قَالَ:Heوَكَانَsaid: AndعَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofالْجَهْمِAl-Jahmيَقَعُused to speakفِيill ofمَرْوَانَMarwanوَيَثْلِبُهُand defame himحَسَداًout of envyلِمَنْزِلَتِهِfor his statusمِنْwithأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.
He said: Ali ibn al-Jahm used to speak ill of Marwan and defame him out of envy for his status with the Commander of the Faithful.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himالْمُتَوَكِّلُ:Al-Mutawakkil:يَاOعَلِيُّAli,أَيُّكُمَاwhich of you twoأَشْعَرُ؟is a better poet?
Al-Mutawakkil said to him: O Ali, which of you two is a better poet?
قَالَ:He said:أَنَاIأَشْعَرُam a better poetمِنْهُ.than him.
He said: I am a better poet than him.
قَالَ:He said:مَاWhatتَقُولُdo you sayيَاOمَرْوَانُ؟Marwan?
He said: What do you say, O Marwan?
قَالَ:He said:إِذَاWhenحَقَّقْتَyou verifyشِعْرَكَyour poetryفِيconcerningأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,لَمْI do notأُبَالِmindبِمَنْwhoزَيَّفَfalsifiedشِعْرِي.my poetry.
He said: When you verify your poetry concerning the Commander of the Faithful, I do not mind who falsified my poetry.
ثُمَّThenالتَفَتَturnedمَرْوَانُMarwanإِلَىtoعَلِيٍّAliفَقَالَ:and said:
Then Marwan turned to Ali and said:
يَاOعَلِيُّAli,أَنْتَare youأَشْعَرُa better poetمِنِّي؟than me?
O Ali, are you a better poet than me?
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ،Yes,تَشُكُّdo you doubtفِيinذَا؟this?
He said: Yes, do you doubt this?
قَالَHe said:أَمِيرُThe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ:of the Faithful:بَيْنِيBetween meوَبَيْنَكَ.and you.
The Commander of the Faithful said: Between me and you.
قَالَ:He said:هُوَHeيُحَابِيكَ.favors you.
He said: He favors you.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمُتَوَكِّلُ:Al-Mutawakkil:هَذَاThis isمِنْfromعَيِّكَ.your helplessness in speech.
Al-Mutawakkil said: This is from your helplessness in speech.
ثُمَّThenالتَفَتَhe turnedإِلَىtoحَمْدُونَHamdunالنَّدِيمِthe companionفَقَالَ:and said:ذَاThis isحَكَمٌan arbiterبَيْنَكُمَا.between you two.
Then he turned to Hamdun the companion and said: This is an arbiter between you two.
فَقَالَ:He said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,تَرَكْتَنِيyou have left meبَيْنَbetweenلِحْيَيِthe two jawsالْأَسَدِ!of the lion!
He said: O Commander of the Faithful, you have left me between the two jaws of the lion!
قَالَ:He said:لَاNoبُدَّescapeأَنْfromتُصَدِّقَنِيtelling me the truth.
He said: There is no escape from telling me the truth.
قَالَ:He said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,أَعْرَقُهُمَاthe one of them with deeper rootsفِيinالشِّعْرِpoetryأَشْعَرُهُمَا.is the better poet of them.
He said: O Commander of the Faithful, the one of them with deeper roots in poetry is the better poet of them.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمُتَوَكِّلُ:Al-Mutawakkil:يَاOمَرْوَانُMarwan,اهْجُهُ.satirize him.
Al-Mutawakkil said: O Marwan, satirize him.
قَالَ:He said:لَاI will notأَبْدَأُهُstart itوَلَكِنْbutيَقُولُ.let him speak.
He said: I will not start it, but let him speak.
فَقَالَThen saidعَلِيٌّ:Ali:قَدْIndeedكَظَّنِيoverburdened meالنَّبِيذُthe wineوَلَسْتُand I am notأَقْدِرُableأَنْtoأَقُولَ.speak.
Then Ali said: The wine has overburdened me and I am not able to speak.
