al mahasin wal masawi al bayhaqi

وَاللَّهِBy Allah,لَكَأَنِّيit is indeed as ifأَنْظُرُI lookإِلَىatشُؤْبُوبِهَاits downpour

قَدْhasهَمَعَpouredوَإِلَىand atعَارِضِهَاits cloudقَدْhasلَمَعَgleamed,

وَكَأَنِّيand as ifبِالْوَعِيدِwith the threatقَدْhasأَوْرَىkindledنَاراًa fire

فَأَقْلَعَthen refrainedعَنْfromبَرَاجِمَknucklesبِلَاwithoutمَعَاصِمَwrists

وَرُؤُوسٍand headsبِلَاwithoutغَلَاصِمَ،throats,

مَهْلاًslowlyمَهْلاًslowlyبَنِيsons ofهَاشِمٍHashim,

فَبِيfor through meسَهَّلَmade easyاللَّهُAllahالْوَعْرَthe rugged terrain

وَصَفَّىand clarifiedالْكَدَرَthe turbid,وَأَلْقَتِand castالْأُمُورُaffairsأَزِمَّتَهَا.their reins.

نِذَارِBewareمِنْofحُلُولِthe befalling ofدَاهِيَةٍa calamityخَبُوطٍstrikingبِالْيَدِwith the handلَبُوطٍkickingبِالرِّجْلِ.with the foot.

فَقَالَSo saidعَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِ:al-Malik:أَفَذّاًindividuallyأَتَكَلَّمُdo I speakأَمْorتَوْأَماً؟in pairs?

قَالَ:He said:بَلْRather,تَوْأَماً.in pairs.

فَقَالَ:He said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,اتَّقِfearاللَّهَAllahفِيمَاregarding whatوَلَّاكَ،He entrusted you with,

وَرَاقِبْهُand be mindful of Himفِيمَاregarding whatاسْتَرْعَاكَ،He made you shepherd of,وَلَاand do notتَجْعَلِmakeالشُّكْرَgratitudeبِمَوْضِعِin the place ofالْكُفْرِ،ingratitude,

وَلَاand do notالثَّوَابَrewardبِمَحَلِّin the place ofالْعِقَابِ،punishment,

وَاللَّهَand AllahاللَّهَAllahفِيregardingرَحِمِكَyour kinshipأَنْthatتَقْطَعَهَاyou sever itبَعْدَafterأَنْthatوَصَلْتَهَاyou joined itبِظَنٍّdue to a suspicionيُؤْثِمُthat brings sin

ثُمَّthenتَقُولُyou sayبَاغٍan aggressorيَنْهَسُwho tearsاللَّحْمَthe fleshوَوَلَغَand lappedفِيinالدَّمِ،blood,

فَقَدْfor indeedجَمَعْتَyou have gatheredالْقُلُوبَheartsعَلَىuponمَحَبَّتِكَyour loveوَذَلَّلْتَand subduedالرِّجَالَmenلِطَاعَتِكَto your obedience

وَكُنْتَand you wereكَمَاasقَالَsaidأَخُوthe brother ofكِلَابٍKilabلَبِيدُLabidبْنُson ofرَبِيعَةَ:Rabi'ah:

وَمَقَامٍAnd a standingضَيِّقٍstraitenedفَرَّجْتُهُI relieved it......بِلِسَانِيwith my tongueوَبَيَانِيand my eloquenceوَجَدَلِيand my argumentation

لَوْIfيَقُومُstandsالْفِيلُthe elephantأَوْorفَيَّالُهُits handler......زَلَّwould slipعَنْfromمِثْلِيthe likes of meمَقَامِيmy stationوَزَجَلِيand my clamor

فَوَثَبَThen leapedالرَّشِيدُal-Rashidمِنْfromمَجْلِسِهِhis seatوَاعْتَنَقَهُand embraced him

وَجَعَلَand beganيُقَبِّلُkissingمَاwhatبَيْنَis betweenعَيْنَيْهِhis eyesوَيَسْتَرْجِعُand reciting 'Inna lillah'وَيَعْتَذِرُand apologizing

ثُمَّthenخَلَعَbestowedعَلَيْهِupon himحُلَلَrobes ofالرِّضَىapprovalوَتَنَفَّسَand he breathedالصُّعَدَاءَa deep sighوَقَالَ:and said:

وَاللَّهِBy Allah,لَقَدْindeedدَعَوْتُهُI called himوَإِنِّيwhile Iلَأَرَىsawمَوْضِعَthe place ofالسَّيْفِthe swordمِنْatقَفَاهُhis nape

وَهَاand hereأَنَاam Iذَاnowنَادِمٌremorsefulعَلَىforمَاwhatكَانَwasمَنِّي،from me,

وَاللَّهُand AllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mighty is Heيَتَجَاوَزُwill overlookبِقُدْرَتِهِby His powerعَنْthatذَلِكَ.over.

قَالَ:He said:وَظَفِرَAnd capturedالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munبِرَجُلٍa manكَانَwho wasيَطْلُبُهُ،seeking him,

فَلَمَّاso whenدَخَلَhe enteredعَلَيْهِupon himقَالَ:he said:يَاOعَدُوَّenemy ofاللَّهِAllah,أَنْتَyou areالَّذِيthe one whoتُفْسِدُcauses corruptionفِيinالْأَرْضِthe earthبِغَيْرِwithoutحَقٍّ،right,

يَاOغُلَامُboy,خُذْهُtake himإِلَيْكَwith youوَاسْقِهِand give him to drinkكَأْسَthe cup ofالْمَوْتِ.death.

فَقَالَ:So he said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,إِنْifرَأَيْتَyou see fitأَنْtoتَسْتَبْقِيَنِيspare meحَتَّىuntilأُؤَيِّدَكَI support youبِمَالٍ؟with wealth?

قَالَ:He said:لَيْسَThere isإِلَىtoذَلِكَthatسَبِيلٌ.any way.

قَالَ:He said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,فَدَعْنِيthen let meأُصَلِّprayرَكْعَتَيْنِtwo rak'ahsأَخْتِمُwith which I concludeبِهِمَاthemعَمَلِي.my deeds.

قَالَ:He said:لَيْسَThere isإِلَىtoذَلِكَthatسَبِيلٌ.any way.

قَالَ:He said:فَدَعْنِيThen let meأُنْشِدْreciteأَبْيَاتاً.verses.

قَالَ:He said:هَاتِ.Bring them forth.فَقَالَ:So he recited:

زَعَمُواThey claimedبِأَنَّthatالصَّقْرَthe falconصَادَفَencounteredمَرَّةًonce......عُصْفُورَa sparrow ofبَرٍّthe wildernessسَاقَهُdriven to it byالْمَقْدُورُdestiny

فَتَكَلَّمَThen spokeالْعُصْفُورُthe sparrowتَحْتَbeneathجَنَاحِهِits wing......وَالصَّقْرُwhile the falconمُنْقَضٌّwas swooping downعَلَيْهِupon itيَطِيرُflying

مَاI am notكُنْتُbeingخَامِيزاًa greasy/fillingلِمِثْلِكَfor the likes of youلُقْمَةًmorsel......وَلَئِنْand ifشُوِيتَyou roast meفَإِنَّنِيthen indeed I amلَحَقِيرُvery insignificant

فَتَهَاوَنَSo showed leniencyالصَّقْرُthe falconالْمُدَلُّboastfulبِصَيْدِهِof its prey......كَرَماًout of generosityوَأَفْلَتَand let escapeذَلِكَthatالْعُصْفُورُsparrow

فَقَالَSo saidالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:أَحْسَنْتَ!Well done!مَاdidجَرَىrunذَلِكَthatعَلَىuponلِسَانِكَyour tongueإِلَّاexceptلِبَقِيَّةٍfor a remainderبَقِيَتْthat remainedمِنْofعُمُرِكَ.your life.

فَأَطْلَقَهُSo he freed himوَخَلَعَand bestowed robesعَلَيْهِupon himوَوَصَلَهُ.and rewarded him.

قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd saidعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِcompanion ofصَاحِبُal-Ma'munالْمَأْمُونِ:al-Ma'mun:دَخْلْتُI enteredعَلَىuponالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munفَإِذَاand beholdنِطْعٌa leather matمَبْسُوطٌspread outوَرَجُلٌand a manفَوْقَهُupon itعَلَىatرَأْسِهِhis headرَجُلٌa manمَسْلُولٌdrawnسَيْفُهُ.his sword.

فَلَمَّاSo whenنَظَرَhe lookedإِلَيَّat meالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munقَالَ:he said:يَاOعَبْدَAbdullah,اللَّهِAbdullahشَأْنَكَattend to your businessوَالرَّجُلَ.with the man.

