فَأَحْضَرَهُSo he brought him,
So he brought him, and introduced him to some of his assemblies, and said...
فَأَدْخَلَهُand he admitted himإِلَىtoبَعْضِsomeمجَالِسِهِof his gatherings
and he admitted him to some of his gatherings...
وَقَالَand saidابْنِbuildلِيfor meبِإِزَائِهِbeside itطَاقاًan archيَكُونُthat isشَبِيهاًsimilarبِالْبَيْتِto the house.
and said: 'Build for me beside it an arch similar to the house.'
فَلَمْAnd heيَزَلْkeptيُؤْتَىbeing broughtبِالْجِصِّgypsumوَالْآجُرِّand bricksحَتَّىuntilبَنَاهُhe built itوَجَوَّدَهُand perfected it.
And he kept being brought gypsum and bricks until he built it and perfected it.
وَنَظَرَAnd he lookedإِلَيْهِat itوَاسْتَحْسَنَهُand found it goodفَقَالَso he saidلِلْمُسَيَّبِto Al-Musayyab:أَعْطِهِgive himأَجْرَهُhis wage.
And he looked at it and found it good, so he said to Al-Musayyab: 'Give him his wage.'
فَأَعْطَاهُSo he gave himخَمْسَةَfiveدَرَاهِمَdirhams,فَاسْتَكْثَرَهَاand he considered it muchوَقَالَand said:لَاI doأَرْضَىnot agreeبِذَلِكَwith that.
So he gave him five dirhams, and he considered it too much and said: 'I do not agree to that.'
فَلَمْSo heيَزَلْkeptحَتَّىnegotiating untilنَقَصَهُhe decreased itدِرْهَماًby a dirham,فَفَرِحَand he rejoicedبِذَلِكَat thatوَابْتَهَجَand was delightedكَأَنَّهُas ifأَصَابَhe had obtainedمَالاًwealth.
So he kept at it until he decreased it by a dirham, and he rejoiced at that and was delighted as if he had obtained wealth.
وَحُكِيَAnd it was narratedعَنِaboutالْمَنْصُورِAl-Mansurأَنَّهُthat heلُدِغَwas stungفَدَعَاso he calledمَوْلًىa freedmanيُقَالُcalledلَهُhimأَسْلَمُAslamرَقَّاءًan incantator
And it was narrated about Al-Mansur that he was stung, so he called a freedman called Aslam, an incantator...
فَأَمَرَهُand ordered himأَنْtoيَرْقِيَهُcharm himفَرَقَّاهُso he charmed himفَبَرِئَand he recovered.
and ordered him to charm him, so he charmed him and he recovered.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedلَهُfor himبِرَغِيفٍa loaf of bread.
So he ordered a loaf of bread for him.
فَأَخَذَSo he tookالرَّغِيفَthe loafفَثَقَبَهُand pierced itوَصَيَّرَهُand placed itفِيonعُنُقِهِhis neckوَجَعَلَand beganيَقُولُsaying:
So he took the loaf, pierced it, placed it on his neck, and began saying:
رَقَيْتُI charmedمَوْلَايَmy masterفَبَرِئَand he recoveredفَأَمَرَso he orderedلِيfor meبِرَغِيفٍa loaf of bread!
'I charmed my master and he recovered, so he ordered for me a loaf of bread!'
فَبَلَغَSo reachedالْمَنْصُورَAl-Mansurذَلِكَthatفَقَالَso he said:
That reached Al-Mansur, so he said:
لَمْI did notآمُرْكَcommand youأَنْtoتُشَنِّعَdisgraceعَلَيَّme!
'I did not command you to disgrace me!'
قَالَHe said:لَمْI didأُشَنِّعْnot disgraceإِنَّمَاratherأَخْبَرْتُI informedبِمَاof whatأَمَرْتَyou ordered.
He said: 'I did not disgrace, I merely informed of what you ordered.'
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedأَنْthatيُصْفَعَhe be slappedثَلَاثَةَthreeأَيَّامٍdaysفِيonكُلِّeveryيَوْمٍdayثَلَاثُthreeصَفَعَاتٍslaps.
So he ordered that he be slapped for three days, on every day three slaps.
