al mahasin wal masawi al bayhaqi

قِيلَ:ItدَخَلَenteredأَبُوAbuعَلْقَمَةَAlqamahالنَّحْوِيُّthe grammarianعَلَىtoأَعْيَنَA'yanالطَّبِيبِthe physicianفَقَالَand he saidلَهُ:to him:

إِنِّيIndeed Iأَكَلْتُateمِنْfromلُحُومِmeatsهَذِهِof theseالْجَوَازِيءِfat young locusts

فَطَسِئْتُand I suffered indigestionطَسْأَةًa bout of indigestion

فَأَصَابَنِيand there afflicted meوَجَعٌa painمَاwhat isبَيْنَbetweenالْوَابِلَةِthe first vertebraإِلَىtoدَأْيَةِthe backboneالْعُنُقِof the neck

وَلَمْand it did notيَزَلْceaseيَرْبُوswellingوَيَنْمُوand growingحَتَّىuntilخَالَطَit mixed withالْخَلَبَthe pericardiumوَالشَّرَاسِيفَand the cartilages of the ribs

فَهَلْso doعِنْدَكَyou haveدَوَاءٌ؟a medicine?

قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ،Yes,خُذْtakeخَرْفَقاًhelleboreوَسَلْفَقاًand a ragفَرْرِقْهُshred itوَاغْسِلْهُand wash itبِمَاءِwith waterرَوْثٍof dungوَاشْرَبْهُ.and drink it.

قَالَ:He said:لَاI do notأَدْرِيknowمَاwhatتَقُولُ!you are saying!

قَالَ:He said:وَلَاNorأَنَاdo Iأَدْرِيknowمَاwhatتَقُولُ.you are saying.

وَقَالَAnd saidلَهُto himآخَرُ:another:

إِنِّيIndeed Iأَجِدُfindمَعْمَعَةًa burning heatفِيinبَطْنِيmy bellyوَقَرْقَرَةً،and a rumbling,

فَقَالَso he saidلَهُ:to him:أَمَّاAs forالْمَعْمَعَةُthe burning heatفَلَاI do notأَعْرِفُهَا،know it,

وَأَمَّاand as forالْقَرْقَرَةُthe rumblingفَهُوَit isضِرَاطٌflatulenceلَمْthat has notيَنْضُجْ.ripened.

قِيلَ:It was said:وَأَتَىand cameرَجُلٌa manإِلَىtoالْهَيْثَمِAl-Haythamبْنِson ofعُرْيَانَUryan

بِغَرِيمٍwith a debtorلَهُof hisوَقَدْwhileمَطَلَهُhe had delayed himفِيregardingحَقٍّa rightلَهُdue to him

فَقَالَ:and he said:أَصْلَحَMay God mendاللَّهُGodالْأَمِيرَ!the commander!إِنَّIndeedلِيfor meعَلَىagainstهَذَاthis personحَقّاًa rightقَدْwhichغَلَبَنِيhe has overpowered meعَلَيْهِ.regarding it.

فَقَالَAnd saidلَهُto himالْآخَرُ:the other:أَصْلَحَكَMay God mend youاللَّهُ!God!

إِنَّIndeedهَذَاthis manبَاعَنِيsold meعَنْجَداًgrapesوَقَدْandاسْتَنْسَأْتُهُI asked him to delay paymentحَوْلاًfor a year

وَشَرَطْتُand I stipulatedأَنْthatأُعْطِيَهُI would give it to himمَيَاوَمَةًdailyفَهُوَyet heلَاdoes notيَلْقَانِيmeet meفِيatلُقْمٍa mealإِلَّاexceptاقْتَضَانِي.he demands payment from me.

فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himالْهَيْثَمُ:Al-Haytham:أَمِنْAre you fromبَنِيthe sons ofشَيْبَةَShaibahأَنْتَ؟you?

قَالَ:He said:لَا.No.

قَالَ:He said:فَمِنْThen fromبَنِيthe sons ofهَاشِمٍ؟Hashim?

قَالَ:He said:لَا.No.

قَالَ:He said:فَمِنْThen fromأَكْفَائِهِمْtheir peersمِنَfromالْعَرَبِ؟the Arabs?

قَالَ:He said:لَا.No.

قَالَ:He said:وَيْلِيWoe isعَلَيْكَ!you!انْزِعْStrip offثِيَابَهُhis clothesيَاOحَرَسِيُّ!guard!

فَلَمَّاSo whenأَرَادُواthey wantedأَنْtoيَنْزِعُواstrip offثِيَابَهُhis clothesقَالَ:he said:أَصْلَحَكَMay God mend youاللَّهُ!God!

إِنَّIndeedإِزَارِيmy lower garmentمَرْعَبِلٌ.is tattered.

فَقَالَ:So he said:دَعُوهُ،Leave him,فَلَوْfor ifتُرِكَa stranger were leftالْغَرِيبُa strangerفِيinمَوْضِعٍa placeلَتَرَكَهُhe would leave himفِيinهَذَاthisالْمَوْضِعِ.place.

قَالَ:He said:وَمَرَّAnd passedأَبُوAbuعَلْقَمَةَAlqamahبِبَعْضِby someالطُّرُقِroads

فَهَاجَتْand there stirredبِهِin himمِرَّةٌa bout of black bile

فَوَثَبَso leaptعَلَيْهِupon himقَوْمٌa peopleوَأَقْبَلُواand they proceededيَعَضُّونَbitingإِبْهَامَهُhis thumbوَيُؤَذِّنُونَand calling the call to prayerفِيinأُذُنِهِ.his ear.

فَأَفْلَتَSo he escapedمِنْfromأَيْدِيهِمْtheir handsوَقَالَ:and said:مَاWhatلَكُمْis with you thatتَتَكَأَكُونَyou crowdعَلَيَّupon meكَمَاasتَتَكَأَكُونَyou crowdعَلَىuponذِيone possessedجِنَّةٍ؟by a jinn?

افْرَنْقِعُواDisperseعَنِّي!from me!

فَقَالَSo saidرَجُلٌa manمِنْهُمْ:among them:دَعُوهُ،Leave him,فَإِنَّfor indeedشَيْطَانَهُhis devilهِنْدِيٌّis Indianيَتَكَلَّمُand he speaksبِالْهِنْدِيَّةِ.in Indian.

وَقَالَAnd he saidمَرَّةًonceلِحَجَّامٍto a cupperيَحْجُمُهُ:who was cupping him:

اشْدُدْTightenقَصَبَthe tubesالْمَلَازِمِof the cupsوَارْهِفْand sharpenظُبَةَthe bladesالْمَشَارِطِof the lancets

وَخَفِّفِand lightenالْوَضْعَthe placementوَعَجِّلِand hastenالنَّزْعَ،the removal,

وَلْيَكُنْand letشَرْطُكَyour incisionوَخْزاًbe a prickingوَمَصُّكَand your suctionنَهْزاً،be a thrusting,

وَلَاand do notتَكْرَهَنَّdislikeأَبِيّاًone who refusesوَلَاnorتَرُدَّنَّturn awayآتِياً.one who comes.

فَوَضَعَSo placedالْحَجَّامُthe cupperمَحَاجِمَهُhis cupping vesselsفِيinجُونَتِهِhis leather bagوَمَضَى.and departed.

[مَحَاسِنِ[The Beauties ofالْمُكَاتَبَاتِ]Correspondence]

قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd saidكَعْبُKa'bالْعَبْسِيُّal-Absiلِعُرْوَةَto Urwahبْنِson ofالزُّبَيْرِ:al-Zubayr:

قَدْIndeedأَذْنَبْتُI have committedذَنْباًa sinإِلَىagainstالْوَلِيدِal-Walidبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malik

وَلَيْسَand there is notيُزِيلُremovingغَضَبَهُhis angerشَيْءٌanythingفَاكْتُبْso writeإِلَيْهِ.to him.

فَكَتَبَ:So he wrote:

لَوْIfلَمْthere were notيَكُنْfor Ka'bلِكَعْبٍof ancientمِنْsanctityقَدِيمِwhatحُرْمَتِهِwould causeمَاto be forgivenيُغْفَرُfor himلَهُthe greatnessعَظِيمُof his crimeجَرِيرَتِهِit would have been mandatoryلَوَجَبَthat you do not deprive himأَنْof baskingلَاin the shadeتُحْرِمَهُof your pardonالتَّفَيُّؤَwhich heartsبِظِلِّhopeعَفْوِكَand to whichالَّذِيsins clingتَأْمُلُهُand he has soughtالْقُلُوبُ،my intercessionوَلَاwith youتَعْلَقُso I trustedبِهِfor himالذُّنُوبُfrom youوَقَدْin a pardonاسْتَشْفَعَunmixedبِيwith wrathإِلَيْكَso fulfillفَوَثِقْتُhis hopeلَهُin meمِنْكَand verifyبِعَفْوٍmy trustلَاin youيُخْلِطُهُtaking it as an opportunityسَخَطٌ،for gratitudeفَحَقِّقْinitiatingأَمَلَهُwith favor.فِيَّin meوَصَدِّقْand verifyثِقَتِيmy trustبِكَin youمُغْتَنِماًconsidering it a gainلِلشُّكْرِgratitudeمُبْتَدِئاًinitiatingبِالنِّعْمَةِ.with blessing.

فَكَتَبَSo wroteإِلَيْهِto himالْوَلِيدُ:al-Walid:

قَدْI haveشَكَرْتُthankedرَغْبَتَهُhis appealإِلَيْكَto youوَعَفَوْتُand pardonedعَنْهُhimلِمَعْوَلِهِdue to his relianceعَلَيْكَ،upon you,

وَلَهُand he hasعِنْدِيwith meالَّذِيthat whichتُحِبُّyou loveإِنْifلَمْyou do notتَقْطَعْcut offكُتُبَكَyour lettersعَنِّيfrom meفِيinأَمْثَالِهِsuch mattersوَفِيand inسَائِرِallأُمُورِكَ.your affairs.

قَالَ:He said:وَكَتَبَAnd wroteعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنُMuawiyahمُعَاوِيَةَbinبْنِAbdullahعَبْدِbinاللَّهِJa'farبْنِto someجَعْفَرٍof his brothersإِلَىtoبَعْضِsomeإِخْوَانِهِ:of his brothers:

أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafterwardفَقَدْindeedعَاقَنِيhas hindered meالشَّكُّdoubtعَنْfromعَزِيمَةِthe firmnessالرَّأْيِ،of opinion,

ابْتَدَأْتَنِيyou began toward meبِلُطْفٍwith gentlenessمِنْwithoutغَيْرِanyخِبْرَةٍprior experienceثُمَّthenأَعْقَبْتَنِيyou followed it up toward meجَفَاءًwith harshnessمِنْwithoutغَيْرِanyذَنْبٍsin

طَمَّعَنِيyour beginningأَوَّلُكَmade me hopefulفِيinإِخَائِكَyour brotherhoodوَأَيْسَفَنِيand your endآخِرُكَmade me despairمِنْofوَفَائِكَ،your loyalty,

فَلَاso neitherأَنَاam Iفِيinغَيْرِother thanالرَّجَاءِhopeمُجْمِعٌresolvedلَكَfor youاطْرَاحاًon abandonmentوَلَاnorفِيinغُدُوِّmorningانْتِظَارٍwaitingمِنْكَfrom youعَلَىuponثِقَةٍ،certainty,

فَسُبْحَانَso gloryمَنْbe to Himلَوْwho ifشَاءَHe willedكَشَفَHe would have uncoveredبِإِيضَاحِby clarifyingالرَّأْيِthe opinionفِيكَregarding youمَاwhatأَقَمْنَاwe remainedعَلَىuponائْتِلَافٍharmonyوَافْتَرَقْنَاand we partedعَلَىuponاخْتِلَافٍ.discord.

قَالَ:He said:وَسَخِطَAnd became angryمَسْلَمَةُMaslamahبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malikعَلَىwithالْعُرْيَانِal-Uryanبْنِson ofالْهَيْثَمِal-Haytham

فَعَزَلَهُso he dismissed himعَنْfromشُرْطَةِthe police forceالْكُوفَةِof Kufa

فَشَكَاand he complainedذَلِكَof thatإِلَىtoعُمَرَUmarبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdالْعَزِيزِ،al-Aziz,

فَكَتَبَso he wroteإِلَيْهِ:to him:

فَإِنَّFor indeedمِنْfromحِفْظِpreservingنِعَمِthe blessingsاللَّهِof Godرِعَايَةُis the observance ofحَقِّthe right ofذَوِيthose ofالْأَسْنَانِ،age,

وَمِنْand fromإِظْهَارِdisplayingشُكْرِgratitude forالْمَوْهُوبِwhat has been bestowedلَهُupon himصَفْحُis the pardoning byالْقَادِرِone who is capableعَنِofالذُّنُوبِ،sins,

وَمِنْand fromتَمَامِthe perfection ofالسُّودَدِmasteryحِفْظُis the safeguarding ofالْوَدَائِعِtrustsوَاسْتِتْمَامُand the completion ofالصَّنَائِعِ،favors,

وَقَدْand you hadكُنْتَbestowedأَوْدَعْتَupon al-Uryanالْعُرْيَانَa blessingنِعْمَةًfrom your blessingsمِنْso you stripped it awayنِعَمِكَby the hasteفَسَلَبْتَهَاof your anger,عَجَلَةَand you were notسَخَطِكَ،fair to himوَمَاwhen you forced himأَنْصَفْتَهُthen appointed himإِذْthen dismissed himغَصَبْتَهُand left him idle,عَلَىand I amأَنْhis intercessorوَلَّيْتَهُso I would loveثُمَّthat you makeعَزَلْتَهُfor him a shareوَخَلَّيْتَهُ،from your heartوَأَنَاand not remove himشَفِيعُهُfrom your good opinionفَأُحِبُّlest what you entrusted to himأَنْbe lostتَجْعَلَand what you bestowedلَهُperish.مِنْSo he pardonedقَلْبِكَhim.نَصِيباًshareوَلَاand notتُخْرِجْهُdrive him outمِنْfromحُسْنِthe goodness ofرَأْيِكَyour opinionفَيَضِيعَso that there is lostمَاwhatأَوْدَعْتَهُyou entrusted him withوَيْتَوَىand perishesمَاwhatأَفَدْتَهُ.you bestowed.

قَالَ:He said:وَغَضِبَAnd became angryسُلَيْمَانُSulaymanبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِal-MalikعَلَىwithأَبِيAbuعُبَيْدَةَUbaydahمَوْلَاهُhis freedman

فَشَكَاso he complainedإِلَىtoسَعِيدِSaeedبْنِson ofالْمُسَيَّبِal-Musayyabذَلِكَ،about that,

فَكَتَبَso he wroteإِلَيْهِ:to him:

أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafterwardفَإِنَّfor indeedأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulفِيis inالْمَوْضِعِthe positionالَّذِيwhichيَرْتَفِعُraisesقَدْرُهُhis statusعَنْaboveأَنْthatتَعْصِيَهُhis subjects disobey himرَعِيَّتُهُhis subjects

وَفِيand inعَفْوِthe pardon ofأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulسَعَةٌthere is ample roomلِلْمُسْلِمِينَ.for the Muslims.

فَرَضِيَSo he became pleasedعَنْهُ.with him.

قَالَ:He said:وَطَلَبَAnd requestedالْعَتَّابِيُّal-Attabiمِنْfromرَجُلٍa manحَاجَةًa favor

فَقَضَىso he fulfilledلَهُfor himبَعْضَهَاpart of itوَمَاطَلَهُand delayed himبِبَعْضٍ.regarding the rest.

فَكَتَبَSo he wroteإِلَيْهِ:to him:

أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafterwardفَقَدْindeedتَرَكْتَنِيyou have left meمُنْتَظِراًwaitingلِرِفْدِكَfor your aid

وَصَاحِبُand the one in need ofالْحَاجَةِa needمُحْتَاجٌis in need ofإِلَىfavors that areنِعَمٍeither pleasantهَنِيئَةٍor at leastأَوْrelieving,لَاand a beautifulمُرِيحَةٍ،excuseوَالْعُذْرُis betterالْجَمِيلُthan prolongedأَحْسَنُdelay,مِنَand you haveالْمَطْلِwritten:الطَّوِيلِ،long,وَقَدْandكَتَبْتُ:you wrote:

بَسَطْتُI stretchedلِسَانِيmy tongueثُمَّthenأَوْثَقْتَyou boundنِصْفَهُhalf of it......فَنِصْفُso halfلِسَانِيof my tongueبِامْتِدَاحِكَin praising youمُطْلَقُis free

فَإِنْSo ifأَنْتَyouلَمْdo notتُنْجِزْfulfillعِدَاتِيmy promisesتَرَكْتَنِيyou leave me......وَبَاقِيand the restلِسَانِof the tongueالشُّكْرِof gratitudeبَالِيَworn outالْيَأْسِby despairمُوثَقُbound

قَالَ:He said:وَلَمَّاAnd whenبَنَىbuiltالْمَهْدِيُّal-MahdiبُرَيْطَةَBuraytahابْنَةَdaughterأَبِيof Abuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbas

كَتَبَwroteإِلَيْهِto himيَحْيَىYahyaبْنُson ofسَعِيدِSaeedبْنِson ofقَيْسٍQaysالْأَنْصَارِيُّ:al-Ansari:

أَدَامَMay God perpetuateاللَّهُGodلَكَfor youجَمِيلَthe beauty ofعَادَاتِهِHis habitsعِنْدَكَwith you

وَأَوْتَرَand make continuousمَاwhatيَجْرِيflowsبِهِwith itالْقَدَرُdestinyلَكَfor you

وَلَاand mayزَالَتْnot ceaseيَدُthe hand ofاللَّهِGodتَحُوطُكَsurrounding youفِيinالْمَحْبُوبِwhat is belovedوَتَدْرَأُand warding offعَنْكَfrom youالْمَكْرُوهَ،what is disliked,

وَهُنِّئْتَand may you be congratulatedبِهَذِهِwith thisالنِّعْمَةِblessingوَمَلِكْتَهَاand possess itآمِناًsafeمِنْfromزَوَالِهَاits cessationبِطُولِby the length ofالْبَقَاءِsurvivalوَالْمُدَّةِ.and span.

فَقَالَتْSo saidلَهُto himرَيْطَةُ:Raytah:مَاThere isلِهَذَاfor thisالْكَلَامِspeechثَمَنٌ!no price!