وَقَالَAndأَبُوAbuعَمْرِوAmrبْنِson ofالْعَلَاءِ:Al-Ala:
And Abu Amr ibn al-Ala said:
لَمَّاWhenقَدِمَcameعَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malikالْمَدِينَةَto Medina
When Abd al-Malik came to Medina
خَطَبَhe delivered a speechفَقَالَ:and said:
he delivered a speech and said:
يَاOأَهْلَpeople ofالْمَدِينَةِMedina,
O people of Medina,
إِنَّاindeed weوَاللَّهِby Allahمَاdo notنُحِبُّكُمْlove you
indeed we, by Allah, do not love you
مَاas long asذَكَرْنَاwe rememberمَاwhatفَعَلْتُمْyou didبِنَاto us
as long as we remember what you did to us,
وَلَاand norتُحِبُّونَنَاdo you love usمَاas long asذَكَرْتُمْyou rememberمَاwhatفَعَلْنَاwe didبِكُمْ!to you!
and nor do you love us as long as you remember what we did to you!
وَإِنَّمَاAnd indeedمَثَلُنَاour exampleوَمَثَلُكُمْand your example
And indeed our example and your example
كَمَثَلِis likeحَيَّةٍa snakeكَانَتْthat wasفِيinجُحْرٍa hole
is like a snake that was in a hole,
إِلَىnext toجَنْبِهَاits sideخِبَاءُis the tent ofرَجُلٍa man
next to its side being the tent of a man.
فَوَثَبَتْSo it sprangعَلَيْهِat himفَلَسَعَتْهُand stung himفَقَتَلَتْهُand killed him.
So it sprang at him and stung him and killed him.
فَجَاءَThen cameأَخُوthe brother ofالْمَقْتُولِthe slain manيَطْلُبُseekingبِثَأْرٍrevenge.
Then the brother of the slain man came seeking revenge.
فَقَالَتْAnd she saidلَهُto himالْحَيَّةُ:the snake:
And the snake said to him:
لَاDo notتَقْتُلْنِيkill meحَتَّىuntilأُؤَدِّيَI payإِلَيْكَto youدِيَةَthe blood money ofأَخِيكَ.your brother.
“Do not kill me until I pay you the blood money for your brother.”
فَفَارَقَهَاSo he parted from herعَلَىuponذَلِكَthatوَعَاهَدَهَاand made a covenant with her.
So he parted from her upon that and made a covenant with her.
فَكَانَتْAnd she wouldتُؤَدِّيpayإِلَيْهِto himفِيinكُلِّeveryيَوْمَيْنِtwo daysمَالاً،wealth.
And she would pay him wealth every two days.
فَلَمَّاThen whenاسْتَوْفَىhe received in fullأَكْثَرَmost ofالدِّيَةِthe blood money
Then when he received in full most of the blood money,
قَالَ:he said:وَاللَّهِBy AllahلَوْifقَتَلْتُهَاI kill herكُنْتُI wouldقَدْhaveأَدْرَكْتُattainedثَأْرِيmy revenge
he said, "By Allah, if I were to kill her, I would have attained my revenge
وَأَخَذْتُand takenالدِّيَةَ.the blood money."
and taken the blood money."
فَعَمِلَSo he preparedفَأْساًan axeوَحَدَّدَهَا،and sharpened it.
So he prepared an axe and sharpened it.
فَلَمَّاThen whenخَرَجَتْshe came outإِلَيْهِto himأَهْوَىhe lungedإِلَيْهَاat herبِالْفَأْسِwith the axe
Then when she came out to him, he lunged at her with the axe
فَأَخْطَأَهَاand missed herوَرَجَعَتْand she returnedإِلَىtoجُحْرِهَاher holeفَأُسْقِطَand it fellفِيinيَدِهِ.his hand (he was confounded).
and missed her, and she returned to her hole, and he was confounded.
فَقَالَتْ:She said:وَاللَّهِBy Allahمَاneitherالثَّأْرَthe revengeأَدْرَكْتَdid you attainوَلَاnorالدِّيَةَthe blood moneyاسْتَوْفَيْتَ!did you receive in full!
She said, "By Allah, you neither attained the revenge nor received the blood money in full!"