وَعَنِAnd on the authority ofالْأَصْمَعِيِّAl-Asma'iقَالَhe said:
And on the authority of Al-Asma'i, he said:
دَخَلَEnteredأَبُوAbuبَكْرٍBakrالْهَجْرِيُّAl-HajriذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayعَلَىuponالْمَنْصُورِAl-Mansurفَقَالَand said:
Abu Bakr Al-Hajri entered one day upon Al-Mansur and said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,أَتُنْقِضُdo you loosenعَلَيَّfor meفَمِيmy mouthوَأَنْتُمْwhile youأَهْلُare peopleبَيْتِof the houseبَرَكَةٍof blessing?
'O Commander of the Faithful, do you loosen for me my mouth while you are people of the house of blessing?
فَلَوْSo ifأَذِنْتَyou permittedلِيmeلَقَبَّلْتُI would kissرَأْسَكَyour headلَعَلَّperhapsاللَّهَGodيَشُدُّwill strengthenفَمِيmy mouth.
If you permitted me, I would kiss your head, perhaps God will strengthen my mouth.'
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَنْصُورُAl-Mansur:اخْتَرْChooseذَلِكَthatأَوْorالْجَائِزَةَthe reward.
Al-Mansur said: 'Choose that or the reward.'
فَقَالَSo he said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,أَهْوَنُlighterعَلَيَّto meمِنْthanذَهَابِloss ofدِرْهَمِthe dirham ofالْجَائِزَةِthe rewardأَنْis thatلَاthere notيَبْقَىremainفِيinفَمِيmy mouthحَاكَّةٌan aching tooth.
He said: 'O Commander of the Faithful, lighter to me than the loss of the reward's dirham is that no aching tooth remain in my mouth.'
وَمِنْهُAnd from thatمُكَاتَبَاتٌare correspondences:
And from that are correspondences:
كَتَبَWroteأُرْسَطَاطَالِيسُAristotleإِلَىtoرَجُلٍa manفِيregardingرَجُلٍa manيَصِلُهُto connect himبِشَيْءٍwith somethingفَلَمْand he didيَفْعَلْnot do soفَكَتَبَso he wroteإِلَيْهِto him:
Aristotle wrote to a man regarding a man that he should give him something, and he did not do so, so he wrote to him:
إِنْIfكُنْتَyou wereأَرَدْتَwillingفَلَمْand couldتَقْدِرْnotفَمَعْذُورٌthen you are excused,وَإِنْand ifكُنْتَyou wereقَدَرْتَableفَلَمْand were notتُرِدْwillingفَسَيَأْتِيكَthen there will come to youيَوْمٌa dayتُرِيدُwhen you will wishفِيهِin itفَلَاand you willتَقْدِرُnot be able.
'If you were willing and could not, then you are excused; and if you were able and were not willing, then a day will come to you when you will wish and will not be able.'
قِيلَIt was said:وَكَتَبَAnd wroteإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimبْنُson ofسَيَابَةَSiyabahإِلَىtoرَجُلٍa manصَدِيقٍfriendلَهُof hisكَثِيرِpossessing muchالْمَالِwealthيَسْتَسْلِفُهُasking him for a loan,فَكَتَبَso he wroteإِلَيْهِto him:
It was said: Ibrahim bin Siyabah wrote to a wealthy friend of his asking him for a loan, so he wrote to him:
الْعِيَالُThe dependentsكَثِيرٌare many,وَالدَّخْلُand the incomeقَلِيلٌis little,وَالْمَالُand the wealthمَكْذُوبٌis exaggerated.
'The dependents are many, the income is little, and the wealth is exaggerated.'
فَكَتَبَSo he wroteإِلَيْهِto him:إِنْIfكُنْتَyou wereكَاذِباًlyingفَجَعَلَكَthen may God make youاللَّهُGodصَادِقاًtruthful,وَإِنْand ifكُنْتَyou wereصَادِقاًtruthfulفَجَعَلَكَthen may God make youاللَّهُGodمَعْذُوراًexcused.
So he wrote to him: 'If you were lying, then may God make you truthful, and if you were truthful, then may God make you excused.'
قَالَHe said:وَكَتَبَAnd wroteبَعْضُهُمْsome of themيَصِفُdescribingرَجُلاًa man:
He said: And some of them wrote describing a man:
أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafter,فَإِنَّكَfor youكَتَبْتَwroteتَسْأَلُaskingعَنْaboutفُلَانٍso-and-so,فَكَأَنَّكَand it is as if youهَمَمْتَintendedأَوْorحَدَّثْتَspokeنَفْسَكَto yourselfبِالْقُدُومِabout comingعَلَيْهِto him,فَلَاso doتَفْعَلْnot do so,أَمْتَعَmay God let you enjoyاللَّهُGodبِكَthrough you.
