
فَلَمَّاWhenوَصَلَاthey reachedإِلَىtoالْمَوْضِعِthe place
When they reached the place,
دَعَاsummonedالْفَضْلُal-Fadlبِالرَّسُولِthe messengerوَسَأَلَهُand asked himعَمَّاabout whatرَأَىhe sawفِيonطَرِيقِهِhis road
al-Fadl summoned the messenger and asked him about what he saw on his road
وَعَمَّاand about whatسَمِعَ،he heard,
and about what he heard,
فَأَقْبَلَand he beganيُخْبِرُهُtelling himحَتَّىuntilانْتَهَىhe reachedإِلَىtheخَبَرِstory ofالْكُوفِيِّthe Kufan
and he began telling him until he reached the story of the Kufan,
فَذَكَرَand he mentionedلَهُto himمَاwhatقَالَhe said
and mentioned to him what he said.
وَكَانَAnd he wasمُتَّكِئاًrecliningفَاسْتَوَىso he sat straightجَالِساًuprightثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:
He was reclining, so he sat straight up and said:
يَاOغُلَامُboy,ائْتِgo toصَاحِبَthe master ofبَيْتِthe house ofالْمَالِwealth
"O boy, go to the master of the treasury
فَسَأَلْهُand ask himعَنْaboutحَاصِلِهِ،its balance,"
and ask him about its balance,"
فَقَالَ:and he said:هُوَ"It isعَشَرَةُtenآلافِthousandدِرْهَمٍ،dirhams."
and he said: "It is ten thousand dirhams."
فَقَالَHe saidتُحْمَلُ"Let it be carriedالسَّاعَةَnowإِلَىtoدَارِthe courtyard ofالْعَامَّةِthe public
He said: "Let it be carried now to the public courtyard
وَتُشَقُّand let be rippedعَنْهَاopen from itالْبِدَرُthe pursesشَقّاًan open cuttingوَتُنْثَرُand scatteredفِيinوَسَطِthe middle ofالدَّارِ،the courtyard."
and let the purses be ripped open and scattered in the middle of the courtyard."
قَالَ:He said:فَفُعِلَSo that was doneذَلِكَwith itبِهَا،there,
He said: So that was done with it,
ثُمَّthenقَالَhe saidلِلرَّسُولِ:to the messenger:هَاتِ"Bringصَاحِبَكَyour companionالْكُوفِيَّ،the Kufan,"
then he said to the messenger: "Bring your companion the Kufan,"
فَأُتِيَand he was broughtبِهِ،to him,
and he was brought to him,
وَأَمَرَand al-Fadl orderedالْفَضْلُal-Fadlبِتَفْرِيقِthe distribution ofذَلِكَthatالْمَالِwealthعَلَىtoزُوَّارِهِhis visitors
and al-Fadl ordered the distribution of that wealth to his visitors
رَجُلاًmanرَجُلاًby manوَاسْماًand nameاسْماًby nameعَلَىaccording toمَقَادِيرِهِمْtheir amounts
man by man and name by name, according to their amounts
وَمَاand whatوَقَعَfellلِكُلِّto eachرَجُلٍmanمِنْهُمْ،of them,
and what fell to each man of them,
ثُمَّthenأَمَرَhe orderedلِلْكُوفِيِّfor the Kufanبِمِائَةِone hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
then he ordered one hundred thousand dirhams for the Kufan
وَقَالَ:and said:هَذِهِ"This isلَكَfor youلِتَنْبِيهِكَfor alertingإِيَّايَmeعَلَىtoهَذَاthisالْفِعْلِ،deed,"
and said: "This is for you for alerting me to this deed,"
وَمِمَّاand among whatقِيلَwas saidفِيaboutذَلِكَ:that:
and among what was said about that:
كَرِيمٌGenerousكَرِيمُof generousالْأُمَّهَاتِmothersمُهَذَّبٌrefined......تَحَلَّبُdripكَفَاهُhis palmsالنَّدَىgenerosityوَأَنَامِلُهُand fingertips
Generous, of generous mothers, refined... generosity drips from his palms and fingertips.
هُوَHe isالْبَحْرُthe seaمِنْfromأَيِّanyالنَّوَاحِيdirectionsأَتَيْتَهُyou came to him......فَلُجَّتُهُhis depths areالْمَعْرُوفُkindnessوَالْجُودُand generosityسَاحِلُهُhis shore
He is the sea; from whichever direction you come to him... his depths are kindness and generosity is his shore.
