وَرَأَتْنِيAnd she saw meأُسَرِّجُsaddlingالْعَاجَivoryبِالْعَاwith ivo-
And she saw me saddling ivory with ivory, so she kept approving of ebony.
ج-ryفَظَلَّتْso she continuedتَسْتَحْسِنُapproving ofالْأَبُنُوسَاthe ebony
so she continued approving of the ebony.
لَيْسَIs notشَيْبِيmy gray hairإِذَاwhenتَأَمَّلْتَyou contemplate itشَيْباًgray hair
My gray hair, if you contemplate it, is not [true] gray hair; rather, gray hair is that which makes souls gray.
إِنَّمَاindeedالشَّيْبُgray hairمَاwhatأَشَابَhas made grayالنُّفُوسَاthe souls
indeed, gray hair is that which has made souls gray.
وَلَهُAnd by him
And by him:
ضَحِكَتْShe laughedإِذْwhenرَأَتْshe sawمَشِيبِيmy gray hairقَدْhasلَاap-
She laughed when she saw my gray hair had appeared, and she said: The ebony has been plated with silver.
حَ-pearedوَقَالَتْand she saidقَدْhasفُضِّضَbeen plated with silverالْأَبُنُوسُthe ebony
and she said: The ebony has been plated with silver.
قُلْتُI saidإِنَّIndeedالشَّبَابَyouthفِيّin meلَبَاقٍis remaining
I said: Youth within me is still remaining afterwards; she said: This is a worn-out youth.
بَعْدُafterwardsقَالَتْshe saidهَذَاthis isشَبَابٌyouthلَبِيسُworn-out
she said: This is a worn-out youth.
قَالَHe saidاسْتَقْبَلَmetيُونُسُYunusالنَّحْوِيُّthe grammarianعَدُوّاًan enemyلَهُof hisوَهُوَwhile heيَتَهَادَىwas swayingفِيinمَشْيِهِhis walkingوَيُقَارِبُand making shortخَطْوَهُhis steps
Yunus the grammarian met an enemy of his while he was swaying in his walk and making his steps short. He said: O Yunus, you have reached what I see! He said: This is what I was hoping for, so I have reached it—may you never reach it! Ibn al-Zayyat found his statement good, so he turned it into poetry and said:
فَقَالَSo he saidيَاOيُونُسُYunusبَلَغْتَyou have reachedمَاwhatأَرَىI see
O Yunus, you have reached what I see!
فَقَالَHe saidهَذَاThisالَّذِيwhichكُنْتُI wasآمُلُهُhoping forفَقَدْand indeedبَلَغْتُهُI have reached itفَلَاmay you notبَلَغْتَهُreach it
This is what I was hoping for, so I have reached it—may you never reach it!
فَاسْتَحْسَنَSo found goodابْنُIbnالزَّيَّاتِal-Zayyatقَوْلَهُhis sayingفَجَعَلَهُand made itشِعْراًpoetryوَقَالَand said
Ibn al-Zayyat found his statement good, so he turned it into poetry and said:
وَعَائِبٍAnd a faultfinderعَابَنِيfound fault with meبِشَيْبٍfor gray hair
And a faultfinder who blamed me for gray hair, which did not delay when its time befell.
لَمْdid notيَعُدْdelayلَمَّاwhenأَلَمَّit befellوَقْتُهُits time
which did not delay when its time befell.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidإِذْwhenعَابَنِيhe blamed meبِشَيْبٍfor gray hair
So I said when he blamed me for gray hair: O faultfinder of gray hair, may you never reach it!
يَاOعَائِبَfaultfinder ofالشَّيْبِgray hairلَاmay you notبَلَغْتَهُreach it
O faultfinder of gray hair, may you never reach it!
وَلِغَيْرِهِAnd by someone else
And by someone else:
إِنَّIndeedالْمَسِيبَAl-Masib isرِدَاءُthe cloak ofالْحِلْمِforbearanceوَالْأَدَبِand good manners
Al-Masib is the cloak of forbearance and good manners, just as youth is the cloak of ignorance and play.
كَمَاjust asالشَّبَابُyouth isرِدَاءُthe cloak ofالْجَهْلِignoranceوَاللَّعِبِand play
just as youth is the cloak of ignorance and play.
تَعَجَّبَتْShe marveledإِذْwhenرَأَتْshe sawشَيْبِيmy gray hairفَقُلْتُso I saidلَهَاto her
She marveled when she saw my gray hair, so I said to her: Do not marvel; whoever lives long grows gray.