'As for after: you wrote asking about so-and-so, and it is as if you intended or spoke to yourself about coming to him, so do not do so, may God let you enjoy life.
فَإِنَّForحُسْنَgoodالظَّنِّopinionبِهِof himلَاdoes notيَقَعُoccurفِيinالْوَهْمِimaginationإِلَّاexceptبِخِذْلَانِby forsakingاللَّهِof God,وَإِنَّandالطَّمَعَgreedفِيمَاfor whatعِنْدَهُis with himلَاdoes notيَخْطُرُcrossعَلَىtheالْقَلْبِheartإِلَّاexceptبِسُوءِwith badالتَّوَكُّلِrelianceعَلَىuponاللَّهِGod,وَإِنَّandالرَّجَاءَhopeلِمَاfor whatلَدَيْهِis with himلَاshouldيَنْبَغِيnot beإِلَّاexceptبَعْدَafterالْيَأْسِdespairمِنْofرَحْمَةِthe mercyاللَّهِof God.
For good opinion of him does not occur in imagination except by God's forsaking, and greed for what is with him does not cross the heart except with bad reliance upon God, and hope for what is with him should not be except after despair of God's mercy.
إِنَّهُIndeed, heيَرَىseesالْإِقْتَارَfrugalityالَّذِيwhichنَهَىforbadeاللَّهُGodعَنْهُitهُوَto beالتَّبْذِيرَextravaganceالَّذِيwhichيُعَاقِبُpunishesاللَّهُGodعَلَيْهِfor it,وَالِاقْتِصَادَand moderationالَّذِيwhichأَمَرَcommandedاللَّهُGodعَزَّAlmightyوَجَلَّand Majesticبِهِitهُوَto beالْإِسْرَافَwastefulnessالَّذِيwhichيُعَذِّبُtormentsاللَّهُGodعَزَّAlmightyوَجَلَّand Majesticعَلَيْهِfor it.
Indeed, he sees frugality which God forbade as extravagance which God punishes for, and moderation which God Almighty and Majestic commanded as wastefulness which God Almighty and Majestic torments for.
وَإِنَّAndبَنِيthe childrenإِسْرَائِيلَof Israelلَمْdid notيَسْتَبْدِلُواexchangeالْعَدَسَlentilsبِالْمَنِّfor mannaوَالْبَصَلَand onionsبِالسَّلْوَىfor quailsإِلَّاexceptلِفَضْلِdue to the excess ofأَحْلَامِهِمْtheir intellectsوَقَدِيمِand ancientعِلْمٍknowledgeتَدَارَسُوهُthey studiedمِنْfromآبَائِهِمْtheir fathers.
And the children of Israel did not exchange lentils for manna and onions for quails except due to the excess of their intellects and ancient knowledge they studied from their fathers.
وَإِنَّAndالصَّنِيعَةَkindnessمَرْفُوعَةٌis lifted,وَالصِّلَةَand maintaining tiesمَوْضُوعَةٌis set aside,وَالْهِمَّةَand ambitionمَكْرُوهَةٌis hated,وَالصَّدَقَةَand charityمَنْحُوسَةٌis ill-omened,وَالتَّوَسُّعَand expansionضَلَالَةٌis misguidance,وَالْجُودَand generosityفُسُوقٌis deviance,وَالسَّخَاءَand munificenceمِنْis fromهَمَزَاتِthe whisperingsالشَّيَاطِينِof the devils.
And kindness is lifted, maintaining ties is set aside, ambition is hated, charity is ill-omened, expansion is misguidance, generosity is deviance, and munificence is from the whisperings of the devils.
وَإِنَّAndمُؤَاسَاةَconsolingالرَّجُلِa manأَخَاهُhis brotherمِنَis amongالذُّنُوبِthe sinsالْمُوبِقَةِthat ruin,وَإِفْضَالَهُand bestowing favorعَلَيْهِupon himمِنْis fromإِحْدَىone ofالْكَبَائِرِthe major sins.
And a man consoling his brother is among the sins that ruin, and bestowing favor upon him is from one of the major sins.