فَحَسَرْتُSo I baredعَنْfromذِرَاعِيmy forearmوَقُمْتُand stoodفَوْقَaboveرَأْسِهِhis headوَاخْتَرَطْتُand unsheathedسَيْفِي،my sword,

فَسُلِّطَThen overcameعَلَىuponالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munالنُّعَاسُdrowsinessفَجَعَلَso he beganيَخْفِقُnoddingبِرَأْسِهِwith his headوَيَقُولُ:and saying:أَسْتَخِيرُI seek the guidance ofاللَّهَ.Allah.

فَلَمَّاSo whenكَانَit wasعِنْدَatالْمَسَاءِeveningقَالَhe saidلِي:to me:شَأْنَكَtake charge ofوَالرَّجُلَthe manاحْفَظْهُ.guard him.

فَطَرَحْتُSo I threwحَمَائِلَthe belt ofسَيْفِيmy swordفِيaroundعُنُقِهِhis neckوَأَرْدَفْتُهُand made him ride behind meخَلْفِيbehind meوَذَهَبْتُand wentبِهِwith himإِلَىtoمَنْزِلِيmy house

ثُمَّthenعُدْتُI returnedالْيَوْمَon the dayالثَّانِيsecondإِلَىtoالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munفَفَعَلَand he didكَفِعْلِهِlike his action ofأَمْسِ.yesterday.

فَلَمَّاSo whenكَانَit wasالْيَوْمُthe dayالثَّالِثُthirdقَالَsaidلِيto meالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:خَلِّreleaseعَنِtheالرَّجُلِmanوَأَعْطِهِand give himعَشَرَةَtenآلافِthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.

فَأَرْدَفْتُهُSo I had him ride behind meخَلْفِيbehind meوَلَمْand I did notأَجْعَلْputحَمَائِلَthe belt ofالسَّيْفِthe swordفِيinعُنُقِهِ.his neck.

فَقَالَSo saidلِي:to me:مَاWhat isلَكَthe matter with youلَمْthat you did notتُلْقِcastحَمَائِلَthe belt ofالسَّيْفِthe swordفِيinعُنُقِي؟my neck?

قُلْتُ:I said:إِنَّهُIndeed, youقَدْhave beenعُفِيَpardonedعَنْكَ.regarding you.

قَالَ:He said:فَخَلِّThen releaseعَنِّيmeإِذاً.then.

قُلْتُ:I said:أَمَرَنِيHe commanded meأَنْthatأُعْطِيَكَI give youعَشَرَةَtenآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.

قَالَ:He said:لَاNoحَاجَةَneedلِيhave Iفِيهَا،for them,خَلِّreleaseعَنِّي.me.

قَالَ:He said:إِذَاIfأُمِرْنَاwe are commandedبِأَمْرٍwith a commandانْتَهَيْنَاwe complyإِلَيْهِ.with it.

ثُمَّThenقُلْتُI saidلَهُ:to him:كُنْتَyou used toتُهَمْهِمُmutterفِيbehindقَفَايَmy backإِذَاwhenأَنَاIأَرْدَفْتُكَmade you rideبِشَيْءٍwith somethingفَمَاso whatكُنْتَwere youتَقُولُ؟saying?

قَالَ:He said:كُنْتُI used toأَقُولُ:say:اللَّهُمَّO Allah,أَنْتَYou areكُلَّeveryيَوْمٍdayفِيinشَأْنٍa matter,

لَاdoes notيَشْغَلُكَdistract Youشَأْنٌany matterعَنْfromشَأْنٍanother matter,فَاجْعَلْنِيso make meمِنْofشَأْنِكَYour concern

حَتَّىuntilتَنْقُلَYou transferمَاwhatفِيis inقَلْبِthe heart ofهَذَاthisالرَّجُلِmanمِنَfromالْغَضَبِangerإِلَىtoالرِّضَىapproval

وَمِنَand fromالْغِلْظَةِharshnessإِلَىtoاللِّينِgentlenessوَالرِّقَّةِand softnessيَاOأَرْحَمَMost Mercifulالرَّاحِمِينَ.of the merciful.

وَعَنْAnd on the authority ofإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimبْنِson ofالْمَهْدِيِّal-Mahdiأَنَّهُthat heبَيْنَمَاwhileهُوَheفِيwas inمَجْلِسِthe assembly ofالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munإِذْwhenتَكَلَّمَhe spokeبِكَلَامٍwith wordsأَسْقَطَwherein he erredفِيهِin themوَكَانَand his wordsكَلَامُهُwereيَحْتَمِلُopen toأَمْرَيْنِ.two interpretations.

