الشِّعْرُThe poemالأَوَّلُfirstوَالثَّانِيand secondلِأَبِيfor AbuسَعْدٍSa'dالْمَخْزُومِيِّ.Al-Makhzumi.
The first and second poems are for Abu Sa'd Al-Makhzumi.
قَالَSaidحَمْدُونُHamdunبْنُson ofإِسْمَاعِيلَ:Ismail:
Hamdun bin Ismail said:
بَعَثَSentالْأَفْشِينُAl-AfshinإِلَىtoالْمُعْتَصِمِAl-Mu'tasimمِنَfromالْحَبْسِthe prisonأَنْthatيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulمَثَلِيmy exampleوَمَثَلُكَand your exampleمَثَلُis the example ofرَجُلٍa manرَبَّىwho raisedعِجْلًاa calfلَهُfor himحَتَّىuntilأَسْمَنَهُhe fattened itوَكَبُرَand it grewوَحَسُنَتْand improvedحَالُهُits conditionوَكَانَand he hadلَهُcompanionsأَصْحَابٌwhoاشْتَهَوْاdesiredأَنْtoيَأْكُلُواeatمِنْfromلَحْمِهِits meatفَعَرَضُواso they offeredلَهُhimبِذَبْحِslaughteringالْعِجْلِthe calfفَلَمْso he did notيُجِبْهُمْanswer themإِلَىtoذَلِكَ،that,فَاتَّفَقُواso they agreedجَمِيعًاallعَلَىonأَنْthatقَالُواthey saidلَهُto himذَاتَoneيَوْمٍ:day:وَيْحَكَWoe to youلَمْdo you notتَرَseeهَذَاthisالْأَسَدَlionوَقَدْand it hasكَبُرَ؟grown?وَالسَّبُعُAnd the beast of preyإِذَاwhenكَبُرَit growsرَجَعَreturnsإِلَىtoجِنْسِهِ.its kind.فَقَالَSo he saidلَهُمْ:to them:هَذَاThis isعِجْلٌ!a calf!فَقَالُوا:So they said:هَذَاThis isسَبُعٌa beastسَلْaskمَنْwhoeverشِئْتَyou wishعَنْهُ،about it,وَقَدْand they haveتَقَدَّمُواprecededإِلَىtoجَمِيعِallمَنْwhoيَعْرِفُهُknows itأَنَّهُthat itإِنْifسَأَلَهُمْhe asked themعَنْهُabout itقَالُواthey would sayهُوَit isسَبُعٌ.a beast.فَأَمَرَSo he orderedبِالْعِجْلِthe calfفَذُبِحَ.and it was slaughtered.وَلَكِنِّيBut Iأَنَاamذَلِكَthatالْعِجْلُcalfكَيْفَhowأَقْدِرُcan Iأَنْtoأَكُونَbeأَسَدًا؟a lion?اللَّهَAllahاللَّهَAllahفِيregardingأَمْرِيmy affairفَقَدْfor indeedوَجَبَhas become dueحَقِّيmy rightوَأَنْتَand you areسَيِّدِيmy masterوَمَوْلَايَ!and my lord!فَلَمْSo did notيَلْتَفِتِturnالْمُعْتَصِمُAl-Mu'tasimإِلَىtoرِسَالَتِهِ،his message,وَغَلُظَand grew severeعَلَيْهِupon himالْأَمْرُthe matterحَتَّىuntilقِيلَit was saidإِنَّهُthat heقَدْhasمَاتَ،died,فَقَالَso saidالْمُعْتَصِمُ:Al-Mu'tasim:أَرُوهُShow himابْنَهُ.his son.فَأَخْرَجُوهُSo they brought him outمُكَبَّلًاshackledبِالْحَدِيدِin ironفَطَرَحُوهُand threw himبَيْنَbetweenيَدَيْهِ،his hands,فَلَمَّاso whenرَآهُhe saw himنَتَفَhe pluckedلِحْيَتَهُhis beardوَدَعَاand calledبِالْوَيْلِfor woeوَالثُّبُورِand destructionثُمَّthenرَدُوهُthey returned himإِلَىtoمَنْزِلِthe house ofإِيتَاخَ،Iitakh,وَكَانَand he wasيُطْعَمُfedفِيinكُلِّeveryيَوْمٍdayرَغِيفًاa loaf of breadحَتَّىuntilمَاتَhe diedفَأَخْرَجُوهُso they took him outوَصَلَبُوهُand crucified himعَلَىonبَابِthe gate ofالْعَامَّةِAl-Aammahثُمَّthenأُحْرِقَhe was burnedوَرُمِيَand thrownبِهِwith himفِيinدِجْلَةَ.the Tigris.
Al-Afshin sent a message to Al-Mu'tasim from prison saying: O Commander of the Faithful, my example and your example is like a man who raised a calf until it grew fat and big and its condition improved, and he had companions who desired to eat its meat, so they offered to slaughter the calf, but he did not consent. So they all agreed one day to say to him: Woe to you, do you not see this lion that has grown? And the beast of prey, when it grows, returns to its kind. He said to them: This is a calf! They said: This is a beast of prey, ask whoever you wish about it, and they had instructed everyone who knew it that if he asked them about it they would say it is a beast of prey. So he ordered the calf and it was slaughtered. But I am that calf, how can I be a lion? For God's sake, have mercy on my affair, for my right has become due and you are my master and my lord! Al-Mu'tasim did not pay attention to his message, and the matter grew severe upon him until it was said he had died. Al-Mu'tasim said: Show him his son. So they brought him out shackled in iron and threw him before him. When he saw him, he plucked his beard and cried out in woe and destruction, then they returned him to the house of Iitakh, and he was fed a loaf of bread every day until he died. Then they took him out and crucified him at the Bab Al-Aammah, then he was burned and thrown into the Tigris.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَكَانَAnd wasالْعُجَيْفُAl-Ujaifبْنُson ofعَنْبَسَةَAnbasahمِمَّنْfrom those whoخَرَجَrebelledمَعَwithالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbasبْنِson ofالْمَأْمُونِAl-Ma'munعَلَىagainstالْمُعْتَصِمِAl-Mu'tasimوَسَعَىand stroveفِيinالْخِلَافِdissentعَلَيْهِ،against him,قَالَ:he said:فَحَدَّثَنَاSo narrated to usأَبُوAbuطَالِبٍTalibقَالَ:saying:كُنْتُI wasمَعَwithمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِson ofالْفَضْلِAl-FadlالْجَرْجَرَائِيِّAl-Jarjara'iفَالْتَفَتَso he turnedإِلَىtoرَجُلٍa manعِنْدَهُwith himفَقَالَ:and said:حَدِّثْNarrateأَبَاto AbuطَالِبٍTalibبِمَاwhatحَدَّثْتَنِيyou narrated to meبِهِ.about it.فَأَقْبَلَSo turnedعَلَيَّtoward meالرَّجُلُthe manيُحَدِّثُنِي.narrating to me.فَسَأَلْتُSo I askedعَنْهُabout himفَقِيلَ:and it was said:هُوَHe isعُمَرُUmarبْنُson ofعَمْرٍوAmrالْقَرْقَارَةُAl-Qarqarahالْكَاتِبُ.the scribe.
It was said: Al-Ujaif bin Anbasah was among those who rebelled with Al-Abbas bin Al-Ma'mun against Al-Mu'tasim and strove to oppose him. He said: Abu Talib narrated to us, saying: I was with Muhammad bin Al-Fadl Al-Jarjara'i, and he turned to a man with him and said: Narrate to Abu Talib what you narrated to me. So the man turned to me and narrated to me. I asked about him and was told: He is Umar bin Amr Al-Qarqarah the scribe.
قَالَ:He said:كُنْتُI wasأَتَقَلَّدُmanagingضِيَاعَthe estates ofعُجَيْفٍAl-Ujaifبِنَاحِيَةِin the district ofكَسْكَرَKaskarفَرُفِعَand it was raisedعَلَيَّagainst meأَنِّيthat Iخَرَّبْتُruinedضِيَاعَهُhis estatesفَكَتَبَso he wroteفِيregardingحَمْلِي،my being brought,فَأُدْخِلْتُand I was broughtعَلَيْهِto himفِيinدَارِهِhis houseالَّتِيwhichبِسِمْرِwas in Samarraرَأَى(Samarra)وَهُوَwhile heيَطُوفُwas inspectingعَلَىonالضِّيَاعِthe estatesوَعَلَىand uponرَأْسِهِhis headبَرْطَلَةُa hoodخُوصٍ،of palm leaves,فَلَمَّاso whenنَظَرَhe lookedإِلَيَّat meقَالَ:he said:أَخَرَّبْتَDid you ruinضِيَاعِيmy estatesوَأَخَذْتَand takeأَمْوَالِيmy wealthوَاللَّهِby Allahلَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ!I will surely kill you!وَدَعَاAnd he calledبِالسِّيَاطِ،for the whips,فَبِلْتُso I urinatedفَرَقًاout of fearمِنْهُ،of him,فَكَأَنِّيand as if Iأَنْظُرُam lookingإِلَىatالْبَوْلِthe urineيَأْخُذُtakingفِيinسَرَاوِيلِيmy trousersيَمِينًاrightوَشِمَالًا،and left,وَأَوْمَأْتُand I signaledإِلَىtoالْكَاتِبِthe scribeفَالْتَفَتَso turnedالْكَاتِبُthe scribeإِلَىtoعُجَيْفٍAl-Ujaifفَقَالَ:and said:أَيُّهَاOالْأَمِيرُPrinceأَنْتَyou areمَشْغُولُbusyالْقَلْبِof heartبِمَاwith whatيَحْتَاجُrequiresأَنْthatتَأْمُرَyou commandبِهِregarding itوَتُشْرِفَand overseeعَلَيْهِitوَهَذَاand thisفِيis inأَيْدِينَاour handsفَإِنْso ifكَانَwhatمَاwasرُفِعَraisedعَلَيْهِagainst himحَقًّاtrueفَالْأَمِيرُthen the princeمِنْis fromوَرَاءِbehindذَلِكَthatوَإِنْand ifكَانَit wasبَاطِلًاfalseلَمْyou will notتَأْثَمْsinفِيهِ.in it.فَقَالَ:So he said:الْحَبْسُ.Imprisonment.فَلَبِثْتُSo I stayedفِيinالْحَبْسِprisonأَيَّامًاfor daysفَوَجَّهَso sentإِلَيَّto meكَاتِبُthe scribe ofعُجَيْفٍAl-Ujaifفَأَتَيْتُهُ،and I came to him,فَقَالَand he saidلِي:to me:طَابَDid it become pleasantلَكَfor youالْمَكَانُ.the place.مَاWhatمَعَكَ؟do you have with you?فَبَرَرْتُهُSo I treated him kindly withبِشَيْءٍsomethingفَأَطْلَقَنِي.and he released me.فَقُلْتُSo I saidلِغُلَامِي:to my boy:قَدْIndeedنَالَنَاbefell usمِنَfromالْحَبْسِthe imprisonmentوَالْغُرْمِand fineمَاwhatنَالَنَا،befell us,وَصَدِيقِيand my friendفُلَانُso-and-soبْنُson ofفُلَانٍso-and-soصَاحِبُhead ofالدِّيوَانِthe DiwanأَحْتَاجُI needأَنْtoأَلْقَاهُmeet himلَعَلَّperhapsاللَّهَAllahعَزَّAlmightyوَجَلَّand Majesticأَنْwillيُسَهِّلَfacilitateعَمَلًا.work.
He said: I was managing the estates of Al-Ujaif in the district of Kaskar, and it was reported against me that I ruined his estates, so he wrote an order for my arrest. I was brought before him in his house in Samarra while he was inspecting the estates with a palm-leaf hood on his head. When he looked at me, he said: Did you ruin my estates and take my wealth? By Allah, I will surely kill you! And he called for the whips. I urinated out of fear of him, and it was as if I was watching the urine spreading in my trousers right and left. I signaled to the scribe, so the scribe turned to Al-Ujaif and said: O Prince, your heart is occupied with what requires your command and supervision, and this matter is in our hands; if what was reported against him is true, the Prince can deal with it afterwards, and if it is false, you will not sin in it. He said: Imprisonment. So I stayed in prison for a few days, then Al-Ujaif's scribe sent for me and I came to him. He said to me: Did you find the place pleasant? What do you have with you? So I appeased him with something and he released me. I said to my boy: We have suffered from imprisonment and fines, and my friend so-and-so, the head of the Diwan, I need to meet him so that perhaps Allah Almighty may facilitate some work for us.
فَشَخَصَSo he set outفِيهِ.for it.فَأَتَيْتُSo I came toصَدِيقِيmy friendذَلِكَthatفَقَالَand he saidلِي:to me:أَنْتَYou areفِيinالْحَيَاةِ!life!هَاهُنَاHereعَمَلٌis workفِيinدِيَارِthe lands ofرَبِيعَةَRabi'ahأُقَلِّدُكَهُ.I will appoint you to it.فَتَقَلَّدْتُهُSo I accepted the appointmentوَخَرَجْتُand set outأَنَاIوَغُلَامِيand my boyفَمَاand IزِلْتُcontinuedأَسِيرُtravelingحَتَّىuntilأَتَيْتُI came toبَاعَيْنَاثَا،Ba'ainatha,فَغَمَزَنِيand pressed meالْبَوْلُthe urineفِيinالسَّحَرِthe pre-dawnوَهِيَwhile it wasمُقْمِرَةٌmoonlitفَنَزَلْتُso I dismountedعَنْfromدَابَّتِيmy mountوَجَلَسْتُand satوَأَنَاwhile Iأَبُولُwas urinatingفَقُلْتُand I saidلِغُلَامِي:to my boy:وَيْحَكَWoe to youلَكَأَنِّيit is as if Iأَبُولُam urinatingفِيinثِيَابِيmy clothesفَاطْلُبْso seekلِيfor meمَاءً.water.فَقَالَ:So he said:النَّاسُThe peopleنِيَامٌ.are asleep.فَلَمْAnd Iأَزَلْcontinuedوَاقِفًاstandingحَتَّىuntilخَرَجَcame outبَعْضُsomeأَوَائِلِof the earlyالْأَنْبَاطِNabataeansفَطَلَبَso the boy soughtالْغُلَامُfrom himمِنْهُwaterمَاءًso he cameفَجَاءَwith itبِهِand he and the boyفَجَعَلَbeganهُوَpouringوَالْغُلَامُwaterيَصُبَّانِupon meعَلَيَّwhile I washedالْمَاءَmy clothes.وَأَنَاSo saidأَغْسِلُto meثِيَابِي.the Nabataean:فَقَالَAnd whereلِيdid you urinate?النَّبَطِيُّ:I said:وَأَيْنَRight here.بِلْتَ؟He said:قُلْتُ:This isهَاهُنَا.the leather mat ofقَالَ:Al-Ujaif!هَذَاI said:نِطْعُAl-Ujaif?عُجَيْفٍ!He said:قُلْتُ:Yes.عُجَيْفٍ!I said:قَالَ:What isنَعَمْ.Al-Ujaif doingقُلْتُ:here?مَاHe said:يَعْمَلُDid you notعُجَيْفٍhear thatهَاهُنَا؟the Commanderقَالَ:of the Faithfulأَوَمَاsent himبَلَغَكَa drinkأَنَّthat made himأَمِيرَsit throughالْمُؤْمِنِينَthree hundredبَعَثَmeetingsإِلَيْهِuntil he diedبِشَرْبَةٍand was wrappedفَأَقَامَتْهُin a leather mat,ثَلَاثُمِائَةِand here he is?مَجْلِسٍSo I waitedفَمَاتَuntil morningفَلُفَّand lookedفِيat the leather matنِطْعٍand said:وَهَوَذَا؟There is no godفَصَبَرْتُbut Allah!حَتَّىYesterdayأَصْبَحْتُI wasفَنَظَرْتُbefore himإِلَىurinatingالنِّطْعِout of fear of him,فَقُلْتُ:and todayلَاI came and urinatedإِلَهَonإِلَّاhim.اللَّهُ!him.بَيْنَاhim.أَنَاhim.بِأَمْسِhim.بَيْنَhim.يَدَيْهِhim.أَبُولُhim.مِنْhim.فَرَقِهِhim.حَتَّىhim.جِئْتُhim.فَبِلْتُhim.عَلَيْهِ.him.