جَوَادٌMunificentإِذَاwhenمَاeverجِئْتَyou cameلِلْعُرْفِseeking bountyطَالِباًas a seeker......حَبَاكَhe bestowed upon youبِمَاwith whatتَحْوِيcontainعَلَيْهِupon itأَنَامِلُهُhis fingertips
Munificent, whenever you come seeking bounty... he bestows upon you what his fingertips contain.
وَلَوْAnd even ifلَمْnotيَكُنْthere wereفِيinكَفِّهِhis palmغَيْرُother thanرُوحِهِhis soul......لَجَادَhe would freely giveبِهَا،it,فَلْيَتَّقِso let fearاللَّهَGodسَائِلُهُhis asker
And even if there were nothing in his palm other than his soul... he would freely give it, so let his asker fear God.
وَلِلْبُحْتُرِيِّAnd for al-Buhturiفِيinذَلِكَ:that:
And al-Buhturi said in that regard:
لَوْIfأَنَّthatكَفَّكَyour palmلَمْdid notتُجْدِbestowلِمُؤَمَّلٍupon a hopeful person......لَكَفَاهُit would suffice himعَاجِلُthe immediateوَجْهِكَface of yoursالْمُتَهَلِّلِbeaming
If your palm did not bestow upon a hopeful person... the immediate beaming face of yours would suffice him.
أَوْOrأَنَّthatمَجْدَكَyour gloryلَمْwas notيَكُنْancientمُتَقَادِماً.........أَغْنَاكَwould enrich youآخِرُthe lastسُؤْدَدٍof lordshipعَنْfromأَوَّلِthe first
Or if your glory were not ancient... the latest of your lordship would enrich you from the first.
عَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofيَحْيَىYahyaالنَّدِيمُal-Nadimقَالَ:said:
Ali ibn Yahya al-Nadim said:
دَعَانِيsummoned meالْمُتَوَكِّلُal-Mutawakkilذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayوَهُوَwhile he wasمَخْمُورٌintoxicated
Al-Mutawakkil summoned me one day while he was intoxicated.
قَالَ:He said:أَنْشِدْنِي"Recite to meقَوْلَthe verse ofعُمَارَةَUmarahفِيregardingأَهْلِthe people ofبَغْدَادَ،Baghdad,"
He said: "Recite to me the verse of Umarah regarding the people of Baghdad,"
فَأَنْشَدْتُهُ:so I recited to him:
so I recited to him:
مَنْWhoيَشْتَرِيwill buyمِنِّيfrom meمُلُوكَthe kings ofالْمُخَرَّمِal-Mukharram......أَبِيعُI will sellحَسَناًHasanوَابْنَيْand the two sons ofهِشَامٍHishamبِدِرْهَمٍfor a dirham
Who will buy from me the kings of al-Mukharram... I will sell Hasan and the two sons of Hisham for a dirham.
وَأُعْطِيAnd I will giveرَجَاءًRajaبَعْدَafterذَاكَthatزِيَادَةًas an addition......وَأَمْنَحُand I will grantدِينَاراًa dinarبِغَيْرِwithoutتَنَدُّمِregret
And I will give Raja after that as an addition... and I will grant a dinar without regret.
وَإِنْAnd ifطَلَبُواthey askedمِنِّيfrom meالزِّيَادَةَincreaseزِدْتُهُمْI increased them......أَبَاAbuدُلَفٍDulafوَالْمُسْتَطِيلَand the tallابْنَson ofأَكْثَمَAktham
And if they asked me for an increase, I increased them... Abu Dulaf and the tall son of Aktham.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمُتَوَكِّلُ:al-Mutawakkil:وَيْلِي"Woe is meعَلَىuponابْنِthe son ofالْبَوَّالِal-Bawwal
Al-Mutawakkil said: "Woe is me upon the son of al-Bawwal
عَلَىuponعَقِبَيْهِhis heelsيَهْجُوsatirizingشَقِيقَthe brother/peer ofدَوْلَةِthe state ofبَنِيthe sons ofالْعَبَّاسِ!Abbas!"
heels over head satirizing the peer of the state of the Banu al-Abbas!"
قُلْتُ:I said:يَا"Oسَيِّدِيmy masterمَنْwho isشَقِيقُthe peer ofدَوْلَةِthe state ofبَنِيthe sons ofالْعَبَّاسِ؟Abbas?"
I said: "O my master, who is the peer of the state of the Banu al-Abbas?"