قَالَSaidمَرْوَانُ:Marwan:لَكِنِّيBut Iأَقُولُ:will speak:
Marwan said: But I will speak:
إِنَّIndeedابْنَthe son ofجَهْمٍJahmفِيinالْمَغِيبِhis absenceيَعيبُنِيfaults me
Indeed the son of Jahm in his absence faults me
وَيَقُولُand speaksلِيto meحَسَناًkindlyإِذَاwhenلَاقَانِيhe meets me
and speaks to me kindly when he meets me
وَإِذَاAnd whenالتَقَيْنَاwe meetفَاقَexcelledشِعْرِيmy poetryشِعْرَهُhis poetry
And when we meet my poetry excelled his poetry
وَنَزَاand leaptعَلَىagainstشَيْطَانِهِhis devilشَيْطَانِيmy devil
and my devil leapt against his devil
إِنَّIndeedابْنَthe son ofجَهْمٍJahmلَيْسَdoes notيَرْحَمُhave mercy onأُمَّهُhis mother
Indeed the son of Jahm does not have mercy on his mother
لَوْifكَانَhe wereيَرْحَمُهَاto have mercy on herلَمَاhe would not haveعَادَانِيbeen hostile to me
if he were to have mercy on her he would not have been hostile to me
فَقَالَSo saidالْمُتَوَكِّلُ:Al-Mutawakkil:يَاOمَرْوَانُMarwan,بِحَيَاتِيby my lifeلَاdo notتُقَصِّرْ!fall short!
Al-Mutawakkil said: O Marwan, by my life do not fall short!
فَقَالَ:So he said:
So he said:
يَاOعَلِيُّAli,يَاOابْنَson ofبَدْرٍBadr
O Ali, O son of Badr
قُلْتَyou saidأُمِّيmy motherقُرَشِيَّةْis Qurashite
you said my mother is Qurashite
قُلْتَyou spokeمَاwhatلَيْسَis notبِحَقٍّtrueفَاسْكُتِيso be silentيَاOنَبَطِيَّةْNabatian woman
you spoke what is not true so be silent O Nabatian woman
اسْكُتِيBe silentيَاOبِنْتَdaughter ofجَهْمٍJahm
Be silent O daughter of Jahm
اسْكُتِيbe silentيَاOحَلْقِيَّةْwoman of the throat
be silent O woman of the throat
قَالَ:He said:فَجَعَلَSo beganالْمُتَوَكِّلُAl-Mutawakkilيَضْرِبُstrikingبِرِجْلِهِwith his footوَيَضْحَكُand laughingوَأَمَرَand orderedلِيfor meبِأَلْفِone thousandدِينَارٍ،dinars.
He said: So Al-Mutawakkil began striking with his foot and laughing, and ordered for me one thousand dinars.
قَالَSaidمَرْوَانُ:Marwan:صِرْتُI wentإِلَىtoالْمُتَوَكِّلِAl-Mutawakkilفَقُلْتُ:and said:
Marwan said: I went to Al-Mutawakkil and said:
سَقَىMay waterاللَّهُGodنَجْداًNajdوَالسَّلَامُand peaceعَلَىbe uponنَجْدِNajd
May God water Najd and peace be upon Najd
وَيَاand howحَبَّذَاbeloved isنَجْدٌNajdعَلَىinالْقُرْبِnearnessوَالْبُعْدِand farness
and how beloved is Najd in nearness and farness
نَظَرْتُI lookedإِلَىatنَجْدٍNajdوَبَغْدَادُwhile Baghdad wasدُونَهَاbefore it
I looked at Najd while Baghdad was before it
لَعَلِّيperhaps Iأَرَىmay seeنَجْداًNajdوَهَيْهَاتَand how farمِنْisنَجْدِNajd
perhaps I may see Najd and how far is Najd
وَنَجْدٌAnd Najdبِهَاin itقَوْمٌare peopleهَوَاهُمْwhose desire isزِيَارَتِيvisiting me
And Najd in it are people whose desire is visiting me
وَلَاand nothingشَيْءَisأَحْلَىsweeterمِنْthanزِيَارَتِهِمْvisiting themعِنْدِيto me
and nothing is sweeter than visiting them to me
قَالَ:He said:فَلَمَّاSo whenتَمَمْتُI completedإِنْشَادَهَاreciting itأَمَرَhe orderedلِيfor meبِعِشْرِينَtwentyوَمِائَةِand one hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsوَخَمْسِينَand fiftyثَوْباًgarmentsوَثَلَاثَةٍand threeمِنَofالضَّهْرِmountsفَرَسٍa horseوَبَغْلَةٍand a muleوَحِمَارٍ،and a donkey.
