إِلَىToاللَّهِAllahفِيمَاregarding whatنَابَنَاafflicted usالشَّكْوَىis the complaint
To Allah is the complaint regarding what afflicted us...
فِيInيَدِهِHis handكَشْفُis the removal ofالضَّرُورَةِadversityوَالْبَلْوَىand trial
In His hand is the removal of adversity and trial.
خَرَجْنَاWe leftمِنَfromالدُّنْيَاthe worldوَنَحْنُwhile weمِنْare ofأَهْلِهَاits people
We left the world while we are of its people...
فَلَسْنَاso we are neitherمِنَofالْأَحْيَاءِthe livingفِيهَاin itوَلَاnorالْمَوْتَىthe dead
so we are neither of the living in it nor the dead.
إِذَاWhenدَخَلَentersالسَّجَّانُthe jailerيَوْماًone dayلِحَاجَةٍfor a need
When the jailer enters one day for a need...
عَجِبْنَاwe wonderوَقُلْنَاand sayجَاءَcameهَذَاthis oneمِنَfromالدُّنْيَاthe world
we wonder and say, 'This one came from the world!'
وَنَفْرَحُAnd we rejoiceبِالرُّؤْيَاin the visionفَجُلُّso most ofحَدِيثِنَاour talk
And we rejoice in the vision, so most of our talk...
إِذَاwhenنَحْنُweأَصْبَحْنَاentered the morningالْحَدِيثُis the talkعَنِaboutالرُّؤْيَاthe vision
when we enter the morning, is about the vision.
فَإِنْSo ifحَسُنَتْit was goodكَانَتْit wasبَطِيّاًslowمَجِيئُهَاits coming
So if it was good, its coming was slow...
وَإِنْand ifقَبُحَتْit was badلَمْit did notتَنْتَظِرْwaitوَأَتَتْand cameعَجْلَىquickly
and if it was bad, it did not wait and came quickly.
[مَحَاسِنُ[The virtues ofبِرِّdutifulness toالْآبَاءِ]fathers]
[Mahasin Bir al-Aba']
حُكِيَIt was narratedعَنْfromمَيْمُونِMaimunبْنِson ofمِهْرَانَMehranأَنَّهُthat heقَالَ:said:
It was narrated from Maimun ibn Mehran that he said:
كُنْتُI wasعِنْدَwithعُمَرَUmarبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdulالْعَزِيزِAzizفَوَجَدْتُهُand I found himيَكْتُبُwritingإِلَىtoابْنِهِhis sonعَبْدِAbdulالْمَلِكِ:Malik:
I was with Umar ibn Abdul Aziz and found him writing to his son Abdul Malik:
أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُthenفَإِنَّverilyأَحَقَّthe most deservingمَنْof one whoوَعَىmemorizedعَنِّيfrom meوَفَهِمَand understoodقَوْلِيmy speechأَنْتَ،is you,
As for what follows: Verily, the most deserving of one who memorized from me and understood my speech is you.
وَإِنَّAnd verilyاللَّهَ،Allah,وَلَهُand to Him belongsالْحَمْدُ،the praise,قَدْhasأَحْسَنَbeen goodإِلَيْنَاto usفِيinلَطِيفِHis subtleأَمْرِنَاmatterوَجَلِيلِهِ،and His great matter,
And Allah—and to Him belongs the praise—has been good to us in our subtle and great affairs.
وَعَلَىAnd uponاللَّهِAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mighty isتَمَامُthe completion ofالنِّعْمَةِ،the blessing,
And upon Allah, Majestic and Mighty, rests the completion of the blessing.
فَاذْكُرْSo rememberيَاOبُنَيَّmy little sonفَضْلَthe favor ofاللَّهِAllahعَلَيْكَupon youوَعَلَىand uponأَبِيكَyour father
So remember, O my little son, the favor of Allah upon you and upon your father.
