إنَّIndeedالْخِيَارَthe bestمِنَofالْبَرِيَّةِcreationهَاشِمٌis Hashim
Indeed, the best of creation is Hashim
وَبَنُوand BanuأُمَيَّةَUmayyahأَرْذَلُare the vilestالْأَشْرَارِof the wicked
and Banu Umayyah are the vilest of the wicked.
وَبَنُوAnd BanuأُمَيَّةَUmayyahعُودُهُمْtheir woodمِنْis ofخِزُوعٍrotten branches
And Banu Umayyah, their wood is of rotten branches
وَلِهَاشِمٍand for Hashimفِيinالْمَجْدِgloryعُودُis woodنُضَارِof pure gold
and for Hashim in glory is wood of pure gold.
أَمَّاAs forالدُّعَاةُthe callersإِلَىtoالْجِنَانِParadiseفَهَاشِمٌit is Hashim
As for the callers to Paradise, it is Hashim
وَبَنُوand BanuأُمَيَّةَUmayyahمِنْare amongدُعَاةِthe callersالنَّارِto the Fire
and Banu Umayyah are among the callers to the Fire.
وَبِهَاشِمٍAnd through Hashimزَكَتِflourishedالْبِلَادُthe landsوَأَعْشَبَتْand grew green
And through Hashim the lands flourished and grew green
وَبَنُوwhile BanuأُمَيَّةَUmayyahكَالسَّرَابِare like the mirageالْجَارِيflowing
while Banu Umayyah are like the flowing mirage.
فَلَمْSo he was notيُؤْذَنْpermittedلَهُfor himفِيinالدُّخُولِenteringعَلَىuponأَبِيAbuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbas
So he was not permitted to enter upon Abu al-Abbas
وَلَمْand neitherيَصِلْهُdid reach himأَحَدٌanyoneمِنْfromبَنِيBanuهَاشِمٍHashim
and no one from Banu Hashim reached out to him.
فَوَلَّىSo he turned awayوَهُوَwhile heيَقُولُwas saying
So he turned away saying:
يَاOلَيْتَwould thatجَوْرَthe tyranny ofبَنِيBanuمَرْوَانَMarwanعَادَhad returnedلَنَاto us
O would that the tyranny of Banu Marwan had returned to us
وَأَنَّand thatعَدْلَthe justice ofبَنِيBanuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbasفِيwas inالنَّارِthe Fire
and that the justice of Banu al-Abbas was in the Fire.
قَالَHe said
He said:
وَقَالَAnd saidالْمُؤَمَّلُal-Mu'ammilالْمُحَارِبِيُّal-Muharibi
And al-Mu'ammil al-Muharibi said:
شَخَصْتُI set outإِلَىtoالْمَهْدِيِّal-Mahdiوَهُوَwhile heبِالرَّيِّwas in al-Rayy
I set out to al-Mahdi while he was in al-Rayy
فَامْتَدَحْتُهُso I praised him in poetryفَأَمَرَand he orderedلِيfor meبِعِشْرِينَtwentyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
so I praised him in poetry, and he ordered twenty thousand dirhams for me.
فَرُفِعَThen was raisedالْخَبَرُthe newsإِلَىtoالْمَنْصُورِal-Mansur
Then the news was raised to al-Mansur
فَبَعَثَso he sentقَائِداًa commanderإِلَىtoجِسْرِthe bridge ofالنَّهْرَوَانِNahrawanيَسْتَبْرِيto inspectالْقَوَافِلَthe caravans
so he sent a commander to the bridge of Nahrawan to inspect the caravans.
فَلَمَّاWhenوَرَدَتْthey arrivedعَلَيْهِupon himقَالَhe said
When they arrived before him, he said:
مَنْWhoأَنْتَare you?
"Who are you?"
