وَكَانُواAnd they wereإِذَاwhenأَصَابَafflictedإِبِلَهُمُtheir camelsالْعَرُّwith mange
And when their camels were afflicted with mange, they would brand the healthy camel to rid the sick camel of the mange, thus making the healthy one sick without curing the sick one.
كَوَوُاthey would brandالسَّلِيمَthe healthy oneلِيَذْهَبَso that would goالْعَرُّthe mangeعَنِfromالسَّقِيمِthe sick one
they would brand the healthy camel to rid the sick camel of the mange,
فَأَسْقَمُواand they made sickالصَّحِيحَthe healthyمِنْwithoutغَيْرِother thanأَنْthatيَبْرَأَgets curedالسَّقِيمُthe sick one.
thus making the healthy one sick without curing the sick one.
وَكَانُواAnd they wereإِذَاwhenأَوْرَدُواthey brought to waterالْبَقَرَthe cowsالْمَاءَthe water
And when they brought the cows to the water and they would not drink, they beat the bull so that he would rush into the water and the cows would follow him.
فَلَمْand they did notتَشْرَبْdrinkضَرَبُواthey beatالثَّوْرَthe bullلِيَقْتَحِمَso that he rushes intoالْمَاءَthe waterفَتَتْبَعَهُand follow himالْبَقَرُthe cows
and they did not drink, they beat the bull so that he would rush into the water and the cows would follow him,
فَقَالَso saidالشَّاعِرُthe poetفِيaboutذَلِكَthat
so the poet said about that:
هَجَوْنِيThey satirized meإِذْwhenهَجَرْتُI leftجِبَالَthe mountains ofسَلْمَىSalma
They satirized me when I left the mountains of Salma ... like the beating of the bull for the thirsty cows.
كَضَرْبِlike the beating ofالثَّوْرِthe bullلِلْبَقَرِfor the cowsالظِّمَاءِthirsty
like the beating of the bull for the thirsty cows.
وَقَالَAnd saidغَيْرُهُanother
And another said:
كَمَاAsضَرَبَbeatالْيَعْسُوبُthe leader beeإِنْifعَافَshunnedبَاقِرٌBaqir
As the leader bee beats [the hive] if Baqir shuns the water ... and what is his fault if Baqir shuns the water?
وَمَاAnd whatذَنْبُهُis his faultإِنْifعَافَتِshunnedالْمَاءَthe waterبَاقِرُBaqir
and what is his fault if Baqir shuns the water?
وَقَالَAnd saidغَيْرُهُanother
And another said:
إِذَاWhenعَرَكَتْpunishedعِجْلٌIjlبِنَاagainst usذَنْبَthe crime ofطَيِّئٍTayyi
When Ijl punished against us the crime of Tayyi ... we punished against Tayyi the crime of the children of Ijl.
عَرَكْنَاwe punishedبِتَيْمِwith Taimاللَّاتِal-Latذَنْبَthe crime ofبَنِيthe sons ofعِجْلٍIjl
we punished against Tayyi the crime of the children of Ijl.
وَقَالَAnd saidسَعِيدُSaeedبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdulالرَّحْمَنِRahmanبْنِson ofحَسَّانَHassan
And Saeed bin Abdul Rahman bin Hassan said:
وَإِنَّAnd indeedامْرَأًa manيُمْسِيwho spends his eveningوَيُصْبِحُand morningسَالِماًsafe
And a man who spends his evening and morning safe from people, except for what Saeed has committed.
مِنَfromالنَّاسِthe peopleإِلَّاexceptمَاwhatجَنَىcommittedلِسَعِيدِfor Saeed
except for what Saeed has committed.
قِيلَIt was saidوَأُتِيَand was broughtعَبْدُAbdulالصَّمَدِSamadبْنُson ofعَلِيٍّAliبِأُناسٍwith peopleمِنَfromالشُّطَّارِthe rowdy ruffians
It was said: Abdul Samad bin Ali was brought some rowdy ruffians, and he ordered them to be beaten and their heads and beards shaved. So that was done to them.
فَأَمَرَso he orderedبِضَرْبِهِمْtheir beatingوَحَلْقِand the shaving ofرُؤُوسِهِمْtheir headsوَلِحَاهُمْand their beards
and he ordered them to be beaten and their heads and beards shaved.
