قُلْتُ:I said:
I said:
نَعَمْYes,يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,كَانَthe manالرَّجُلُfromمِنَthe Arabsالْعَرَبِused to,إِذَاwhenدَخَلَhe enteredخَيْبَرَKhaybar,أَكَبَّhe fellعَلَىuponأَرْبَعٍfoursوَعَشَّand brayedتَعْشِيرَlike the brayingالْحِمَارِ،of a donkey,وَهُوَand thatأَنْisيَنْهَقَthat he braysعَشْرَtenنَهَقَاتٍconsecutiveمُتَتَابِعَاتٍ،brayings,يَفْعَلُdoingذَلِكَthatلِيَدْفَعَto ward offعَنْfromنَفْسِهِhimselfحُمَّىthe feverخَيْبَرَ.of Khaybar.
Yes, O Commander of the Faithful, a man from the Arabs, when he entered Khaybar, would fall on all fours and bray like a donkey—meaning he would bray ten consecutive times, doing so to ward off the fever of Khaybar from himself.
ثُمَّThenأَنْشَدَنِيhe recited to meفِيregardingقَوْلِthe sayingالْآخَرِ:of another:
Then he recited to me regarding the saying of another:
أَجَاعِلٌIs makerأَنْتَyouبَيْقُوراًherdsمُضَرَّمَةًset ablaze......ذَرِيعَةًas a meansلَكَfor youبَيْنَbetweenاللَّهِGodوَالْمَطَرِand the rain
Are you making blazing herds ... a means between you and God and the rain?
قُلْتُ:I said:
I said:
نَعَمْ،Yes,كَانَتِthe Arabsالْعَرَبُused toإِذَاwhenأَبْطَأَwas delayedالْمَطَرُthe rain,تَشُدُّtieالْعُشَرَAl-Ushorوَالسَّلَعَ،and Al-Sal'a,وَهُمَاand they areضَرْبَانِtwo typesمِنَofالنَّبْتِ،plants,فِيinأَذْنَابِthe tailsالْبَقَرِof cows,وَأَلْهَبُواand they setفِيهِin itالنَّارَfireوَشَرَّدُواand chased awayبِالْبَقَرِthe cowsتَفَاؤُلاًoptimistically hopingبِالْبَرْقِfor lightningوَالْمَطَرِ،and rain,ثُمَّthenأَنْشَدَنِي:he recited to me:
Yes, when the rain was delayed, the Arabs used to tie 'Ushor and Sal'a—two types of plants—to the tails of cows, set fire to them, and drive the cows away, being optimistic for lightning and rain. Then he recited to me:
لَعَمْرُكَBy your life,مَاdid notلَامَblameالْفَتَىthe youthمِثْلَlikeنَفْسِهِhimself......إِذَاwhenكَانَتِwereالْأَحْيَاءُthe tribesتَعَدَّىcrossingثِيَابَهَاtheir garments
By your life, no youth blamed anyone like himself ... when the tribes transgressed their garments.
وَآذَنَAnd he announcedبِالتَّصْفِيقِwith clappingمَنْwhoeverسَاءَbecame badظَنُّهُhis opinion,......فَلَمْso he did not knowيَدْرِknowمِنْfromأَيِّwhichالْيَدَيْنِof the two handsجَوَابُهَاits answer
And he who had evil thoughts announced it by clapping ... so he knew not from which of the two hands its answer came.
قُلْتُ:I said:
I said:
نَعَمْYes,يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,كَانَthe manالرَّجُلُused toإِذَاwhenضَلَّhe went astrayفِيinالْمَفَازَةِthe desert,قَلَبَhe turned inside outثِيَابَهُhis garmentsوَصَاحَand shoutedكَأَنَّهُas ifيُومِئُhe were gesturingإِلَىtoإِنْسَانٍa personوَيَشْتَدُّand running hardشِدَّةًa hard runوَيُصَفِّقُand clappingبِيَدَيْهِwith his handsفَيَهْتَدِيso he finds guidanceالطَّرِيقَ.to the path.ثُمَّThenأَنْشَدَنِي:he recited to me:
Yes, O Commander of the Faithful, when a man got lost in the desert, he would turn his clothes inside out and shout as if he were gesturing to someone, run swiftly, and clap with his hands, so he would find his way. Then he recited to me:
قَوْدَاءُA long-backed she-camelتَمْلِكُpossessingرَحْلَهَاits saddle......مِثْلُlikeالْيَتِيمِthe orphanمِنَamongالْأَرَانِبِthe hares
A long-backed she-camel carrying its saddle ... like the orphan among the hares.