قُلْتُI saidأَنَاI amالْمُؤَمَّلُal-Mu'ammilأَقْبَلْتُI cameمِنْfromعِنْدِthe presence ofالْأَمِيرِthe Princeمِنَfromالرَّيِّal-Rayy
I said, "I am al-Mu'ammil, I have come from the presence of the Prince in al-Rayy."
فَقَالَHe saidإِيَّاكَYouأَرَدْتُI wanted
He said, "You is what I wanted!"
ثُمَّThenأَخَذَhe tookبِيَدِيby my handفَأَدْخَلَنِيand made me enterعَلَىuponالْمَنْصُورِal-Mansurوَهُوَwhile heبِبَابِat the gate ofالذَّهَبِGold
Then he took me by the hand and made me enter upon al-Mansur while he was at the Golden Gate.
فَقَالَHe saidأَتَيْتَYou came toغُلَاماًa youthغِرّاًinexperiencedفَخَدَعْتَهُand you deceived him
He said, "You came to an inexperienced youth and deceived him!"
فَقُلْتُI saidبَلْNayأَتَيْتُI came toغُلَاماًa youthغِرّاًinexperiencedكَرِيماًgenerousفَخَدَعْتُهُand I deceived himفَانْخَدَعَso he was deceived
I said, "Nay, I came to an inexperienced, generous youth and deceived him, so he was deceived."
فَقَالَHe saidأَنْشِدْنِيRecite to meمَاwhatقُلْتَهُyou saidفِيهِabout him
He said, "Recite to me what you said about him."
فَأَنْشَدْتُهُSo I recited to him
So I recited to him:
هُوَHe isالْمَهْدِيُّal-Mahdiإِلَّاexceptأَنَّthatفِيهِin himمُشَابِهَresemblingصُورَةِthe form ofالْقَمَرِthe moonالْمُنِيرِluminous
He is al-Mahdi, save that in him is a resemblance to the form of the luminous moon
تَشَابَهَThey resembleذَاthisوَذَاand thatفَهُمَاso they twoإِذَاwhenمَا- - -أَنَارَاthey shineيُشْكِلَانِbecome confusingعَلَىtoالْبَصِيرِthe observer
This and that resemble each other, so when they shine they confuse the observer.
فَهَذَاSo thisفِيinالظَّلَامِthe darknessسِرَاجُis a lamp ofلَيْلٍnight
So this in the darkness is a lamp of night
وَهَذَاand thisبِالنَّهَارِin the dayسِرَاجُis a lamp ofنُورِlight
and this in the day is a lamp of light.
وَلَكِنْButفَضَّلَfavoredالرَّحْمَنُthe Most Mercifulهَذَاthis one
But the Most Merciful favored this one
عَلَىoverذَاthat oneبِالْمَنَابِرِwith the pulpitsوَالسَّرِيرِand the throne
over that one with the pulpits and the throne.
وَبِالْمُلْكِAnd with the kingdomالْعَزِيزِmightyفَذَاso thisأَمِيرٌis a prince
And with the mighty kingdom, so this is a prince
وَمَاwhile thatذَاoneبِالْأَمِيرِis not a princeوَلَاnorالْوَزِيرِa vizier
while that one is neither a prince nor a vizier.
وَنَقْصُAnd the waning ofالشَّهْرِthe monthيُخْمِدُdimsذَاthis oneوَهَذَاwhile thisمُنِيرٌis luminousعِنْدَatنُقْصَانِthe waning ofالشُّهُورِmonths
And the waning of the month dims this one, while this one remains luminous at the waning of months.
فَيَاOابْنَson ofخَلِيفَةِthe caliph ofاللَّهِGodالْمُصَفَّىthe purified
O son of the caliph of God, the purified one
بِهِthrough whomتَعْلُوrisesمَفَاخَرَةُthe boasting ofالْفَخُورِthe boaster
through whom rises the boasting of the boaster.