فَفُعِلَSo it was doneبِهِمْto themذَلِكَthat
So that was done to them.
وَكَانَAnd there wasفِيهِمْamong themرَجُلٌa manسَنَاطُbeardless
And among them was a beardless man, so it was said to him: This one has no beard, shall we increase his beating?
فَقِيلَSo it was saidلَهُto himإِنَّIndeedهَذَاthis oneلَيْسَتْis notلَهُfor himلِحْيَةٌa beardفَهَلْso shouldنَزِيدُهُwe increase himفِيinالضَّرْبِthe beating
so it was said to him: This one has no beard, shall we increase his beating?
قَالَHe saidلَاNoوَلَكِنِbutاحْلِقُواshaveلِحْيَةَthe beard ofهَذَاthisالشُّرْطِيِّpolicemanمَكَانَهُin his place
He said: No, but shave the beard of this policeman in his place.
مَحَاسِنُThe Virtues ofالسَّطْوَةِBoldness
The Virtues of Boldness
قِيلَIt was saidوَبَلَغَand it reachedمِنْfromعَدْلِthe justice ofهُرْمُزَHormuzبْنِson ofكِسْرَىChosroesآنُوشِرْوَانَAnoshirwan
It was said: It reached of the justice of Hormuz bin Chosroes Anoshirwan that he rode out one day to Sabat Al-Mada'in for recreation, and his passage was across vineyards and orchards.
أَنَّهُthat heرَكِبَrodeذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayإِلَىtoسَابَاطِSabat ofالْمَدَائِنِAl-Mada'inمُتَنَزِّهاًrecreating
that he rode out one day to Sabat Al-Mada'in for recreation
وَكَانَAnd wasمَمَرُّهُhis passageعَلَىuponكُرُومٍvineyardsوَبَسَاتِينِand orchards
and his passage was across vineyards and orchards.
وَأَنَّAnd thatرَجُلاًa manمِنْfromأَسَاوِرَتِهِhis guards / cavalrymenاطَّلَعَlooked overعَلَىatكَرْمٍa vineyard
And that a man from his guards looked over at a vineyard and saw unripe sour grapes in it.
فَرَأَىand sawفِيهِin itحِصْرِماًsour grapesغَضّاًfresh/unripe
and saw unripe sour grapes in it,
فَأَمَرَso he orderedغُلَامَهُhis servantفَنَزَلَso he descendedإِلَيْهِto itوَأَخَذَand tookمِنْfromعَنَاقِيدَclusters
so he ordered his servant, who descended to it and took some clusters, and said to him: Bring it to the house to cook sour-grape broth.
وَقَالَand saidلَهُto himانْطَلِقْSet offبِهِwith itإِلَىtoالْمَنْزِلِthe houseلِيَطْبُخَso that he cooksمَرَقَةًa brothحِصْرِمِيَّةًsour-grape
and said to him: Bring it to the house to cook sour-grape broth.
فَأَقْبَلَSo advancedحَافِظُthe keeper ofذَلِكَthatالْكَرْمِvineyardفَتَعَلَّقَand grabbedبِالْغُلَامِthe servantوَصَاحَand shouted
So the keeper of that vineyard came forward, grabbed the servant, and shouted until that reached his master.
حَتَّىuntilبَلَغَit reachedذَلِكَthatصَاحِبَهُhis master
and shouted until that reached his master.
فَفَزِعَSo he panickedوَتَخَوَّفَand fearedعُقُوبَةَthe punishment ofالْمَلِكِthe king
So he panicked and feared the punishment of the king, and he gave his belt to the keeper of that vineyard.
فَدَفَعَand he paidمِنْطَقَتَهُhis beltإِلَىtoحَافِظِthe keeper ofذَلِكَthatالْكَرْمِvineyard
and he gave his belt to the keeper of that vineyard,
وَكَانَتْand it wasمُحَلَّاةًadornedبِالذَّهَبِwith goldمُرَصَّعَةًembeddedبِالْجَوْهَرِwith jewels
and it was adorned with gold, embedded with jewels.
