فَقُلْتُ:So I said:
So I said:
فَسِّرْExplainمَاwhatقُلْتَ.you said.
Explain what you said.
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
أَمَّاAs forالرَّجُلِthe manالَّذِيwhoseتَزَوَّجَتْmarriedأُمُّهُhis mother,
As for the man whose mother married,
فَتَكْتُبُyou writeإِلَيْهِto himأَنَّthatالْأَقْدَارَdecreesتَجْرِيrunبِخِلَافِcontrary toمَحَابِّthe desires ofالْمَخْلُوقِينَ،creatures,
you write to him that decrees run contrary to the desires of creatures,
وَسَتْرٌand veilingفِيinعَافِيَةٍwell-beingخَيْرٌis betterمِنْthanشَانِئَةٍa detested womanفِيamongأَهْلِهَا،her family,
and veiling in well-being is better than a detested woman among her family,
وَاللَّهُand Godيَخْتَارُchoosesلِلْعِبَادِ،for the servants,
and God chooses for the servants,
فَخَارَso God chose wellاللَّهُGodلَكَfor youفِيinقَبْضِهَاher takingإِلَيْهِ،to Him,
so God chose well for you in taking her to Him,
فَإِنَّforالْقُبُورَgravesأَكْرَمُare the most nobleالْأَكْفَاءِ.matchmakers / husbands.
for graves are the most noble of husbands.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forالْقَرَاحُthe farmlandفَتَمْسَحُyou measureاعْوَاجَاحُits crookednessثُمَّthenتَنْظُرُyou look atمَبْلَغَthe extent ofالطَّرَفَيْنِthe two ends
And as for the farmland, you measure its crookedness then look at the extent of the two ends
فَتَضْرِبُand you multiplyبَعْضَهُpart of itفِيbyبَعْضٍanotherفَإِذَاand whenاسْتَوَىit becomes levelفِيinيَدِكَyour handعَقْدُهُits calculation
and multiply some of it by the rest, and when its calculation is level in your hand
رَجَعْتَyou returnedإِلَىtoالْمُسْتَوِيthe level partفَضَرَبْتَهُand multiplied itفِيهِin itحَتَّىuntilيَخْرُجَit comes outسَوَاءً.even.
you returned to the level part and multiplied it in it until it comes out even.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forالْحُرَّةُthe free womanوَالسَّرِيَّةُand the slave concubineفَيُوزَنُtheir milk is weighedلَبَنُهُمَاtheir milk
And as for the free woman and the slave concubine, their milk is weighed
فَأَيُّهُمَاso whichever of themكَانَتْwasأَحَدَّsharper / strongerلَبَنًاin milkفَالِابْنُthen the sonلَهَا.is hers.
so whichever of them was stronger in milk, the son is hers.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forالْجُنْدُthe soldiersفَتَكْتُبُyou writeهَذَاthis isأَدْحَمُdark-complexionedالْأَعْلَمُthe markedوَهَذَاand this isأَحْمَدُAhmadالْأَفْلَجُ.the gapped-teeth.
And as for the soldiers, you write: this is the dark-complexioned marked one, and this is Ahmad the gapped-teeth.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forالشَّجَّةُthe head injuryفَفِيthen inالْمَأْمُومَةِthe one reaching the brain membraneثَلَاثُ وَثَلَاثُونَthirty-threeمِنَofالْإِبِلِcamels
And as for head injuries, in the one reaching the brain membrane there are thirty-three camels
وَفِيand inالْمُوضِحَةِthe one exposing the boneخَمْسَةٌfiveمِنَofالْإِبِلِcamelsفَتَرُدُّand you returnعَلَيْهِto himمَاwhatبَيْنَis betweenذَلِكَ.that.
and in the one exposing the bone five camels, and you return to him what is between that.
قُلْتُ:I said:أَلَسْتَAre you notتَزْعُمُclaimingأَنَّكَthat youحَائِكٌ؟are a weaver?
I said: Are you not claiming that you are a weaver?