فَقَامَSo he stood upوَعَلِمَand knewأَنَّهُthat heقَدْhadأَخْطَأَerredفَقَالَ:and said:إِنْIfرَأَىsees fitسَيِّدِيmy masterأَنْtoيَأْذَنَpermitلِيmeفِيtoالْكَلَامِ.speak.

قَالَ:He said:قُلْ.Speak.

قَالَ:He said:نِسَاؤُهُHis wivesطَوَالِقُare divorcedوَمَالُهُand his wealthصَدَقَةٌis charityوَعَبِيدُهُand his slavesأَحْرارٌare freeوَكُلُّand everyنَذْرٍvowوَضَعَهُplaced byاللَّهُAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand MightyبَيْنَbetweenعِبَادِهِHis servants

فَفِيis uponعُنُقِهِhis neckدُونَto the exclusion ofالْخَلْقِcreationحَتَّىuntilيَفِيَhe fulfillsبِهِitإِنْifكَانَwasمَاwhatتَكَلَّمَhe spokeبِهِofإِلَّاexceptلِجِهَةِfor the aspect ofكَذَاsuch and suchوَكَذَاand such and suchوَتَأْوِيلِand the interpretation ofكَذَاsuch and suchوَكَذَا.and such and such.

قَالَ:He said:فَتَبَسَّمَSo smiledالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munوَقَالَ:and said:اجْلِسْ،Sit down,إِنِّيfor Iوَاللَّهِby Allahمَاdid notذَهَبْتُgoحَيْثُwhereظَنَنْتَyou thought

وَمَاand I wasكُنْتُnotلِأَعْفُوَone to pardonعَنِtheالْكُلِّwholeوَأَخُذَand takeبِالْجُزْءِ،the part,

وَلَوْلَاand had it not been thatأَنِّيI amفِيinمَجْلِسٍan assemblyيَرِقُّthat softensعَنِregardingالْإِغْضَاءِoverlookingعَلَىmostأَكْثَرِof theالْحَالَاتِsituations

ثُمَّthenبَلَغَreachedمِنِّيmeرَجُلٌfrom a manمَاwhatيَبْلُغُreachesمِنْfromعَبْدِهِhis slave

مَاhe wouldوَجَدَhave foundعِنْدِيwith meإِلَّاexceptالصَّفْحَpardonوَالْعَفْوَ،and forgiveness,

وَمَاand I doأَحْسَبُنِيnot think Iأُؤْجَرُwill be rewardedعَلَيْهِfor itإِذْsinceكَانَit isلَاnotيُؤَثِّرُaffectingفَيَّme

وَإِنَّمَاfor indeedالْأَجْرُthe rewardبِقِسْطِis in proportion toالْأَلَمِthe painوَمِيزَانِand the measure ofالْمَضَضِ.the distress.

وَعَنْAnd on the authority ofبَعْضِهِمْsome of themأَنَّthatوَالِياًa governorأُتِيَwas broughtبِرَجُلٍa manقَدْwho hadجَنَىcommittedجِنَايَةًa crimeفَأَمَرَso he orderedبِضَرْبِهِ،his beating,

فَلَمَّاSo whenمُدَّhe was stretched outقَالَ:he said:بِحَقِّBy the right ofرَأْسِthe head ofأُمِّكَyour motherإِلَّاunlessعَفَوْتَyou pardonعَنِّي!me!

فَأَبَى.So he refused.فَقَالَ:He said:بِحَقِّBy the right ofعَيْنَيْهَا!her eyes!

قَالَ:He said:اضْرِبْ.Strike.قَالَ:He said:بِحَقِّBy the right ofخَدَّيْهَاher cheeksوَنَحْرِهَا!and her neck!

قَالَ:He said:اضْرِبْ.Strike.قَالَ:He said:بِحَقِّBy the right ofثَدْيَيْهَا!her breasts!

قَالَ:He said:اضْرِبْ.Strike.قَالَ:He said:بِحَقِّBy the right ofسُرَّتِهَا!her navel!

قَالَ:He said:دَعُوهُLeave himلَاlestيَنْحَدِرَhe descendsإِلَىtoأَسْفَلَ.lower.

مَسَاوِئُEvils ofتَعَدِّيtransgressing againstالسُّلْطَانِauthority