وَإِنَّAndاللَّهَGodعَزَّAlmightyوَجَلَّand Majesticلَاdoes notيَغْفِرُforgiveأَنْthatيُؤْثِرَpreferالْمَرْءُa personفِيinخَصَاصَةٍpovertyعَلَىoverنَفْسِهِhimself,وَيَغْفِرُand He forgivesمَاwhatدُونَis besidesذَلِكَthatلِمَنْfor whomيَشَاءُHe wills.
And God Almighty and Majestic does not forgive a person preferring others in poverty over himself, and He forgives what is besides that for whom He wills.
وَمَنْAnd whoeverآثَرَpreferred othersعَلَىoverنَفْسِهِhimselfفَقَدْhas indeedضَلَّgone astrayضَلَالاًan astraynessبَعِيداًfar,وَخَسِرَand lostخُسْراناًa lossمُبِيناًmanifest.
And whoever preferred others over himself has indeed gone far astray, and lost a manifest loss.
كَأَنَّهُIt is as ifلَمْhe did notيَسْمَعْhearبِالْمَعْرُوفِof virtueإِلَّاexceptفِيinالْجَاهِلِيَّةِthe days of ignorance,الَّذِينَthose whomقَطَعَcut offاللَّهُGodأَدْبَارَهُمْtheir roots,وَنَهَىand forbadeجَلَّMajesticاسْمُهُis His nameعَنْfromاتِّبَاعِfollowingآثَارِهِمْtheir traces.
It is as if he did not hear of virtue except in the days of ignorance—those whose roots God cut off, and Majestic is His name, He forbade following their traces.
وَإِنَّAndالرَّجْفَةَthe earthquakeلَمْdid notتَأْخُذْseizeأَهْلَthe peopleمَدْيَنَof Madyanإِلَّاexceptلِسَخَاءٍfor munificenceكَانَthat wasفِيهِمْamong them.
And the earthquake did not seize the people of Madyan except for munificence that was among them.
وَإِنَّAndالرِّيحَthe windالْعَقِيمَbarrenأَهْلَكَتْdestroyedعَاداً'Adوَثَمُودَand Thamudلِتَوَسُّعٍdue to expansionكَانَthat wasفِيهِمْamong them.
And the barren wind destroyed 'Ad and Thamud due to expansion that was among them.
وَهُوَAnd heيَخْشَىfearsالْعِقَابَpunishmentعَلَىuponالْإِنْفَاقِspending,وَيَرْجُوand hopesالثَّوَابَrewardعَلَىuponالْإِقْتَارِfrugality,وَيُعِدُّand preparesنَفْسَهُhimselfالْعُقُوقَdisobedienceوَيَأْمُرُهَاand commands itبِالْبُخْلِwith stinginessخِيفَةَfearfulأَنْthatتَمُرَّmight passبِهِby himقَوَارِعُcalamitiesالدُّهُورِof the agesوَأَنْand thatيُصِيبَهُmight afflict himمَاwhatأَصَابَafflictedالْقُرُونَthe generationsالْأُولَىfirst.
And he fears punishment upon spending, hopes for reward upon frugality, prepares himself for disobedience and commands it with stinginess, fearful that calamities of the ages might pass by him and that what afflicted the first generations might afflict him.
فَأَقِمْSo stayرَحِمَكَmay God have mercy onاللَّهُyouبِمَكَانِكَin your placeوَاصْبِرْand be patientعَلَىwithعُسْرِكَyour hardshipلَعَلَّperhapsاللَّهَGodأَنْwillيُبْدِلَنَاexchange for usخَيْراًbetterمِنْهُthan itزَكَاةًin purityوَأَقْرَبَand nearerرَحِماًin kinship.
So stay, may God have mercy on you, in your place and be patient with your hardship, perhaps God will exchange for us better than it in purity and nearer in kinship.
وَمِنْهُAnd from thatفَنٌّis another art:آخَرُanotherوَصَفَdescribedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَand said:
And from that is another art: a Bedouin described a man and said:
بِشْرٌA cheerfulnessمُطْمِعٌthat makes one hopefulوَمَطْلٌand procrastinationمُؤْيِسٌthat makes one despair.
'A cheerfulness that makes one hopeful and procrastination that makes one despair.'
فَأَنْتَSo you areمِنْهُfrom himأَبَداًalwaysبَيْنَbetweenالْيَأْسِdespairوَالطَّمَعِand hope.
'So you are from him always between despair and hope.'
لَاNeitherمَنْعٌwithholdingمُرِيحٌthat brings comfortوَلَاnorبَذْلٌgivingسَرِيحٌthat is prompt.
'Neither withholding that brings comfort nor giving that is prompt.'
وَقَالَAnd saidأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouin:
And a Bedouin said:
أَنَاIمِنْfromفُلَانٍso-and-soفِيam inأَمَانِيَّwishesتَهْبِطُthat descendالْعُصْمَmountain goatsوَخُلْفٍand broken promisesيَذْكُرُthat mentionالْعَدَمَpoverty.
'I am from so-and-so in wishes that descend mountain goats and broken promises that mention poverty.'
وَلَسْتُAnd I am notبِالْحَرِيصِthe eager oneالَّذِيwhoإِذَاwhenوَعَدَهُpromised himالْكَذُوبُthe liarأَعْلَقَattachedنَفْسَهُhimselfلَدَيْهِto himوَأَتْعَبَand fatiguedرَاحِلَتَهُhis mountإِلَيْهِto him.
'And I am not the eager one who, when the liar promised him, attached himself to him and fatigued his mount to him.'
وَذَكَرَAnd mentionedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَand said:
And a Bedouin mentioned a man and said:
لَهُHe hasمَوَاعِيدُpromisesعَوَاقِبُهَاwhose consequencesالْمَطْلُare procrastinationوَثِمَارُهَاand whose fruitsالْخُلْفُare broken promisesوَمَحْصُولُهَاand whose yieldالْيَأْسُis despair.
'He has promises whose consequences are procrastination, whose fruits are broken promises, and whose yield is despair.'
وَيُقَالُAnd it is said:سُرْعَةُHastinessالْيَأْسِof despairأَحَدُis one ofالنَّجْحَيْنِthe two successes.
And it is said: 'Hastiness of despair is one of the two successes.'
وَقَالَAnd saidبَعْضُهُمْsome of them:
And some of them said:
مَوَاعِيدُPromisesفُلَانٍof so-and-soمَوَاعِيدُare promisesعُرْقُوبٍof Urqub,وَلَمْعُand the shimmer ofالْآلِmirage,وَبَرْقُand lightningالْخُلَّبِthat brings no rain,وَأَمَانِيُّand wishesالْكَمُّونِof cumin,وَنَارُand fireالْحَبَابِبِof glowworms,وَصَلَفٌand arroganceتَحْتَهُbeneath itرَاعِدَةٌis thunder.
'Promises of so-and-so are promises of Urqub, shimmer of mirage, lightning that brings no rain, wishes of cumin, fire of glowworms, and arrogance beneath it is thunder.'
وَلِبَعْضِAnd for someالْكُتَّابِof the writersفَصْلٌis a passageفِيinهَذَاthisالْمَعْنَىmeaning:
And for some of the writers is a passage in this meaning:
أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafter,فَإِنَّforكَثْرَةَabundance ofالْمَوَاعِيدِpromisesمِنْwithoutغَيْرِother thanنَجْحٍfulfillmentعَارٌis a disgraceعَلَىuponالْمَطْلُوبِthe requested,وَقِلَّتَهَاand their scarcityعِنْدَatالْحَاجَةِthe time of needمَكْرُمَةٌis a nobilityمِنْfromصَاحِبِهَاits owner.
'As for after: for abundance of promises without fulfillment is a disgrace upon the requested, and their scarcity at the time of need is a nobility from its owner.'
وَقَدْAnd indeedرَدَدْتَنَاyou have returned usفِيregardingحَاجَتِنَاour needهَذِهِthisمَعَalong withكَثْرَةِabundance ofمَوَاعِيدِكَyour promisesمِنْwithoutغَيْرِother thanنَجْحٍfulfillmentلَهَاfor itحَتَّىuntilكَأَنْas ifقَدْalreadyرَضِينَاwe became contentبِالتَّعَلُّلِwith stallingبِهَاwith themدُونَinstead ofالنَّجاحِfulfillment.
And indeed you have returned us regarding this need of ours along with the abundance of your promises without fulfillment for it, until as if we already became content with stalling with them instead of fulfillment.
كَقَوْلِLike the saying ofالْأَوَّلِthe first:
Like the saying of the first:
لَاDo notتَجْعَلْنَاmake usكَكَمُّونٍlike cuminبِمَزْرَعَةٍin a farm......إِنْifفَاتَهُit missedالْمَاءُwaterأَرْوَتْهُit was watered byالْمَوَاعِيدُpromises.
'Do not make us like cumin in a farm... if it missed water, promises watered it.'