لَقَدْIndeedسَبَقَprecededالْمُلُوكَthe kingsأَبُوكَyour fatherحَتَّىuntil
Indeed your father preceded the kings until
تَرَاهُمْyou see themبَيْنَbetweenكَابٍprostrateأَوْorأَسِيرِcaptive
you see them either prostrate or captive.
وَجِئْتَAnd you cameوَرَاءَهُbehind himتَجْرِيrunningحَثِيثاًswiftly
And you came behind him running swiftly
وَمَاand there was notبِكَin youحِينَwhenتَجْرِيyou ranمِنْofفُتُورٍlanguor
and when you ran there was no languor in you.
فَقَالَSo saidالنَّاسُthe peopleمَاThese are notهَذَانِthese twoإِلَّاexcept
So the people said, "These two are nothing other than
كَمَاlikeبَيْنَbetweenالْخَلِيقِthe creatorإِلَىtoالْجَدِيرِthe worthy
like that between the creator and the worthy."
فَإِنْFor ifبَلَغَreachedالصَّغِيرُthe smallمَدَىthe extent ofكَبِيرٍa great one
For if the small reaches the extent of a great one
فَقَدْthen indeedخُلِقَwas createdالصَّغِيرُthe smallمِنَfromالْكَبِيرِthe great
then indeed the small was created from the great.
فَقَالَHe saidمَاHowأَحْسَنَexcellentمَاwhatقُلْتَyou said
He said, "How excellent is what you said
وَلَكِنْbutلَاdoes notيُسَاوِيequalمَاwhatأَخَذْتَyou took
but it does not equal what you took.
يَاOرَبِيعُRabi'خُذْtakeمِنْهُfrom himسِتَّةَsixteenعَشَرَthousandأَلْفاً- - -وَخَلِّهِand leave himوَمَاwithسِوَاهَاwhat is besides it
O Rabi', take sixteen thousand from him and leave him with the rest."
قَالَHe saidفَحَطَّSo he stripped awayوَاللَّهِby GodالرَّبِيعُRabi'ثِقْلِيmy wealthحَتَّىuntilأَخَذَhe tookمِنِّيfrom meسِتَّةَsixteenعَشَرَthousandأَلْفاً- - -
He said, "So by God, Rabi' stripped me of my wealth until he took sixteen thousand from me
فَمَاand there remainedبَقِيَتْnotمَعِيwith meإِلَّاexceptنَفِيقَةٌa meager sum
and nothing remained with me except a meager sum.
فَآلَيْتُSo I sworeعَلَىuponنَفْسِيmyselfأَنْthatلَاnotأَدْخُلَI would enterالْعِرَاقَIraqوَلِلْمَنْصُورِwhile al-Mansurبِهَاin itوِلَايَةٌheld authority
So I swore to myself that I would not enter Iraq while al-Mansur held authority there.
فَلَمَّاWhenبَلَغَنِيreached meمَوْتُthe death ofالْمَنْصُورِal-Mansurوَاستِخْلَافُand the succession ofالْمَهْدِيِّal-MahdiقَدِمْتُI arrived inبَغْدَادَBaghdad
When the news of al-Mansur's death and al-Mahdi's succession reached me, I arrived in Baghdad
وَقَدْandجَعَلَappointedالْمَهْدِيُّal-Mahdiعَلَىoverالْمَظَالِمِthe Department of Grievancesرَجُلاًa manيُقَالُwho was calledلَهُ- - -ابْنُIbnثَوْبَانَThawban
and al-Mahdi had appointed a man called Ibn Thawban over the Department of Grievances.
فَرَفَعْتُSo I submittedإِلَيْهِto himقِصَّةًa petitionأَذْكُرُin which I mentionedفِيهَا- - -خَبَرِيmy story
So I submitted a petition to him in which I mentioned my story
فَعَرَضَهَاand he presented itعَلَىtoالْمَهْدِيِّal-Mahdi
and he presented it to al-Mahdi.