قُلْتُ:I said:
I said:
نَعَمْ،Yes,يَقُولُ:he says:هَذِهِthisنَاقَةٌis a she-camelمِثْلُlikeالْيَتِيمِthe orphanمِنَofالْآكَامِ،the hills,وَالْيَتِيمُand the orphanالْوَاحِدُis the single oneمِنْofكُلِّeveryشَيْءٍ،thing,وَالْأَرَانِبُand the haresالْآكَامُ.are the hills.ثُمَّThenأَنْشَدَنِيhe recited to meلِآخَرَof anotherأَيْضاً:also:
Yes, he says: This is a she-camel like the orphan of the hills—the orphan being the single one of anything, and the hares referring to the hills. Then he recited to me by another also:
إِلَىToاللَّهِGodأَشْكُوI complainهَجْمَةًof a herdهَجْرِيَّةًfrom Hajar......تَعَاوَرَهَاpassed downمُرُّthe bitterالسُّنِينَyearsالْعَوَابِرُpassing by
To God I complain of a herd from Hajar ... passed down by the bitter passing years
فَعَادَتْSo they returnedرَذَايَاas exhausted remnantsتَحْمِلُcarryingالطِّبْنَmud/clayبَعْدَمَاafterتَكُونُthey used to beقُرًىa guest-feastلِلْمُعْتَفِينَfor the seekersالْمَفَاقِرِof help and the needy
So they returned as exhausted remnants carrying clay, after having been a feast for the needy seekers of help.
قُلْتُ:I said:
I said:
هَذَاThis isرَجُلٌa manفِيinبُسْتَانِهِhis orchardنَخِيلٌpalm treesأَتَىupon which cameعَلَيْهَاthemالدَّهْرُtimeفَجَفَّتْso they dried upفَقَطَعَهَاand he cut themوَصَيَّرَهَاand made themأَجْذَاعاًtrunksوَسَقَّفَand roofedبِهَاwith themالْبُيُوتَ،the houses,فَقَالَ:so he said:هَذِهِtheseالْأَجْذَاعُtrunksكَانَتْused toتَحْمِلُbearالرُّطَبَ،fresh dates,فَأُكِلَso they were eatenوَأُطْعِمَand fedالْأَضْيَافُto the guests,فَجَفَّتْthen they dried upفَقَطَعْتُهَاso I cut themوَسَقَّفْتُand roofedبِهَاwith themالْبُيُوتَthe houses,فَهِيَso nowتَحْمِلُthey carryالطِّينَ،the mud,يَعْنِيmeaningمَاwhatفَوْقَهَاis above themمِنَofاللَّبِنِbricksوَالتُّرَابِand earthوَغَيْرِand otherذَلِكَ.things.ثُمَّThenأَنْشَدَنِيhe recited to meلِرَجُلٍfor a manآخَرَ:another:
This is a man whose orchard had palm trees that time overtook, so they dried up. He cut them down, turned them into trunks, and used them to roof houses. He said: These trunks used to bear fresh dates, which were eaten and fed to guests; then they dried up, so I cut them down and roofed houses with them, and now they carry mud—meaning what is above them of bricks, earth, and other things. Then he recited to me for another man:
وَسَرْبٌAnd a herdمِلَاحٌof fine onesقَدْI haveرَأَيْتُseenوُجُوهَهُمْtheir faces......إِنَاثٌfemalesأَدَانِيهِtheir frontsذُكُورٌmalesأَوَاخِرُهُtheir backs
And a fine herd whose faces I have seen ... females are their front parts, and males are their back parts.
يَعْنِيHe meansالْأَضْرَاسَ،the molars,ثُمَّthenأَنْشَدَنِيhe recited to meلِآخَرَ:for another:
He means the molars. Then he recited to me for another:
فَإِنِّيFor indeed I amإِذاًthenكَالثَّوْرِlike the bullيُضْرَبُstruckجَنْبُهُis its flank......إِذَاwhenلَمْdid notيَعْفِrefuseشُرْباًdrinkingوَعَافَتْand refusedصَوَاحِبُهُits companions
For I am then like the bull whose flank is struck ... when it does not refuse to drink and its companion cows refuse.