قَالَ:He said:أَنَاI amحَائِكُa weaver ofكَلاَمٍspeechقَعَدَmade me sit / hindered meبِيtimeالدَّهْرُtime
He said: I am a weaver of speech whom time hindered
فَخَرَجْتُso I went outأُرِيدُseekingبَعْضَsomeالْقَرَابَةِrelativesفَصَادَفْتُهُand I encountered himقَدْhaving beenصُرِفَdismissedعَنِfromالْعَمَلِwork
so I went out seeking some relatives and encountered him having been dismissed from work
فَبَقِيتُand I remainedعَلَىinهَذِهِthisالْحَالَةِ.state.
and I remained in this state.
قَالَ:He said:فَدَعَوْتُSo I calledالْمُزَيِّنَthe barberفَنَظَّفَهُand he cleaned him
He said: So I called the barber and he cleaned him
وَدَعَوْتُand I called forلَهُhimبِثَلَاثِthreeخِلَعٍrobesوَصِرْتُand I wentبِهِwith himإِلَىtoالرُّخَجِيِّAl-Rukhaji
and I called for three robes for him and went with him to Al-Rukhaji
وَكَلَّمْتُهُand I spoke to himفِيregardingأَمْرِهِhis matterفَوَهَبَso he grantedلَهُhimخَمْسِينَfiftyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
and I spoke to him regarding his matter, so he granted him fifty thousand dirhams
وَحَمَلَهُand provided himعَلَىwithثَلَاثَةٍthreeمِنَofالظَّهْرِmountsوَرَجَعْتُand I returnedإِلَىtoأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulبِالْأَمْوَالِ،with the funds,
and provided him with three mounts, and I returned to the Commander of the Faithful with the funds,
فَقَالَ:so he said:يَاOعَمْرُوAmr,مَاwhatرَأَيْتَdid you seeفِيonطَرِيقِكَ؟your way?
so he said: O Amr, what did you see on your way?
فَأَخْبَرْتُهُSo I informed himبِقِصَّةِabout the story ofالرَّجُلِ.the man.
So I informed him about the story of the man.
فَأَطَالَSo he prolongedالتَّعَجُّبَwonderingمِنْهُat himوَقَالَ:and said:مَاWhatفَعَلَ؟did he do?
So he prolonged wondering at him and said: What did he do?
قُلْتُ:I said:يَصِيرُHe comesإِلَيَّto meفِيinكُلِّeveryيَوْمٍ.day.
I said: He comes to me every day.
قَالَ:He said:لِمَFor whatيَصْلُحُis he fitمِنَamongالْأَعْمَالِ؟the works?
He said: For what kind of work is he fit?
قُلْتُ:I said:لِلْهَنْدَسَةِ.For engineering.
I said: For engineering.
قَالَ:He said:فَوَلِّهِ.Then put him in charge of it.
He said: Then put him in charge of it.
قَالَAmr said:عَمْرٌو:AmrفَنَظَرْتُSo I lookedإِلَيْهِat himبَعْدَafterذَلِكَthatوَهُوَwhile heيَرْكَبُwas ridingفِيinمَوْكِبٍa grandعَظِيمٍ.procession.
Amr said: So I looked at him after that while he was riding in a grand procession.
الْبَيْهَقِيُّAl-Bayhaqiقَالَsaidالْبُحْتُرِيُّ:Al-Buhturi:
Al-Bayhaqi said: Al-Buhturi said:
كُنْتُI wasقَاعِداًsittingمَعَwithالْمُتَوَكِّلِAl-Mutawakkilإِذْwhenمَرَّتْpassedسَحَابَةٌa cloudفَقَالَand he saidقُلْspeakفِيهَا.about it.