لَاDo notتَعْجَبِيmarvelمَنْwhoeverيَطُلْgrows longعُمْرٌlifeبِهِfor himيَشِبْgrows gray
Do not marvel; whoever lives long grows gray.
فِينَاAmong usلَكُنَّfor you womenوَإِنْeven ifشَيْبٌgray hairبَدَاappearsأَرَبٌthere is need
Among us for you women, even if gray hair appears, there is still need; but among you after gray hair there is no need.
وَلَيْسَAnd there is notفِيكُنَّamong youبَعْدَafterالشَّيْبِgray hairمِنْofأَرَبٍneed
And there is not among you after gray hair there is no need.
شَيْبُGray hair ofالرِّجَالِmenلَهُمْfor them isعِزٌّgloryوَمَكْرُمَةٌand nobility
Gray hair for men is glory and nobility, while gray hair for you women is disgrace, so be dejected.
وَشَيْبُكُنَّand gray hair of you womenلَكُنَّfor youالذُّلُّis disgraceفَاكْتَئِبِيso be dejected
and gray hair for you women is disgrace, so be dejected.
وَلِآخَرَAnd by someone else
And by someone else:
الشَّيْبُGray hairفِيinرَأْسِthe head ofالْفَتَىthe young manحِلْمٌis forbearanceبِهِwith it
Gray hair in the head of a young man is forbearance with it, while gray hair in the head of a young woman is ugly.
وَالشَّيْبُand gray hairفِيinرَأْسِthe head ofالْفَتَاةِthe young womanقَبِيحُis ugly
while gray hair in the head of a young woman is ugly.
وَالْخَالُAnd a moleفِيinخَدِّthe cheek ofالْفَتَىthe young manعَيْبٌis a defectبِهِwith it
And a mole in the cheek of a young man is a defect with it, while a mole in the cheek of a young woman is charming.
وَالْخَالُand a moleفِيinخَدِّthe cheek ofالْفَتَاةِthe young womanمَلِيحُis charming
while a mole in the cheek of a young woman is charming.
[مَحَاسِنِMahasinالْوَرَعِ]al-Wara'
[Mahasin al-Wara']
مُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُson ofالْحُسَيْنِal-HusaynعَنْfromأَبِيAbuهمَّامٍHammamوَكَانَand he wasيَخْدُمُservingضَيْغَماًighamقَالَwho said
Muhammad ibn al-Husayn from Abu Hammam, who used to serve Daygham, said: I was with him on the road to Mecca. When we reached the sand dunes, he looked at what the camels were enduring from the intensity of the heat, so he wept.
كُنْتُI wasمَعَهُwith himفِيinطَرِيقِthe road ofمَكَّةَMecca
I was with him on the road to Mecca.
فَلَمَّاSo whenصِرْنَاwe becameفِيinالرَّمْلِthe sandنَظَرَhe lookedإِلَىatمَاwhatتَلْقَىmeets/facesالْإِبِلُthe camelsمِنْfromشِدَّةِintensity ofالْحَرِّthe heatفَبَكَىso he wept
When we reached the sand dunes, he looked at what the camels were enduring from the intensity of the heat, so he wept.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidلَهُto himلَوْifدَعَوْتَyou called uponاللَّهَAllahأَنْthatيُمْطِرَHe sends rainعَلَيْنَاupon usكَانَit would beأَخَفَّlighterعَلَىuponهَذِهِtheseالْإِبِلِcamels
So I said to him: If you were to pray to Allah to send rain upon us, it would be lighter on these camels.
قَالَHe saidفَنَظَرَso he lookedإِلَىatالسَّمَاءِthe skyوَقَالَand saidإِنْIfشَاءَwillsرَبِّيmy LordفَعَلَHe will do it
He said: So he looked at the sky and said: If my Lord wills, He will do it.
فَوَاللَّهِBy Allahمَاit was notكَانَthatإِلَّاexceptأَنْthatتَكَلَّمَhe spokeحَتَّىuntilنَشَأَتْroseسَحَابَةٌa cloudوَهَطَلَتْand poured
By Allah, no sooner had he spoken than a cloud rose and poured rain.
وَعَنْAnd on the authority ofعَطَاءٍAta'أَنَّthatأَبَاAbuمُسْلِمٍMuslimالْخَوْلَانِيَّal-Khawlaniخَرَجَwent outإِلَىtoالسُّوقِthe marketبِدِرْهَمٍwith a dirhamيَشْتَرِيto buyلِأَهْلِهِfor his familyدَقِيقاًflour
And on the authority of Ata', that Abu Muslim al-Khawlani went out to the market with a dirham to buy flour for his family. A beggar met him, so he gave him some of it. Then another met him, so he gave him the rest.
