قَالَHe saidالْمُبَرِّدُ:Al-Mubarrid:
Al-Mubarrid said:
حَدَّثَنِيnarrated to meمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُson ofعَامِرٍAmirالْحَنَفِيُّAl-Hanafiقَالَ:who said:
Muhammad ibn Amir Al-Hanafi narrated to me, saying:
ذَكَرُواThey mentionedأَنَّthatفِتْيَاناًyoung menكَانُواwereمُجْتَمِعِينَgatheredقَدِwho hadائْتَلَفُواbecome unitedفِيinنِظَامٍan orderوَاحِدٍone
They mentioned that a group of young men were gathered, united in a single bond,
كُلُّهُمْall of themابْنُsons ofنِعْمَةٍaffluenceوَكُلُّهُمْand all of themقَدْhadشَرَدَfledعَنْfromأَهْلِهِtheir families
all of them sons of affluence and all of them having left their families
وَقَنِعَand contentedبِأَصْحَابِهِ،with their companions.
and content with their companions.
فَذَكَرَSo mentionedذَاكِرٌa speakerمِنْهُمْamong themوَقَالَ:and said:
Then one of them spoke up and said:
كُنَّاWeقَدِhadاكْتَرَيْنَاrentedدَاراًa houseشَارِعَتُهَاwhose street-frontعَلَىwas onأَحَدِone ofطُرُقِthe roads ofبَغْدَادَBaghdadالْمَعْمُورَةِpeopledبِالنَّاسِwith people,
We had rented a house facing one of the bustling streets of Baghdad,
فَكُنَّاso weلَاdid notنَسْتَكْثِرُfind it too muchأَنْthatتَقَعَfallمُؤُنَتُنَاour expenseعَلَىuponوَاحِدٍoneمِنَّاof usإِذَاwhenأَمْكَنَهُhe was able
and we would not mind if our expenses fell upon one of us when he was able,
وَيَبْقَىwhile remainsالْوَاحِدُthe oneمِنَّاof usلَاnotيَقْدِرُableعَلَىforشَيْءٍanything,فَيَقُومُso undertakesأَصْحَابُهُhis companionsبِأَمْرِهِhis affairالدَّهْرَfor the durationالْأَطْوَلِ،of the longest time.
and if one of us was left unable to afford anything, his companions would take care of his needs indefinitely.
فَكُنَّاSo weإِذَاwhenأَيْسَرْنَاwe had wealthأَكَلْنَاwe ateمِنَfromالطَّعَامِthe foodأَطْيَبَهُits best
When we were well-off, we ate the best of food,
وَلَبِسْنَاand we woreمِنَfromاللِّبَاسِclothingأَلْيَنَهُits softest
wore the softest of garments,
وَدَعَوْنَاand we invitedالْمُلهِينَentertainersوَالْمُلْهِيَاتِand female entertainers,وَكُنَّاand we wereفِيinأَسْفَلِthe lower partالدَّارِ،of the house.
and invited male and female entertainers while staying in the lower part of the house.
وَإِذَاAnd whenعَدِمْنَاwe lackedالطَّرَبَmerry-makingجَلَسْنَاwe satفِيinغُرْفَةٍa roomلَنَاfor usنَتَمَتَّعُenjoyingفِيهَاin itبِالنَّظَرِby lookingإِلَىatالنَّاسِ،the people.
When we lacked the means for merry-making, we sat in a room of ours, enjoying ourselves by watching the people.
وَكُنَّاAnd weلَاdid notنُخِلُّforegoبِالنَّبِيذِwineفِيinعُسْرٍhardshipوَلَاnorيُسْرٍease
And we never went without wine in times of hardship or ease,
وَلَوْeven ifنَبِيعُwe had to sellالثَّوْبَthe garmentمِنَamongالْأَثْوَابِ،our garments.
even if we had to sell one of our garments.
فَإِنَّاSo we wereلَكَذَلِكَthusيَوْماًone dayإِذْwhenبِفَتًىa young manيَسْتَأْذِنُwas asking permissionعَلَيْنَا،to enter upon us.
Thus we were one day, when a young man asked permission to enter upon us.
فَقُلْنَاSo we saidلَهُ:to him:اصْعَدْAscendوَادْخُلْ،and enter.