قُلْتُ:I said:
I said:
نَعَمْ،Yes,كَانَتِthe Arabsالْعَرَبُused toإِذَاwhenأَوْدَتِrefusedالْبَقَرُthe cowsالْمَاءَthe waterفَشَرِبَتِand the bulls drankالثِّيرَانُwhile the cowsوَأَبَتِrefused,الْبَقَرُthe bullsضُرِبَتِwere beatenالثِّيرَانُuntilحَتَّىthe cowsتَشْرَبَdrink,الْبَقَرُ،and it isوَهُوَas he said:كَمَاLike the bullقَالَ:beatenكَالثَّوْرِfor whatيُضْرَبُthe cowsلِمَاrefused.عَافَتِThenالْبَقَرُ.he recited to me:ثُمَّThenأَنْشَدَنِي:he recited to me:
Yes, when the cows avoided water and the bulls drank while the cows refused, the bulls were beaten until the cows drank. It is as he said: Like the bull beaten for what the cows refused. Then he recited to me:
وَمُنْحَدِرٍAnd a descenderمِنْfromرَأْسِthe topبَرْقَاءَof a speckled hillحَطَّهُbrought it down......مَخَافَةَfear ofبَيْنٍseparationأَوْorحَبِيبٌa belovedمُزَايِلٌdeparting
And a descender from the top of a speckled hill brought it down ... out of fear of separation, or a departing beloved.
قُلْتُ:I said:
I said:
نَعَمْ،Yes,يَعْنِيhe meansالدُّمُوعَ،tears,وَالْبَرْقَاءُand the barqa'الْعَيْنُis the eyeلِأَنَّbecauseفِيهَاin itسَوَاداًis blacknessوَبَيَاضاً،and whiteness,حَطَّهُbrought it downأَسْأَلُهُ،I ask him,حَبِيبٌhabibمَحْبُوبٌ،is beloved,مُزَايِلٌmuzayilمُفَارِقٌ.is departing.قَالَHe said:فَوَثَبَAl-Rashid sprang upالرَّشِيدُand pulled meفَجَذَبَنِيto his chestإِلَىand said:صَدْرِهِMay Allahوَقَالَ:blessلِلَّهِthe peopleدَرُّof literature!أَهْلِThen he calledالْأَدَبِ!a slave girlثُمَّand said to her:دَعَاCarryبِجَارِيَةٍto the houseفَقَالَof Al-Kisa'iلَهَا:five badrasاحْمِلِيon the necksإِلَىof five slavesمَنْزِلِassigned toالْكِسَائِيِّhis service.خَمْسَThen he said:بِدَرٍAsk them bothعَلَىto recite,أَعْنَاقِmeaningخَمْسَةِhis two sons.أَعْبُدٍSo MuhammadيَلْزَمُونَAl-Aminخِدْمَتَهُ،recited to me:ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:اسْتَنْشِدْهُمَا،Reciteيَعْنِيto them both,ابْنَيْهِ،meaningفَأَنْشَدَنِيhis two sons,مُحَمَّدٌand Muhammadالْأَمِينُ:Al-Amin recited to me:
Yes, he means the tears, and al-barqa' is the eye because it contains blackness and whiteness. Hat tahu: I ask him. Habib: beloved. Muzayil: departing. He said: Al-Rashid sprang up, pulled me to his chest, and said: May Allah bless the people of literature! Then he called for a slave girl and said to her: Carry to the house of Al-Kisa'i five badras on the necks of five slaves assigned to his service. Then he said: Ask them both to recite—meaning his two sons. So Muhammad Al-Amin recited to me:
وَإِنِّيAnd indeed I amلَعَفُّchaste regardingالْفَقْرِpovertyمُشْتَرَكُsharingالْغِنَىwealth......وَتَارِكُand abandoningشَكْلٍa peerلَاwho does notيُوَافِقُهُmatchشَكْلِيmy peer
And indeed I am chaste in poverty, sharing in wealth ... and abandoning a peer whose peerhood does not match mine
وَشَكْلِيAnd my peerشَكْلٌis a peerلَاwhoيَقُومُstandsبِمِثْلِهِwith his equal......مِنَamongالنَّاسِpeopleإِلَّاexceptكُلُّeveryذِيone possessingنِيقَةٍrefined tasteمِثْلِيlike me
And my peer is one whose equal among people ... is none other than every person of refined taste like me
وَلِيAnd I haveنِيقَةٌa refined tasteفِيinالْمَجْدِgloryوَالْبَذْلِand generosityلَمْthatيَكُنْhas not......تَأَنُّقُهَاbeen attained in its refinementفِيمَاin whatمَضَىhas passedأَحَدٌby anyoneقَبْلِيbefore me