He said: So when I completed reciting it, he ordered for me twenty and one hundred thousand dirhams, and fifty garments, and three of the mounts: a horse, a mule, and a donkey.
فَمَاSo Iبَرِحْتُdid not leaveحَتَّىuntilقُلْتُI saidفِيinشُكْرِهِ:thanks to him:
So I did not leave until I said in thanks to him:
تَخَيَّرَChoseرَبُّthe Lord ofالنَّاسِpeopleلِلنَّاسِfor the peopleجَعْفَراًJa'far
The Lord of people chose Ja'far for the people
فَمَلَّكَهُand made him master ofأَمْرَthe affair ofالْعِبَادِthe servantsتَخَيُّراًby choice
and made him master of the affair of the servants by choice
فَلَمَّاSo whenصِرْتُI reachedإِلَىatهَذَاthisالْبَيْتِ:verse:
So when I reached this verse:
فَأَمْسِكْSo withholdنَدَىthe generosity ofكَفَيْكَyour two palmsعَنِّيfrom meوَلَاand do notتَزِدْadd
So withhold the generosity of your two palms from me and do not add
فَقَدْfor indeedخِفْتُI fearedأَنْthatأَطْغَىI might transgressوَأَنْand thatأَتَجَبَّرَاI might act arrogantly
for indeed I feared that I might transgress and that I might act arrogantly
قَالَ:He said:لَاNoوَاللَّهِby GodلَاI will notأُمْسِكُwithholdحَتَّىuntilأُغْرِقَكَI drown youبِجُودِيin my generosityوَلَاand you shall notتَبْرَحَleaveأَوْuntilتَسْأَلَyou ask forحَاجَةً.a need.
He said: No, by God, I will not withhold until I drown you in my generosity and you shall not leave until you ask for a need.
قُلْتُ:I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,الضَّيْعَةُthe estateالَّتِيwhichأَمَرْتَyou orderedبِإِقْطَاعِيto be granted as an fief to meإِيَّاهَاitمِنَfromالْيَمَامَةِAl-YamamahذَكَرَmentionedابْنُIbnالْمُدَبِّرِAl-Mudabbirأَنَّهَاthat itوَقْفٌis an endowmentمِنَfromالْمُعْتَصِمِ.Al-Mu'tasim.
I said: O Commander of the Faithful, the estate which you ordered to be granted as an fief to me from Al-Yamamah, Ibn Al-Mudabbir mentioned that it is an endowment from Al-Mu'tasim.
قَالَ:He said:فَإِنِّيThen indeed Iأُقَبِّلُكَهَاgrant it to youبِخَرَاجِfor a tax ofدِرْهَمٍ.one dirham.
He said: Then indeed I grant it to you for a tax of one dirham.
قُلْتُ:I said:لَاIt does notيَحْسُنُlook wellأَنْthatيُؤَدِّيَis paidدِرْهَمٌ.one dirham.
I said: It does not look well that one dirham is paid.
فَقَالَSo saidابْنُIbnالْمُدَبِّرِ:Al-Mudabbir:فَأَلْفُThen one thousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ.Yes.
So Ibn Al-Mudabbir said: Then one thousand dirhams. I said: Yes.
فَأَمْضَاهَاSo he executed itلِيfor meثُمَّand thenقَالَ:he said:لَيْسَتْThis is notهَذِهِaحَاجَةً.need.
So he executed it for me and then he said: This is not a need.
قُلْتُ:I said:فَضِيَاعِيMy estatesالَّتِيwhichكَانَتْwereلِيmineوَحَالَand stoodابْنُIbnالزَّيَّاتِAl-Zayyatبَيْنِيbetween meوَبَيْنَهَا.and them.
I said: My estates which were mine and Ibn Al-Zayyat stood between me and them.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedبِرَدِّهَاtheir returnعَلَيَّ.to me.
So he ordered their return to me.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd saidأَبُوAbuيَعْقُوبَYa'qubالْخَطَّابِيُّ:Al-Khattabi:كُنْتُI wasجَالِساًsittingعِنْدَwithمَعْنِMa'nبْنِson ofزَائِدَةَZaidahوَإِذَاand beholdعَلَيْهِupon himإِزَارٌwas a wrapperيُسَاوِيworthأَرْبَعَةَfourدَرَاهِمَ،dirhams.
He said: And Abu Ya'qub Al-Khattabi said: I was sitting with Ma'n ibn Zaidah and behold, upon him was a wrapper worth four dirhams.
فَقَالَ:He said:يَاOأَبَاAbuيَعْقُوبَYa'qub,هَذَاthis isإِزَارِيmy wrapperوَقَدْand indeedقَسَمْتُI have distributedالْعَامَthis yearفِيamongقَوْمِكَyour peopleخَاصَّةًspecificallyأَرْبَعِينَfortyأَلْفَthousandدِينَارٍ،dinars.
He said: O Abu Ya'qub, this is my wrapper and indeed I have distributed this year among your people specifically forty thousand dinars.
فَبَيْنَاSo whileنَحْنُweنَتَحَدَّثُwere conversingإِذْbeholdأَبْصَرَhe sawأَعْرَابِيّاًa Bedouinيَحُطُّdescendingبِهِwith himالْآلُthe mirageمِنْfromخَوْخَةٍa small windowمُشْرِفَةٍoverlookingلَهُfor himعَلَىontoالصَّحْرَاءِ،the desert.
So while we were conversing, behold, he saw a Bedouin descending with him the mirage from a small window overlooking for him onto the desert.
فَقَالَSo he saidلِحَاجِبِهِ:to his chamberlain:إِنْIfكَانَthisهَذَاmanيُرِيدُنَاwants usفَأَدْخِلْهُ!then let him in!
So he said to his chamberlain: If this man wants us, then let him in!
فَدَخَلَSo enteredالْأَعْرَابِيُّthe Bedouinوَسَلَّمَand greetedوَأَنْشَأَand beganيَقُولُ:saying:
So entered the Bedouin and greeted and began saying:
أَصْلَحَكَMay God set rightاللَّهُGodقَلَّlittle isمَاwhatبِيَدِيin my hand
May God set right, little is what is in my hand
فَلَاso I do notأُطِيقُbearالْعِيَالَthe dependentsإِذْwhenكَثُرُواthey multiplied
so I do not bear the dependents when they multiplied
أَلَحَّPressed hardدَهْرٌtimeرَمَىthat threwبِكَلْكَلِهِits chest
Pressed hard time that threw its chest
فَأَرْسَلُونِيso they sent meإِلَيْكَto youوَانْتَظَرُواand they waited
so they sent me to you and they waited
قَالَ:He said:فَاضْطَرَبَ،So he became agitated,وَقَالَ:and said:أَرْسَلوكَThey sent youوَانْتَظَرُوا!and waited!يَاOغُلَامُboy,مَاwhatفَعَلَdidبَغْلَتُنَاour muleالْفُلَانِيَّةُ؟such and such do?
He said: So he became agitated, and said: They sent you and waited! O boy, what did our mule such and such do?
قَالَ:He said:حَاضِرَةٌ.Present.
He said: Present.
قَالَ:He said:كَمْHow muchهِيَ؟is it?
He said: How much is it?
قَالَ:He said:أَلْفُOne thousandدِينَارٍ.dinars.
He said: One thousand dinars.
قَالَ:He said:اطْرَحْهَاThrow itإِلَيْهِ.to him.
He said: Throw it to him.
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:اذْهَبْGoإِلَيْهِمْto themبِمَاwith whatمَعَكَis with youثُمَّthenإِذَاifاحْتَجْتَyou are in needفَارْجِعْ.return.
Then he said: Go to them with what is with you, then if you are in need, return.
