عُمَرُUmarبْنُson ofشَبَّةَShabbahالنُّمَيْرِيُّal-NumayriأَبُوAbuزَيْدٍZaydقَالَ:said:
Umar ibn Shabbah al-Numayri Abu Zayd said:
كَانَIt happened thatعَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofالْحُسَيْنِal-Husaynبْنِson ofعَلِيِّAliبْنِson ofالْحُسَيْنِal-Husaynبْنِson ofعَلِيِّAliبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍ،Talib,
Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib,
رِضْوَانُthe pleasure ofاللَّهِGodعَلَيْهِمْbe upon themأَجْمَعِينَ،all,
may the pleasure of God be upon them all,
مِنْfromآلِthe family ofالْأَفْطَسِal-Aftas
was from the family of al-Aftas
وَكَانَand he wasيُلَقَّبُnicknamedبِالْجَزَرِيِّ،al-Jazari,
and he was nicknamed al-Jazari.
فَتَزَوَّجَSo he marriedرُقَيَّةَRuqayyahبِنْتَdaughter ofعَمْرٍوAmrالْعُثْمَانِيَّةَal-Uthmaniyyah
He married Ruqayyah, the daughter of Amr al-Uthmaniyyah,
وَكَانَتْand she wasتَحْتَunder the marriage ofالْمَهْدِيِّ،al-Mahdi,
who had been married to al-Mahdi.
فَبَلَغَThat reachedذَلِكَthatالْهَادِيَal-Hadi
When that reached al-Hadi,
فَأَرْسَلَso he sentإِلَيْهِfor himفَحَمَلَهُand brought him
he sent for him, had him brought,
وَقَالَ:and said:أَعْيَاكَHave you exhaustedالنِّسَاءُwomenإِلَّاexceptامْرَأَةَthe wife ofأَمِيرِthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَ!the Faithful!
and said: 'Have women become so scarce for you that you take the wife of the Commander of the Faithful?'
فَقَالَ:He said:مَاdid notحَرَّمَforbidاللَّهُGodعَزَّthe Mightyوَجَلَّand Majesticعَلَىuponخَلْقٍany creationإِلَّاexceptنِسَاءَthe wives ofجَدِّي،my grandfather,
He replied: 'God Almighty has not forbidden for any creation except the wives of my grandfather,
صَلَّىmay God's peaceاللَّهُand blessingsعَلَيْهِbe upon himوَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,
peace and blessings be upon him,
فَأَمَّاas forغَيْرُهُنَّothers than themفَلَاthen noوَلَاand norكَرَامَةَ.any honor.'
as for others, there is no restriction nor is there any honor.'
فَشَجَّهُSo he struck him on the headبِمِخْصَرَةٍwith a stickكَانَتْthat wasفِيinيَدِهِhis hand
So al-Hadi struck him with a stick that was in his hand,
وَأَمَرَand orderedبِضَرْبِهِhis whippingخَمْسَfiveمِئَةِhundredسَوْطٍlashes,
ordered him to be lashed five hundred times,
وَأَرَادَand wantedعَلَىto forceأَنْhim toيُطَلِّقَهَاdivorce herفَلَمْbut he did notيَفْعَلْ،do so.
and tried to force him to divorce her, but he refused.
فَحُمِلَSo he was carriedمِنْfromبَيْنِpresenceيَدَيْهِbefore himفِيinنِطْعٍa leather matفَأُلْقِيَand thrownنَاحِيَةً،aside,
He was carried out from before him on a leather mat and cast aside.
وَكَانَAnd there wasفِيonيَدِهِhis handخَاتَمٌa ringسَرِيٌّvaluable
He wore a valuable ring on his hand.
فَرَآهُSomeبَعْضُservantالْخَدَمِsaw itوَقَدْwhile heغُشِيَhad faintedعَلَيْهِfrom pain
One of the servants saw him while he had fainted,
فَأَهْوَىso he reached outإِلَىtowardsالْخَاتَمِ،the ring.
and reached out to take the ring.
فَقَبَضَSo he grippedعَلَىontoيَدِthe hand ofالْخَادِمِthe servantفَدَقَّهَا،and crushed it.