I was sitting with Al-Mutawakkil when a cloud passed and he said, compose poetry about it.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:
So I said:
ذَاتُPossessed ofارْتِجَاعٍechoing thunderبِحَنِينِwith the yearning ofالرَّعْدِthunder
Possessed of echoing thunder with the yearning of thunder
جَرُورَةِdraggingالذَّيْلِthe trainصَدُوقِtrue inالْوَعْدِpromise
Dragging the train, true to its promise
مَسْفُوحَةِPoured outالدَّمْعِin tearsبِغَيْرِwithoutوَجْدِgrief
Poured out in tears without grief
لَهَاIt hasنَسِيمٌa breezeكَنَسِيمِlike the breeze ofالْوَرْدِroses
It has a breeze like the breeze of roses
وَرَنَّةٌAnd a soundمِثْلُlikeرَنِينِthe sound ofالْأَسَدْlions
And a sound like the roaring of lions
وَلَمْعُAnd the flash ofبَرْقٍlightningكَسُيُوفِlike the swords ofالْهِنْدِIndia
And the flash of lightning like the swords of India
جَاءَتْIt cameبِهِwith itرِيحُthe wind ofالصَّبَاthe east windمِنْfromنَجْدِNajd
The east wind brought it from Najd
فَانْتَثَرَتْso it scatteredمِثْلَlikeانْتِثَارِthe scattering ofالْعَقْدِa necklace
so it scattered like the scattering of a necklace
فَأْضَحَتِAnd the earth becameالْأَرْضُthe earthبِعَيْشٍin a life ofرَغَدِluxury
And the earth became in a life of luxury
كَأَنَّمَاAs ifغُدْرَانُهَاits poolsفِيinالْوَهْدِthe depression
As if its pools in the depression
يَلْعَبْنَare playingمِنْwithحَبَابِهَاits bubblesبِالنَّرْدِbackgammon
are playing with its bubbles at backgammon
ثُمَّThenأَنْشَدْتُهُI recited to himلِمَرْوَانَby Marwanبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiحَفْصَةَ:Hafsah:
Then I recited to him by Marwan ibn Abi Hafsah:
لَمَّاWhenسَمِعْتُI heardبِبَيْعَةٍof the pledge of allegianceلِمُحَمَّدٍto Muhammad
When I heard of the pledge of allegiance to Muhammad
شَفَتِit healedالنُّفُوسَthe soulsوَأَذْهَبَتْand removedأَحْزَانَهَاtheir sorrows
it healed the souls and removed their sorrows
بَايَعْتُI gave allegianceمُغْتَبِطاًjoyfullyوَلَوْand even ifلَمْnotتَنْبَسِطْextended
I gave allegiance joyfully and even if not extended
كَفِّيmy handلِبَيْعَتِهِfor his allegianceقُطِعَتْwould have been cut offبَنَانُهَاits fingertips
my hand for his allegiance, its fingertips would have been cut off
حَتَّىUntilانْتَهَيْتُI reachedإِلَىtoقَوْلِهِ:his saying:
Until I reached his saying:
رَجَحَتْOutweightedزُبَيْدَةُZubaidahوَالنِّسَاءُand the womenشَوَائِلٌwere few / scarce
Zubaidah outweighed while women were scarce
وَاللَّهُand Godأَرْجَحُoutweighsبِالتَّقْوَىwith pietyمِيزَانَهَاher scale
and God outweighs with piety her scale
فَصَاحَSo he shoutedبِيat meصَيْحَةًa shoutفَقَالَ:and said:كَذَبْتَYou liedوَأَلَمْتَand caused painيَاOعَرْبَدَةُ!troublemaker!
So he shouted at me a shout and said: You lied and caused pain, O troublemaker!
قُلْ:Say:رَجَحَتْoutweighedقَبِيحَةُ.Qabihah.
Say: Qabihah outweighed.
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:أَنْشِدْنِي.Recite to me.
Then he said: Recite to me.
