وَقِيلَ:AndإِنَّهُitعَزَمَresolvedالْفَضْلُAl-FadlبْنُibnالرَّبِيعِAl-Rabi'عَلَىuponتَطْهِيرِcircumcision ofبَعْضِsomeوَلَدِهِof his children
And it is said that Al-Fadl ibn al-Rabi' resolved to circumcise one of his sons,
فَأَتَىso he cameالرَّشِيدَto Harun al-Rashidفَقَالَ:and said
so he came to Al-Rashid and said:
يَاOسَيِّدِيmy masterقَدْindeedعَزَمَhas resolvedعَبْدُكَyour servantعَلَىuponتَطْهِيرِcircumcision ofوَلَدِهِhis childخَادِمِكَyour servant
"O my master, your servant has resolved to circumcise his child, your servant,
فَإِنْso ifرَأَىseesأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَنْthatيُزَيِّنَhe gracesعَبْدَهُhis servantبِنَفْسِهِpersonally
and if the Commander of the Faithful deems it fit to grace his servant personally,
وَيُصِلَand to joinنِعْمَتَهُhis favorهَذِهِthisبِنِعْمَتِهِwith his favorالْمُتَقَدِّمَةِprevious
and to connect this favor of his with his previous favor,
وَيُتِمَّand completeسُرُورَهُhis happinessفَعَلَhe would do soمُتَفَضِّلاًbestowing graceعَلَىuponعَبْدِهِhis servantمُتَمَنِّناًfavoring himبِذَلِكَ.thereby.
and complete his happiness, he would do so as a grace to his servant and a favor thereby."
فَقَالَ:He saidنَعَمْ."Yes."
He said, "Yes."
فَغَدَاSo he went earlyإِلَيْهِto himوَقَدْhavingأَصْلَحَpreparedجَمِيعَallمَاwhatيَحْتَاجُis neededإِلَيْهِfor it
So Al-Rashid went to him early, while everything needed for it had been prepared,
وَوُضِعَتِand were placedالْمَوَائِدُthe dining tablesوَقَعَدَand satالنَّاسُthe peopleيَأْكُلُونَeating
and the dining tables were set, and the people sat eating.
وَأَقْبَلَAnd Al-Rashid proceededالرَّشِيدُAl-Rashidيَدُورُto walk aroundفِيinدَارِهِ،his house,
And Al-Rashid began to walk around the house,
فَرَأَىand he sawصَبِيّاًa young boyصَغِيراًsmallأَوَّلَfirstمَاwhatنَطَقَhe spokeفَقَالَ:so he said
and he saw a small boy who was just beginning to speak, and he said:
يَاOصَبِيُّboyأَيُّهُمَاwhich of themأَحْسَنُis betterدَارُكُمْyour houseهَذِهِthisأَمْorدَارُhouse ofأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟of the Faithful?
"O boy, which is better, this house of yours or the house of the Commander of the Faithful?"
فَقَالَ:He saidدَارُنَاOur houseهَذِهِthisأَحْسَنُis betterمَاas long asدَامَremainsأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulفِيهَاin it
He said, "This house of ours is better as long as the Commander of the Faithful is in it,
فَإِذَاbut whenصَارَreturnsأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulإِلَىtoدَارِهِhis houseفَدَارُهُthen his houseأَحْسَنُ.is better.
and when the Commander of the Faithful returns to his house, then his house is better."
فَضَحِكَSo laughedمِنْهُat himالرَّشِيدُAl-Rashidوَتَعَجَّبَand was amazedمِنْatنَجَابَتِهِhis cleverness
Al-Rashid laughed at him and was amazed at his cleverness,
وَوَهَبَand he grantedلَهُto himعَشْرَtenقَرْيَاتٍvillagesوَمِئَةَand a hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
and he granted him ten villages and one hundred thousand dirhams.
وَقَالَAnd saidمَسْلَمَةُMaslamahبْنُibnعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِ:al-Malik:
And Maslamah ibn Abd al-Malik said:
مَاThere is noشَيْءٍthingيُؤْتَاهُgivenالْعَبْدُto the servantبَعْدَafterالْإِيمَانِfaithبِاللَّهِin Godأَحَبُّmore belovedإِلَيَّto meمِنْthanجَوَابٍan answerحَاضِرٍ،ready,
"There is nothing given to a servant after faith in God more beloved to me than a ready answer,
فَإِنَّforالْجَوَابَthe answerإِذَاwhenتَعَقَّبَis delayedلَمْit is notيَكُanythingشَيْئاً.of worth.
for if an answer is delayed, it becomes nothing."
وَأَنْشَدَAnd he recitedفِيregardingمِثْلِهِthe like of itفِيconcerningمَالِكِMalikبْنِibnأَنَسٍAnasصَاحِبِthe master ofالْفِقْهِ:jurisprudence:
And he recited regarding a similar matter concerning Malik ibn Anas, the master of jurisprudence:
يَأْبَىHe refusesالْجَوَابَthe answerفَمَاand so notيُرَاجَعُis he questionedهَيْبَةًout of awe......وَالسَّائِلُونَwhile the questionersنَوَاكِسُhave loweredالْأَذْقَانِtheir chins
He refrains from answering, so he is not questioned out of awe ... while the questioners bow their heads in submission.
هَذَاThis isالتَّقِيُّthe pious manوَعِزُّand the glory ofسُلْطَانِthe authority ofالتَّقْوَىpiety
This is the pious man and the glory of the authority of piety,
فَهُوَso heالْمُطَاعُis the obeyed oneوَلَيْسَwhile he is notذَاpossessor ofسُلْطَانِpolitical authority
so he is obeyed although he possesses no political authority.
[مَسَاوِئِ[Evils ofالْجَوَابِ]the answer]
[The Evils of the Answer]
قِيلَ:It was said:إِنَّهُthatاجْتَمَعَgatheredعِنْدَin the presence ofرَسُولِMessenger ofاللَّهِ،God,صَلَّىmay Godاللَّهُbless himعَلَيْهِand grant himوَسَلَّمَ،peace,الزَّبْرِقَانُAl-ZabarqanبْنُibnبَدْرٍBadrوَعَمْرُand Amrبْنُibnالْأَهْتَمِ،Al-Ahtam,
It was said that Al-Zabarqan ibn Badr and Amr ibn al-Ahtam gathered in the presence of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace.
فَذَكَرَSo mentionedعَمْرٌوAmrالزَّبْرِقَانَAl-Zabarqanفَقَالَ:and said:
Amr mentioned Al-Zabarqan and said:
بِأَبِيMay my fatherأَنْتَbe your ransomوَأُمِّيand my motherيَاOرَسُولَMessenger ofاللَّهِ،God,
"May my father and mother be your ransom, O Messenger of God,
إِنَّهُindeed heلَمُطَاعٌis obeyedفِيamongأَدَانِيهِhis close relativesشَدِيدُstern inالْعَارِضَةِargumentجَوَادُgenerous ofالْكَفِّhandمَانِعٌdefender ofلِمَاwhat isوَرَاءَbehindظَهْرِهِ.his back.
he is obeyed among his kin, strong in argument, generous of hand, defending what is behind his back."
فَقَالَSaidالزَّبْرِقَانُ:Al-Zabarqan:
Al-Zabarqan said:
بِأَبِيMay my fatherأَنْتَbe your ransomوَأُمِّيand my motherيَاOرَسُولَMessenger ofاللَّهِ،God,
"May my father and mother be your ransom, O Messenger of God,
وَاللَّهِby Godإِنَّهُheلَيَعْرِفُknowsمِنِّيof meأَكْثَرَmoreمِنْthanهَذَاthisوَلَكِنَّهُbut heيَحْسُدُنِي.envies me.
by God, he knows more of me than this, but he envies me."
فَقَالَSaidعَمْرٌو:Amr:
Amr said:
وَاللَّهِBy GodيَاOنَبِيَّProphet ofاللَّهِGodإِنَّهُheلَزَمِرُis meager inالْمُرُوءَةِvirtueضَيِّقُnarrowالْعَطَنِin dispositionلَئِيمُignobleالْعَمِّin paternal uncleأَحْمَقُfoolishالْخَالِ،in maternal uncle,
"By God, O Prophet of God, he is meager in virtue, narrow in disposition, of ignoble paternal uncle, foolish maternal uncle,
وَاللَّهِby GodمَاI did notكَذَبْتُlieفِيinالْأُولَىthe firstوَلَقَدْand indeedصَدَقْتُI spoke the truthفِيinالْأُخْرَىthe second
by God, I did not lie in the first statement, and indeed I told the truth in the second,
وَلَكِنِّيbut Iرَضِيتُwas pleasedفَقُلْتُso I spokeبِأَحْسَنِwith the bestمَاof whatأَعْلَمُI knewوَسَخِطْتُand I was angeredفَقُلْتُso I spokeبِأَسْوَإِwith the worstمَاof whatأَعْلَمُ.I knew.
but when I was pleased I spoke of the best I knew, and when I was angered I spoke of the worst I knew."
فَقَالَSaidرَسُولُMessenger ofاللَّهِ،God,صَلَّىmay Godاللَّهُbless himعَلَيْهِand grant himوَسَلَّمَ:peace:إِنَّIndeedمِنَofالْبَيَانِeloquenceلَسِحْراً.is surely magic.
The Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said, "Indeed, some eloquence is magic."
وَذَكَرُواAnd they mentionedأَنَّthatالْوَلِيدَAl-WalidبْنَibnعُقْبَةَUqbahقَالَsaidلِعَقِيلِto AqilبْنِibnأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍ:Talib:
And they mentioned that Al-Walid ibn Uqbah said to Aqil ibn Abi Talib:
غَلَبَكَOvercame youأَبُوAbuتُرَابٍTurabعَلَىregardingالثَّرْوَةِwealthوَالْعَدَدِ.and numbers.
"Abu Turab overcame you in wealth and numbers."
فَقَالَSaidلَهُ:to him:نَعَمْ"Yesوَسَبَقَنِيand he preceded meوَإِيَّاكَand youإِلَىtoالْجَنَّةِ.Paradise."
He said to him, "Yes, and he preceded both you and me to Paradise."
فَقَالَSaidالْوَلِيدُ:Al-Walid:أَمَّا"As forوَاللَّهِby Godإِنَّindeedشِدْقَيْكَyour two jawsلَمُتَوَضِّمَتَانِare stainedمِنْwithدَمِblood ofعُثْمَانَ.Uthman."
Al-Walid said, "As for by God, your two jaws are stained with the blood of Uthman."
فَقَالَSaidعَقِيلٌ:Aqil:مَا"Whatلَكَis it to youوَلِقُرَيْشٍand Qurayshوَإِنَّمَاwhile you areأَنْتَonlyفِيهِمْamong themكَمَنِيحِlike the borrowed camel ofالْمَيْسِرِ.gambling."
Aqil said, "What business do you have with Quraysh, when you are among them only like the borrowed camel of gambling?"
فَقَالَSaidالْوَلِيدُ:Al-Walid:وَاللَّهِ"By Godإِنِّيverily Iلَأَرَىthinkلَوْthat ifأَهْلَthe people ofالْأَرْضِthe earthاشْتَرَكُواparticipatedفِيinقَتْلِهِhis killingلَوَرَدُواthey would enterصَعُوداً.Saud (Hell)."
Al-Walid said, "By God, I believe that if the people of the earth had participated in his murder, they would be hurled into hellfire."
فَقَالَSaidلَهُto himعَقِيلٌ:Aqil:كَلَّا"Not at allمَاyou do notتَرْغَبُdesireلَهُfor himعَنْoverصُحْبَةِcompanionship ofأَبِيكَ.your father."
Aqil said to him, "Not at all, nor do you desire for him anything better than the companionship of your father."
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd saidالْمَنْصُورُAl-Mansurلِقُوَّادِهِ:to his commanders:صَدَقَSpoke the truthالْقَائِلُthe speakerأَجِعْ'Starveكَلْبَكَyour dogيَتْبَعْكَ.and it will follow you.'
He said: Al-Mansur said to his commanders, "The speaker spoke the truth: 'Starve your dog and it will follow you.'"
فَقَالَSaidأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbasالطُّوسِيُّ:al-Tusi:يَا"OأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulأَخَافُI fearأَنْthatيُلَوِّحَwill waveلَهُto himرَجُلٌa manبِرَغِيفٍwith a loaf of breadفَيَتْبَعَهُand he will follow himوَيَدَعَكَ.and leave you."
Abu al-Abbas al-Tusi said, "O Commander of the Faithful, I fear that a man might wave a loaf of bread at him, and he would follow him and leave you."
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd saidرَجُلٌa manمِنْfromقُرَيْشٍQurayshلِخَالِدِto Khalidبْنِibnصَفْوَانَ:Safwan:مَا"Whatاسْمُكَ؟is your name?"
He said: A man from Quraysh said to Khalid ibn Safwan, "What is your name?"
قَالَ:He said:خَالِدُ"KhalidبْنُibnصَفْوَانَSafwanبْنِibnالْأَهْتَمِ.Al-Ahtam."
He said, "Khalid ibn Safwan ibn al-Ahtam."
قَالَ:He said:إِنَّ"Indeedاسْمَكَyour nameلَكَذِبٌis a lieمَاyou are notأَنْتَyouبِخَالِدٍ،perpetual (Khalid),
He said, "Your name is a lie; you are not perpetual (Khalid),
وَإِنَّand indeedأَبَاكَyour fatherلَصَفْوَانُis Safwanوَهُوَand he isحَجَرٌ،a stone,
and your father is Safwan, and he is a stone,
وَإِنَّand indeedجَدَّكَyour grandfatherلَأَهْتَمُis Al-Ahtamوَالصَّحِيحُand the sound oneخَيْرٌis betterمِنَthanالْأَهْتَمِ.the broken-toothed one (Al-Ahtam)."
and your grandfather is Al-Ahtam (broken-toothed), and the sound one is better than the broken-toothed one."
فَقَالَSaidلَهُto himخَالِدٌ:Khalid:مِنْ"FromأَيِّwhichقُرَيْشٍQurayshأَنْتَ؟are you?"
Khalid said to him, "From which branch of Quraysh are you?"
قَالَ:He said:مِنْ"FromبَنِيBanuعَبْدِAbdالدَّارِal-Darمِنْfromهَاشِمٍ.Hashim."
He said, "From Banu Abd al-Dar, from Hashim."
قَالَ:He said:لَقَدْ"IndeedهَشَمَتْكَHashim shattered youهَاشِمٌ،Hashim,وَأَمَّتْكَand enslaved youأُمَيَّةُ،Umayyah,
He said, "Hashim shattered you, Umayyah enslaved you,
وَجَمَحَتْand bolted with youبِكَyouجُمَحُ،Jumah,وَخَزَمَتْكَand noseringed youمَخْزُومٌ،Makhzum,
Jumah bolted with you, Makhzum put a nosering on you,
وَأَقْصَتْكَand distanced youقُصَيٌّQusayyفَجَعَلَتْكَand made youعَبْدَهَاits slaveوَعَبْدَand slave ofدَارِهَاits houseتَفْتَحُopeningإِذَاwhenدَخَلُواthey enterوَتُغْلِقُand closingإِذَاwhenخَرَجُوا.they leave."
and Qusayy distanced you and made you its slave and the slave of its house, opening when they enter and closing when they leave."
قِيلَ:It was said:وَمَرَّand passedالْفَرَزْدَقُAl-Farazdaqبِالْمِرْبَدِby Al-Mirbadفَرَأَىand he sawخَلَفَKhalafبْنَibnخَلِيفَةَKhalifahالشَّاعِرَ،the poet,
It was said: Al-Farazdaq passed by Al-Mirbad and saw Khalaf ibn Khalifah the poet,
فَقَالَso saidلِلْفَرَزْدَقِ:to Al-Farazdaq:يَا"OأَبَاAbuفِرَاسٍFirasمَنْwho isالْقَائِلُ:the speaker of:
so he said to Al-Farazdaq, "O Abu Firas, who is the poet that says:
هُوَHe isالْقَيْنُthe blacksmithوَابْنُand son ofالْقَيْنِthe blacksmithلَاnoقَيْنَblacksmithمِثْلُهُlike him
He is the blacksmith and son of the blacksmith, no blacksmith is like him
لِقَطْعِfor cuttingالْمَسَاحِيmattocksأَوْorلِقَدِّfor forgingالْأَدَاهِمِshackles
in cutting mattocks or forging iron shackles?
فَقَالَSaidالْفَرَزْدَقُ:Al-Farazdaq:الَّذِي"The one whoيَقُولُ:says:
Al-Farazdaq said, "The one who says:
هُوَHe isاللِّصُّthe thiefوَابْنُand son ofاللِّصِّthe thiefلَاnoلِصَّthiefمِثْلُهُlike him
He is the thief and son of the thief, no thief is like him
لِقَطْعِfor breachingجِدَارٍa wallأَوْorلِطَرِّfor pickingدَرَاهِمَdirhams."
in breaching a wall or picking dirhams."
قِيلَ:It was said:وَدَخَلَand enteredأَبُوAbuالْعَتَاهِيَةِal-AtahiyahعَلَىuponالْمَأْمُونِAl-Ma'munحِينَwhenقَدِمَhe arrived inالْعِرَاقَIraqفَأَنْشَدَهُand he recited to himشِعْراًpoetryيَمْدَحُهُpraising himبِهِ،with it,
It was said: Abu al-Atahiyah entered upon Al-Ma'mun when he arrived in Iraq and recited poetry to him in his praise,
فَأَمَرَso he orderedلَهُfor himبِمَالٍwealthجَزِيلٍabundantوَأَقْبَلَand turnedعَلَيْهِto himيُحَدِّثُهُconversing with him
so he ordered an abundant sum of wealth for him and turned to converse with him.
إِذْWhenذَكَرَmentionedأَبُوAbuالْعَتَاهِيَةِal-Atahiyahالْقَدَرِيَّةَ،the Qadariyyah sect,فَقَالَ:so he said:
When Abu al-Atahiyah mentioned the Qadariyyah sect, he said:
يَا"OأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulمَاthere is notفِيonالْأَرْضِthe earthفِئَةٌa groupأَجْهَلُmore ignorantوَلَاnorأَضْعَفُweakerحُجَّةًin argumentمِنْthanهَذِهِthisالْعِصَابَةِ.faction."
"O Commander of the Faithful, there is no group on earth more ignorant or weaker in argument than this faction."
فَقَالَSaidالْمَأْمُونُ:Al-Ma'mun:أَنْتَ"You areرَجُلٌa manشَاعِرٌwho is a poetوَأَنْتَand youبِصِنَاعَتِكَwith your craftأَعْلَمُare more acquainted
Al-Ma'mun said, "You are a poet, and you know your craft best,
فَلَاso do notتَتَخَطَّهَاstep outside itإِلَىtoغَيْرِهَاother than itفَلَسْتَfor you are notتَعْرِفُacquainted withالْكَلَامَ.scholastic theology."
so do not step outside of it to something else, for you do not know theological debate."
فَقَالَ:He said:إِنْ"Ifجَمَعَgathersأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulبَيْنِيbetween meوَبَيْنَandرَجُلٍa manمِنْهُمْfrom themوَقَفَhe will seeعَلَىwhatمَاI possessعِنْدِيofمِنَtheologicalالْكَلَامِ.argument."
He said, "If the Commander of the Faithful brings me and a man from them together, he will witness what I have of theological argument."
قَالَHe said:ثُمَامَةُ:Thumamah:فَوَجَّهَ"So he sentإِلَيَّto meرَسُولاً،a messenger,
Thumamah said: "So he sent a messenger to me,
فَلَمَّاand whenدَخَلْتُI enteredقَالَ:he said:يَا"OثُمَامَةُThumamahزَعَمَclaimsهَذَاthis manأَنَّهُthatلَاthere is noحُجَّةَargumentلَكَfor youوَلَاnorلِأَصْحَابِكَ!for your companions!"
and when I entered, he said, 'O Thumamah, this man claims that there is no argument for you or your companions!'
قُلْتُ:I said:فَلْيَسَلْ"Let him askعَمَّاabout whateverبَدَاseems fitلَهُ.to him."
I said, 'Let him ask about whatever he wishes.'
فَقَالَSaidالْمَأْمُونُ:Al-Ma'mun:سَلْهُ"Ask himيَاOإِسْمَاعِيلُ.Ismail."
Al-Ma'mun said, "Ask him, O Ismail."
قَالَ:He said:أَقْطَعُهُ"I will silence himيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulبِحَرْفٍwith a singleوَاحِدٍ.word."
He said, "I will silence him, O Commander of the Faithful, with a single word."