فَضَحِكَHe laughedحَتَّىuntilاسْتَلْقَىhe leaned backوَقَالَand said
He laughed until he leaned back and said:
هَذِهِThis isمَظْلَمَةٌa grievanceأَنَاIبِهَاwith itعَارِفٌam familiar
"This is a grievance with which I am familiar.
رُدُّواReturnعَلَيْهِto himمَالَهُhis wealthوَزِيدُواand addلَهُto himعِشْرِينَtwentyأَلْفاًthousand
Return his wealth to him and add twenty thousand to it."
فَأَخَذْتُهَاSo I took itوَانْصَرَفْتُand departed
So I took it and departed.
قِيلَIt was saidوَدَخَلَthat enteredعَوْنٌAwnعَلَىuponعُمَرَUmarبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdالْعَزِيزِal-Aziz
It was said that 'Awn entered upon Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz
فَقَالَand saidيَاOأَمِيرَPrince ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Believersهَذَاthis isجَرِيرٌJarirبِالْبَابِat the doorيُرِيدُdesiringالدُّخُولَto enterعَلَيْكَupon you
and said, "O Prince of the Believers, this is Jarir at the door, desiring to enter upon you."
فَقَالَUmar saidعُمَرُ- - -مَاI do not knowأَدْرِي- - -أَنَّthatأَحَداًanyoneمِنْfromأُمَّةِthe nation ofمُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
Umar said, "I do not know that anyone from the nation of Muhammad
صَلَّىmay God's prayersاللَّهُ- - -عَلَيْهِbe upon himوَسَلَّمَand peace
may God's prayers and peace be upon him
يُحْجَبُis veiledعَنِّيfrom me.
is veiled from me."
قَالَHe saidإِنَّهُIndeed heيُرِيدُdesiresإِذْناًpermissionخَاصّاًspecial
He said, "Indeed, he wants special permission."
قَالَHe saidأَدْخِلْهُLet him enter
He said, "Let him enter."
فَخَرَجَSo went outعَوْنٌ'Awnوَأَخَذَand tookبِيَدِهِby his handفَأَدْخَلَهُand brought him in
So 'Awn went out, took him by the hand, and brought him in.
فَشَكَاSo he complainedإِلَيْهِto himطُولَof the length ofالْمَقَامِstayوَشِدَّةَand the severity ofالْحَالِconditionوَإِلْحَاحَand the persistence ofالزَّمَانِhard timesوَجَهْدَand the hardship ofالْعِيَالِdependents
He complained to him of the length of his stay, the severity of his condition, the persistence of hard times, and the hardship of dependents
وَسَأَلَهُand asked himأَنْthatيَأْذَنَhe give permissionلَهُto himفِيinإِنْشَادِهِreciting to himشِعْراًpoetry
and asked him to permit him to recite some poetry to him.
فَقَالَHe saidإِنَّIndeedأَمِيرَthe Prince ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Believersلَفِيis truly inشُغُلٍpreoccupationعَنِaway fromالشِّعْرِpoetry
He said, "Indeed, the Prince of the Believers is too preoccupied for poetry."
فَقَالَHe saidإِنَّهَاIt isرِسَالَةٌa messageمِنْfromأَهْلِthe people ofالْحِجَازِthe Hijaz
He said, "It is a message from the people of the Hijaz."
قَالَHe saidهَاتِهَاBring it
He said, "Bring it."
فَقَالَSo he said
So he said:
قَدْIndeedطَالَhas grown longقَوْلِيmy speakingإِذَاwhenمَا- - -كُنْتُI wasمُجْتَهِداًstriving
My speaking has grown long when I was striving
يَاOرَبِّLordعَافِgrant well-being toقِوَامَthe supports ofالدِّينِreligionوَالْبَشَرِand mankind
O Lord, grant well-being to the supports of religion and mankind!