فَأَنْشَدْتُهُSo I recited to himلِلطَّائِيِّ:by Al-Ta'i:
So I recited to him by Al-Ta'i:
لَسْتُI am notلِرَبْعٍfor a ruinعَفَاthat has fadedوَلَاnorقَدَمِهْits antiquity
I am not for a ruin that has faded nor its antiquity
وَلَسْتُAnd I am notمِنْofكَاتِبٍa writerوَلَاnorقَلَمِهِhis pen
And I am not of a writer nor his pen
فَإِنَّFor indeedمَنْhe whomيَفْخَرُpridesالْمُلُوكُkingsبِهِin him
For indeed he whom kings take pride in
وَيَسْتَعِيرُand borrowsالْكَرِيمُthe noble manمِنْfromكَرَمِهِhis generosity
and the noble man borrows from his generosity
أَلْحَقَنِيAttached meبِالْمُلُوكِto the kingsمُعْتَصِمٌan Al-Mu'tasim
Attached me to the kings, an Al-Mu'tasim
بِاللَّهِby Godوَالْمُسْلِمُونَand the Muslimsفِيinعِصْمِهِhis protection
by God, and the Muslims are in his protection
خُلِقْتُCreatedمِنْfromطِينٍclayمُبَارَكَةٍblessed
Created from blessed clay
فَالْبِرُّso righteousnessمِنْis fromشِيَمِهِhis traitsوَمِنْand fromشِيَمِهِhis nature
so righteousness is from his traits and from his nature
مَاStillزَالَremainedإِحْسَانُهُhis beneficenceوَنِعْمَتُهُand his favor
Still remained his beneficence and his favor
عَلَيَّupon meحَتَّىuntilغَرِقْتُI was drownedفِيinنِعَمِهِhis favors
upon me until I was drowned in his favors
فَأَسْأَلُSo I askاللَّهَGodفَضْلَthe grace ofنِعْمَتِهِHis blessing
So I ask God for the grace of His blessing
وَالْأَمْنَand safetyمِنْfromبَأْسِهِHis mightوَمِنْand fromنِقَمِهِHis vengeance
and safety from His might and from His vengeance
فَلَمَّاSo whenسَمِعَهَاhe heard themارْتَاحَhe was gladdenedوَقَالَ:and said:أَحْسَنْتَYou did wellوَاللَّهِby God
So when he heard them he was gladdened and said: You did well by God
وَمَاand whatجَزَاؤُكَis your rewardإِلَّاexceptأَنْthatأُقْطِعَكَI grant you a fiefمِنْfromمَوْضِعِكَyour place
and your reward is only that I grant you a fief from your place
إِلَىtoحَيْثُwhereتَبْلُغُreachesأُمْنِيَّتُكَ،your wish,فَسَلْso askتُعْطَ.and you shall be given.
to where your wish reaches, so ask and you shall be given.
قَالَ:He said:فَفَكَّرْتُSo I thoughtسَاعَةًfor a momentثُمَّthenقُلْتُ:I said:
He said: So I thought for a moment then I said:
تُعْطِينِيYou give meفِتْراًa spanفِيinفِتْرٍa spanمِنْofقَلْبِكَ.your heart.
You give me a span in a span of your heart.
فَقَالَ:So he said:أَحْسَنْتَWell doneأَحْسَنْتَ!well done!أَنْتَYouوَاللَّهِby Godفِيinهَذَاthisأَشْعَرُare more poeticalمِنَthanالطَّائِيِّAl-Ta'iفِيinشِعْرِهِ.his poetry.
So he said: Well done, well done! You by God in this are more poetical than Al-Ta'i in his poetry.
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:أَنْشِدْنِي.Recite to me.
Then he said: Recite to me.
فَأَنْشَدْتُهُSo I recited to himلِلْحُسَيْنِby Al-Husaynبْنِson ofالضَّحَّاكِ:Al-Dahhak:
So I recited to him by Al-Husayn ibn Al-Dahhak:
كَمْHow manyلَكَdo you haveلَمَّاwhenاحْتَمَلَdepartedالْقَطِينُthe camp
How many do you have when the camp departed
مِنْofزَفْرَةٍsighsيَتْبَعُهَاfollowed byالْأَنِينُmoaning
of sighs followed by moaning
وَعَبْرَةٍAnd tearsتَحُدُرُهَاshed byالشُّؤُونُthe eyes
And tears shed by the eyes
إِنِّيIndeed Iبِبَغْدَادَin Baghdadلَمُسْتَكِينُam humbled
Indeed I in Baghdad am humbled
حَظُّThe share ofالْغَرِيبِthe strangerالشَّوْقُis longingوَالشُّجُونُand sorrow
The share of the stranger is longing and sorrow
يَاOلَائِمِيmy blamerلِكُلِّfor everyيَوْمٍdayهَوْنٌhumiliation
O my blamer, for every day there is humiliation
إِلَيْكَAwayعَنِّيfrom meإِنَّنِيfor Iمَفْتُونُam infatuated
Away from me, for I am infatuated
الشِّعْرُPoetryمِنِّيfrom meكَاسِدٌis unsellableوَدُونُand inferior
Poetry from me is unsellable and inferior
وَحَانَAnd it is timeمِنْfromتَحْرِيكِهِits agitationتَسْكِينُfor calming
And it is time from its agitation for calming
قَدْIndeedرَكِبَتْhave riddenأَرْبَابَهَاits ownersالدُّيُونُdebts
Indeed debts have overwhelmed its owners
بِضَاعَةٌA commodityأَكْسَدَهَاrendered unsellable byالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'mun
A commodity rendered unsellable by Al-Ma'mun
إِمَامُAn imamعَدْلٍof justiceلِلتُّقَىfor pietyأَمِينُtrustworthy
An imam of justice, trustworthy for piety
قَالَ:He said:أَحْسَنْتَYou did wellيَاOأَبَاAbuعُبَادَةَUbadahفَمَاذَاso whatفَعَلَdidبِهِto himالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munبَعْدَafterإِذْwhenهَجَاهُ؟he satirized him?
He said: You did well, O Abu Ubadah, so what did Al-Ma'mun do to him after he satirized him?
قُلْتُ:I said:أُعِيذُكَI seek refuge for youبِاللَّهِin Godمِنْfromأَنْthatيَجْسُرَhe would dareعَلَىtoهِجَاءِsatirizeالْمَأْمُونِ.Al-Ma'mun.
I said: I seek refuge for you in God from that he would dare to satirize Al-Ma'mun.
قَالَ:He said:فَمَنِthen whoالْقَائِلُis the speakerفِيهِ:about him:
He said: Then who is the speaker about him:
وَلَاNorفَرِحَrejoicedالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munبِالْمُلْكِin the kingdomبَعْدَهُafter him
Nor rejoiced Al-Ma'mun in the kingdom after him
وَلَاnorزَالَremainedفِيinالدُّنْيَاthe worldطَرِيداًan outcastمُشَرَّداًbanished
nor remained in the world an outcast and banished
قُلْتُ:I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulدَعَاهُdrove himالْمُوقُstupidityوَالْحِينُand doomإِلَىtoهَذَا.this.
I said: O Commander of the Faithful, stupidity and doom drove him to this.
قَالَ:He said:لَاNoبَأْسَharmفَإِنَّهُfor indeed heقَدْhasتَلَاrecitedفِيinهَذَاthisالْكَلَامِspeechقَوْلَهُ:his saying:
He said: No harm, for indeed he has recited in this speech his saying:
رَأَىSawاللَّهُGodعَبْدَthe servant ofاللَّهِGodخَيْرَthe best ofعِبَادِهِHis servants
God saw the servant of God as the best of His servants
فَمَلَّكَهُso He made him kingوَاللَّهُand Godأَعْلَمُknows bestبِالْعَبْدِregarding the servant
so He made him king, and God knows best regarding the servant
قَالَHe saidفَقُلْتُ:so I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَثْقَلْتَyou have weighed downظَهْرِيmy backبِالْفَوَائِدِ،with benefits,
He said, so I said: O Commander of the Faithful, you have weighed down my back with benefits,
فَقَالَ:so he said:إِنَّاindeed weنَأْخُذُtakeوَنُعْطِيand giveوَنَأْتِيand bringبِمَاwhatيُحْيِيrevivesالْمَهَجَ.souls.
so he said: Indeed we take and give and bring what revives souls.
مَسَاوِئُThe vices ofمَنْhe whoذَمَّblamedالْأَدَبَliterature
The vices of him who blamed literature