فَإِنَّكَFor indeed youإِنْifاسْتَطَعْتَyou are ableأَنْtoتُصَدِّقَfulfillذَلِكَthatكُلَّهُentirelyبِعَمَلٍwith a deedتَعْمَلُهُyou perform
For indeed, if you are able to fulfill all of that with a deed you perform,
وَصَلَاةٍor prayerأَوْorصَوْمٍfastingأَوْorصَدَقَةٍcharityقُبِلَit will be acceptedذَلِكَthatمِنْكَ،from you,
or prayer, or fasting, or charity, that will be accepted from you.
وَإِيَّاكَAnd bewareوَالْعِزَّةَof arroganceوَالْعَظَمَةَand grandiosityوَالْكِبْرِيَاءَand pride
And beware of arrogance, grandiosity, and pride,
فَإِنَّهُfor it isمِنْfromعَمَلِthe work ofالشَّيْطَانِSatanوَهُوَand he isعَدُوٌّan enemyمُضِلٌّmisguidingمُبِينٌ،manifest,
for it is from the work of Satan, and he is a manifest, misguiding enemy.
وَإِنَّAnd indeedالنَّفْسَthe soulلَأَمَّارَةٌis certainly persistent in commandingبِالسُّوءِevilإِلَّاexceptمَاwhatرَحِمَhas mercyرَبِّي،my Lord,
And indeed the soul is a persistent committer of evil except for that which my Lord has mercy upon.
إِنَّIndeedرَبِّيmy Lordلَغَفُورٌis forgivingرَحِيمٌ.merciful.
Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.
وَاعْلَمْAnd knowأَنَّthatالشَّبَابَyouthإِلَّاexceptمَاwhatوَقَىprotectedاللَّهُAllahوَدَفَعَand averted
And know that youth—except for what Allah protected and averted—
عَوْنٌis an aidعَلَىinأُمُورٍmattersكَثِيرَةٍmanyمِنَofالسُّوءِ،evil,
is an aid in many matters of evil,
وَفِيهِand in itلَعَمْرِيby my lifeمَعُونَةٌis assistanceكَثِيرَةٌmuchعَلَىtowardsالْخَيْرِgoodلِمَنْfor whoeverرَزَقَهُAllah has provided himاللَّهُ،with it,
and in it, by my life, is much assistance towards good for whoever Allah has provided it to.
فَاحْذَرْSo beware ofشَبَابَكَyour youthوَإِيَّاكَand bewareأَنْthatتَعْلَمَyou let settleفِيinقَلْبِكَyour heartزَهْواًvanityأَوْorكِبْراًarrogance
So beware of your youth, and beware of letting vanity or arrogance settle in your heart,
فَإِنَّهُfor whateverمَاnotلَمْwasيَكُنْfromمِنْthatذَلِكَwasكَانَbetterخَيْراً،better,
for whatever of that was absent, it was better.
وَاحْفَظْAnd guardلِسَانَكَyour tongueوَنَفْسَكَand your soulحِفْظاًwith a guardingتَرْجُوthrough which you hopeفِيهِforرَحْمَةَthe mercy ofاللَّهِAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyوَمَغْفِرَتَهُ،and His forgiveness,
And guard your tongue and your soul with a guarding through which you hope for the mercy of Allah, Majestic and Mighty, and His forgiveness.
وَاذْكُرْAnd rememberصِغَرَthe smallness ofأَمْرِكَyour matterوَحَقَارَةَand the insignificance ofشَأْنِكَyour status
And remember the smallness of your matter and the insignificance of your status,
وَلَاand do notتَبْغِseekفِيinمَاwhatأَعْجَبَكَamazed youمِنْofنَفْسِكَyourself
and do not seek in what amazed you of yourself,
وَفِيمَاand in whatعَسَيْتَyou mightأَنْtoتُفْرِطَexceedفِيهِin itمِمَّاfrom that whichلَيْسَis notمَعَهُwith itغَيْرُother thanالْفِكْرَةِreflectionفِيuponأَمْرِكَyour matterوَأَمْرِهِ،and His matter,
and in what you might exceed in from that which has nothing with it except reflection upon your matter and His matter.
وَلَيْسَAnd it is notكِتَابِيmy letterهَذَاthisلِأَنْbecauseيَكُونَthere hasبَلَغَنِيreached meعَنْكَconcerning youإِلَّاexceptخَيْراً،good,
And this letter of mine is not because there has reached me concerning you anything except good,
غَيْرَother thanأَنَّهُthatقَدْindeedبَلَغَنِيthere has reached meعَنْكَconcerning youشَيْءٌsomethingمِنْofبَعْضِsomeإِعْجَابِكَadmiration ofبِنَفْسِكَ،yourself,
except that there has indeed reached me concerning you something of some admiration of yourself.
وَلَوْAnd ifبَلَغَنِيit had reached meأَنَّthatذَلِكَthatخَرَجَpassedعَنْكَfrom youإِلَىtoأَمْرٍa matterكَرِهْتُهُI disliked itلَبَلَغَكَthere would have reached youعَنِّيfrom meأَمْرٌa matterيَشْتَدُّthat is severe inعَلَيْكَitsكَرَاهَتُهُdislike for you
And if it had reached me that that progressed from you to a matter I disliked, there would have reached you from me a matter whose dislike is severe upon you.
وَعَرَّفْتُAnd I made knownمَعَalongذَلِكَwith thatأَنَّthatالشَّبَابَyouthوَالْحِرْصَand eagernessوَالنِّعْمَةَand easeيَحْمِلُcarriesذَلِكَthatكُلَّهُall of itعَلَىtoأَمْرٍa matterشَدِيدٍsevere
And I made known along with that, that youth, eagerness, and ease carry all of that to a severe matter,
إِلَّاexceptمَاwhatوَقَىprotectedاللَّهُAllahوَدَفَعَ،and averted,
except for what Allah protected and averted.
فَكُنْSo beيَاOبُنَيَّmy little sonعَلَىonحَذَرٍ،guard,
So be, O my little son, on guard,
فَإِنَّforالشَّيْطَانَSatanقَلَّrarelyمَاeverيُصِيبُhitsفُرْصَتَهُhis opportunityبِمَنْwith one whoاحْتَرَسَguardsمِنْهُhimself from himبِدُعَاءِby supplication toاللَّهِAllahجَلَّMajesticاسْمُهُis His nameوَالتَّوَاضُعِand humilityلَهُ،before Him,
for Satan rarely ever finds his opportunity with one who guards himself against him through supplication to Allah, Majestic is His name, and humility before Him.
وَأَكْثِرْAnd increaseتَحْرِيكَthe movement ofلِسَانِكَyour tongueفِيinلَيْلِكَyour nightوَنَهَارِكَand your dayبِذِكْرِwith remembrance ofاللَّهِAllah
And increase the movement of your tongue in your night and your day with the remembrance of Allah,
فَإِنَّforأَحْسَنَthe best ofمَاwhatوَصَلْتَyou joinedبِهِwith itحَدِيثاًspeechحَسَناًgoodذِكْرُis the remembrance ofاللَّهِAllahجَلَّMajesticاسْمُهُ،is His name,
for the best of what you joined good speech with is the remembrance of Allah, Majestic is His name.
وَأَحْسَنُAnd the best ofمَاwhatقَطَعْتَyou severedبِهِwith itحَدِيثاًspeechسَيِّئاًbadذِكْرُis the remembrance ofاللَّهِAllahتَبَارَكَBlessedوَتَعَالََى،and Exalted is He,
And the best of what you severed bad speech with is the remembrance of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He.
وَأَعِنْAnd assistعَلَىagainstنَفْسِكَyourselfبِخَيْرٍ.with good.
And assist against your soul with good.
نَسْأَلُWe askاللَّهَAllahلَنَاfor usوَلَكَand for youحُسْنَgoodالتَّوْفِيقِsuccessوَالسَّلَامَ.and peace.
We ask Allah for us and for you good success and peace.
قَالَSaidمَيْمُونٌ:Maimun:
Maimun said:
ثُمَّThenقَالَsaidلِيto meعُمَرُ:Umar:
Then Umar said to me:
إِنَّIndeedابْنِيmy sonعَبْدَAbdulالْمَلِكِMalikقَدْhasزُيِّنَbeen beautifiedفِيinعَيْنِيmy eyes
Indeed, my son Abdul Malik has been beautified in my eyes,
وَأَنَاand Iمُتَّهِمٌam suspicious ofلِنَفْسِيmyselfفِيهِregarding him
and I am suspicious of myself regarding him,
وَأَخَافُand I fearأَنْthatيَكُونَmay beهَوَايَmy affectionفِيهِtowards himقَدْhasغَلَبَovercomeعَلَىmyعِلْمِيknowledgeفِيهِconcerning him
and I fear that my affection towards him has overcome my knowledge concerning him,
وَأَدْرَكَنِيand there has overtaken meمَاwhatيُدْرِكُovertakesالْوَالِدَthe fatherمِنَofالْإِشْفَاقِapprehensionعَلَىoverوَلَدِهِhis child
and there has overtaken me what overtakes a father of apprehension over his child.
فَأْتِهِSo go to himوَاسْبُرْهُand test himثُمَّthenائْتِنِيcome to meبِعِلْمِهِwith knowledge of him
So go to him and test him, then come to me with news of him.
ثُمَّThenانْظُرْlookهَلْwhetherتَرَىyou seeمِنْهُfrom himمَاwhatيُشَاكِلُresemblesالنَّخْوَةَhaughtiness
Then see whether you perceive in him anything that resembles haughtiness,
فَإِنَّهُfor indeed heغُلَامٌis a youthحَدَثٌyoungوَلَاand I do notآمَنُfeel safeعَلَيْهِfor him fromالشَّيْطَانَSatan
for indeed he is a young youth, and I do not feel safe for him from Satan.
قَالَSaidمَيْمُونٌ:Maimun:
Maimun said:
فَخَرَجْتُSo I set outإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdulالْمَلِكِMalikحَتَّىuntilقَدِمْتُI arrivedعَلَيْهِat his place
So I set out to Abdul Malik until I arrived at his place,
فَاسْتَأْذَنْتُand I asked permissionوَدَخَلْتُ،and entered,
and I asked permission and entered.
فَإِذَاand loغُلَامٌa youthابْنُson ofسِتَّsixعَشْرَةَteenسَنَةٍyears old
And lo, he was a youth of sixteen years old,
جَالِسٌsittingعَلَىonحَشِيَّةٍa mattressبَيْضَاءَwhiteأَحْسَنُthe best ofالنَّاسِpeople inتَوَاضُعاًhumility
sitting on a white mattress, among the best of people in humility.
وَإِذَاAnd there wereمَرَافِقُpillowsبِيضٌwhiteوَبِسَاطُand a rug ofشَعْرٍ.hair.
And there were white pillows and a hair rug.
فَرَحَّبَSo he welcomedبِيmeثُمَّthenقَالَ:said:
So he welcomed me, then said:
قَدْIndeedسَمِعْتُI have heardأَبِيmy fatherيَذْكُرُmentioningمِنْكَof youمَاwhatأَنْتَyouأَهْلُهُare worthy of
I have heard my father mentioning of you what you are worthy of,
وَإِنِّيand indeed Iأَرْجُوhopeأَنْthatيَنْفَعَwill benefitاللَّهُAllahبِكَthrough you
and indeed I hope that Allah will benefit others through you.
وَقَدْAnd Iحَسِبْتُthoughtأَنْthatيَكُونَmight haveغَرَّنِيdeluded meمِنْregardingنَفْسِيmyselfحُسْنُthe goodرَأْيِopinion ofوَالِدِيmy fatherفِيَّconcerning me
And I thought that the good opinion of my father concerning me might have deluded me regarding myself,
وَمَاand I have notبَلَغْتُattainedمِنَofالْفَضْلِvirtueكُلَّallمَاwhatيُذْكَرُ،is mentioned,
and I have not attained of virtue all that is mentioned,
وَقَدْandحَذِرْتُI have been waryأَنْthatيَكُونَmight haveالْهَوَىaffectionقَدْovercomeغَلَبَهُhimعَلَىoverعِلْمِهِhis knowledgeفَأَكُونَso I would beأَحَدَone ofآفَاتِهِ.his calamities.
and I have been wary that affection might have overcome his knowledge concerning me, so I would be one of his calamities.
قَالَSaidمَيْمُونٌ:Maimun:
Maimun said:
فَعَجِبْتُSo I was amazedمِنْatاتِّفَاقِهِمَاtheir agreement
So I was amazed at their agreement.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidلَهُ:to him:
So I said to him:
أَعْلِمْنِيInform meمِنْfromأَيْنَwhereمَعِيشَتُكَ؟is your livelihood?
Inform me, from where is your livelihood?
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
مِنْFromعَطَايَmy stipendوَمِنْand fromغَلَّةِrevenue ofزِرَاعَةٍfarming
From my stipend and from the revenue of farming
اشْتَرَيْتُI purchasedعَنْwithظَهْرِan independentيَدٍhandمِمَّنْfrom the one whoوَرِثَهَاinherited itعَنْfromأَبِيهِhis father
that I purchased independently from someone who inherited it from his father,
فَوَهَبَهَاand he gifted itلِيto meفَأَغْنَانِيso it made me self-sufficientبِهَاthrough itعَنْfromفَيْءِthe spoils ofالْمُسْلِمِينَ.the Muslims.
and he gifted it to me, so it made me self-sufficient through it from the spoils of the Muslims.
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:
So I said:
فَمَاAnd whatطَعَامُكَ؟is your food?
And what is your food?
فَقَالَ:So he said:
So he said:
لَيْلَةًOne nightلَحْماًmeatوَلَيْلَةًand one nightعَدَسَاًlentilsوَزَيْتاًand oilوَلَيْلَةًand one nightخَلّاًvinegarوَزَيْتاًand oilوَفِيand inهَذَاthisبَلَاغٌ.is sufficiency.
One night meat, one night lentils and oil, and one night vinegar and oil, and in this is sufficiency.
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
فَقُلْتُSo I saidلَهُ:to him:
So I said to him:
أَفَمَاSo doesتُعْجِبُكَamazeنَفْسُكَ؟yourself?
Does your soul not amaze you?
فَقَالَ:So he said:
So he said:
قَدْIndeedكَانَthere wasفِيَّin meبَعْضُsomeمَاof whatكَانَwas
Indeed there was in me some of what was,
فَلَمَّاso whenوَعَظَنِيadmonished meأَبِيmy fatherفِيinكِتَابِهِhis letter
so when my father admonished me in his letter,
بَصَّرَنِيhe made me seeنَفْسِيmyselfوَمَاand whatصَغَّرَbelittledمِنْofشَأْنِيmy statusوَحَقَّرَand made insignificantمِنْofقَدْرِيmy worth
he made me see myself and what belittled my status and made insignificant my worth,
فَنَفَعَنِيso Allahاللَّهُbenefited meجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyبِذَلِكَthrough that
so Allah, Majestic and Mighty, benefited me through that.
فَجَزَاهُSo may He reward himمِنْasوَالِدٍa fatherخَيْراً.with good.
So may He reward him as a father with good.
فَقَعَدْتُSo I satسَاعَةًfor a whileأُحَدِّثُهُconversing with himوَأَتَسَمَّعُand listeningمِنْtoمَنْطِقِهِhis speech
So I sat for a while conversing with him and listening to his speech.
فَلَمْAnd I did notأَرَseeفَتًىa youthكَانَwho wasأَجْمَلَmore handsomeوَجْهاًin face
And I did not see a youth who was more handsome in face,
وَلَاnorأَكْمَلَmore completeعَقْلاًin intellect
nor more complete in intellect,
وَلَاnorأَحْسَنَbetterأَدَباًin mannersعَلَىdespiteصِغَرِthe smallness ofسِنِّهِhis ageوَقِلَّةِand lack ofتَجْرِبَتِهِhis experienceمِنْهُ.than him.
nor better in manners, despite the smallness of his age and lack of his experience, than him.