خَلِيفَةَThe caliph ofاللَّهِGodثُمَّthenاللَّهُGodيَحْفَظُهُprotects him
The caliph of God—then may God protect him
عِنْدَatالْمَقَامِthe Stationوَإِمَّاand whetherكَانَhe isفِيonالسَّفَرِa journey
at the Station and whether he is on a journey.
إِنَّاIndeed weلَنَرْجُوverily hopeإِذَاwhenمَا- - -الْغَيْثُthe rainأَخْلَفَنَاfails us
Indeed we verily hope, when the rain fails us
مِنَfromالْخَلِيفَةِthe Caliphمَاwhatنَرْجُوwe hopeمِنَfromالْمَطَرِthe rain
from the Caliph for what we hope from the rain.
بَذَّHe surpassedالْخَلِيفَةَthe Caliphأَنْthatكَانَتْthere wasلَهُfor himقَدَراًdestiny
He surpassed the Caliph in that it was a destiny for him
كَمَاjust asأَتَىcameرَبَّهُto His LordمُوسَىMosesعَلَىuponقَدَرٍa decree
just as Moses came to his Lord upon a decree.
مَاNotزِلْتُhave I ceasedبَعْدَكَafter youفِيinدَارٍa houseتُؤَرِّقُنِيthat keeps me awake
I have not ceased after you to be in a house that keeps me awake
قَدْhas grown longطَالَ- - -فِيinالْحَيِّthe tribeإِصْعَادِيmy going upوَمُنْحَدَرِيand going down
my going up and going down in the tribe has grown long.
أَأَذْكُرُShall I mentionالْجَهْدَthe hardshipوَالْبَلْوَىand the trialالَّتِيwhichنَزَلَتْbefell
Shall I mention the hardship and the trial which befell
أَمْorقَدْhasكَفَانِيsufficed meالَّذِيthat whichنُبِّئْتُI was informed ofمِنْofخَبَرِيmy news
or has that which I was informed of regarding my news sufficed me?
كَمْHow manyبِالْمَوَاسِمِat the seasonal gatheringsمِنْofشَعْثَاءَdisheveledأَرْمَلَةٍwidow
How many disheveled widows are there at the seasonal gatherings
وَمِنْand how manyيَتِيمٍorphanضَعِيفِweak ofالصَّوْتِvoiceوَالنَّظَرِand gaze
and how many orphans weak of voice and gaze,
أَمْسَىwho becameحَزِيناًgrievedيَبْكِيweeping overفَقْدَthe loss ofوَالِدِهِhis father
grieved, weeping over the loss of his father,
كَالْفَرْخِlike the fledglingفِيinالْعِشْthe nestلَمْthat has notيَنْهَضْrisenوَلَمْand notيَطِرْflown
like the fledgling in the nest that has neither risen nor flown.
إِنْIfتُسْهَyou are heedlessعَنْهُof himفَمَنْthen whoيَرْجُوdoes he hope inلِفَاقَتِهِfor his poverty
If you are heedless of him, then who is there to hope in for his poverty
أَوْorتَنْحَyou turnعَنْهُaway from himفَقَدْthen indeedأَنْحَيْتَyou have broughtمِنْofضَرَرِharm
or if you turn away from him, then indeed you have brought about harm.
أَنْتَYou areالْمُبَارَكُthe blessed oneوَالْمَهْدِيُّand al-Mahdiسِيرَتُهُis his conduct
You are the blessed one, and al-Mahdi is your conduct,
تَعْصِيyou disobeyالْهَوَىdesireوَتَقُومُand you standاللَّيْلَthe nightبِالسُّورِin recitation
you disobey desire and stand in the night in recitation.
مَاWhatيَنْفَعُbenefitsالْحَاضِرَthe residentالْمَجْهُودَthe distressedبَادِينَاour bedouin
What does our bedouin benefit the distressed resident
وَلَاand norيَعُودُdoes returnلَنَاto usبَادٍa bedouinعَلَىuponحَضَرِa resident
and nor does a bedouin return for us upon a resident?