Ali grabbed the servant's hand and crushed it.
فَصَاحَ:The servant cried out:الْمَوْتُI am dyingدَقَّhe crushedيَدِي!my hand!
The servant screamed: 'Death! He has crushed my hand!'
فَسَمِعَهُAl-Hadi heard himالْهَادِيal-Hadiفَدَعَاهُand called him back
Al-Hadi heard him and summoned him,
فَرَأَىsawمَاwhatبِهِwas wrong with himفَاسْتَشَاطَand became furious
saw what happened to the servant, and became furious.
فَقَالَ:He said:تَفْعَلُDo you doهَذَاthisبِخَادِمِيto my servantمَعَalong withاسْتِخْفَافِكَyour belittlingبِيof meوَقَوْلِكَand your sayingلِي؟to me?
He said: 'Do you do this to my servant, along with your contempt for me and what you said to me?'
قَالَ:He said:قُلْTellلَهُhimوَسَلْهُand ask himوَمُرْهُand command himأَنْtoيَضَعَplaceيَدَهُhis handمَرَّةًonceعَلَىonرَأْسِكَyour headلِيَصْدُقَنَّ.so that he will tell the truth.
He said: 'Tell him, ask him, and command him to place his hand on your head once, so he may speak the truth.'
فَفَعَلَSo didذَلِكَthatمُوسَىMusaفَصَدَقَهُand the servant told him the truthالْخَادِمُ.(about wanting to steal it).
Musa (al-Hadi) did so, and the servant confessed.
فَقَالَ:He said:أَحْسَنَWell doneوَاللَّهِ!by God!أَنَاIأَشْهَدُtestifyأَنَّهُthat he isابْنُthe son ofعَمِّي،my uncle,
He said: 'By God, well done! I bear witness that he is the son of my uncle;
لَوْifلَمْhe had notيَفْعَلْdoneذَلِكَthatلَانْتَفَيْتُI would have disownedمِنْهُ.him.'
had he not done that, I would have disowned him.'
وَأَمَرَAnd he orderedبِإِطْلَاقِهِhis releaseوَوَصَلَهُand gave himبِمِئَةِone hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
He ordered his release and gave him a gift of one hundred thousand dirhams.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَخَطَبَAnd delivered a sermonعَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍ،Talib,رَضِيَmay God beاللَّهُpleasedعَنْهُ،with him,
It is reported that Ali ibn Abi Talib, may God be pleased with him, delivered a sermon and said:
فَقَالَ:and said:تَقُولُQuraysh saysقُرَيْشٌthatجَزِعَis afraidابْنُthe son ofأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍTalibمِنْofالْمَوْتِ،death.
'Quraysh says that the son of Abi Talib is afraid of death.
وَاللَّهِBy GodلَعَلِيٌّAli is trulyآنَسُmore at easeبِالْمَوْتِwith deathمِنَthanالطِّفْلِan infantبِثَدْيِwith the breast ofأُمِّهِ.its mother.
By God, Ali is more at ease with death than an infant is with its mother's breast.'
قِيلَ:It was said:وَلَمَّاAnd whenكَانَit wasفِيinحَرْبِthe battle ofصِفِّينَSiffinوَالنَّاسُwhile the peopleفِيwere inأَشَدِّthe fiercestمَاpartيَكُونُofمِنَwhat could beالْحَرْبِof battle,
It is also said that during the Battle of Siffin, when the fighting was at its fiercest,
قَالَsaidعَلِيٌّ:Ali:رِضْوَانُMay the pleasure ofاللَّهِGodعَلَيْهِ:be upon him:أَلَاIs thereمَاءٌwaterفَأَشْتَرِيَهُ؟that I might buy it?
Ali, may God's pleasure be upon him, said: 'Is there any water so I may buy it?'
فَأَتَاهُA young man fromشَابٌّthe Banu Hashimمِنْcame to himبَنِيwithهَاشِمٍa drinkبِشَرْبَةٍof honeyمِنْwaterعَسَلٍ،(or diluted honey).
A young man from the Banu Hashim brought him a cup of honey-water.
فَتَنَاوَلَهُHe took itوَقَالَ:and said:يَاOفَتَىyoung man,عَسَلُكَyour honeyهَذَاthisطَائِفِيٌّ.is from Taif.
