قَالَhe saidشَأْنُكَyour concern
He said: That is your concern.
فَأَخْرَجَthen he took outأَبُوfatherالْعَتَاهِيَةِal-Atahiyaيَدَهُhis handمِنْfromكُمِّهِhis sleeveوَحَرَّكَهَاand he moved it
So Abu al-Atahiya brought his hand out of his sleeve and moved it.
وَقَالَand he saidيَاOثُمَامَةُThumamahمَنْwhoحَرَّكَmovedيَدِيmy handهَذِهِthis
And he said: O Thumamah, who moved this hand of mine?
قُلْتُI saidحَرَّكَهَاhe moved itمَنْwhoأُمُّهُhis motherزَانِيَةٌan adulteress
I said: The one whose mother is an adulteress moved it.
قَالَhe saidفَضَحِكَthen he laughedالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munحَتَّىuntilفَحَصَhe kickedبِرِجْلِهِwith his leg
He said: Then al-Ma'mun laughed until he kicked with his leg.
وَتَمَرَّغَand he rolledعَلَىonفِرَاشِهِhis bed
and rolled on his bed.
وَقَالَand he saidزَعَمْتَyou claimedأَنَّكَthat youتَقْطَعُهُcut him offبِكَلِمَةٍwith a wordوَاحِدَةٍone
And he said: You claimed that you would cut him off with one word!
فَقَالَthen he saidأَبُوfatherالْعَتَاهِيَةِal-Atahiyaشَتَمَنِيhe insulted meيَاOأَمِيرَcommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the believers
Then Abu al-Atahiya said: He insulted me, O Commander of the Faithful.
قُلْتُI saidنَاقَضْتَyou contradictedيَاOعَاضُّbiterبَظْرِclitorisأُمِّهِof his mother
I said: You contradicted, O biter of his mother's clitoris!
قَالَhe saidفَعَادَthen he returnedالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munفِيinالضَّحِكِlaughterحَتَّىuntilخِفْتُI fearedعَلَيْهِfor himمِنْfromضَحِكِهِhis laughter
He said: Then al-Ma'mun resumed laughing until I feared for him because of his laughter.
وَشِدَّةِand severityمَاwhatذَهَبَwentلَهُto him
and the intensity of what overtook him.
ثُمَّthenقُلْتُI saidيَاOجَاهِلُignorantتُحَرِّكُyou moveيَدَكَyour handوَتَقُولُand you sayمَنْwhoحَرَّكَهَاmoved it
Then I said: O ignorant one, you move your hand and ask who moved it!
فَإِنْfor ifكُنْتَyou wereأَنْتَyouالْمُحَرِّكَthe moverلَهَاof itفَهُوَthen it isقَوْلِيmy statement
For if you are the one who moved it, then that is my statement.
وَإِنْand ifتَكُنِit isالْأُخْرَىthe otherفَمَاthen notشَتَمْتُكَI insulted you
And if it is the other, then I have not insulted you.
فَقَالَthen he saidالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munيَاOإِسْمَاعِيلُIsma'ilعِنْدَكَwith youزِيَادَةٌincreaseفِيinالْكَلَامِspeech
Then al-Ma'mun said: O Isma'il, do you have anything more to say?
فَإِنَّfor indeedالْجَوَابَthe answerقَدْalreadyمَضَىhas passedفِيمَاin whatسَأَلْتُI asked
For the answer has already passed in what I asked.
فَمَاand notنَطَقَhe utteredبِحَرْفٍa letterحَتَّىuntilانْصَرَفَhe departed
And he did not utter a word until he departed.