We said to him, "Come up and enter."
فَإِذَاLo and beholdرَجُلٌa manحُلْوُsweetالْوَجْهِof faceسَرِيُّnobleالْهَيْئَةِof appearanceتُنَبِّئُproclaimingرُؤْيَتُهُhis sightأَنَّهُthat he isمِنْfromأَهْلِpeople ofالنِّعَمِ.bounty.
And behold, he was a man with a sweet face and noble appearance, whose sight proclaimed him to be a man of wealth.
فَأَقْبَلَSo he approachedعَلَيْنَاusفَقَالَ:and said:إِنِّيIndeed Iسَمِعْتُhave heardبِمَجْمَعِكُمْof your gatheringوَحُسْنِand the excellence ofمُنَادَمَتِكُمْyour companionship
He approached us and said, "I have heard of your gathering, the excellence of your companionship,
وَصِحَّةِand the genuineness ofأُلْفَتِكُمْyour affectionحَتَّىto the extent thatكَأَنَّكُمْit is as ifأُدْرِجْتُمْyou were foldedجَمِيعاًall togetherفِيinقَلْبٍa heartوَاحِدٍone
and the genuineness of your bond, to the extent that it is as if you were all wrapped up in a single heart.
فَأَحْبَبْتُSo I lovedأَنْtoأَكُونَbeوَاحِداًoneمِنْكُمْof youوَأَنْand thatلَاnotتُحْتَشُمُونِي.you feel formal with me.
So I desired to be one of you, and that you should not feel any formality towards me."
قَالَ:He said:وَصَادَفَAnd that coincidedذَلِكَwith thatمِنَّاfrom usإِقْتَاراًscarcityمِنَofالْقُوتِprovisionsوَإِكْثَاراًand an abundanceمِنَofالنَّبِيذِ.wine.
He said: That coincided with a scarcity of provisions and an abundance of wine on our part.
فَقَالَSo he saidلِغُلَامٍto a servantمَعَهُ:with him:هَاتِBringمَاwhatعِنْدَكَ.you have.
So he said to a servant with him, "Bring what you have."
فَغَبَرَThen he was absentعَنَّاfrom usغَيْرَnotبَعِيدٍfarثُمَّthenأَتَىhe cameبِسَلَّةِwith a basket ofخَيْزُرَانٍcane
He was away from us for a short while, then he came with a cane basket
فِيهَاin itطَعَامٌwas foodمِنْofجِدَاءٍyoung goatsوَدَجَاجٍand chickensوَفِرَاخٍand chicksوَرِقَاقٍand thin breadوَأُشْنَانٍand glasswortوَأَخِلَّةٍand toothpicksوَمِحْلَبٍand perfume
containing food of young goats, chickens, chicks, thin bread, glasswort, toothpicks, and perfume.
فَأَصَبْنَاSo we partookمِنْofذَلِكَthatالطَّعَامِfoodثُمَّthenأَفَضْنَاwe engagedفِيinشَرَابِنَاour drinkوَانْبَسَطَand the man relaxedالرَّجُلُ،fully,
We partook of that food, then we engaged in our drinking, and the man opened up to us.
فَإِذَاLo and beholdهُوَhe wasأَحْلَىthe sweetestخَلْقِof the creation ofاللَّهِGodإِذَاwhenحَدَّثَhe spoke
And behold, he was the sweetest of God's creation when he spoke,
وَأَحْسَنُهُمْand the best of themاسْتِمَاعاًin listeningإِذَاwhenحُدِّثَhe was spoken to
the best of them at listening when spoken to,
وَأَمْسَكُهُمْand the most restrained of themعَنْfromمُلَاحَاةٍquarrelingإِذَاwhenخُولِفَ،contradicted.
and the most restrained from quarreling when contradicted.
ثُمَّThenأَفْضَيْنَاwe progressedمَعَهُwith himإِلَىtoأَكْرَمِthe noblestمُخَالَعَةٍfriendshipوَأَجْمَلِand the most beautifulمُعَاشَرَةٍ،companionship.
Then we advanced with him to the noblest intimacy and the most beautiful companionship.
فَكُنَّاSo we wereرُبَّمَاperhapsامْتَحَنْنَاهُtesting himبِأَنْbyنَدْعُوَهُinviting himإِلَىtoالشَّيْءِthe thingالَّذِيwhichنَعْلَمُwe knowأَنَّهُthat heيَكْرَهُهُhates it
We would sometimes test him by inviting him to something we knew he disliked,
فَيُظْهِرُand he would showلَنَاusأَنَّهُthat heلَاdoes notيُحِبُّloveغَيْرَهُother than itوَيُرَىand that is seenذَلِكَthatفِيinأَسَارِيرِthe lines ofوَجْهِهِ،his face.
and he would show us that he loved nothing else, and that would be visible in the expressions of his face.
فَكُنَّاSo we wereنَغْتَنِيenrichedبِهِby himعَنْinstead ofحُسْنِgoodالْغِنَىwealth
So we found ourselves enriched by him beyond the need for true wealth,
وَنَتَمَثَّلُand we citedبِكَلَامِهِhis wordsوَنَتَدَارَسُand we studied togetherأَخْبَارَهُ،his reports.
we quoted his sayings, and we studied his accounts together.
فَشَغَلَنَاSo distracted usبِظَرْفِهِby his eleganceوَبِمَاand by whatعَاشَرَنَاhe associated with usبِهِthrough itعَنْfromوَصْفِهِdescribing himوَالسُّؤَالِand askingعَنْaboutتَعَرُّفِknowingاسْمِهِhis nameوَنَسَبِهِ،and lineage.
His elegance and the manner of his companionship distracted us from describing him and asking to know his name and lineage.
فَلَمْSo did not haveيَكُنْthere beعِنْدَنَاwith usمِنْofأَمْرِهِhis matterإِلَّاexceptمَعْرِفَةَknowledge ofالْكُنْيَةِ،the kunya (teknonym).
Thus we had no knowledge of his identity other than his kunya.
فَإِنَّاFor whenسَأَلْنَاهُwe asked himعَنْهَاabout itفَأَنْبَأَنَاhe informed usأَنَّهُthat heيُكْنَىis known by the kunyaأَبَاAbuالْفَضْلِ،Al-Fadl.
When we asked him about it, he informed us that his kunya was Abu Al-Fadl.
فَقَالَHe saidلَنَاto usيَوْماًone dayبَعْدَafterاتِّصَالِcontinuousالْأُنْسِ:friendliness:أَلَاWill notأُخْبِرُكُمْI tell youكَيْفَhowعَرَفْتُكُمْ؟I came to know you?
One day, after our friendliness had deepened, he said to us, "Shall I tell you how I came to know you?"
قُلْنَاWe saidلَهُ:to him:إِنَّاIndeed weلَنُحِبُّdo loveذَاكَ.that.
We said to him, "We would indeed love that."
فَقَالَ:So he said:أَحْبَبْتُI lovedجَارِيَةًa slave girlفِيinجِوَارِكُمْyour neighborhoodوَكَانَتْand she wasمَوْلَاتُهَاher mistressذَاتَa woman ofحَبَائِبَlovers
He said: "I fell in love with a slave girl in your neighborhood whose mistress had many lovers,
فَكَانَتْand she usedتَخْتَلِفُto go back and forthبِالرَّسَائِلِwith messagesبَيْنَهَاbetween herوَبَيْنَand betweenحَبَائِبِهَاher lovers.
and the girl used to carry messages back and forth between her mistress and her lovers.
وَكُنْتُAnd I usedأَجْلِسُto sitلَهَاwaiting for herفِيinالطَّرِيقِthe roadوَرَأَيْتُand I sawغُرْفَتَكُمْyour roomهَذِهِthis
I used to wait for her along the road, and I saw this room of yours,
فَسَأَلْتُso I askedعَنْaboutخَبَرِهَاits newsفَخُبِّرْتُand I was informedعَنْaboutائْتِلَافِكُمْyour unityوَمُسَاعَدَةِand the mutual support ofبَعْضِكُمْsome of youبَعْضاًfor others.
so I inquired about it and was told about your unity and how you help one another.
فَكَانَSo wasالدُّخُولُenteringعِنْدِيto meفِيمَاinto whatأَنْتُمْyou areفِيهِin itآثَرَmore preferredعِنْدِيto meمِنَthanالظَّفَرِwinningبِالْجَارِيَةِ.the slave girl.