فَعَرَضَThen met himلَهُhimسَائِلٌa beggarفَأَعْطَاهُso he gave himبَعْضَهُpart of it
A beggar met him, so he gave him some of it.
ثُمَّThenعَرَضَmetلَهُhimآخَرُanotherفَأَعْطَاهُso he gave himالْبَاقِيَthe rest
Then another met him, so he gave him the rest.
وَأَتَىAnd he cameإِلَىtoالنَّجَّارِينَthe carpentersفَمَلَأَand filledمِزَوْدَهُhis feedbagمِنْfromنُشَارَةِsawdust ofالْخَشَبِthe wood
And he came to the carpenters and filled his feedbag with wood sawdust, and brought it to his house, and went out running away from his family.
وَأَتَىAnd he broughtبِهِitمَنْزِلَهُto his houseوَخَرَجَand went outهَارِباًrunning awayمِنْfromأَهْلِهِhis family
and brought it to his house, and went out running away from his family.
فَأَخَذَتِSo tookالْمَرْأَةُthe womanالْمِزَوْدَthe feedbagفَإِذَاand beholdدَقِيقٌflourحُوَّارَىfine whiteفَعَجَنَتْهُso she kneaded itوَخَبَزَتْand baked
So the woman took the feedbag, and behold, it was fine white flour, so she kneaded it and baked. When he came, he said: Where is this from? She said: The flour that you brought.
فَلَمَّاSo whenجَاءَhe cameقَالَhe saidمِنْfromأَيْنَwhereهَذَا؟is this?
When he came, he said: Where is this from?
قَالَتْShe saidالدَّقِيقُThe flourالَّذِيthatجِئْتَyou broughtبِهِit
She said: The flour that you brought.
وَعَنْAnd on the authority ofأَبِيAbuعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahالْقُرَشِيِّal-Qurashiعَنْfromرَجُلٍa manقَالَwho said
And on the authority of Abu Abd Allah al-Qurashi from a man who said: I entered the Well of Zamzam, and behold, there was a person drawing water from the bucket near the Corner.
دَخَلْتُI enteredبِئْرَthe well ofزَمْزَمَZamzamفَإِذَاand beholdأَنَاIبِشَخْصٍwith a personيَنْزِعُdrawingالدَّلْوَthe bucketمِمَّاfrom whatيَلِيis nearالرُّكْنَthe Corner
I entered the Well of Zamzam, and behold, there was a person drawing water from the bucket near the Corner.
فَلَمَّاSo whenشَرِبَhe drankأَرْسَلَhe sent downالدَّلْوَthe bucketفَأَخَذْتُهُso I took itفَشَرِبْتُand I drankفَضْلَتَهُhis leftover
When he drank, he lowered the bucket, so I took it and drank his leftover. And behold, it was almond gruel; I have never seen almond gruel tastier than it.
فَإِذَاand beholdهُوَit isسُوَيْقُgruel ofلَوْزٍalmondsلَمْI have notأَرَseenسُوَيْقَgruel ofاللَّوْزِalmondsأَطْيَبَtastierمِنْهُthan it
and behold, it was almond gruel; I have never seen almond gruel tastier than it.
فَلَمَّاSo whenكَانَتِit wasالْقَابِلَةُthe following [night]فِيinذَلِكَthatالْوَقْتِtimeدَخَلَenteredالرَّجُلُthe manوَقَدْwhileأَسْبَلَhe let downثَوْبَهُhis garmentعَلَىoverوَجْهِهِhis face
When the following night at that same time came, the man entered having let down his garment over his face. He drew the bucket, drank, and lowered the bucket; I took it and drank his leftover. And behold, it was water beaten with honey; I have never drunk anything tastier than it.
وَنَزَعَand he drewالدَّلْوَthe bucketوَشَرِبَand drankوَأَرْسَلَand loweredالدَّلْوَthe bucket
He drew the bucket, drank, and lowered the bucket;
فَأَخَذْتُهُso I took itوَشَرِبْتُand drankفَضْلَتَهُhis leftoverفَإِذَاand beholdهُوَit isمَاءٌwaterمَضْرُوبٌbeatenبِالْعَسَلِwith honeyلَمْI have notأَشْرَبْdrunkشَيْئاًanythingقَطُّeverأَطْيَبَtastierمِنْهُthan it
I took it and drank his leftover. And behold, it was water beaten with honey; I have never drunk anything tastier than it.