وَعَنْAnd on the authority ofأَبِيAbuيَعْقُوبَYa'qubالْخَطَّابِيِّAl-Khattabiقَالَ:he said:دَخَلَEnteredأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinمَعَهُwith himصَبِيٌّa small boyصَغِيرٌsmallفِيinنِطْعٍa leather matإِلَىtoمَعْنِMa'nبْنِson ofزَائِدَةَZaidahوَقَالَ:and said:
And on the authority of Abu Ya'qub Al-Khattabi, he said: A Bedouin entered with him a small boy in a leather mat to Ma'n ibn Zaidah and said:
سَمَّيْتُI namedمَعْناًMa'nبِمَعْنًafter Ma'nثُمَّthenقُلْتُI saidلَهُto him
I named Ma'n after Ma'n then I said to him
هَذَاthis isسَمِيُّthe namesake ofامْرِئٍa manفِيamongالنَّاسِpeopleمَحْمُودِpraised
this is the namesake of a man among people praised
أَنْتَYou areالْجَوَادُthe generous oneوَمِنْكَand from youالْجُودُgenerosityأَوَّلُهُbegins
You are the generous one and from you generosity begins
لَاnayبَلْratherيَمِينُكَyour right handمِنْهَاfrom itصُورَةُis the image ofالْجُودِgenerosity
nay rather your right hand from it is the image of generosity
فَأَعْطَاهُSo he gave himأَلْفَone thousandدِينَارٍ.dinars.
So he gave him one thousand dinars.
وَدَخَلَAnd enteredيَزِيدُYazidبْنُson ofمَزْيَدٍMaziyadالشَّيْبَانِيُّAl-Shaibaniأَحَدُone ofالْأَجْوَادِthe generous onesمَسْجِداًa mosqueبِالْيَمَنِin Yemenفَوَجَدَand foundفِيinقِبْلَتِهِits Qibla wallمَكْتُوباً:written:
And Yazid ibn Maziyad Al-Shaibani, one of the generous ones, entered a mosque in Yemen and found in its Qibla wall written:
مَضَىPassed awayمَعْنٌMa'nوَخَلَّانِيand left meبِبَثِّيin my grief
Passed away Ma'n and left me in my grief
عَلَىuponمَعْنِMa'nبْنِson ofزَائِدَةَZaidahالسَّلَامُbe peace
upon Ma'n son of Zaidah be peace
فَسَأَلَSo he askedعَنْaboutقَائِلِهِ،its author,فَإِذَاand beholdهُوَhe wasمَعَهُمْ،with them,فَقَالَ:so he said:يَاOغُلَامُboy,أَمَعَكَis with youشَيْءٌ؟anything?
So he asked about its author, and behold he was with them, so he said: O boy, is with you anything?
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْYesأَلْفُone thousandدِينَارٍ.dinars.
He said: Yes, one thousand dinars.
قَالَ:He said:فَادْفَعْهَاSo pay itإِلَيْهِ.to him.
He said: So pay it to him.
فَخَرَجَSo went outالرَّجُلُthe manوَهُوَwhile heيَقُولُ:was saying:رَحِمَMay God have mercy onاللَّهُGodأَبَاAbuالْوَلِيدِAl-Walidوَصَلَنِيhe reached out to meحَيّاًaliveوَمَيِّتاً.and dead.
So went out the man while he was saying: May God have mercy on Abu Al-Walid, he reached out to me alive and dead.
وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd narrated to usجَعْفَرُJa'farبْنُson ofمَنْصُورِMansurبْنِson ofالْمَهْدِيِّAl-Mahdiقَالَ:he said:حَدَّثَنِيNarrated to meأَبِيmy fatherقَالَ:he said:حَجَّPerformed pilgrimageالْمَهْدِيُّAl-Mahdiفَنَزَلَand stayed atزُبَالَةَZubalahفَدَخَلَand enteredحُسَيْنُHusseinبْنُson ofمُطَيْرٍMutairالْأَسَدِيُّAl-Asadiعَلَيْهِupon himفَقَالَ:and said:
And narrated to us Ja'far ibn Mansur ibn Al-Mahdi, he said: Narrated to me my father, he said: Al-Mahdi performed pilgrimage and stayed at Zubalah, and Hussein ibn Mutair Al-Asadi entered upon him and said:
أَضْحَتْHas becomeيَمِينُكَyour right handمِنْofجُودٍgenerosityمُصَوَّرَةًfashioned
Has become your right hand of generosity fashioned
لَاnayبَلْratherيَمِينُكَyour right handمِنْهَاfrom itصُورَةُis the image ofالْجُودِgenerosity
nay rather your right hand from it is the image of generosity