مَحَاسِنُvirtuesالْمُسَايَرَةِthe accompanying
The Virtues of Accompanying
قَالَhe saidفِيمَاin whatيُحْكَىis narratedعَنْfromأَنُوشِرْوَانَAnushirvan
He said: Regarding what is narrated about Anushirvan,
أَنَّهُthat heبَيْنَاwhileهُوَheفِيinمَسِيرَةٍa journeyلَهُof his
that while he was in a journey of his,
كَانَwasلَاnotيُسَايِرُهُaccompanies himأَحَدٌanyoneمِنَfromالْخَلْقِthe creationمُبْتَدِئًاinitiating
No one from the creation would initiate accompanying him,
وَأَهْلُand the peopleالْمَرَاتِبِof the ranksعَلَىonمَرَاتِبِهِمْtheir ranks
and the people of ranks were in their (own) ranks.
فَإِنِfor ifالْتَفَتَhe turned aroundيَمِينًاto the rightدَنَاdrew nearمِنْهُto himصَاحِبُthe chiefالْحَرَسِof the guard
For if he turned to the right, the chief of the guard drew near him,
وَإِنِand ifالْتَفَتَhe turnedشِمَالًاto the leftدَنَاdrew nearمِنْهُto himالْمُوبَذُthe mobadh
and if he turned to the left, the mobadh drew near him.
فَأَمَرَهُthen he ordered himبِإِحْضَارِto bringمَنْwhoeverأَرَادَhe wantedمُسَايَرَتَهُaccompanying him
Then he would order him to bring whoever he wished to accompany him.
فَالْتَفَتَthen he turnedفِيinمَسِيرِهِhis journeyهَذَاthisيَمِينَةًto the right
Then he turned to the right during this journey of his,
فَدَنَاthen drew nearمِنْهُto himصَاحِبُthe chiefالْحَرَسِof the guardفَقَالَand saidفُلَانٌso-and-soفَأَحْضَرَهُthen he brought him
Then the chief of the guard drew near and said: So-and-so. So he had him brought.
فَقَالَthen he saidعَرَفْتَdo you knowحَدِيثَthe storyأَرْدَشِيرَArdashirحِينَwhenوَاقَعَhe foughtمَلِكَthe kingالْخَزَرِof the Khazars
Then he said: Do you know the story of Ardashir when he fought the king of the Khazars?
وَكَانَand wasالرَّجُلُthe manقَدْindeedسَمِعَhad heardمِنْfromأَنُوشِرْوَانَAnushirvanهَذَاthisالْحَدِيثَstoryمَرَّةًonce
And the man had indeed heard this story once from Anushirvan,
فَاسْتَعْجَمَbut he feigned ignoranceعَلَيْهِof itوَأَوْهَمَهُand made him thinkأَنَّهُthat heلَاnotيَعْرِفُهُknew it
but he feigned ignorance of it and made him think he did not know it.
فَحَدَّثَهُso he told himأَنُوشِرْوَانُAnushirvanهَذَاthisبِالْحَدِيثِthe story
So Anushirvan told him this story,
وَأَصْغَىand listenedإِلَيْهِto himالرَّجُلُthe manبِجَوَارِحِهِwith his limbsكُلِّهَاall of them
and the man listened to him with all his senses.
وَكَانَand wasمَسِيرُهُمَاtheir courseعَلَىalongشَاطِئِbankنَهَرٍof a river
And their course was along the bank of a river.
وَتَرَكَand leftالرَّجُلُthe manالنَّظَرَlookingإِلَىatمَوْطِئِthe stepping placeقَوَائِمِlegsدَابَّتِهِof his mount
And the man stopped looking at the footing of his mount's legs,
لِإِقْبَالِهِbecause of his turningعَلَىtoحَدِيثِthe storyأَنُوشِرْوَانَof Anushirvan
because he was focusing on Anushirvan's story.
فَزَلَّتْthen slippedإِحْدَىone ofرِجْلَيْthe two legsدَابَّتِهِof his mount
Then one of the two legs of his mount slipped,
فَمَالَتْand it leanedبِالرَّجُلِwith the manإِلَىtowardsالنَّهَرِthe riverفَوَقَعَand he fellفِيinالْمَاءِthe water
and it tilted with the man toward the river, so he fell into the water.