فَقَالَ:He said:الْقَاسِمُAl-Qasimبْنُson ofعِيسَىIsaفَهَلْso doعِنْدَكَyou haveمِنْofمَدِيحِهِhis praiseشَيْءٌ؟anything?
He said: "Al-Qasim ibn Isa. So do you have anything of his praise?"
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ"YesيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،the Faithful,
I said: "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful,
قَوْلُthe verse ofالْأَعْرَابِيِّthe Bedouinالَّذِيwhoيَقُولُ:says:
the verse of the Bedouin who says:
أَبَاO AbuدُلَفٍDulafإِنَّverilyالسَّمَاحَةَgenerosityلَمْdid notتَزَلْcease......مُغَلَّلَةًshackledتَشْكُوcomplainingإِلَىtoاللَّهَGodغُلَّهَاits shackle
O Abu Dulaf, generosity has not ceased... shackled, complaining to God of its shackle.
فَبَشَّرَهَاSo gave it glad tidingsرَبِّيmy Lordبِمِيلَادِwith the birth ofقَاسِمٍQasim......فَأَرْسَلَso He sentجِبْرِيلًاGabrielإِلَيْهَاto itفَحَلَّهَاand unchained it
So my Lord gave it glad tidings with the birth of Qasim... and sent Gabriel to it and unchained it.
وَلِبَكْرِAnd for Bakrبْنِson ofالنَّطَّاحِal-NattahفِيregardingأَبِيAbuدُلَفٍ:Dulaf:
And for Bakr ibn al-Nattah regarding Abu Dulaf:
بَطَلٌA heroبِصَدْرِwith the chest ofحُسامِهِhis swordوَسِنَانِهِand spearhead......أَجَلَانِtwo great mattersمِنْfromصَدْرٍchestوَمِنْand fromإِيرَادِissuing/source
A hero with the chest of his sword and spearhead... two great matters from issuing and source.
وَرِثَHe inheritedالْمَكَارِمَnoble traitsوَابْتَنَاهَاand built themقَاسِمٌQasim......بِصَفَائِحٍwith broad swordsوَأَسِنَّةٍand spearheadsوَجِيَادِand fine horses
Qasim inherited noble traits and built them up... with broad swords, spearheads, and fine horses.
يَاOعِصْمَةَprotection ofالْعَرَبِthe Arabsالَّتِيwhoلَوْifلَمْnotتَكُنْyou were......حَيّاًaliveإِذًاthenكَانَتْit would beبِغَيْرِwithoutعِمَادِa pillar
O protection of the Arabs, who if you were not... alive, it would then be without a pillar.
إِنَّVerilyالْعُيُونَeyesإِذَاwhenرَأَوْكَthey saw youحِدَادَهَاtheir sharpness......رَجَعَتْreturnedمِنَfromالْإِجْلَالِreverenceغَيْرَother thanحِدَادِsharp
Verily, when eyes saw your sharpness... they returned from reverence other than sharp.
وَإِذَاAnd ifرَمَيْتَyou castالثَّغْرَthe frontierمِنْكَfrom youبِعَزْمَةٍwith a resolve......فَتَّحْتَyou openedمِنْهُfrom itمَوَاضِعَplaces ofالْأَسْدَادِbarriers
And if you cast the frontier with a resolve from you... you opened up places of barriers from it.
وَكَأَنَّAnd as ifرُمْحَكَyour spearمُنْقَعٌsteepedفِيinعُصْفُرٍsafflower......وَكَأَنَّand as ifسَيْفَكَyour swordسُلَّwas drawnمِنْfromفُرْصَادِmulberry juice
And as if your spear is steeped in safflower... and as if your sword was drawn from mulberry juice.
لَوْIfصَالَchargedمِنْout ofغَضَبٍangerأَبُوAbuدُلَفٍDulafعَلَىat......بِيضِwhiteالسِّيُوفِswordsلَذَبْنَthey would have meltedفِيinالْأَغْمَادِthe scabbards
If Abu Dulaf were to charge out of anger at... white swords, they would have melted in the scabbards.
أَذْكَىHe kindledوَنَوَّرَand illuminatedلِلْعَدَاوَةِfor enmityوَالْهَوَىand affection......نَارَيْنِtwo firesنَارَfire ofدَمٍbloodوَنَارَand fire ofرَمَادِashes
He kindled and illuminated for enmity and affection... two fires: a fire of blood and a fire of ashes.
