قِيلَItسُئِلَwas said: And Al-Akhtal was asked,الْأَخْطَلُAl-Akhtal,أَيُّكُمْ"Which of youأَشْعَرُis the best poet?"
It was said: Al-Akhtal was asked, "Which of you is the best poet?"
فَقَالَSo he said,أَفْخَرُنَا"The one of us with the most pride isالْفَرْزَدَقُAl-Farazdaq,
So he said, "The one of us with the most pride is Al-Farazdaq,
وَأَمْدَحُنَاand the best in praiseوَأَوْصَفُنَاand descriptionلِلْخَمْرِof wineأَنَاam I,
and the best in praise and description of wine am I,
وَأَسْهَبُنَاand the most prolificوَأَنْسَبُنَاand the best in genealogyوَأَسَبُنَاand invectiveجَرِيرٌis Jarir,
and the most prolific and the best in genealogy and invective is Jarir,
وَأَرْجَزُand the most prolific in Rajaz poetryالرُّجَّازِamong the Rajaz poetsفِيinالْإِسْلَامِIslamوَقَبْلَهُand before itالْعَجَّاجُis Al-Ajraj,
and the most prolific in Rajaz poetry among the Rajaz poets in Islam and before it is Al-Ajraj,
فَإِنَّهُfor indeed heفَتَحَopenedأَبْوَابَthe doors ofالرَّجَزِRajaz,
for indeed he opened the doors of Rajaz,
وَاسْتَوْقَفَand stopped by ruins,وَوَصَفَand describedالدِّيَارَthe abodesوَأَهْلَهَاand their people,
and stopped by ruins, and described the abodes and their people,
وَوَصَفَand describedالْخَيْلَthe horsesوَالْمَطَرَand the rain,وَمَدَحَand praisedوَذَمَّand blamed,
and described the horses and the rain, and praised and blamed,
فَذَهَبَso he followedفِيinالرَّجَزِRajazمَذْهَبَthe path ofامْرِئِImru' al-Qaisالْقَيْسِin moderation,فِيinالْقَصْدِmoderation,
so he followed in Rajaz the path of Imru' al-Qais in moderation,
وَهُوَand he isأَرْجَزُthe greatest Rajaz poet.الرُّجَّازِthe Rajaz poets.
and he is the greatest of the Rajaz poets.
وَقَدْAndقِيلَit has been said:أَرْجَزُThe greatest Rajaz poetsالرُّجَّازِare three:ثَلَاثَةٌthree:الْعَجَّاجُAl-Ajraj,وَابْنُهُand his sonرُؤْبَةُRu'bah,وَحُمَيْدٌand HumaidالْأَرْقَطُAl-Arqat.
And it has been said: The greatest Rajaz poets are three: Al-Ajraj, and his son Ru'bah, and Humaid Al-Arqat.
وَقَالَAndبَعْضُهُمْsome of them said:أَبُوAbuالنَّجْمِAl-NajmالْعِجْلِيُّAl-Ijli.
And some of them said: Abu Al-Najm Al-Ijli.
وَأَجْوَدُAnd the finestالْأَرَاجِيزِRajaz poetryقَوْلُis the saying ofرُؤْبَةَRu'bah:
And the finest Rajaz poetry is the saying of Ru'bah:
وَقَاتِمِAnd of dustyالْأَعْمَاقِdepths,خَاوِيhollowالْمُخْتَرَقِcrossroads,
And of dusty depths, hollow crossroads,
وَقَوْلِAnd the saying ofأَبِيAbuالنَّجْمِAl-Najm:
And the saying of Abu Al-Najm:
الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to God,الْوَهُوبِthe Bestower,الْمُجْزِلِthe Generous.
Praise be to God, the Bestower, the Generous.
قِيلَItوَقَالَwas said: And MaslamahمَسْلَمَةُbinبْنُAbdعَبْدِal-Malikالْمَلِكِsaid toلِخَالِدِKhalidبْنِbinصَفْوَانَSafwan:
It was said: And Maslamah bin Abd al-Malik said to Khalid bin Safwan:
صِفْ"Describeلَنَاto usجَرِيرًاJarir,وَالْفَرْزَدَقَAl-Farazdaq,وَالْأَخْطَلَand Al-Akhtal."
"Describe to us Jarir, Al-Farazdaq, and Al-Akhtal."
فَقَالَHe said:أَصْلَحَ"May God reformاللَّهُthe Prince!الْأَمِيرَthe Prince!
He said: "May God reform the Prince!
أَمَّاAs forأَعْظَمُهُمْthe greatest of them in pride,فَخْرًاin pride,وَأَبْعَدُهُمْthe farthest of them in reputation,ذِكْرًاin reputation,وَأَحْسَنُهُمْthe finest of them in love poetry,غَزَلًاin love poetry,وَأَحْلَاهُمْthe sweetest of them in meaningsمَعَانِيَin meaningsوَعِلَلًاand arguments,
As for the greatest of them in pride, the farthest of them in reputation, the finest of them in love poetry, the sweetest of them in meanings and arguments,
الطَّامِيthe surgingإِذَاwhenزَخَرَit overflows,وَالْحَامِيthe protectorإِذَاwhenزَأَرَhe roars,وَالسَّامِيthe high-mindedإِذَاwhenنَظَرَhe looks,
the surging when it overflows, the protector when he roars, the high-minded when he looks,
الَّذِيthe one whoإِنْifأَهْدَرَhe thunderedقَالَhe spoke,وَإِنْand ifخَطَرَhe struttedصَالَhe attacked,وَإِنْand ifطَلَبَhe soughtنَالَhe attained,
the one who if he thundered he spoke, and if he strutted he attacked, and if he sought he attained,
الْفَصِيحُthe eloquentاللِّسَانِof tongue,السَّبَّاقُthe forerunnerفِيinالرِّهَانِthe race,فَالْفَرْزَدَقُis Al-Farazdaq.
the eloquent of tongue, the forerunner in the race, is Al-Farazdaq.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forأَهْتَكُهُمْthe most daring of them in exposingسْتْرًاveils,وَأَغْزَرُهُمْthe most abundant of themبَحْرًاin sea (of poetry),وَأَرَقُّهُمْand the most tender of themشِعْرًاin poetry,
And as for the most daring of them in exposing veils, the most abundant of them in sea (of poetry), and the most tender of them in poetry,
وَالْأَغَرُّand the nobleالْأَبْلَقُAl-Ablaq,الَّذِيthe one whoإِنْifطَلَبَhe pursuedلَمْwas notيُسْبَقْoutrun,وَإِنْand ifطُلِبَhe was pursuedلَمْwas notيُلْحَقْovertaken,
and the noble Al-Ablaq, the one who if he pursued was not outrun, and if he was pursued was not overtaken,
الْوَاصِفُthe describerلِلْفُرْسَانِof horsemen,النَّاعِتُthe portrayerلِلْأَظْعَانِof travelling womenبَحَلَاوَةٍwith sweetnessوَبَيَانٍand clarity,فَجَرِيرٌis Jarir.
the describer of horsemen, the portrayer of travelling women with sweetness and clarity, is Jarir.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forأَحْسَنُهُمْthe best of themنَعْتًاin description,وَأَقَلُّهُمْthe least of themفَوْتًاin missing the mark,وَأَمْدَحُهُمْand the best of them in praiseبَيْتًاfor a verse,
And as for the best of them in description, the least of them in missing the mark, and the best of them in praise for a verse,
الَّذِيthe one whoإِنْifهَجَاhe satirizedوَضَعَhe abased,وَإِنْand ifمَدَحَhe praisedرَفَعَhe elevated,وَإِنْand ifحَازَhe acquiredأَفْضَعَhe shocked,
the one who if he satirized he abased, and if he praised he elevated, and if he acquired he shocked,
الْبَعِيدُthe distantالْمِتَانِin firmness,الْمَاضِيthe resoluteالْجَنَانِin heart,الْمُمَدَّاحُthe frequent praiserلِلسُّلْطَانِof the sultan,فَالْأَخْطَلُis Al-Akhtal.
the distant in firmness, the resolute in heart, the frequent praiser of the sultan, is Al-Akhtal.
وَكُلُّهُمْAnd all of them,أَصْلَحَmay God reformاللَّهُthe Prince,الْأَمِيرَthe Prince,طَوِيلُare longالنِّجَادِin sword-belt,رَفِيعُhighالْعِمَادِin tent-pole,ذَكِيُّsharpالْفُؤَادِin heart.
And all of them, may God reform the Prince, are long in sword-belt, high in tent-pole, sharp in heart.
قَالَHe said:فَصِفْ"Then describeلَنَاto usالشُّعَرَاءَthe tenالْعَشَرَةَpoets."
He said: "Then describe to us the ten poets."
فَقَالَHe said:قِصَّتُهُمْ"Their storyمُفَسَّرَةٌis explained:
He said: "Their story is explained:
أَمَّاAs forأَحْسَنُهُمْthe best of themنَسِيبًاin love preludeوَتَشْبِيبًاand flirtation,وَأَشَدُّهُمْand the strongest of themتَأْلِيبًاin instigation,فَامْرُؤُis Imru' al-Qais.الْقَيْسِal-Qais.
As for the best of them in love prelude and flirtation, and the strongest of them in instigation, is Imru' al-Qais.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forأَفْحَلُهُمْthe most masterful of themمَقَالًاin speech,وَأَنْبَلُهُمْthe noblest of themرِجَالًاas men,وَأَكْرَمُهُمْand the most generous of themفِعَالًاin deeds,فَزُهَيْرٌis Zuhair.
And as for the most masterful of them in speech, the noblest of them as men, and the most generous of them in deeds, is Zuhair.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forأَرْجَحُهُمْthe weightiest of themكَلَامًاin speech,وَأَنْبَلُهُمْthe noblest of themمَقَامًاin station,وَأَشْرَفُهُمْand the most honorable of themأَيَّامًاin days,فَأَوْسُis AusبْنُbinحُجْرٍHujr.
And as for the weightiest of them in speech, the noblest of them in station, and the most honorable of them in days, is Aus bin Hujr.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forأَفْصَحُهُمْthe most eloquent of themلِسَانًاin tongue,وَأَثْبَتُهُمْthe firmest of themبُنْيَانًاin foundation,وَأَشَدُّهُمْand the strictest of themإِذْعَانًاin submission,فَالنَّابِغَةُis Al-Nabigha.
And as for the most eloquent of them in tongue, the firmest of them in foundation, and the strictest of them in submission, is Al-Nabigha.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forأَطْرَدُهُمْthe most avid of themلِلصَّيْدِin hunting,وَأَجْحَشُهُمْand the boldest of themفِيinالْكَيْدِdeception,وَأَدْرَجُهُمْand the most cunning of themفِيinالْقَيْدِfetters,فَعَدِيُّis AdiبْنُbinزَيْدٍZaid.
And as for the most avid of them in hunting, and the boldest of them in deception, and the most cunning of them in fetters, is Adi bin Zaid.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forأَوْصَفُهُمْthe best of themلِلسِّلَاحِin describing weapons,وَأَنْعَتُهُمْand the best of themلِلْقِدَاحِin describing arrows,وَالْحَرْبِand warذَاتِcharacterized byالْكِفَاحِhand-to-hand combat,فَابْنُis IbnمُقْبِلٍMuqbil.
And as for the best of them in describing weapons, and the best of them in describing arrows, and war characterized by hand-to-hand combat, is Ibn Muqbil.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forأَوْصَفُهُمْthe best of themلِلسَّيِّئِينِin describing evil ones,وَأَكْسَبُهُمْand the most profitable of themلِلْمِئِينِin acquiring hundreds,وَأَمْدَحُهُمْand the greatest of them in praiseأَجْمَعِينَof all,فَالْحُطَيْئَةُis Al-Hutai'ah.
And as for the best of them in describing evil ones, and the most profitable of them in acquiring hundreds, and the greatest of them in praise of all, is Al-Hutai'ah.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forأَهْجَاهُمْthe most scathing of them in satireلِلرِّجَالِagainst men,وَأَبَذَّهُمْand the most vulgar of themفِيinالْمَقَالِspeech,وَأَضْرَبُهُمْand the best of themلِلْأَمْثَالِin striking proverbs,فَطَرَفَةُis Tarafah.
And as for the most scathing of them in satire against men, and the most vulgar of them in speech, and the best of them in striking proverbs, is Tarafah.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forأَعَفُّهُمْthe most abstinent of themعَنِfromالْكَأْسِthe cup,وَأَحَضُّهُمْand the most urging of themعَلَىtoالْبَأْسِbravery,وَأَصْدَقُهُمْand the truest of themعِنْدَbeforeالنَّاسِthe people,فَسَلَامَةُis SalamahبْنُbinجَنْدَلٍJandal.
And as for the most abstinent of them from the cup, and the most urging of them to bravery, and the truest of them before the people, is Salamah bin Jandal.
قَالَHe said:وَقَالَAnd Al-AttabiالْعَتَّابِيُّsaidفِيinذِكْرِmentioningأَبِيAbuنُوَاسٍNuwas:
He said: And Al-Attabi said in mentioning Abu Nuwas:
لَوْ"Hadأَدْرَكَthe rogueالْخَبِيثُcaughtالْجَاهِلِيَّةَthe pre-Islamic era,لَمْno oneفُضَّلَwould have been preferredعَلَيْهِover himأَحَدٌby anyone."
"Had the rogue caught the pre-Islamic era, no one would have been preferred over him by anyone."
وَقَالَAnd AbuأَبُوAmrعَمْرِوbinبْنِAl-Alaالْعَلَاءِsaid:أَشْعَرُ"The best poetsالنَّاسِof the peopleفِيinصِفَةِdescribingالْخَمْرِwineثَلَاثَةٌare three:الْأَعْشَىAl-A'sha,وَالْأَخْطَلُAl-Akhtal,وَأَبُوand AbuنُوَاسٍNuwas."
And Abu Amr bin Al-Ala said: "The best poets of the people in describing wine are three: Al-A'sha, Al-Akhtal, and Abu Nuwas."
وَقَالَAnd IbrahimإِبْرَاهِيمُAl-Nazzamالنَّظَّامُsaid:كَأَنَّمَا"It is as ifكُشِفَthere were uncoveredلِأَبِيfor AbuنُوَاسٍNuwasعَنْthe meaningsمَعَانِيof poetry,الشِّعْرِso he choseفَاخْتَارَthe bestأَحْسَنَهَاof them."
And Ibrahim Al-Nazzam said: "It is as if there were uncovered for Abu Nuwas the meanings of poetry, so he chose the best of them."
وَقَالَAnd AbuأَبُوUbaidahعُبَيْدَةَsaid:أَبُو"AbuنُوَاسٍNuwasلِلْمُحْدَثِينَfor the modernsكَامْرِئِis like Imru'الْقَيْسِal-Qaisلِلْأَوَائِلِfor the ancients;
And Abu Ubaidah said: "Abu Nuwas for the moderns is like Imru' al-Qais for the ancients;
هُوَheفَتَحَopenedلَهُمْfor themهَذِهِtheseالْفِطَنَinsightsوَدَلَّهُمْand guided themعَلَىtoالْمَعَانِيthe meanings."
he opened for them these insights and guided them to the meanings."
فِي[Inمَدْحِthe praiseالشُّعَرَاءِof poets]
[In the praise of poets]
قَالَHe said:لَمَّاWhenقَالَHassanحَسَّانُbinبْنُThabitثَابِتٍsaidلِلْحَارِثِto Al-HarithبْنِbinعَوْفٍAufالْمُرِّيِّal-Murriوَهُوَwhile he wasمُشْرِكٌa polytheist:
He said: When Hassan bin Thabit said to Al-Harith bin Auf al-Murri while he was a polytheist:
وَأَمَانَةُ"And the covenant of the Murriteالْمُرِّيِّwherever you find himحَيْثُis likeلَقِيتَهُthe glass whose crackمِثْلُis neverالزُّجَاجَةِmended."صَدْعُهَاcrackلَمْnotيُجْبَرْmended
And the covenant of the Murrite wherever you find him is like the glass whose crack is never mended.
قَالَHe said:الْحَارِثُAl-Harithلِلنَّبِيِّsaid to the Prophet,صَلَّىmay God'sاللَّهُpeace and blessingsعَلَيْهِbe upon him:وَسَلَّمَand blessings be upon himيَا"OمُحَمَّدُMuhammad,أَجِرْنِيgrant me protectionمِنْfromشِعْرِthe poetry ofحَسَّانَHassan,فَوَاللَّهِfor by God,لَوْifمُزِجَit were mixed withبِهِthe seaالْبَحْرُit would haveلَمَزَجَهُmixed it."
He said: Al-Harith said to the Prophet, may God's peace and blessings be upon him: "O Muhammad, grant me protection from the poetry of Hassan, for by God, if it were mixed with the sea it would have mixed it."
قَالَHe said:وَكَانَAnd Ka'bكَعْبُbinبْنُMalikمَالِكٍused to reciteيُنْشِدُto the Messengerرَسُولَof God,اللَّهِmay God'sصَلَّىpeace and blessingsاللَّهُbe upon him:عَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَand blessings
He said: And Ka'b bin Malik used to recite to the Messenger of God, may God's peace and blessings be upon him:
قَضَيْنَا"We have fulfilledمِنْfromتِهَامَةَTihamahكُلَّeveryرِيبَةٍdoubt,وَخَيْبَرَand Khaybar,ثُمَّthenأَجْمَمْنَاwe restedالسِّيُوفَاthe swords."
"We have fulfilled from Tihamah every doubt, and Khaybar, then we rested the swords."
نُخَبِّرُهَا"We inform with them,وَلَوْand even ifنَطَقَتْthey spokeلَقَالَتْthey would have said:قَوَاطِعُهُنَّTheir cutting edgesدَوْسًاDosأَوْorثَقِيفَاThaqif."
"We inform with them, and even if they spoke they would have said: Their cutting edges Dos or Thaqif."
فَقَالَSo the Messengerرَسُولُof God,اللَّهِmay God'sصَلَّىpeace and blessingsاللَّهُbe upon him,عَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَand blessings:لَهُوَ"Indeed, it isأَسْرَعُfasterفِيهِمْin themمِنَthanالسَّهْمِthe arrowفِيinغَلَسِthe darknessالظَّلَامِof night."
So the Messenger of God, may God's peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Indeed, it is faster in them than the arrow in the darkness of night."
قَالَHe said:وَلَمَّاAnd whenأَنْشَدَAbdullahعَبْدُbinاللَّهِRawahahبْنُrecitedرَوَاحَةَto the Messengerرَسُولَof God,اللَّهِmay God'sصَلَّىpeace and blessingsاللَّهُbe upon him:عَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَand blessings
He said: And when Abdullah bin Rawahah recited to the Messenger of God, may God's peace and blessings be upon him:
فَثَبَّتَ"So may God confirmاللَّهُwhat has come to youمَاof goodness,أَتَاكَconfirmationمِنْlike thatحُسْنٍof Mosesتَثْبِيتَand victoryمُوسَىlike thatوَنَصْرًاwhich wasكَالَّذِيgranted."نُصِرَاgranted
"So may God confirm what has come to you of goodness, confirmation like that of Moses and victory like that which was granted."
أَقْبَلَThe Messengerعَلَيْهِof God turnedرَسُولُto him,اللَّهِsmiling,صَلَّىmay God'sاللَّهُpeace and blessingsعَلَيْهِbe upon him,وَسَلَّمَand thenمُتَبَسِّماًsaid:ثُمَّ"Andقَالَto you too,وَإِيَّاكَso may Godفَثَبَّتَconfirm you."اللَّهُGod
The Messenger of God turned to him, smiling, and then said: "And to you too, so may God confirm you."
وَهُوَAnd he isالَّذِيthe one who saidيَقُولُon the dayيَوْمَof Mu'tah:مُؤْتَةَof Mu'tah:
And he is the one who said on the day of Mu'tah:
أَقْسَمْتُ"I have sworn,يَاO soul,نَفْسِthat you shallلَتَنْزِلَنَّهْdescend,
"I have sworn, O soul, that you shall descend,
طَائِعَةًwillinglyأَوْorلَتَكَرَّهَنَّهْunwillingly."
willingly or unwillingly."
مَا"Whyلِيdo I seeأَرَاكَyouتَكْرَهِينَdislikingالْجَنَّةَParadise?"
"Why do I see you disliking Paradise?"
قَالَHe said:وَحَدَاAnd a manرَجُلٌdrove the camelsبِرَسُولِfor the Messengerاللَّهِof God,صَلَّىmay God'sاللَّهُpeace and blessingsعَلَيْهِbe upon him,وَسَلَّمَand blessingsوَهُوَwhile he wasيَقُولُsaying:
He said: And a man drove the camels for the Messenger of God, may God's peace and blessings be upon him, while he was saying:
تَاللَّهِ"By God,لَوْلَاhad it not been forاللَّهُGodمَاwe would not haveاهْتَدَيْنَاbeen guided,
"By God, had it not been for God we would not have been guided,
وَلَاnorتَصَدَّقْنَاwould we have given charityوَلَاnorصَلَّيْنَاprayed.
nor would we have given charity nor prayed.
فَأَنْزِلَنْSo send downسَكِينَةًtranquilityعَلَيْنَاupon us,
So send down tranquility upon us,
وَثَبِّتِand make firmالْأَقْدَامَthe feetإِنْifلَاقَيْنَاwe encounter the enemy.
and make firm the feet if we encounter the enemy.
وَالْمُشْرِكُونَAnd the polytheistsقَدْhaveبَغَوْاtransgressedعَلَيْنَاagainst us,
And the polytheists have transgressed against us,
إِذَاifأَرَادُواthey intendedفِتْنَةًtribulationأَبَيْنَاwe refused."
if they intended tribulation we refused."
فَقَالَSo the Messengerرَسُولُof God,اللَّهِmay God'sصَلَّىpeace and blessingsاللَّهُbe upon him,عَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَand blessings:مَنْ"Whoيَقُولُهَاis saying it?"
So the Messenger of God, may God's peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Who is saying it?"
قَالَHe said:أَبِي"My father."
He said: "My father."
قَالَHe said:يَرْحَمُهُ"May God have mercyاللَّهُon him."
He said: "May God have mercy on him."
مَسَاوِئُ[The Vicesالشُّعَرَاءِof Poets]
[The Vices of Poets]
قِيلَItلَيْسَwas said: There isأَحَدٌnoneمِنَof the peopleالنَّاسِof the peopleآكِلٌmore consumingلِلسُّحْتِof ill-gotten wealth,
It was said: There is none of the people more consuming of ill-gotten wealth,
وَأَنْطَقُmore vocalبِالْكَذِبِin falsehood,وَلَاnorأَوْضَعُmore abased,وَلَاnorأَطْمَعُmore greedy,
more vocal in falsehood, nor more abased, nor more greedy,
وَلَاnorأَقَلُّof lesserنَفْسًاself-respect,وَلَاnorأَدْنَىof lowerهِمَّةًambition,مِنْthanشَاعِرٍa poet.
nor of lesser self-respect, nor of lower ambition, than a poet.
وَلِذَلِكَAnd thereforeقَالَAbuأَبُوSa'dسَعْدٍAl-Makhzumiالْمَخْزُومِيُّsaid:
And therefore Abu Sa'd Al-Makhzumi said:
الْكَلْبُ"The dogوَالشَّاعِرُand the poetفِيare inحَالَةٍone state:
"The dog and the poet are in one state:
يَاOلَيْتَwould thatأَنِّيI wereلَمْnotأَكُنْa poet!"شَاعِرًاa poet
O would that I were not a poet!"