فَأَرَدْتُSo I wantedأَنْthatآخُذَI takeطَرَفَthe edge ofثَوْبِهِhis garmentفَأَنْظُرَand lookمَنْwhoهُوَhe isفَفَاتَنِيso he eluded me
So I wanted to take the edge of his garment and see who he is, but he eluded me.
فَلَمَّاSo whenكَانَit wasفِيinالسَّنَةِthe yearالثَّالِثَةِthirdقَعَدْتُI satقُبَالَةَoppositeزَمْزَمَZamzam
When it was the third year, I sat opposite Zamzam. When it was that time, the man came having let down his garment over his face and entered, so I grabbed the edge of his garment.
فَلَمَّاWhenكَانَit wasفِيinذَلِكَthatالْوَقْتِtimeجَاءَcameالرَّجُلُthe manوَقَدْwhileأَسْبَلَhe let downثَوْبَهُhis garmentعَلَىoverوَجْهِهِhis faceفَدَخَلَand enteredفَأَخَذْتُso I tookطَرَفَthe edge ofثَوْبِهِhis garment
When it was that time, the man came having let down his garment over his face and entered, so I grabbed the edge of his garment.
فَلَمَّاWhenشَرِبَhe drankمِنْfromالدَّلْوِthe bucketوَأَرْسَلَهَاand sent it downقُلْتُI saidيَاOهَذَاthis personأَسْأَلُكَI ask youبِرَبِّby the Lord ofهَذِهِthisالْبُنَيَّةِlittle buildingمَنْwhoأَنْتَ؟are you?
When he drank from the bucket and lowered it, I said: O this person, I ask you by the Lord of this little building, who are you?
قَالَHe saidتَكْتُمُWill you keep secretعَلَيَّconcerning meحَتَّىuntilأَمُوتَ؟I die?
He said: Will you keep it a secret concerning me until I die? I said: Yes.
قُلْتُI saidنَعَمْYes
I said: Yes.
قَالَHe saidأَنَاI amسُفْيَانُSufyanوَهُوَand he isالثَّوْرِيُّal-Thawri
He said: I am Sufyan, and he is al-Thawri.
فَتَنَاوَلْتُSo I partook ofفَضْلَتَهُhis leftoverفَإِذَاand beholdهُوَit isمَاءٌwaterمَضْرُوبٌbeatenبِالسُّكَّرِwith sugarالطَّبَرْزَدِTabarzadلَمْI have notأَرَseenقَطُّeverأَطْيَبَtastierمِنْهُthan it
So I partook of his leftover, and behold, it was water beaten with Tabarzad sugar; I have never seen anything tastier than it.
فَكَانَتْAnd thatتِلْكَthatالشَّرْبَةُdrinkتَكْفِينِيwould suffice meإِذَاwhenشَرِبْتُهَاI drank itإِلَىuntilمِثْلِهَاits likeمِنَofالْوَقْتِthe timeلَاI do notأَجِدُfindجُوعاًhungerوَلَاand notعَطَشاًthirst
And that drink would suffice me when I drank it until the same time [the next day], feeling neither hunger nor thirst.
وَقَالَAnd saidالْأَصْمَعِيُّal-Asma'iرَأَيْتُI sawأَعْرَابِيّاًa Bedouinيَكْدَحُscrapingجَبِينَهُhis foreheadبِالْأَرْضِagainst the groundيُرِيدُwantingأَنْthatيَجْعَلَhe makesسَجَادَةًa prayer mark/callus
Al-Asma'i said: I saw a Bedouin scraping his forehead against the ground, wanting to make a prayer callus, so I said: What are you doing? He said: Indeed, I found it to be the best mark on the face of a righteous man.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidمَاWhatتَصْنَعُ؟are you doing?
so I said: What are you doing?
قَالَHe saidإِنِّيIndeed Iوَجَدْتُهَاfound itنِعْمَwhat an excellentالْأَثَرِmarkفِيinوَجْهِthe face ofالرَّجُلِthe manالصَّالِحِrighteous
He said: Indeed, I found it to be the best mark on the face of a righteous man.
وَمِمَّاAnd from whatقِيلَwas saidمِنَofالشِّعْرِpoetryمِنْfromهَذَاthisالْفَنِّart/genreمِنْهُمْamong themبَشَّارٌBashsharحَيْثُwhereيَقُولُhe says
And among the poetry that was said in this genre is by Bashshar, where he says:
كَيْفَHowيَبْكِيdoes he weepلِمَحْبَسٍover a prisonفِيinطُلُولٍruins
How does he weep over a prison in ruins, who will be judged for a long day of imprisonment?