وَنَفَرَتْand it shiedدَابَّتُهُhis mount
And his mount bolted,
فَابْتَدَرَهَاthen they hastened to itحَاشِيَةُthe retinueالْمَلِكِof the kingوَغِلْمَانُهُand his servants
so the king's attendants and his servants rushed to it,
حَتَّىuntilأَزَالُوهَاthey moved it awayعَنِfromالرَّجُلِthe man
until they moved it away from the man,
وَجَذَبُوهُand they pulled himمِنْfromتَحْتِهَاunderneath itوَحَمَلُوهُand carried himعَلَىonأَيْدِيهِمْtheir hands
and they pulled him from underneath it and carried him on their hands.
فَاغْتَمَّthen he was grievedلِذَلِكَbecause of thatأَنُوشِرْوَانُAnushirvan
Then Anushirvan was grieved at that,
وَنَزَلَand he dismountedعَنْfromدَابَّتِهِhis mountوَبُسِطَand was spreadلَهُfor himهُنَاكَthere
and he dismounted from his mount, and a carpet was spread for him there,
وَأَقَامَand he stayedحَتَّىuntilتَغَدَّىhe lunchedمَوْضِعَهُhis placeذَلِكَthat
and he remained until he ate his midday meal at that spot.
وَدَعَاand he called forلِلرَّجُلِfor the manبِثِيَابٍclothesمِنْfromخَاصِّspecialكِسْوَتِهِhis wardrobe
and he called for clothes from his special wardrobe for the man,
وَأُلْقِيَتْand were putعَلَيْهِon himوَأَكَلَand he ateمَعَهُwith him
and they were put on him, and he ate with him.
وَقَالَand he saidكَيْفَhowأَغْفَلْتَyou neglectedالنَّظَرَthe lookingإِلَىatمَوْطِئِthe footingحَافِرِof the hoofدَابَّتِكَof your mount
And he said: How did you neglect to watch the footing of your mount's hoof?
قَالَhe saidأَيُّهَاOالْمَلِكُthe king
He said: O king,
إِنَّindeedاللَّهَAllahجَلَّMightyوَعَزَّand ExaltedإِذَاwhenأَنْعَمَHe bestowsعَلَىuponعَبْدٍa servantبِنِعْمَةٍwith a blessingقَابَلَهُHe recompenses himبِمِحْنَةٍwith a trial
Indeed, Allah, Mighty and Exalted, when He bestows a blessing upon a servant, He recompenses him with a trial.
وَإِنَّهُand indeed HeجَلَّgloriousذِكْرُهُHis mentionأَنْعَمَHe bestowedعَلَيَّupon meنِعْمَتَيْنِtwo blessingsعَظِيمَتَيْنِtwo great
And He, glorious is His mention, has bestowed upon me two great blessings:
مِنْهُمَاone of them isإِقْبَالُthe turningالْمَلِكِof the kingعَلَيَّtowards meبِوَجْهِهِwith his faceمِنْfromبَيْنِamongهَذَاthisالسَّوَادِthe crowdالْأَعْظَمِthe greatest
one of them is the king's turning his face toward me from among this vast multitude,
وَالْأُخْرَىand the otherهَذِهِthisالْفَائِدَةُbenefitوَإِقْبَالُand the attentionهَذَاthisالْجَيْشِarmy
and the other is this benefit and the attention of this army,
الَّذِيwhichحُدِّثَwas toldفِيهِin itعَنْaboutأَرْدَشِيرَArdashir
in which the story of Ardashir was told.
حَتَّىso thatلَوْifرَحَلْتُI traveledمِنْfromحَيْثُwhereتَطْلُعُrisesالشَّمْسُthe sunإِلَىtoحَيْثُwhereتَغْرُبُit setsفِيهِthereكُنْتُI would beرَابِحًاa gainer
So that even if I traveled from where the sun rises to where it sets, I would still be a gainer.
فَلَمَّاand whenاجْتَمَعَتْthey gatheredعَلَيَّupon meهَاتَانِthese twoالنِّعْمَتَانِthe two blessingsالْجَلِيلَتَانِthe two magnificentفِيinوَقْتٍa timeوَاحِدٍone
And when these two magnificent blessings gathered upon me at one time,
قَابَلَتْهُمَاthey were met byهَذِهِthisالْمِحْنَةُtrial
this trial met them,
وَلَوْلَاand had it not been forأَسَاوِرَةُthe commandersالْمَلِكِof the kingوَخَدَمُهُand his servantsكُنْتُI would have beenبِعَرَضِon the verge ofهَلَكَةٍdestruction
And had it not been for the king's commanders and his servants, I would have been on the verge of destruction,
وَلَوْeven ifغَرِقْتُI drownedحَتَّىuntilأَذْهَبَI disappearedعَنْfromجَدِيدِthe surfaceالْأَرْضِof the earth
and even if I had drowned until I disappeared from the face of the earth,
كَانَhadالْمَلِكُthe kingقَدْindeedأَبْقَىleftلِيfor meذِكْرًاa remembranceمُخَلَّدًاeternalبَاقِيًاlastingمَاas long asبَقِيَremainsالضِّيَاءُlightوَالظَّلَامُand darkness
the king would have left for me an eternal, lasting remembrance as long as light and darkness remain.
فَسُرَّso was pleasedبِذَلِكَby thatأَنُوشِرْوَانُAnushirvanوَقَالَand saidمَاnotظَنَنْتُكَI thought youبِهَذِهِof thisالْمَنْزِلَةِstatus
So Anushirvan was pleased by that and said: I did not think you were of this status!
فَحَشَاthen he filledفَمَهُhis mouthجَوْهَرًاjewelsوَدُرًّاand pearlsثَمِينًاprecious
Then he filled his mouth with jewels and precious pearls,
وَاسْتَبْطَنَهُand he kept it withinحَتَّىuntilغَلَبَit dominatedعَلَىoverأَكْثَرِmost ofأَمْرِهِhis affair
and he kept it hidden in his mouth until it overwhelmed most of his condition.
وَحُكِيَand it was narratedعَنْfromيَزِيدَYazidبْنِson ofشَجَرَةَShajaraالرَّهَاوِيِّal-Rahawi
And it was narrated about Yazid ibn Shajara al-Rahawi,
أَنَّهُthat heبَيْنَاwhileهُوَheيَسِيرُwas travelingمَعَwithمُعَاوِيَةَMu'awiya
that while he was traveling with Mu'awiya,
وَمُعَاوِيَةُand Mu'awiyaيُحَدِّثُهُwas telling himعَنْaboutخُزَاعَةَKhuza'aوَيَوْمِهَاand its dayوَبَنِيand BanuمَخْزُومٍMakhzumوَقُرَيْشٍand Quraysh
while Mu'awiya was telling him about Khuza'a and its day, and Banu Makhzum and Quraysh,
وَكُلُّand all of thisهَذَاthisقَبْلَbeforeالْهِجْرَةِthe Hijra
and all of that was before the Hijra,
وَكَانَand it was the dayيَوْمَdayإِشْرَافِof being on the brinkالْفَرِيقَيْنِthe two partiesعَلَىonالْهَلَكَةِdestruction
and it was the day the two parties were on the verge of destruction,
حَتَّىuntilجَاءَهُمْcame to themأَبُوAbuسُفْيَانَSufyanفَارْتَفَعَand he roseبِبَعِيرِهِwith his camelعَلَىaboveرَايَتِهِhis banner
until Abu Sufyan came to them and raised his camel over his banner,
ثُمَّthenأَوْمَأَhe gesturedبِكُمِّهِwith his sleeveإِلَىtoالْفَرِيقَيْنِthe two partiesفَانْصَرَفُواso they withdrew
then he gestured with his sleeve to the two parties, and they withdrew.
فَبَيْنَاand whileمُعَاوِيَةُMu'awiyaيُحَدِّثُwas tellingيَزِيدَYazidبْنَson ofشَجَرَةَShajaraبِهَذَاthisالْحَدِيثِstory
And while Mu'awiya was telling Yazid ibn Shajara this story,
إِذْsuddenlyصَكَّstruckوَجْهَfaceيَزِيدَof Yazidحَجَرٌa stoneعَائِرٌflyingفَأَدْمَاهُand made it bleed
suddenly a flying stone struck Yazid's face and made it bleed,
وَجَعَلَتِand beganالدِّمَاءُbloodتَسِيلُto flowمِنْfromوَجْهِهِhis faceعَلَىontoثَوْبِهِhis garmentمَاnotيَمْسَحُهُhe wiped it
and blood began to flow from his face onto his garment, he not wiping it.
فَقَالَthen saidلَهُto himمُعَاوِيَةُMu'awiyaلِلَّهِfor Allahأَنْتَyouأَمَاdo notتَرَىyou seeمَاwhatنَزَلَhas befallenبِكَyou
Then Mu'awiya said to him: By Allah, you! Do you not see what has befallen you?
قَالَhe saidوَمَاand whatذَاكَthatيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
He said: And what is that, O Commander of the Faithful?
قَالَhe saidهَذَاthisدَمُbloodوَجْهِكَof your faceيَسِيلُflowsعَلَىontoثَوْبِكَyour garment
He said: This is the blood of your face flowing onto your garment!
فَقَالَthen he saidأَعْتِقُI freeمَاwhatأَمْلِكُI possess
Then he said: May whatever I possess be free (if...)
إِنْif notلَمْnotيَكُنْwasحَدِيثُthe speechأَمِيرِof the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَلْهَانِيdistracted me
if the speech of the Commander of the Faithful had not distracted me,
حَتَّىuntilغَمَرَit overwhelmedفِكْرِيmy mindوَغَطَّىand coveredعَلَىoverقَلْبِيmy heart
until it overwhelmed my mind and covered my heart,
فَمَاand notشَعَرْتُI feltبِشَيْءٍanythingحَتَّىuntilنَبَّهَنِيhe alerted meلَهُof itأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
and I did not feel anything until the Commander of the Faithful alerted me to it.
فَقَالَthen saidلَهُto himمُعَاوِيَةُMu'awiyaلَقَدْindeedظَلَمَكَhe wronged youمَنْwhoجَعَلَكَplaced youفِيinأَلْفٍa thousandمِنَofالْعَطَاءِthe stipend
Then Mu'awiya said to him: Indeed, they wronged you who placed you among a thousand in the stipend,
وَأَخْرَجَكَand removed youعَنْfromعَطَاءِthe stipendأَبْنَاءِthe sons ofالْمُهَاجِرِينَthe Emigrantsوَحُمَاةِand the defendersأَهْلِof the peopleصِفِّينَSiffin
and excluded you from the stipend of the sons of the Emigrants and the defenders of the people of Siffin.
وَأَمَرَand he orderedلَهُfor himبِمِائَةِwith a hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
And he ordered for him one hundred thousand dirhams,
وَزَادَand he increasedفِيinعَطَائِهِhis stipendأَلْفَa thousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
and increased his stipend by a thousand dirhams,
وَجَعَلَهُand he made himبَيْنَbetweenثَوْبِهِhis garmentوَجِلْدِهِand his skin
and placed him between his garment and his skin.
وَحُكِيَand it was narratedعَنْfromأَبِيAbuبَكْرٍBakrالْهُذَلِيِّal-Hudhali
And it was narrated about Abu Bakr al-Hudhali,
أَنَّهُthat heكَانَwasيُسَايِرُaccompanyingأَبَاAbuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbasالسَّفَّاحَal-Saffah
that he was riding alongside Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah,
إِذْwhenتَحَدَّثَwas speakingأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbasبِحَدِيثٍwith a storyمِنْfromأَحَادِيثِthe storiesالْفُرْسِof the Persians
when Abu al-Abbas related a story from the stories of the Persians,
فَعَصَفَتِthen blew violentlyالرِّيحُthe windفَرَمَتْand it threwطَسْتًاa basinمِنْfromسَطْحٍa roofإِلَىtoطَرِيقِthe pathأَبِيof Abuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbas
Then the wind blew violently and flung a basin from a roof onto the road of Abu al-Abbas,
فَارْتَاعَthen alarmed wereمَنْthose whoمَعَهُwere with him
so those with him were alarmed,
وَلَمْand did notيَتَحَرَّكْmoveأَبُوAbuبَكْرٍBakrلِذَلِكَon account of that
but Abu Bakr did not move because of that,
وَلَمْand did notتَزَلْceaseعَيْنُهُhis eyeمُطَابِقَةًmatchingلِعَيْنِon the eyeأَبِيof Abuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbas
and his eye never ceased to be fixed on the eye of Abu al-Abbas.
فَقَالَthen he saidلَهُto himمَاhowأَعْجَبَamazingشَأْنَكَyour situationيَاOهَذَاthis oneلَمْdid notتَرَعْyou are frightenedمِمَّاof whatرَاعَنَاfrightened us
Then he said to him: How amazing is your situation, O this one! Were you not frightened by what frightened us?
فَقَالَthen he saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
Then he said: O Commander of the Faithful,
إِنَّindeedاللَّهَAllahجَلَّMightyوَعَزَّand ExaltedيَقُولُsaysمَاnotجَعَلَHe madeاللَّهُAllahلِرَجُلٍfor a manمِنْofقَلْبَيْنِtwo heartsفِيinجَوْفِهِhis body
Indeed, Allah, Mighty and Exalted, says: Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his body,
وَإِنَّمَاbut onlyلِلْمَرْءِfor manقَلْبٌa heartوَاحِدٌone
but man has only one heart.
فَلَمَّاso whenغَمَرَoverwhelmedالسُّرُورُjoyقَلْبِيmy heartبِفَائِدَةِwith the benefitأَمِيرِof the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
So when joy overwhelmed my heart with the benefit of the Commander of the Faithful,
لَمْnotيَكُنْbeلِحَادِثٍfor an accidentفِيهِin itمَجَالٌspace
there was no room in it for any accident.
وَإِنَّand indeedاللَّهَAllahجَلَّMightyوَعَزَّand ExaltedإِذَاwhenتَفَرَّدَHe singles outبِكَرَامَةِwith a favorأَحَدٍsomeone
And indeed, Allah, Mighty and Exalted, when He singles out someone with a favor,
وَأَحَبَّand He lovesأَنْtoيُبْقِيَpreserveلَهُfor himذِكْرَهَاits remembrance
and He loves to preserve its remembrance for him,
جَعَلَHe placesذَلِكَthatعَلَىuponلِسَانِthe tongueنَبِيِّهِof His ProphetأَوْorخَلِيفَتِهِHis Caliph
He places that upon the tongue of His Prophet or His Caliph.
وَهَذِهِand this isكَرَامَةٌa favorخُصِّصْتُI have been singled outبِهَاwith it
And this is a favor with which I have been singled out,
مَالَinclinedإِلَيْهَاto itذِهْنِيmy mindوَشُغِلَand was occupiedبِهَاwith itفِكْرِيmy thought
my mind is inclined toward it, and my thought is occupied with it,
فَلَوِso even ifانْقَلَبَتِturned overالْخَضْرَاءُthe greenعَلَىuponالْغَبْرَاءِthe darkمَاI would not haveأَحْسَسْتُI feltبِهَاit
So even if the sky (green) had been turned over upon the earth (dusty), I would not have felt it.
فَقَالَthen saidأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِal-AbbasلَئِنْifبَقِيتُI remainلَكَfor youلَأَرْفَعَنَّI will surely raiseمِنْكَfrom youمَاwhatلَاnotتُطِيفُcan bearبِهِitالسِّبَاعُthe wild beastsوَلَاand notتَنْحَطُّland uponعَلَيْهِupon itالْعِقْبَانُthe eagles
Then Abu al-Abbas said: If I remain (alive) for you, I will surely raise you to a rank that wild beasts cannot bear and eagles cannot reach.