So he set out for it. I came to that friend of mine, and he said to me: You are alive! Here is work in the lands of Rabi'ah that I will assign to you. So I accepted it and set out with my boy, and I kept traveling until I came to Ba'ainatha. The urge to urinate pressed me in the pre-dawn while it was moonlit, so I dismounted from my mount and sat urinating. I said to my boy: Woe to you, it is as if I am urinating in my clothes, so get me some water. He said: The people are asleep. I kept standing until some early Nabataeans came out, and the boy asked one of them for water. He brought it, and he and the boy began pouring water on me while I washed my clothes. The Nabataean said to me: Where did you urinate? I said: Right here. He said: This is the leather mat of Al-Ujaif! I said: Al-Ujaif? He said: Yes. I said: What is Al-Ujaif doing here? He said: Have you not heard that the Commander of the Faithful sent him a drink that made him sit through three hundred meetings until he died, and he was wrapped in a leather mat, and here he is? So I waited until morning and looked at the leather mat and said: There is no god but Allah! Yesterday I was before him urinating out of fear of him, and today I came and urinated on him.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَسَخِطَAnd became angryالْمُعْتَصِمُAl-Mu'tasimعَلَىatالْفَضْلِAl-Fadlبْنِson ofمَرْوَانَMarwanفَأَمَرَso he orderedبِحَبْسِهِhis imprisonmentوَتَقْيِيدِهِand shacklingوَاسْتِئْدَائِهِand demanding from himأَلْفَone thousandأَلْفِthousandدِينَارٍdinarsوَسِتُّمِائَةِand six hundredأَلْفِthousandدِينَارٍdinarsوَرُفِعَتْand were raisedفِيهِregarding himالْقِصَصُ،the petitions,فَأَقْبَلَso proceededأَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُson ofعَمَّارٍAmmarيَقْرَأُهَاreading themفَوَقَعَتْand there fellفِيintoيَدِهِhis handقِصَّةٌa petitionفِيonنِصْفِhalfطُومَارٍof a scrollفَإِذَاand beholdفِيهَاin itشِعْرٌ،is poetry,فَتَوَقَّفَso he pausedعَنْfromقِرَاءَتِهَا.reading it.فَقَالَ:He said:مَاWhatتَوَقُّفُكَ؟is your pause?قَالَ:He said:إِنَّهُIt isشِعْرٌ.poetry.قَالَ:He said:هَاتِهِ.Bring it.فَإِذَاSo beholdفِيهَا:in it:
It was said: Al-Mu'tasim became angry with Al-Fadl bin Marwan and ordered his imprisonment, shackling, and the exaction of one million six hundred thousand dinars from him. Petitions regarding him were raised, and Ahmad bin Ammar began reading them. A petition on half a scroll fell into his hand, and behold, it contained poetry, so he paused from reading it. [Al-Mu'tasim] said: What made you pause? He said: It is poetry. He said: Bring it. And behold, it said:
لَاDo notتَعْجَبَنَّbe amazedفَمَاfor there is notبِالدَّهْرِin timeمِنْofعَجَبْwonder......وَلَاnorمِنَfromاللَّهِAllahمِنْofحِصْنٍfortressوَلَاnorهَرَبْescape
Do not be amazed, for there is no wonder in time, nor any fortress or escape from Allah.
يَاOفَضْلُFadlلَاdo notتَجْزَعَنَّdespairمِمَّاover whatابْتُلِيتَyou were triedبِهِwith......مَنْWhoeverخَاصَمَcontends withالدَّهْرَtimeأَجْثَاهُit forces himعَلَىuponالرُّكَبْhis knees
O Fadl, do not despair over what you have been tried with; whoever contends with time, it forces him onto his knees.
كَمْHow manyمِنْaكَرِيمٍnoble personنَشَأَwho grew upفِيinبَيْتِa house ofمَكْرُمَةٍhonor......أَتَاكَcame to youمُخْتَنِقًاchokingبِالْهَمِّwith griefوَالْكَرْبِand distress
How many a noble person who grew up in a house of honor came to you choking with grief and distress.
أَوْلَيْتَهُYou subjected himمِنْكَfrom youإِذْلَالًاto humiliationوَمَنْقَسَةًand degradation......فَخَابَso he failedمِنْكَfrom youوَمِنْand fromذِيthe Possessor ofالْعَرْشِthe Throneلَمْdid notيَخِبْfail
You subjected him from yourself to humiliation and degradation, yet he failed from you while from the Possessor of the Throne he did not fail.
وَكَمْAnd how manyوَثَبْتَyou leaptعَلَىuponقَوْمٍpeopleذَوِيpossessingسَرَفٍexcess......فَمَاso you did notتَلَعْثَمْتَstutterعَنْfromزُورٍfalsehoodوَعَنْand fromكَذِبِlies
And how many times you leapt upon people of excess, not hesitating from falsehood and lies.
خُنْتَYou betrayedالْإِمَامَthe Imamوَهَذَاand thisالْخَلْقَcreationقَاطِبَةًaltogether......وَجُرْتَand you acted unjustlyحَتَّىuntilأَتَىcameالْمَقْدُورُthe decreed fateفِيinالْكُتُبِthe books
You betrayed the Imam and all of this creation, and you acted unjustly until the decreed fate came in the books.
جَمَعْتَYou gatheredشَتَّىvarious thingsوَقَدْand indeedأَدَيْتُهَاyou paid themجُمَلًاin sums......لَأَنْتَSurely you areأَخْسَرُmore loserمِنْthanحَمَّالَةِthe bearer ofالْحَطَبِfirewood
You gathered various things and paid them in sums; surely you are a greater loser than the bearer of firewood.