فَافْتَدَىSo he ransomedبِهَاwith itنَفْسَهُhimselfمِنْfromعُقُوبَةِthe punishment ofالْمَلِكِthe king
So he ransomed himself with it from the king's punishment and saw that the keeper of that vineyard had the upper hand over him.
وَرَأَىand sawأَنَّthatلِحَافِظِfor the keeper ofذَلِكَthatالْكَرْمِvineyardعَلَيْهِover himالْفَضْلَthe virtue/favor
and saw that the keeper of that vineyard had the upper hand over him.
وَبَلَغَAnd it reachedمِنْfromعَدْلِهِhis justiceأَيْضاًalso
And it also reached of his justice that his son Parvez's riding-beast fell in some of his journey into a crop along his way and damaged it.
أَنَّthatابْنَهُhis sonأَبْرَوِيزَParvezوَقَعَfellمَرْكَبٌriding-beastمِنْofمَرَاكِبِهِhis riding-beasts
that his son Parvez's riding-beast fell in some of his journey into a crop along his way and damaged it.
فِيinبَعْضِsome ofمَسِيرِهِhis journeyفِيintoزَرْعٍa cropعَلَىalongطَرِيقِهِhis wayفَأَفْسَدَهُand damaged it
into a crop along his way and damaged it.
فَأَقْبَلَSo came forwardصَاحِبُthe owner ofالزَّرْعِthe cropإِلَىtoذَلِكَthatالْمَرْكَبِriding-beastفَأَخَذَهُand seized it
So the owner of the crop came forward to that riding-beast and seized it, and went to the official appointed to look into the grievances of the subjects.
وَصَارَand wentإِلَىtoالْمُوَكَّلِthe officialبِالنَّظَرِappointed to lookفِيintoمَظَالِمِgrievances ofالرَّعِيَّةِthe subjects
and went to the official appointed to look into the grievances of the subjects.
فَرَفَعَSo he raisedأَمْرَهُhis matterإِلَىtoالْمَلِكِthe king
So he raised his matter to the king.
فَأَمَرَSo orderedالْمَلِكُthe kingبِالْفَرَسِregarding the horseأَنْthatتُجْدَعَare slit/cutأُذُنَاهُits two earsوَيُقْطَعَand is cutذَنَبُهُits tail
So the king ordered that the horse's ears be slit and its tail cut, and that Chosroes Parvez's owner be fined an amount of one hundred times what he damaged of that crop.
وَيُغَرَّمَand is finedصَاحِبُهُits ownerكِسْرَىChosroesأَبْرَوِيزَParvezمِقْدَارَamount ofمِائَةِa hundredضِعْفٍtimesمِمَّاwhatأَفْسَدَit damagedمِنْofذَلِكَthatالزَّرْعِcrop
and that Chosroes Parvez's owner be fined an amount of one hundred times what he damaged of that crop.
فَخَرَجَSo went outالْمُوَكَّلُthe officialبِذَلِكَwith thatمِنْfromعِنْدِatالْمَلِكِthe kingلِيُنَفِّذَto executeأَمْرَthe command ofالْمَلِكِthe kingفِيregardingفَرَسِthe horse ofابْنِهِhis son
So the official left from the king to execute the king's order regarding his son's horse. His son bore down upon him with a group of the great Maraziba (noble commanders)
فَتَحَمَّلَand bore downعَلَيْهِupon himابْنُهُhis sonبِنَفَرٍwith a groupمِنْofعُظَمَاءِgreat ones ofالْمَرَازِبَةِthe Maraziba
His son bore down upon him with a group of great Maraziba
وَسَأَلُوهُand they asked himأَنْthatيَصْفَحَhe pardonsعَمَّاwhatأَمَرَorderedبِهِwith itالْمَلِكُthe king
and asked him to pardon what the king had ordered,
عَلَىon conditionأَنْthatيُغَرَّمَbe finedكِسْرَىChosroesلِصَاحِبِfor the owner ofالزَّرْعِthe cropأَلْفَيْtwo thousandضِعْفٍtimesمَاwhatأَفْسَدَdamagedالْمَرْكَبُthe riding-beastمِنْofزَرْعِهِhis crop
on condition that Chosroes be fined for the crop owner two thousand times what the riding-beast damaged of his crop.