Thus, joining you in what you share was more beloved to me than winning the slave girl.
فَسَأَلْنَاهُSo we asked himفَخَبَرَنَاand he informed usبِمَكَانِهَا.about her location.
So we asked him about her, and he told us where she was.
فَقُلْنَاSo we saidلَهُ:to him:فَإِنَّاIndeed weنَخْدَعُهَاwill trick herلَكَfor youحَتَّىuntilيُظْفِرَكَmakes you victoriousاللَّهُGodبِهَا.over her.
We said to him, "We will trick her for you until God lets you win her over."
قَالَ:He said:يَاOإِخْوَتِيmy brothersإِنِّيindeed Iوَاللَّهِby Godعَلَىdespiteمَاwhatتَرَوْنَyou seeمِنْofشِدَّةِintensity ofالشَّوْقِyearningإِلَيْهَاfor her
He said, "O my brothers, by God, despite what you see of the intensity of my yearning for her
وَالْكَلَفِand infatuationبِهَاwith herوَمَاand whatقَدَّرْتُI have intendedفِيهَاregarding herحَرَاماًanything unlawfulقَطُّever.
and infatuation with her, I have never intended anything unlawful regarding her.
وَمَاAnd notتَقْدِيرِيis my planإِلَّاexceptمُطَاوَلَتُهَاprolonging my patience with herوَمُصَابَرَتُهَاand enduring herإِلَىuntilأَنْthatيَمُنَّbestows favorاللَّهُGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mighty is Heبِثَرْوَةٍwith wealthفَأَشْتَرِيَهَا.so I can buy her.
My only plan is to patiently wait it out with her until Almighty God bestows wealth upon me so I can buy her."
فَأَقَامَSo he stayedمَعَنَاwith usشَهْرَيْنِtwo monthsوَنَحْنُwhile we wereبِهِwith himعَلَىinغَايَةِthe utmostالْاغْتِبَاطِjoy
He stayed with us for two months, during which we were in a state of the utmost joy with him
وَبِقُرْبِهِand through his nearnessعَلَىinغَايَةِthe utmostالسُّرُورِ،happiness.
and in the utmost happiness because of his nearness.
ثُمَّThenاحْتَبَسَhe was withheld / absentعَنَّاfrom usفَتَأَلَّمْنَاso we suffered painلِفِرَاقِهِat his separationكُلَّeveryمُمِضٍّpiercing painوَلَوْعَةٍand burning griefمُؤْلِمَةٍpainful,
Then he was absent from us, so we suffered every piercing pain and painful heartache over his separation.
وَلَمْAnd we did notنَعْرِفْknowلَهُfor himمَنْزِلاًa homeنَلْتَمِسُهُwhere we might seek himفِيهِin itفَيَكُونَso that would beفَقْدُهُhis lossأَخَفَّlighterعَلَيْنَا،upon us.
We did not know a home where we could seek him so that his loss would be easier for us to bear.
فَكَدُرَSo became turbidعَيْشُنَاour lifeالَّذِيwhichكَانَwasصَافِياًclearقَدْhavingطَابَbeen sweetلُبَابُهُ،its essence.
Thus our life, which had been clear and whose essence had been sweet, became turbid.
وَقَبُحَAnd became uglyمَاwhatكَانَwasقَدْpreviouslyحَسُنَmade beautifulلَنَاfor usبِقُرْبِهِby his nearnessوَانْصِرَامِand the vanishing ofالْغَمِّgriefبِمُحَادَثَتِهِ،through conversing with him.
What had been made beautiful for us by his nearness and the vanishing of grief through conversing with him became unpleasant.
فَكُنَّاSo we wereفِيهِin itكَمَاasقَالَsaidالْقَائِلُ:the poet:
We were in that state as the poet said:
يُذَكِّرُنِيهِمْReminds me of themكُلُّeveryخَيْرٍgoodرَأَيْتُهُI saw......وَشَرٍّand [every] evilفَمَاso I do notأَنْفَكُceaseمِنْهُمْfrom themعَلَىuponذِكْرٍremembrance
Every good I saw reminds me of them, and every evil—so I never cease remembering them.