وَقَالَAnd saidأَبُوAbuهِفَانَ:Hiffan:أَنْشَدْتُهُI recited to himعَبْدَAbdالْعَزِيزِal-Azizبْنَson ofأَبِيAbuدُلَفٍDulaf
Abu Hiffan said: I recited to Abd al-Aziz ibn Abu Dulaf
بِسُرَّin Samarraمَنْ...رَأَى...فَبَرَّنِيso he treated me kindlyثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:هَلْ"Is thereخُلِقَcreatedمِثْلُهُ؟like him?"
in Samarra, so he treated me kindly, then said: "Was anyone like him created?"
قُلْتُ:I said:لَا."No."
I said: "No."
وَلِغَيْرِهِAnd for someone elseفِيregardingأَبِيAbuدُلَفٍ:Dulaf:
And for someone else regarding Abu Dulaf:
وَلَوْAnd ifيَجُوزُit were permissibleلَقَالَwould sayالنَّاسُthe peopleكُلُّهُمْall of them......لَوْلَاwere it not forأَبُوAbuدُلَفٍDulafلَمْwould notيُورِقِhave produced leavesالشَّجَرُthe tree
And if it were permissible, all the people would say... were it not for Abu Dulaf, the tree would not have produced leaves.
قَرْمٌA noble leaderإِذَاwhenمَاeverحَوَىhe heldفِيinكَفِّهِhis palmحَجَراًa stone......يَفِيضُit overflowsفِيinكَفِّهِhis palmمِنْfromجُودِهِhis generosityالْحَجَرُthe stone
A noble leader, whenever he held a stone in his palm... the stone overflows with generosity in his palm.
وَأَنْشَدَAnd he recitedأَيْضاً،also,رَحِمَهُmay God have mercyاللَّهُ:upon him:
And he also recited, may God have mercy upon him:
خِلٌّA friendإِذَاwhenجِئْتَهُyou came to himيَوْماًone dayلِتَسْأَلَهُto ask him......أَعْطَاكَhe gave youمَاwhatمَلَكَتْpossessedكَفَاهُhis palmsوَاعْتَذَرَاand apologized
A friend who, when you came to him one day to ask him... gave you what his palms possessed and apologized.
يُخْفِيHe concealsصَنَائِعَهُhis good deedsوَاللَّهُand Godيُظْهِرُهَاmakes them manifest......إِنَّVerilyالْجَمِيلَbeauty/kindnessإِذَاifأَخْفَيْتَهُyou concealed itظَهَرَاit appears
He conceals his good deeds and God makes them manifest... verily, kindness if you conceal it, appears.
وَأَنْشَدَ:And he recited:
And he recited:
يَدَاكَYour handsيَدٌone handغَيْثُهَاits rainمُرْسَلٌis sent......وَأُخْرَىand anotherلِأَعْدَائِهَاfor its enemiesغَائِظَةٌis infuriating
Your hands: one hand whose rain is sent... and another for its enemies, infuriating.
فَأَمَّاAs forالَّتِيthe oneسَيْبُهَاwhose bountyيُرْتَجَىis hoped for......فَأَجْوَدُis more generousبِالْمَالِwith wealthمِنْthanلَافِظِهِits utterer
As for the one whose bounty is hoped for... it is more generous with wealth than its utterer.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forالَّتِيthe oneشَرُّهَاwhose evilيُتَّقَىis feared......فَنَفْسُthe soul ofالْعَدُوِّthe enemyبِهَاwith itفَائِظَةٌis triumphant
And as for the one whose evil is feared... the soul of the enemy is triumphant with it.
آخَرُ:Another:
Another:
فَتًىA youthعَاهَدَwho covenantedالرَّحْمَانَthe Most Mercifulفِيinبَذْلِbestowingمَالِهِhis wealth......فَلَيْسَso notتَرَاهُdo you see himالدَّهْرَeverإِلَّاexceptعَلَىuponالْعَهْدِthe covenant
A youth who covenanted with the Most Merciful in bestowing his wealth... so you never see him ever except upon the covenant.
فَتًىA youthقَصُرَتْshort fellآمَالُهُhis hopesعَنْfromفِعَالِهِhis deeds......وَلَيْسَand there is notعَلَىuponالْحُرِّthe free manالْكَرِيمِgenerousسِوَىother thanالْجَهْدِutmost effort
A youth whose hopes fell short of his deeds... and upon the free, generous man there is nothing other than utmost effort.
آخَرُ:Another:
Another: