قَالَHeوَقَالَAndعُمَرُUmarبْنُson ofالْخَطَّابِ،Al-Khattab,رَضِيَmayاللَّهُGodعَنْهُ:be pleased with him:
And Umar ibn al-Khattab, may God be pleased with him, said:
لَقَدْIndeedرَأَيْتُنِيI saw myselfفِيinالْجَاهِلِيَّةِthe pre-Islamic period
I indeed saw myself in the pre-Islamic period
وَأُخَيَّةٌand a little sisterلِيof mineوَإِنَّاwhile weلَنَرْعَىwere pasturingنَاضِحاًa water-camel
and a little sister of mine while we were pasturing a water-camel
لِأَبَوَيْنَاfor our parentsقَدْwhileزَوَّدَتْنَاprovided usأُمُّنَاour motherيَمْنَتَيْهَاwith its right sideمِنَofالْهَبِيدِcoloquint
for our parents, our mother having provided us from its right side with colocynth.
فَإِذَاSo whenأَسْخَنَتْbecame hotعَلَيْنَاupon usالشَّمْسُthe sun
So when the sun became hot upon us
أَلْقَيْتُI castالشَّمْلَةَthe cloakعَلَىuponأُخْتِيmy sisterوَخَرَجْتُand I went outعُرْياناًnakedأَسْعَىrunning
I cast the cloak upon my sister and went out naked running.
فَنَظَلُّSo we would remainنَرْعَىpasturingذَلِكَthatالنَّاضِحَwater-camel
So we would remain pasturing that water-camel
فَنَرْجِعُand we would returnإِلَىtoأُمِّنَاour motherمِنَatاللَّيْلِnight
and we would return to our mother at night
وَقَدْwhileصَنَعَتْshe had madeلَنَاfor usلَفِيتَةًa porridgeمِنْfromذَلِكَthatالْهَبِيدِcoloquith
while she had made for us a porridge from that colocynth.
فَنَتَعَشَّىSo we would dineفَوَاضِصْبَاهُ!What an abundance of dryness!
So we would dine, what a hard life!
قَالَSaidبَعْضُsomeجُلَسَائِهِ:of his companions:
Some of his companions said:
فَوَاللَّهِBy GodلَقَدْindeedحَسَدْتُهُI envied himعَلَىforذَلِكَ.that.
By God, I indeed envied him for that.
قَالَ:He said:وَسُئِلَAnd was askedعُمَرُUmarبْنُson ofالْخَطَّابِ،Al-Khattab,رَضِيَmayاللَّهُGodعَنْهُ،be pleased with him,عَنْaboutجَهْدِthe utmostالْبَلَاءِof affliction
He said: And Umar ibn al-Khattab, may God be pleased with him, was asked about the utmost affliction
فَقَالَ:so he said:قِلَّةُscarcity ofالْمَالِwealthوَكَثْرَةُand abundance ofالْعِيَالِ.dependents.
so he said: Scarcity of wealth and abundance of dependents.
وَكَانَAnd usedالْفُضَيْلُAl-Fudaylيَقُولُ:to say:الْمَالُWealthيُسَوِّدُmakes a masterغَيْرَone who is notالسَّيِّدِa masterوَيُقَوِّيand strengthensغَيْرَone who is notالْأَيِّدِ.strong.
And Al-Fudayl used to say: Wealth makes a master of him who is not a master, and strengthens him who is not strong.
وَفِيAnd inكِتَابِthe book ofكَلِيلَةَKalilahوَدِمْنَةَ:and Dimnah:الرَّجُلُThe manإِذَاwhenافْتَقَرَhe becomes poorاتَّهَمَهُaccuses himمَنْwhoكَانَwasلَهُto himمُؤْتَمِناًtrustworthy
And in the book of Kalilah and Dimnah: When a man becomes poor, he is accused by the one who was trustworthy to him,
وَأَسَاءَand thinksبِهِof himالظَّنَّevilمَنْwhoكَانَwasيَظُنُّthinkingبِهِof himحَسَناً،good,
and he is thought ill of by the one who used to think well of him,
وَإِنْand ifأَذْنَبَcommitted a sinغَيْرُهُanotherظَنُّوهُthey attribute itبِهِ،to him,
and if another commits a sin, they attribute it to him,
وَإِنْand ifكَانَhe wasلِسُوءِfor badالظَّنِّsuspicionوَالتُّهْمَةِand accusationمَوْضِعاًa placeحَمَلُواthey attributeعَلَىtoذَلِكَthatالَّذِيwhichيَفْعَلُهُdoesغَيْرُهُ،another,
and if he is in a position of bad suspicion and accusation, they blame him for what another does,
وَأَنْشَدَand he recitedفِيinذَلِكَ:that regard:
and he recited in that regard:
إِذَاWhenقَلَّdecreasesمَالُwealth ofالْمَرْءِa manقَلَّdecreasesصَدِيقُهُhis friend......وَأَوْمَتْand pointإِلَيْهِat himبِالْعُيُوبِwith defectsالْأَصَابِعُthe fingers
When a man's wealth decreases, his friend decreases... And fingers point at him with defects
وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:
And for another:
إِذَاWhenقَلَّdecreasesمَالُwealth ofالْمَرْءِa manقَلَّdecreasesحَيَاؤُهُhis modesty......وَضَاقَتْand narrowsعَلَيْهِupon himأَرْضُهُhis earthوَسَمَاؤُهُand his sky
When a man's wealth decreases, his modesty decreases... And his earth and sky narrow upon him
وَحَارَAnd he is bewilderedوَلَاand does notيَدْرِيknowوَإِنْeven ifكَانَhe wasحَازِماًprudent
And he is bewildered and does not know, even if he was prudent
أَقْدَامُهُare his feetخَيْرٌbetterلَهُfor himأَمْorوَرَاؤُهُhis back
whether his steps forward are better for him or his steps backward
إِذَاWhenقَلَّdecreasesمَالُwealth ofالْمَرْءِa manقَلَّdecreasesحَيَاؤُهُhis modesty
When a man's wealth decreases, his modesty decreases
وَلَاand noخَيْرَgoodفِيinوَجْهٍa faceيَقِلُّdecreasesحَيَاؤُهُits modesty
and there is no good in a face whose modesty decreases.
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidلِأَعْرَابِيٍّ:to a Bedouin:مَاWhatأَشَدُّis the severestالْأَشْيَاءِ؟of things?قَالَ:He said:كَبِدٌA liverجَائِعَةٌhungryتُؤَدِّيleadingإِلَىtoأَمْعَاءٍintestinesضَيِّقَةٍ.narrow.
And it was said to a Bedouin: What is the severest of things? He said: A hungry liver leading to narrow intestines.
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidلِأَعْرَابِيٍّ:to a Bedouin:لِمَWhyيَقُولُdo sayأَهْلُthe peopleالْحَضَرِof the townsبَاعَكَmay God sellاللَّهُyouفِيamongالْأَعْرَابِ؟the Bedouins?
And it was said to a Bedouin: Why do the townspeople say, "May God sell you among the Bedouins"?
قَالَ:He said:لِأَنَّاBecause weوَاللَّهِby Godنُعْرِيstrip bareجِلْدَهُhis skinوَنُجِيعُand drainكَبِدَهُhis liverوَنُطِيلُand prolongكَدَّهُ.his toil.
He said: Because we, by God, strip bare his skin, drain his liver, and prolong his toil.
وَمِمَّاAnd from whatقِيلَwas saidفِيهِabout itمِنَofالشِّعْرِ:poetry:
And from what was said about it in poetry:
أَعْظَمُGreaterمِنْthanفَاقَةٍpovertyوَجُوعِand hungerمَقَامُis the standingحُرٍّof a free manعَلَىinخُضُوعِsubmissiveness
Greater than poverty and hunger is the standing of a free man in submissiveness
فَلَاSo do notتَرُدَّهُseek itوَلَاand do not seekتَرُدَّwhatمَاwhatأُنِيلَis grantedبِالذُّلِّwith disgraceوَالْخُشُوعِand humility
So do not seek it, and do not seek what is granted with disgrace and humility
وَاضْلُبْAnd seekمَعَاشاًa livelihoodبِقَدْرِaccording toقُوتٍsustenanceوَأَنْتَwhile youفِيare inمَنْزِلٍa stationرَفِيعِlofty
And seek a livelihood according to sustenance while you are in a lofty station
لَعَلَّPerhapsدَهْراًtimeغَداًtomorrowبِنَحْسٍwith misfortuneيَعُودُwill returnبِالسَّعْدِwith happinessفِيinالرُّجُوعِreturn
Perhaps time tomorrow with misfortune will return with happiness upon return.
وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:
And for another:
الْمَوْتُDeathخَيْرٌis betterلِلْفَتَىfor the youthمِنْthanأَنْthatيَعِيشَhe livesبِغَيْرِwithoutمَالِwealth
Death is better for the youth than that he lives without wealth
وَالْمَوْتُAnd deathخَيْرٌis betterلِلْكَرِيمِfor the nobleمِنَthanالضَّرَاعَةِsubmittingلِلرِّجَالِto men
And death is better for the noble man than submitting to men.
وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:
And for another:
بَخِلْتُI was miserlyوَلَيْسَand is notالْبُخْلُmiserlinessمَنِّيfrom meسَجِيَّةًa natural dispositionوَلَكِنْbutرَأَيْتُI sawالْفَقْرَpovertyشَرَّthe worstسَبِيلِpath
I was miserly, and miserliness is not my natural disposition, but I saw poverty as the worst path
لَمَوْتُIndeed the death ofالْفَتَىthe youthخَيْرٌis betterمِنَthanالْبُخْلِmiserlinessلِلْفَتَىfor the youthوَلِلْبُخْلِand miserlinessخَيْرٌis betterلِلْفَتَىfor the youthمِنْthanسُؤَالِaskingبَخِيلِa miser
Indeed, the death of the youth is better than miserliness for him, and miserliness is better for the youth than asking a miser.
لَعَمْرُكَBy your lifeمَاnotشَيْءٌanythingلِوَجْهِكَfor your faceقِيمَةٌhas valueفَلَاso do notتَلْقَmeetمَخْلُوقاًa creatureبِوَجْهٍwith a faceذَلِيلِhumble
By your life, nothing has value for your face, so do not meet any creature with a humble face.
وَلَاAnd do notتَسْأَلَنَّaskمَنْhe whoكَانَwasيَسْأَلُaskingمَرَّةًonceفَلِلْمَوْتِfor deathخَيْرٌis betterمِنْthanسُؤَالِaskingسَسُولِa persistent beggar
And do not ask one who used to ask once, for death is better than asking a persistent beggar.
وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:
And for another:
لَاDo notتَحْسَبَنَّreckonالْمَوْتَdeathمَوْتَthe death ofالْبِلَىdecay
Do not reckon death to be the death of bodily decay
فَإِنَّمَاfor indeedالْمَوْتُdeathسُؤَالُis askingالرِّجَالِmen
for indeed death is the asking of men.
كِلَاهُمَاBoth of themمَوْتٌare deathوَلَكِنَّbutذَاthisأَشَدُّis severerمِنْthanهَذَاthatلِذُلِّbecause of the disgrace ofالسُّؤَالِasking
Both of them are death, but this is severer than that because of the disgrace of asking.
وَلِآخَرَAnd for anotherفِيinمَعْنَاهُ:its meaning:
And for another in the same meaning:
مَنْWhoeverكَانَwasفِيinالدُّنْيَاthe worldأَخَاa possessor ofثَرْوَةٍwealth
Whoever was in the world a possessor of wealth
فَنَحْنُthen weمِنْfromنُظَّارَةِthe spectators ofالدُّنْيَاthe world
then we are among the spectators of the world
نَرْمُقُهَاwe gaze at itمِنْfromكَثَبٍclose byهَكَذَاlike this
we gaze at it from close by like this
كَأَنَّنَاas if weلَفْظٌare wordsبِلَاwithoutمَعْنًىmeaning
as if we were words without meaning.
وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:
And for another:
قَدْIndeedأَرَاحَhas relievedاللَّهُGodمِنْfromغَمٍّgriefشَدِيدٍsevereوَعَذَابِand torment
God has indeed relieved us from severe grief and torment
وَاسْتَرَحْنَاand we restedمِنْfromعِيَالٍdependentsوَعَبِيدٍand slavesوَدَوَابِّand beasts of burden
and we rested from dependents, slaves, and beasts of burden,
وَضِيَاعٍand estatesوَنَخِيلٍand palm treesوَحَصَادٍand harvestingوَكِرَابِand plowing
and estates, palm trees, harvesting, and plowing,
وَاسْتَرَحْنَاand we restedمِنْfromوُقُوفٍstandingلِبَنِيfor the sons ofالدُّنْيَاthe worldبِبَابِat a door
and we rested from standing at the door for the people of the world,
وَقَنِعْنَاand we became contentوَأَقَمْنَاand stayedوَحَطَطْنَاand unloadedعَنْfromرِكَابِour mounts
and we became content, stayed, and unloaded our mounts.
حَبَّذَاBlessed isالْوَحْدَةُsolitudeإِنْifكَانَhe wasبَصِيراًinsightfulبِالْحِسَابِregarding account
Blessed is solitude if one is insightful regarding the reckoning.
وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:
And for another:
الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to Godلَيْسَthere is notلِيfor meمَالٌwealthوَلَاand notلِخَلْقٍupon any creatureعَلَيَّupon meإِفْضَالٌany favor
Praise be to God, I have no wealth, and no creature has any favor upon me.
الْخَانُThe innبَيْتِيis my houseوَمِشْجَبِيand my clothes-pegبَدَنِيis my bodyوَخَادِمِيand my servantوَالْوَكِيلُand agentبَقَّالٌis a grocer
The inn is my house, my body is my clothes-peg, and my servant and agent is a grocer.
وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:
And for another:
بَقِيتُI keptوَمَرْكَبَتِيand my mountالْبِرْذَوْنَwas the pack-horseحَتَّىuntilأَخَفَّmade lighterالْكِيسَthe purseإِغْلَاءُthe high price ofالشَّعِيرِbarley
I kept my mount as the pack-horse until the high price of barley lightened my purse.
وَصِرْتُAnd I movedإِلَىtoالْبِغَالِmulesفَأَعْجَزْتُنِيso they defeated meوَصِرْتُand I movedمِنَfromالْبِغَالِmulesإِلَىtoالْحَمِيرِdonkeys
And I moved to mules, but they proved too costly for me, and I moved from mules to donkeys.
فَعَزَّتْنِيSo proved too costly for meالْحَمِيرُthe donkeysفَصِرْتُand I becameأَمْشِيwalkingأُزَجِّيurging alongالرِّجْلَthe footتَزْجِيَةَin the manner of urgingالْكَسِيرِthe crippled
So the donkeys became too costly for me, and I began walking, urging along my foot like the urging of a crippled one.
وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:
And for another:
أَتُرَانِيDo you see meأَرَىseeingمِنَfromالدَّهْرِtimeيَوْماًa dayلِيfor meيَوْماًa dayمَطِيَّةٌa mountغَيْرُother thanرِجْلِيmy foot
Do you see me experiencing a day from time where my mount is other than my foot?
وَإِذَاAnd whenكُنْتُI wasفِيamongجَمْعٍa gatheringفَقَالُواand they saidقَرِّبُواbring nearلِلرَّحِيلِfor departureقَرَّبْتُI brought nearنَعْلِيmy sandal
And when I was among a gathering and they said, "Prepare for departure," I brought near my sandal.
حَيْثُمَاWhereverكُنْتُI wasلَاI do notأُخْلِفُleave behindرَحْلًاa baggage
Wherever I was, I would not leave behind baggage.
مَنْWhoeverرَآنِيsaw meفَقَدْhas indeedرَآنِيseen meوَرَحْلِيand my baggage
Whoever saw me has indeed seen me and my baggage.
أَبُوAbuهِفَّانَ:Hiffan said:
Abu Hiffan said:
يَاOمُولِجَYou who cause to enterاللَّيْلِthe nightفِيintoالنَّهَارِthe day
O You who cause the night to enter into the day
صَبْراًgrant patienceعَلَىuponالذُّلِّdisgraceوَالصَّغَارِand humiliation
grant patience upon disgrace and humiliation.
كَمْHow manyمِنْofحِمَارٍa donkeyلَهُhasحِمَارٌa donkey
How many a donkey has a donkey
وَمِنْand how manyجَوَادٍa generous horseبِلَاwithoutحِمَارِa donkey
and how many a generous horse without a donkey!
الْحَمْدُونِيُّ:Al-Hamduni said:
Al-Hamduni said:
تَسَامَىBoastedالرِّجَالُthe menعَلَىuponخَيْلِهِمْtheir horses
Men boasted upon their horses
وَرِجْلِيwhile my footمِنْfromبَيْنِهِمْamong themحَافِيَةٌis bare
while my foot among them is bare.
فَإِنْSo ifكُنْتَYou areحَامِلَنَاcarrying usرَبَّنَاour Lord
So if You are carrying us, our Lord
وَإِلَّاand if notفَأَرْجِلُthen let walk on footبَنِيthe sons ofالزَّانِيَةِthe adulteress
then let the sons of the adulteress walk on foot.