And I have a refined taste in glory and generosity ... the like of which in refinement no one before me has ever attained
وَأَجْعَلُAnd I makeمَالِيmy wealthدُونَto protectعِرْضِيmy honorجُنَّةًa shield......لِنَفْسِيfor myselfوَأَسْتَغْنِيand I am contentبِمَاwith whatكَانَthere isمِنْofفَضْلِيmy bounty
And I make my wealth a shield to protect my honor ... for myself, and I am content with what of bounty there is
وَأَنْشَدَنِيAnd recited to meعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِAl-Ma'mun:الْمَأْمُونُ:Abdullah Al-Ma'mun:
And Abdullah Al-Ma'mun recited to me:
بَكَرَتْShe came earlyتَلُومُكَblaming youمَطْلَعَat the risingالْفَجْرِof dawn......وَلَقَدْand indeedتَلُومُshe blamesبِغَيْرِwithoutمَاwhatتَدْرِيshe knows
She came early to blame you at the rising of dawn ... and indeed she blames you for what she knows not
مَاNotإِنْindeedمَلَكْتُdid I possessمُصِيبَةًa misfortuneنَزَلَتْthat befell......إِذْsinceلَاis notيُحَكَّمُgovernedطَائِعاًwillinglyأَمْرِيmy affair
I did not possess a misfortune that befell ... since my affair is not governed willingly
مَلِكُThe Kingالْمُلُوكِof kingsعَلَيَّover meمُقْتَدِرٌis omnipotent......يُعْطِيHe givesإِذَاwhenمَاHe willsشَاءَfromمِنْabundanceيُسْرٍabundance
The King of kings is omnipotent over me ... He gives whenever He wills from abundance
فَلَرُبَّFor many aمُغْتَبِطٍrejoicing personبِمَرْزِئَةٍin a calamity......وَمُفَجَّعٍand one stricken with griefبِنَوَائِبِby the adversitiesالدَّهْرِof time
For many a person rejoices in a calamity ... and one is stricken with grief by the adversities of time
وَمُكَاشِحٍAnd a hostile opponentلِيto meقَدْwhomمَدَدْتُI stretchedلَهُfor him......نَحْراًa neckبِلَاwithoutضَرَعٍsubmissivenessوَلَاnorغَمْرٍweakness
And to a hostile opponent I stretched out for him ... a neck without submissiveness nor weakness
حَتَّىUntilيَقُولَhe saysلِنَفْسِهِto himselfلَهَفاً:alas:......فِيinأَيِّwhichمَذْهَبِpathغَايَةٍof utmost limitأَجْرِيdo I run
Until he says to himself in despair ... in which path of the utmost limit do I run
وَتَرَىAnd you seeقَنَاتِيmy spearحِينَwhenيَغْمِزُهَاone bends it......غَمْزَthe bendingالثِّقَافِof the straightenerبَطِيئَةَslowالْكَسْرِto break
And you see my spear when it is bent ... like the bending of the arrow-straightener, slow to break
فَقَالَ:So he said:يَاOعَلِيُّAli,فَكَيْفَhowتَرَاهُمَا؟do you see them both?فَقُلْتُ:So I said:
So he said: O Ali, how do you see them both? So I said:
أَرَىI seeقَمَرَيْtwo moonsأُفُقٍof a horizonوَفَرْعَيْand two branchesبَشَامَةٍof a balsam tree......يُزَيِّنُهُمَاadorning them bothعِرْقٌis a noble rootكَرِيمٌand nobleوَمَحْتِدُorigin
I see two moons of a horizon and two branches of a balsam tree ... adorned by a noble root and origin
يَسُدَّانِThey blockآفَاقَthe horizonsالسَّمَاءِof the skyبِشِيمَةٍwith a nature......يُؤَيِّدُهَاsupported byحَزْمٌfirm resolveوَعَضْبٌand a sharpمُهَنَّدُIndian sword
They block the horizons of the sky with a nature ... supported by firm resolve and a sharp Indian sword
سَلِيلَيْThe two offspringأَمِيرِof the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَحَائِزِيand the holders......مَوَارِيثَof the inheritancesمَاof whatأَبْقَىleft behindالنَّبِيُّProphetمُحَمَّدُMuhammad
The two offspring of the Commander of the Faithful and the holders ... of the inheritances of what the Prophet Muhammad left behind