فَقَالَ:He said:تَعَالَىComeأُعَاقِدْكَthat I may make a covenant with youأَنْthatلَاnotيَنَالَكَshall reach youمِنِّيfrom meمَكْرُوهٌany harmحَتَّىuntilأَسْتَوْفِيَI receive in fullمِنْكِfrom youالدِّيَةَ.the blood money.
He said, "Come, let me make a covenant with you that no harm from me shall reach you until I receive the blood money from you in full."
فَقَالَتْ:She said:أَمَّاAs forمَاwhatرَأَيْتَyou sawقَبْرَof the grave ofأَخِيكَyour brotherتِجَاهَكَfacing you
She said, "As for seeing your brother's grave facing you
وَذَكَرْتَand your rememberingأَنَاIالضَّرْبَةَthe blow,فَلَنْthen neverأَثِقَshall I trustبِكَyouوَلَنْand neverتَثِقَshall you trustبِي.me.
and my remembering the blow, I will never trust you and you will never trust me.
ثُمَّThenأَنْشَدَهُ:he recited to him:
Then he recited to him:
أَلَاAh,هَلْis thereلَنَاfor usمَوْلًىa patronيُحِبُّwho lovesصَلَاحَنَاour well-being
Ah, is there for us a patron who loves our well-being
فَيَعْذُرَنَاand excuses usمِنْfromمَرَّةَMurrahالْمُتَنَاصِرَةْthe mutually supporting?
and excuses us from the mutually supporting [clan of] Murrah?
وَأَنْشَدَAnd he recitedفِيinمِثْلِهِ:its likeness:
And he recited in a similar vein:
ظَلَمْتُI wrongedالنَّاسَpeopleفَاعْتَرَفُواand they acknowledgedبِظُلْمِيmy wrong
I wronged people and they acknowledged my wrong,
فَتُبْتُso I repentedفَأَزْمَعُواand they determinedأَنْtoيَظْلِمُونِيwrong me.
so I repented, but they determined to wrong me.
فَلَسْتُSo I am notبِصَابِرٍpatientإِلَّاexceptقَلِيلًاa little,
So I will not be patient except for a little,
فَإِنْfor ifلَمْthey do notيَنْتَهُواceaseرَاجَعْتُI will return toدِينِيmy religion (old ways).
for if they do not cease, I will return to my old ways.
وَلِآخَرَ:And by another:
And by another:
إِيَّاكَBewareمِنْofظُلْمِwrongingالْكَرِيمِa noble personفَإِنَّهُfor indeedمُرُّthe bitterness ofمَذَاقَتِهِhis tastingكَطَعْمِis like the taste ofالْعَلْقَمِcolocynth.
Beware of wronging a noble person, for indeed the bitterness of his taste is like the taste of colocynth.
إِنَّIndeedالْكَرِيمَthe noble personإِذَاwhenرَأَكَhe sees thatظَلَمْتَهُyou wronged himذَكَرَhe remembersالظُّلَامَةَthe injusticeبَعْدَafterنَوْمِthe sleep ofالنُّوَّمِthe sleepers.
Indeed, the noble person, when he sees you have wronged him, remembers the injustice after the sleep of the sleepers.
فَجَفَاSo he shunsالْفِرَاشَthe bedوَبَاتَand spends the nightيَطْلُبُseekingثَأْرَهُhis revenge
So he shuns the bed and spends the night seeking his revenge,
أَنَفاًout of prideوَإِنْeven ifأَغْضَىhe connivedوَلَمْand did notيَتَكَلَّمْspeak.
out of pride, even if he kept silent and did not speak.
[مَحَاسِنِMahasinالشِّدَّةِ]al-Shidda
[Mahasin al-Shidda]
ذَكَرُواThey mentionedأَنَّthatجُنْدَبَJundubبْنَson ofالْعَنْبَرِAl-Anbarكَانَwasشَدِيدَof intenseالْبَأْسِmight
They mentioned that Jundub ibn al-Anbar was of intense might
وَأَنَّand thatعَوَانَةَAwanahبْنَson ofزَيْدٍZaidعَيَّرَهُtaunted himيَوْماًone dayفَقَالَ:and said:
and that Awanah ibn Zaid taunted him one day and said:
هَلْDoesيَسُودُbecome a masterالْفَتَىthe youthإِذَاifقُبِّحَis made uglyالْوَجْthe faceهُitsوَأَمْسَىand he becomesتَرَاهُyou see himغَيْرَother thanعَتِيدٍprepared?
Does the youth become a leader if his face is made ugly, and you see him as unprepared?
وَإِذَاAnd whenمَاeverتَكَلَّمَspeaksالْقَوْمُthe peopleيَوْماًone dayفِيinالنَّدَىthe gatheringقَالَhe saysقَوْلاًa wordغَيْرَother thanسَدِيدٍcorrect?
And when the people speak in the gathering one day, he says a word that is not correct?
وَكَانَAnd Jundub wasجُنْدَبٌJundubفِيهِin himدَمَامَةٌuglinessمَعَalong withإِمْسَاكٍstinginess,غَيْرَexceptأَنَّهُthat heكَانَwasلَيْثاًa lionفِيinالْحَرْبِ،war.
And Jundub had some ugliness along with stinginess, except that he was a lion in war.
فَأَجَابَهُ:So he answered him:
So he answered him:
لَيْسَIs notزِينَthe adornment ofالْفَتَىthe youthالْجَمَالَbeautyوَلَكِنْbutزَيْنَهُhis adornment isالضَّرْبُstrikingبِالْحُسَامِwith the swordالتَّلِيدْancient.
The adornment of the youth is not beauty, but rather his adornment is striking with the ancient sword.
وَكَانَAnd JundubجُنْدَبٌJundubعَائِفاًhad ominous forebodingsفَقَالَ:so he said:
And Jundub was given to bad omens, so he said:
وَاللَّهِBy Allahلَاyou will notتَمُوتُdieحَتَّىuntilتُنْصَرَis overcomeعَلَيْكَover youظَعِينَةٌ.a woman in a camel-litter.
"By Allah, you will not die until a woman overcomes you."
وَإِنَّAnd thatعَوَانَةَAwanahخَرَجَwent outيَوْماًone dayيَتَصَيَّدُhuntingعَلَىonفَرَسِهِhis horseوَمَعَهُand with himقَوْسُهُis his bow
And Awanah went out one day hunting on his horse with his bow with him,
فَسَارَand he traveledغَيْرَother thanقَلِيلٍa littleإِذْwhenعَرَضَتْthere appearedلَهُto himجَارِيَةٌa young woman
and he had not traveled far when a young woman appeared to him
قَدْwho hadحَمَلَتْcarriedوَطْباًa skin bagمِنْofلَبَنٍmilk,فَهَمَّso he intendedبِهَاtowards herفَدَنَاand drew nearفَقَالَ:and said:
who was carrying a skin bag of milk. He had designs on her, so he drew near and said:
تُمَكِّنِينِيWill you yield to meطَائِعَةًwillinglyأَوْorتُقْهَرِينَ؟will you be subjugated?
"Will you yield to me willingly or will you be subjugated?"
فَقَالَتْ:She said:لَاNeitherإِحْدَاهُمَا.of the two.
She said, "Neither of the two."
فَنَزَلَSo he dismountedإِلَيْهَاtowards herفَأَخَذَتْand she tookسَاعِدَيْهِhis two forearmsبِإِحْدَىwith one ofيَدَيْهَاher hands
So he dismounted towards her, and she grabbed his two forearms with one of her hands
فَمَاand she ceased notزَالَتْtoتَعْصِرُهُمَاsqueeze themحَتَّىuntilتَرَكَتْهُمَاshe left themوَمَاwhileيَسْتَطِيعُhe is ableأَنْtoيُحَرِّكَهُمَاmove them.
and continued squeezing them until she left them such that he could not move them.
ثُمَّThenكَتَفَتْهُshe bound his arms behind his backبِوَتَرِwith the bowstring ofقَوْسِهِhis bowوَشَدَّتْand tiedحَبْلَthe rope ofالْفَرَسِthe horseفِيtoجِيدِهِhis neckثُمَّthenقَالَتْ:said:
Then she bound his arms with his bowstring, tied the horse's rope to his neck, and said:
خُذْTakeبِنَاusنَحْوَtowardsمَحَلَّةِthe encampment ofجُنْدَبٍ.Jundub.
"Take us towards Jundub's encampment."
فَمَرَّSo he passedيَقُودُleadingالْفَرَسَthe horseفِيwhile inجِيدِهِhis neckحَبْلٌ.is a rope.
So he walked leading the horse, with a rope around his neck.
فَلَمَّاThen whenقَارَبَhe drew nearالْحَيَّto the settlementبَصَرَhe caught sight ofبِجُنْدَبٍJundubمَقْبِلاًapproachingفَنَادَاهُ:so he called out to him:
Then when he drew near the settlement, he caught sight of Jundub approaching, so he called out to him:
أَيُّهَاOالْمَرْؤُmanالْكَرِيمُnobleانْصُرْhelpأَخَاكَyour brotherظَالِماًwhether he is wrongingأَوْorمَظْلُومָا!wronged!
"O noble man, help your brother, whether he is wronging or wronged!"
فَذَهَبَSo it becameمَثَلاً،a proverb,فَأَطْلَقَهُ.and he released him.
So it became a proverb, and he released him.
وَمِنْهُمْAnd among themكُلَيْبُwas Kulaibبْنُson ofشُؤْبُوبٍShu'bubالْأَزْدِيُّthe Azdi,
And among them was Kulaib ibn Shu'bub al-Azdi,
كَانَhe wasأَخْبَثَthe most wickedأَهْلِof the people ofزَمَانِهِhis timeفِيinقَطْعِwaylayingالطَّرِيقِthe roadوَحْدَهُ،alone.
who was the most wicked of the people of his time in highway robbery alone,
وَكَانَAnd he wasكَثِيرَfrequent inالْغَارَةِraidingعَلَىuponطَيْءٍ،Tayy,
and he frequently raided the tribe of Tayy.
فَدَعَاSo summonedحَارِثَةُHarithahبْنُson ofلَامٍLamالطَّائِيُّthe Taiرَجُلاًa manمِنْfromقَوْمِهِhis peopleيُقَالُwho was calledلَهُto himعِبْرِمُ،Ibrim,
So Harithah ibn Lam al-Tai summoned a man from his people called Ibrim,
وَكَانَand he wasشُجَاعاً،brave.فَقَالَSo he saidلَهُ:to him:
and he was brave, and said to him:
أَمَاCanتَسْتَطِيعُyouأَنْtoتَكْفِيَنَاsuffice us againstهَذَا؟this man?
"Can you not suffice us against this man?"
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ.Yes.
He said, "Yes."
فَأَرْسَلَSo he sentالْعُيُونَspiesحَتَّىuntilعَلِمَhe knewمَكَانَهُhis location,
So he sent out spies until he learned his location,
فَانْطَلَقَand he set offإِلَيْهِtowards himحَتَّىuntilوَجَدَهُhe found himنَائِماًsleepingفِيinظِلِّthe shade ofأَرَاكَةٍan arak tree
and set off towards him until he found him sleeping in the shade of an arak tree,
وَفَرَسُهُand his horseمَشْدُودٌtiedعِنْدَهُ،near him.
with his horse tied near him.
فَنَزَلَSo dismountedعِبْرِمُIbrimوَرَجُلٌand a manمَعَهُwith himفَمَشِيَاand they walkedحَتَّىuntilأَخَذَtookكُلُّeachوَاحِدٍoneمِنْهُمَاof themبِإِحْدَىby one ofيَدَيْهِ،his hands.
So Ibrim and a man with him dismounted and walked until each of them grabbed one of his hands.
فَانْتَبَهَThen he woke upوَنَزَعَand pulledيَدَهُhis handالْيُمْنَىright
Then he woke up and pulled his right hand free,
فَقَبَضَand he graspedعَلَىbyحَلْقِthe throat ofصَاحِبِthe companion ofالْيُسْرَىthe leftوَهُوَwho wasعِبْرِمُIbrim
and grasped the throat of the companion of the left, who was Ibrim,
فَمَاand he ceased notزَالَtoيَخْنُقُهُthrottle himحَتَّىuntilقَتَلَهُ.he killed him.
and he kept throttling him until he killed him.
وَقَدْAnd indeedكَانَhadأَعَدَّpreparedقَوْماًa groupفَلَحِقُوهُso they caught up with himوَهُمْwhile they wereعَشَرَةٌten,
And he (Ibrim) had prepared a group of ten who caught up with him,
فَوَجَدُوهُand they found himقَتِيلاً،slain,وَأَخَذُواand they seizedكُلَيْباًKulaibفَكَتَفُوهُand bound his armsوَسَاقُوهُ،and drove him along.
and they found him slain, and they seized Kulaib, bound him, and drove him along.
وَأَنْشَأَAnd initiatedخُوذَةُKhaudhahبْنُson ofعِبْرِمٍIbrimيَرْثِيlamentingأَبَاهُhis fatherوَيَقُولُ:and saying:
And Khaudhah ibn Ibrim began lamenting his father and saying:
إِلَىToاللَّهِAllahأَشْكُوI complainأَنْthatأَؤُوبَI returnوَقَدْwhileثَوَىhas fallenقَتِيلاًslainوَأَوْدَىand perishedسَيِّدُthe master ofالْقَوْمِthe peopleعِبْرِمُIbrim.
To Allah I complain that I return while Ibrim, the master of the people, has fallen slain and perished.
فَمَاتَSo he diedضَيَاعاًin vainهَكَذَاthusبِيَدِat the hand ofامْرِئٍa manلَئِيمٍ،base.
So he died in vain thus at the hand of a base man,
فَلَوْfor ifأُدْمِيَhe had been made to bleedلَمَاwould notكُنْتُhave I beenأَثْلَمُgrieved / broken.
for if he had been made to bleed (in a fair fight), I would not have been so grieved.
وَلَكِنْButثَوَىhe fellلَمْwithoutيُكَلِّمِwoundingالسَّيْفُthe swordجِيدَهُhis neck
But he fell without the sword wounding his neck,
وَلَاand neitherنَالَهُreached himرُمْحٌa spearوَلَمْnorيُرَقْwas shedالدَّمُblood.
and neither did a spear reach him nor was blood shed.
فَأَنْتَSo you areابْنُthe son ofشُؤْبُوبٍShu'bubفَيَاso ohلَهْفَتَاwhat a pityلَهُfor him
So you are the son of Shu'bub—what a pity for him,
وَمَاand whatجَزَّhas trimmedمِنْofأَظْفَارِكَyour nailsمِنْكَthan youأَكْرَمُmore noble.
and one who trimmed your nails was not more noble than you.
سَأَسْقِيكَI will make you drinkقَبْلَbeforeالْمَوْتِdeathكَأْساًa cupمِزَاجُهَاwhose mixture is
I will make you drink before death a cup whose mixture is
ذُعَافٌa venomous poisonمِنَofالسُّمِّthe poisonالنَّقِيعِdeadlyوَعَلْقَمُand colocynth.
deadly venomous poison and colocynth.
فَأَجَابَهُSo answered himكُلَيْبٌ:Kulaib:
So Kulaib answered him:
أَخُوذَةُO Khaudhahإِنْifتَفْخَرْyou boastوَتَزْعُمُand claimبِأَنَّنِيthat I amلَئِيمٌbaseوَيَأْبَىwhile refusesلِيfor meقِتَالِيmy combatعِبْرِمُIbrim
O Khaudhah, if you boast and claim that I am base, while Ibrim refused my combat,
فَأُقْسِمُThen I swearبِالْبَيْتِby the Houseالْمُحَرَّمِthe SacredمِنْinمِنًىMina
Then I swear by the Sacred House in Mina,
وَبَرَّand trueيَمِينِيis my oathصَادِقاًtruthfullyحِينَwhenأُقْسِمُI swear,
and true is my oath, truthfully when I swear,
لَضَبٌّthat a lizardبِقَفْرٍin a barren wastelandمِنْofقِفَارٍbarren landsوَضَبُعَةٌand a hyena
that a desert lizard in a barren wasteland and a hyena
خَمُوعٌlazy/creepingوَيَرْبُوعُand a jerboa ofالْفَلَاthe desertمِنْكَthan youأَكْرَمُare more noble.
and a desert jerboa are more noble than you.
أَلَاAh,عَجَباًhow strangeمِنْisفَخْرِthe boast ofهَذَاthis manوَأُمِّهِand his mother
Ah, how strange is the boast of this man and his mother,
سَوْدَاوُهُa black womanوَالْجَدُّand his grandfatherعِلْجٌis a non-Arab foreignerمُكَدَّمُenslaved/despised.
she is a black woman and his grandfather is a despised non-Arab foreigner.
أَتُوعِدُنِيDo you threaten meبِالْمُنْكَرَاتِwith evil thingsوَإِنَّنِيwhile indeed Iصَبُورٌam patientعَلَىoverمَاwhatنَابَbefallsجَلْدٌresilientمُصَمِّمُresolute.
Do you threaten me with evil things while indeed I am patient over adversity, resilient and resolute?