He took it and said: 'O young man, this honey of yours is from Taif.'
قَالَ:The young man said:سُبْحَانَGlory be toاللَّهِ!God!فِيInهَذَاthisالْوَقْتِtimeتَعْرِفُdo you knowالطَّائِفِيَّthe Taifiمِنْfromغَيْرِهِ!others?!
The young man said: 'Glory be to God! At a time like this, you can distinguish Taifi from non-Taifi?'
فَقَالَ:He replied:إِنَّهُIndeedلَمْnothingيَمْلَأْhas filledصَدْرَthe chest ofابْنِthe son ofعَمِّكَyour uncleشَيْءٌanythingقَطُّ.ever.
He said: 'Nothing has ever filled the chest of your cousin (the Prophet) except that he knows it.'
وَحُكِيَAnd it was narratedعَنْهُ،about him,رِضْوَانُmay the pleasure ofاللَّهِGodعَلَيْهِ،be upon him,أَنَّهُthat heقَالَ:said:
It is narrated from him, may God's pleasure be upon him, that he said:
مَاI do notأُبَالِيcareوَقَعْتُwhether I fellفِيuponالْمَوْتِdeathأَوْorوَقَعَdeath fellالْمَوْتُuponعَلَيَّ.me.
'I care not whether I fall upon death or death falls upon me.'
حَدَّثَنَاNarrated to usالْوَضَّاحِيُّal-WaddahiعَنْfromمَعْمَرِMa'marبْنِson ofوهَيْبٍWahybقَالَ:who said:
Al-Waddahi narrated to us from Ma'mar ibn Wahyb, who said:
قَالَSaidعَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malikبْنُson ofمَرْوَانَMarwanعِنْدَatمَوْتِهِhis deathلِلْوَلِيدِto al-Walid
Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan said at the time of his death to al-Walid,
وَهُوَwhile heيَبْكِيwas weepingعِنْدَatرَأْسِهِ:his head:
who was weeping at his bedside:
مَاWhatهَذَاis thisالْبُكَاءُweepingوَحَنِينُand wailingالنِّسَاءِof womenثَكِلَتْكَmay your mother be bereaved of youأُمُّكَ!!
'What is this weeping and wailing like women? May your mother be bereaved of you!
أَلَاWill you notتَتَأَهَّبُprepare yourselfلِلْخِلَافَةِfor the caliphateبِشِدَّةِby the severity ofسَطْوَتِكَyour mightوَقِلَّةِand lack ofرَحْمَتِكَmercyلِنَاقِضِtowards one who breaksبَيْعَتِكَallegiance to youوَتَجْرِيدِand unsheathingسَيْفِكَyour swordلِلْمُبْدِيagainst one who revealsذَاتَthe nature ofطَوِيَّتِهِ؟his hidden intent?
Will you not prepare for the caliphate with harshness in your grip, lack of mercy toward whoever breaks allegiance to you, and drawing your sword against whoever reveals his hidden hostility?'
فَقَالَSaidلَهُto himقَبِيصَةُQabisahبْنُson ofذُؤَيْبٍ:Dhu'ayb:لَيْسَThis is notهَذَاthe command ofأَمْرَGodاللَّهِthe Mightyجَلَّand Majesticوَعَزَّ....
Qabisah ibn Dhu'ayb said to him: 'This is not the command of God, the Majestic and Mighty.'
فَقَالَ:He said:مَاI would notكُنْتُbe one toلِآمُرَcommandبِغَيْرِهِ.other than that.
He replied: 'I would not command other than it.'
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:
Then he recited:
بَنُوThe sons ofالْحَرْبِwarلَاdo notنَعْيَاgrow wearyبِشَيْءٍof anythingنُرِيدُهُwe desire......وَلَسْنَاand we are notعَلَىatمَاwhatأَحْدَثَbrings aboutالدَّهْرُtimeنَجْزَعُdespairing.
The sons of war, we tire not of aught we seek, / Nor do we panic at what time brings forth.
جِلَادٌStrikersعَلَىagainstرَيْبِthe vicissitudes ofالزَّمَانِtimeفَلَنْso you will neverتَرَىsee......عَلَىoverهَالِكٍone who has perishedعَيْنًاan eyeلَنَاfor usالدَّهْرُeverتَدْمَعُshedding tears.
Stout hearts against fate's trials; you'll never see / An eye of ours weeping for a fallen one.
وَأَنْشَدَنَاAnd recited to usغَيْرُهُsomeone elseفِيinمِثْلِهِ:a similar vein:
And someone else recited to us in a similar vein:
وَإِنَّاAnd indeed we areلَقَوْمٌa peopleمَاwho do notتَفِيضُoverflowدُمُوعُنَاour tears......عَلَىoverهَالِكٍone who perishedمِنَّاamong usوَإِنْeven ifقَصَمَit brokeالظَّهْرَاthe back.
And indeed we are a people whose tears do not overflow / For one of us who perishes, though it break the back.
وَلَسْنَاAnd we are notكَمَنْlike the one whoيَبْكِيweeps forأَخَاهُhis brotherبِعَبْرَةٍwith a tear......فَيَعْصِرُهَاso he squeezes itمِنْfromجَفْنِthe eyelid ofمُقْلَتِهِhis eyeعَصْرَاby squeezing.
Nor are we like one who weeps for his brother with a tear, / Squeezing it forcibly from the lid of his eye.
وَلَكِنَّنَاBut weنَشْفِيhealالْفُؤَادَthe heartبِغَارَةٍwith a raid......تَلَهَّبُblazingمِنْfromقُطْرَيْthe two sides ofجَوَانِبِهِits flanksجَمْرَاas burning embers.
Rather, we heal the heart with a raid / Blazing with burning embers from both its flanks.
وَلِآخَرَAnd for anotherفِيinمِثْلِهِ:a similar vein:
And by another poet in a similar vein:
سُقْيًاMay there be wateringوَرَعْيًاand grazingوَإِيمَانًاand faithوَمَغْفِرَةًand forgiveness......لِلْبَاكِيَاتِfor the weeping womenعَلَيْنَاover usيَوْمَthe dayنَرْتَحِلُwe depart.
May rain, pasture, faith, and forgiveness be granted / To those who weep over us the day we depart.
يَبْكِينَThey weepعَلَيْنَاover usوَلَاand we do notنَبْكِيweepعَلَىoverأَحَدٍanyone......لَنَحْنُtruly we areأَغْلَظُharderأَكْبَادًاin liverمِنَthanالْإِبِلِcamels.
They weep over us, and we weep over no one; / Verily, we have livers harder than camels.
وَلِآخَرَAnd for anotherفِيinنَحْوِهِ:a similar style:
And by another in a similar style:
إِذَاWhenاسْتَلَبَrobbedالْخَوْفُfearالرِّجَالَmenقُلُوبَهَاof their hearts......صَبَرْنَاwe steadfastly heldعَلَىtoالْمَوْتِdeathالنُّفُوسَour soulsالْغَوَالِيَاprecious.
When fear robs men of their hearts, / We hold fast our precious souls against death.
حِذَارَBeware ofالْأَحَادِيثِtalesالَّتِيthatغَبَّaftermath ofيَوْمُهَاtheir day......عَقَدْنَthat tieبِأَعْنَاقِaround the necks ofالرِّجَالِmenالْمَخَازِيَاdisgraces.
Fearing tales whose aftermath / Ties disgraces around the necks of men.
وَلِآخَرَAnd for anotherفِيinمِثْلِهِ:a similar vein:
And by another in a similar vein:
مُقَتَّلُونَThey are killersوَقَتَّالُونَand slayersمِيتَتَهُمْin their manner of death......كَمَاjust asتُقَتَّلُare slainأُسْدُthe lions ofالْغَابِthe jungleفِيinالْأَجَمِthe thicket.
They kill and are killed in their manner of death, / Just as jungle lions are killed in the thicket.
وَالْقَتْلُAnd killingعَادَتُهُمْis their habitوَالْقَتْلُand killingمَكْرُمَةٌis a nobility......وَلَاand they do not dieيَمُوتُونَofمِنْanyدَاءٍdiseaseوَلَاnorهَرَمِold age.
Killing is their habit, and killing is an honor, / And they do not die of disease or old age.
وَبِالْوُجُوهِAnd on their facesجِرَاحٌare woundsمَاthatتُشِينُهُمْdo not disfigure them......وَمَاand norبِهِمْis there upon themطَعْنَةٌa stab woundفِيinظَهْرِthe back ofمُنْهَزِمِone fleeing in defeat.
On their faces are wounds that do not disgrace them, / Nor is there any stab wound on the back of a fleeing coward.
وَلِآخَرَAnd for anotherفِيinمِثْلِهِ:a similar vein:
And by another in a similar vein:
سَدِكَتْAccustomed areأْنَامِلُهُhis fingertipsبِقَائِمِto the hilt ofسَيْفِهِhis sword......وَبِنَشْرِand to spreadingفَائِدَةٍbenefitوَذَرْوَةِand the peak ofمِنْبَرِa pulpit.
His fingertips are accustomed to the hilt of his sword, / And to spreading bounty and the pinnacle of the pulpit.
مَاHe neverإِنْceasesيَزَالُto beإِذَاwhenالرِّمَاحُspearsشَجَرْنَهُtangle around him......مُتَسَرْبِلًاwearingسِرْبَالَthe coat ofطَيِّبِa nobleالْعُنْصُرِlineage.
He is always, when spears intertwine around him, / Clad in the armor of noble lineage.
يَلْقَىHe meetsالرِّمَاحَthe spearsبِصَدْرِهِwith his chestوَبِنَحْرِهِand his throat......وَيُقِيمُand setsهَامَتَهُhis headمَقَامَin place ofالْمِغْفَرِthe helmet.
He meets the spears with his chest and throat, / And places his bare head in place of the helmet.
أَوْمَاOr did he motionإِلَىtoالْكَوْمَاءِthe humpbacked camelهَذَاthisطَارِقٌnight visitor......نَحَرْتُنِيYou have slaughtered meالْأَعْدَاءُO enemiesإِنْifلَمْnotتُنْحَرِshe is slaughtered.
Or did he motion to the great camel: 'O night visitor, / The enemies have slaughtered me if she is not slaughtered.'
وَلِلْمَأْمُونِ:And for al-Ma'mun:
And by al-Ma'mun:
نَحْنُWe areالَّذِينَthose whoإِذَاwhenتَخَمَّطَragedعُصْبَةٌa band......مِنْfromمَعْشَرٍa tribeكُنَّاwe wereلَهَاfor themأَنْكَالَاshackles.
We are those who, when a band of any tribe rages, / Become iron shackles for them.
وَتَرَىAnd you seeالْقُرُومَthe noble chiefsمَخَافَةًout of fear ofلِقُرُومِنَاour chiefs......قَبْلَbeforeاللِّقَاءِthe encounterتَقَطَّرُdrippingالْأَبْوَالَاurine (in terror).
You see the proud chiefs, out of fear of our chiefs, / Dripping urine in terror before the encounter.
نَرِدُWe approachالْمَنِيَّةَdeathلَاwithoutنَخَافُfearingوُرُودَهَاits arrival......تَحْتَbeneathالْعَجَاجَةِthe dust cloudوَالْعُيُونُwhile eyesتَلَالَاare flashing.
We go to death, fearing not its approach, / Beneath the dust cloud while eyes flash.
نُعْطِيWe giveالْجَزِيلَabundantlyفَلَاand we do notنَمُنُّremind people ofعَطَاءَنَاour giving......قَبْلَbeforeالسُّؤَالِbeing askedوَنَحْمِلُand we bearالْأَثْقَالََاheavy burdens.
We give generously and do not boast of our gifts / Before being asked, and we carry heavy burdens.
وَإِذَاAnd whenالْبِلَادُthe landsعَلَىuponالْعِبَادِthe peopleتَزَلْزَلَتْare shaken......كُنَّاwe areلِزَلْزَلَةِagainst the shaking ofالْبِلَادِthe landsجِبَالََاmountains.
And when the lands shake beneath their inhabitants, / We stand as mountains against the shaking of the lands.
مَسَاوِئُVices ofالْجُبْنِcowardice
The vices of cowardice