فَلَمْSo he did notيُجِبْهُمْanswer themالْمُوَكَّلُthe officialإِلَىtoذَلِكَthat
So the official did not answer them in that, and took the horse, and slit its two ears, and cut its tail, and fined Chosroes one hundred times what the riding-beast damaged of the man's crop, and returned it to him.
وَأَخَذَand he tookالْفَرَسَthe horseفَجَدَعَand slitأُذُنَيْهِits two earsوَقَطَعَand cutذَنَبَهُits tail
and took the horse, and slit its two ears, and cut its tail,
وَغَرَّمَand finedكِسْرَىChosroesمِئَةَa hundredضِعْفٍtimesمَاwhatأَفْسَدَdamagedالْمَرْكَبُthe riding-beastمِنْofزَرْعِcrop ofالرَّجُلِthe manوَرَدَّهُand returned itإِلَيْهِto him
and fined Chosroes one hundred times what the riding-beast damaged of the man's crop, and returned it to him.
وَحُكِيَAnd it was narratedعَنْaboutبَهْرَامَBahramجُوبِينَChubin
And it was narrated about Bahram Chubin that a man from his entourage, on his journey to the king of the Turks, took a measure of straw from a farmer's wife.
أَنَّthatرَجُلاًa manمِنْfromخَاصَّتِهِhis entourageفِيinمَسِيرِهِhis journeyإِلَىtoمَلِكِthe king ofالتُّرْكِthe Turks
that a man from his entourage, on his journey to the king of the Turks,
أَخَذَtookمِنْfromامْرَأَةِwife ofأَكَّارٍa farmerسُبَّةَa measure/bunch ofتِبْنٍstraw
took a measure of straw from a farmer's wife, so she complained about that to Bahram.
فَشَكَتْso she complainedذَلِكَthatإِلَىtoبَهْرَامَBahram
so she complained about that to Bahram.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedالرَّجُلَthe manفَضُرِبَتْso was struckعُنُقُهُhis neck
So he ordered the man, and his neck was struck, and his spoils were given to the woman in exchange for her straw.
وَدُفِعَand was paidسَلَبُهُhis spoilsإِلَىtoالْمَرْأَةِthe womanبَدَلاًin exchangeمِنْforتِبْنِهَاher straw
and his spoils were given to the woman in exchange for her straw.
قِيلَIt was saidوَبَلَغَand it reachedمِنْfromعَدْلِthe justice ofكِسْرَىChosroesآنُوشِرْوَانَAnoshirwan
It was said: And it reached of the justice of Chosroes Anoshirwan that he took two maidservants and ordered that one stand to his right and the other stand to his left, with two rods of gold in their hands, while he sat to look into the affairs of the people.
أَنَّهُthat heاتَّخَذَtookوَصِيفَتَيْنِtwo maidservantsوَأَمَرَand orderedأَنْthatتَقُومَstandsوَاحِدَةٌoneعَنْfromيَمِينِهِhis right
that he took two maidservants and ordered that one stand to his right
وَتَقُومَand standsالْأُخْرَىthe otherعَنْfromشِمَالِهِhis leftبِأَيْدِيهِمَاin their handsقَضِيبَانِtwo rodsمِنْofذَهَبٍgold
and the other stand to his left, with two rods of gold in their hands,
وَهُوَwhile heجَالِسٌsittingلِيَنْظُرَto lookفِيintoأُمُورِaffairs ofالنَّاسِthe people
while he sat to look into the affairs of the people.
فَكَانَAnd he wasإِذَاwhenكَادَhe almostأَنْtoتَسْهُوَslacken/lapseحَرَّكَتَاهُthey moved himبِالْقَضِيبِwith the rod
So whenever he almost lapsed, they would move him with the rod and say to him while the subjects were listening:
وَقَالَتَاand they saidلَهُto himوَالرَّعِيَّةُwhile the subjectsيَسْمَعُونَare listening
and they said to him while the subjects were listening:
أَيُّهَاOالْمَلِكُKingانْتَبِهْwake upأَنْتَyou areمَخْلُوقٌa created beingلَاnotخَالِقٌa creator
O King, wake up! You are a created being, not a creator; you are a slave, not a master; you are mortal, not eternal. There is no kinship between you and Allah, Majestic and Exalted, so look out for yourself and do justice to the people.
أَنْتَyou areعَبْدٌa slaveلَاnotمَوْلَىًa master
you are a slave, not a master;
أَنْتَyou areفَانٍmortalلَاnotبَاقٍeternal
you are mortal, not eternal.
لَيْسَThere is notبَيْنَكَbetween youوَبَيْنَand betweenاللَّهِAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعِزَّand Exaltedقَرَابَةٌkinship
There is no kinship between you and Allah, Majestic and Exalted,
فَانْظُرْso lookلِنَفْسِكَfor yourselfوَانْصِفِand do justice toالنَّاسَthe people
so look out for yourself and do justice to the people.
فَمَضَىSo he proceededعَلَىuponهَذَاthisحَتَّىuntilأَتَاهُcame to himالْيَقِينُthe certainty (death)
So he proceeded upon this until certainty (death) came to him.
وَقَالَAnd saidأَرْدَشِيرُArdashir
And Ardashir said: Neglecting legal punishments emboldens criminals, and the day of justice against the oppressor is more bitter than the day of the oppressor against the oppressed.
تَعْطِيلُNeglectingالْحُدُودِthe legal punishmentsتَضْرِيَةٌemboldeningلِلْمُجْرِمِينَfor criminals
Neglecting legal punishments emboldens criminals,
وَيَوْمُand the day ofالْعَدْلِjusticeعَلَىagainstالظَّالِمِthe oppressorأَمَرُّmore bitterمِنْthanيَوْمِthe day ofالظَّالِمِthe oppressorعَلَىagainstالْمَظْلُومِthe oppressed
and the day of justice against the oppressor is more bitter than the day of the oppressor against the oppressed.
الْمَدَائِنِيُّAl-Mada'iniقَالَsaid
Al-Mada'ini said: A man from the Dehqans passed by during the days of Ziyad with a donkey carrying wine. The guards seized him and said: Did you not know that the emir has forbidden the introduction of wine into the city?
مَرَّPassedرَجُلٌa manمِنَfromالدَّهَاقِينِthe Dehqansأَيَّامَin the days ofزِيَادٍZiyadبِحِمَارٍwith a donkeyقَدْthat had beenحُمِلَladenعَلَيْهِupon itخَمْرٌwine
A man from the Dehqans passed by during the days of Ziyad with a donkey carrying wine.
فَأَخَذَهُSo seized himالْحَرَسُthe guardsوَقَالُواand saidأَلَمْdid you notتَعْلَمْknowأَنَّthatالْأَمِيرَthe emirقَدْhasنَهَىforbiddenعَنْfromإِدْخَالِintroducingالْخَمْرِwineإِلَىtoمِصْرَthe city/capital
The guards seized him and said: Did you not know that the emir has forbidden the introduction of wine into the city?
قَالَHe saidبَلَىYesوَهَذَاand thisالْخَمْرُwineلِلْأَمِيرِis for the emir
He said: Yes, and this wine is for the emir.
فَلَمَّاSo whenبَلَغَreachedزِيَاداًZiyadذَلِكَthatقَالَhe saidهَذَاthisرَجُلٌis a manاحْتَالَwho schemedلِلْوُصُولِto reachإِلَيَّme
So when that reached Ziyad, he said: This is a man who schemed to reach me. So he summoned him and said: What is your matter?
فَدَعَاSo he summonedبِهِhimوَقَالَand saidمَاwhatأَمْرُكَis your matter
So he summoned him and said: What is your matter?
قَالَHe saidلِيI haveأَرْضٌlandعِنْدَnearنَهْرِthe river ofالْمَرْأَةِthe Womanفِيهَاin itنَخْلٌpalm trees
He said: I have land near Nahr al-Mar'ah containing palm trees. The son of the Woman sent his servants to harvest some of the palm trees.
فَأَرْسَلَSo sentابْنُthe son ofالْمَرْأَةِthe Womanغِلْمَانَهُhis servantsلِيَصْرِمُواto harvestبَعْضَsome ofالنَّخْلِthe palm trees
The son of the Woman sent his servants to harvest some of the palm trees.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidلَهُمْto themخُذُواTakeحَاجَتَكُمْyour needمِنْهَاfrom itوَلَاand do notتُفْسِدُواdamage
So I said to them: Take your need from it and do not damage. So they took what they wanted and came to him and informed him of my statement.
فَأَخَذُواSo they tookمَاwhatأَرَادُواthey wantedوَأَتَوْهُand came to himفَأَخْبَرُوهُand informed himمَقَالَتِيof my statement
So they took what they wanted and came to him and informed him of my statement.
فَأَرْسَلَSo he sentإِلَيَّto meوَضَرَبَنِيand beat meوَعَقَرَand hamstrung/cut downنَخْلِيmy palm trees
So he sent for me, beat me, and cut down my palm trees.
فَأَرْسَلَSo sentزِيَادٌZiyadمَعَهُwith himرَجُلاًa manوَقَالَand saidلَهُto himانْطَلِقْSet offبِهِwith him
So Ziyad sent a man with him and said to him: Set off with him. When you are close to the land he mentions, ask whoever you meet of man and woman about what he says.
فَإِذَاAnd whenكُنْتَyou areقَرِيباًcloseمِنَtoالْأَرْضِthe landالَّتِيwhichيَذْكُرُhe mentions
When you are close to the land he mentions,
فَسَلْthen askمَنْwhoeverلَقِيتَyou meetمِنْofرَجُلٍmanوَامْرَأَةٍand womanعَمَّاabout whatيَقُولُhe says
ask whoever you meet of man and woman about what he says.
فَإِنِIfاجْتَمَعُواthey agreeعَلَىuponمَقَالَةٍa statementوَاحِدَةٍoneوَرَأَيْتَand you seeالنَّخْلَthe palm treesقَدْhave beenعُقِرَcut down
If they agree on one statement and you see the palm trees have been cut down, then take the one who ordered them to be cut and give him three hours respite.
فَخُذِthen takeالَّذِيthe one whoأَمَرَorderedبِقَطْعِهَاcutting themفَأَجِّلْهُand give him respiteثَلَاثَthreeسَاعَاتٍhours
then take the one who ordered them to be cut and give him three hours respite.
فَإِنْIfأَتَاكَhe brings youبِقِيمَةِthe value ofالنَّخْلِthe palm treesلِكُلِّfor everyنَخْلَةٍpalm treeأَلْفُa thousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsفَخَلِّthen let goسَبِيلَهُhis way
If he brings you the value of the palm trees—one thousand dirhams for every palm tree—then let him go.
وَإِنْAnd ifمَضَتِpassالثَّلَاثُthe threeسَاعَاتٍhoursوَلَمْand he does notيَأْتِكَbring youبِذَلِكَthatفَاضْرِبْthen strikeعُنُقَهُhis neckوَأْتِنِيand bring meبِرَأْسِهِhis head
And if the three hours pass and he does not bring you that, then strike his neck and bring me his head.
وَمَضَىAnd wentالرَّسُولُthe messengerفَسَأَلَand askedفَكَانَand it wasالْأَمْرُthe matterكَمَاasحَكَاهُhe narrated it
The messenger went and asked, and the matter was as he narrated it.
فَأَغْرَمَSo he finedقَاطِعَthe cutter ofالنَّخْلِthe palm treesأَرْبَعِينَfortyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsوَحُمِلَand was carriedالْمَالُthe wealthإِلَىtoزِيَادٍZiyad
So he fined the cutter of the palm trees forty thousand dirhams, and the wealth was carried to Ziyad.
فَقَالَHe saidلَوْHadأَتَيْتَنِيyou brought meبِرَأْسِهِhis headكَانَit would have beenأَحَبَّmore belovedإِلَيَّto me
He said: Had you brought me his head, it would have been more beloved to me. And he gave the wealth to the owner of the palm trees.
وَدَفَعَAnd he paidالْمَالَthe wealthإِلَىtoصَاحِبِthe owner ofالنَّخْلِthe palm trees
And he gave the wealth to the owner of the palm trees.
مَحَاسِنُThe Virtues ofالْعَفْوِForgiveness
The Virtues of Forgiveness