مَنْwhoسَيَقْضِيwill be judgedلِيَوْمِfor the day ofحَبْسٍimprisonmentطَوِيلٍlong
who will be judged for a long day of imprisonment?
إِنَّIndeedفِيinالْبَعْثِthe Resurrectionوَالْحِسَابِand the Reckoningلَشُغْلاًis surely enough occupation
Indeed, in the Resurrection and the Reckoning there is surely enough occupation away from standing by the trace of an obliterated abode.
عَنْaway fromوُقُوفٍstandingبِرَسْمِby the trace ofدَارٍan abodeمُحِيلٍobliterated
away from standing by the trace of an obliterated abode.
وَلِمُحَمَّدِAnd by Muhammadبْنِson ofبَشِيرٍBashir
And by Muhammad ibn Bashir:
وَيْلٌWoeلِمَنْto whomلَمْdid notيَرْحَمِhave mercy onاللَّهُAllah
Woe to him whom Allah does not have mercy on, and whose abode the Fire is!
وَمَنْand whomتَكُونُisالنَّارُthe Fireمَثْوَاهُhis abode
and whose abode the Fire is!
يَاOحَسْرَتَاmy regretفِيinكُلِّeveryيَوْمٍdayأَتَىthat comes
O my regret in every day that comes, reminding me of death while I forget it.
يُذَكِّرُنِيreminding me ofالْمَوْتَdeathوَأَنْسَاهُwhile I forget it
reminding me of death while I forget it.
كَأَنَّهُAs ifقَدْit hasقِيلَbeen saidفِيinمَجْلِسٍa gathering
As if it has been said in a gathering where I used to strut and frequent.
قَدْthatكُنْتُI used toأَتِيهُstrutوَأَغْشَاهُand frequent
where I used to strut and frequent.
صَارَHas becomeالْبَشِيرِيُّal-Bashiriإِلَىtoرَبِّهِhis Lord
Al-Bashiri has gone to his Lord—may Allah have mercy on us and him.
يَرْحَمُنَاMay He have mercy on usاللَّهُAllahوَإِيَّاهُand him
may Allah have mercy on us and him.
وَلِجَرِيرٍAnd by Jarir
And by Jarir:
إِنَّIndeedالشَّقِيَّthe wretchedالَّذِيwhoفِيinالنَّارِthe Fireمَنْزِلُهُis his abode
Indeed, the wretched is he whose abode is in the Fire, and success is the success of the one who is saved from the Fire.
وَالْفَوْزُand successفَوْزُis the success ofالَّذِيthe one whoيَنْجُوis savedمِنَfromالنَّارِthe Fire
and success is the success of the one who is saved from the Fire.
يَاOرَبِّLordقَدْindeedأَسْرَفَتْtransgressedنَفْسِيmy soulوَقَدْand indeedعَلِمْتُI have known
O Lord, my soul has transgressed, and I have known with certain knowledge that You have kept count of my footprints.
عِلْماًknowledgeيَقِيناًcertainلَقَدْthat indeedأَحْصَيْتَYou have kept count ofآثَارِيmy footprints
that indeed You have kept count of my footprints.
فَاغْفِرْSo forgiveذُنُوباًsinsإِلَهِيmy GodقَدْthatأَحَطْتَYou have encompassedبِهَاthem
So forgive sins, my God, which You have encompassed, O Lord of the servants, and draw me away from the Fire.
رَبَّO Lord ofالْعِبَادِthe servantsوَزَحْزِحْنِيand draw me awayعَنِfromالنَّارِthe Fire
O Lord of the servants, and draw me away from the Fire.
وَلِذِيAnd by Dhuالرُّمَّةِal-Rummahبَيْتٌa verse
And by Dhu al-Rummah a verse:
إِنْIfتَنْجُyou are savedمِنْهَاfrom itتَنْجُyou are savedمِنْfromذِيa possessor ofعَظِيمَةٍa great calamity
If you are saved from it, you are saved from a great calamity; otherwise, indeed I do not think you will be saved.
وَإِلَّاand otherwiseفَإِنِّيindeed Iلَاdo notأَخَالُكَthink youنَاجِيَاsaved
otherwise, indeed I do not think you will be saved.
وَلِآخَرَAnd by someone else
And by someone else: