al mahasin wal masawi al bayhaqi

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وَقِيلَ:Andصُحْبَةُitالْأَخْيَارِwasتُورِثُsaid:الْخَيْرَ،Theوَصُحْبَةُcompanyالْأَشْرَارِofتُورِثُtheالشَّرَّ،goodكَالرِّيحِbringsإِذَاforthمَرَّتْgood,عَلَىandالنَّتِنِtheحَمَلَتْcompanyنَتِناً،ofوَإِذَاtheمَرَّتْevilعَلَىbringsالطِّيْبِforthحَمَلَتْevil,طَيِّباً.like

And it was said: The company of the good brings forth good, and the company of the evil brings forth evil, like the wind when it passes over something foul it carries a foul odor, and when it passes over something pleasant it carries a pleasant fragrance.

وَقَالَAndشَيْخٌaمِنَsheikhالْأَعْرَابِ:fromعَاشِرُواtheالنَّاسَBedouinمُعَاشَرَةًsaid:إِنْAssociateعِشْتُمْwithحَنَوْاpeopleإِلَيْكُمْinوَإِنْsuchمُمْتُمْaبَكَوْاwayعَلَيْكُمْ.that

And a Bedouin sheikh said: Associate with people in such a way that if you live they will yearn for you, and if you die they will weep over you.

وَقِيلَAndفِيitذَلِكَ:was

And it was said regarding that:

  • قَدْPeopleيَمْكُثُmayالنَّاسُremainحِيناًforلَيْسَaبَيْنَهُمْtime...withoutوُدٌّanyفَيَزْرَعُهُaffectionالتَّسْلِيمُbetweenوَاللُّطْفُthem
  • People may remain for a time without any affection between them ... yet greeting and kindness cultivate it.

  • يُسْلِيTheالشَّقِيقَيْنِprolongedطُولُdistanceالنَّأْيِcomfortsبَيْنَهُمَاtwo...brothersوَتَلْتَقِيandشِعَبٌscatteredشَتَّىtribesفَتَأْتَلِفُmeet
  • Prolonged distance comforts two brothers ... and scattered tribes meet and harmonize.

    وَقَالَAndآخَرُ:another said:

    And another said:

  • كَمْHowإِخْوَةٍmanyلَكَbrothersلَمْyouيَلِدْكَhaveأَبُوهُمْwhose...fatherوَكَأَنَّمَاdidآبَاؤُهُمْnotوَلَدُوكاfather
  • How many brothers you have whose father did not father you ... and it is as if their fathers gave birth to you.

  • وَأَقَارِبٍAndلَوْrelativesأَبْصَرُوكَwhoمُعَلَّقاًif...theyبِنِيَاطِsawقَلْبِكَyouمَاsuspendedرُؤُواbyرَحِمُوكَاyour
  • And relatives who if they saw you suspended by the ties of your heart ... they would not show mercy to you.

    وَقَالَAndعَلِيُّAliبْنُsonأَبِيofطَالِبٍ،AbiرَضِيَTalib,اللَّهُmayعَنْهُ،Godلِابْنِهِbeالْحَسَنِ،pleasedصَلَوَاتُwithاللَّهِhim,عَلَيْهِ:saidابْذُلْtoلِصَدِيقِكَhisكُلَّsonالْمَوَدَّةِAl-Hasan,وَلَاmayتَطْمَئِنَّtheإِلَيْهِprayersكُلَّofالطُّمَأْنِينَةِ،Godوَأَعْطِهِbeكُلَّuponالْمُؤَاسَاةِhim:وَلَاOfferتُفْضِtoإِلَيْهِyourبِكُلِّfriendالْأَسْرَارِ.all

    And Ali ibn Abi Talib, may God be pleased with him, said to his son Al-Hasan, upon him be the prayers of God: Offer to your friend all affection and do not repose complete trust in him, and give him all consolation but do not entrust him with all secrets.

    وَقَالَAndالْعَبَّاسُAl-Abbasبْنُbinجَرِيرٍ:Jarirالْمَوَدَّةُsaid:تَعَاطُفُAffectionالْقُلُوبِisوَائْتِلَافُtheالْأَرْوَاحِsympathyوَأُنْسُofالنُّفُوسِhearts,وَوَحْشَةُtheالْأَشْخَاصِharmonyعِنْدَofتَنَائِيsouls,اللِّقَاءِtheوَظُهُورُcomfortالسُّرُورِofبِكَثْرَةِselves,التَّزَاوُرِ،theوَعَلَىlonelinessحَسَبِofمُشَاكَلَةِpersonsالْجوَاهِرِuponيَكُونُdistantالِاتِّفَاقُmeetings,فِيtheالْخِصَالِ.appearance

    And Al-Abbas bin Jarir said: Affection is the sympathy of hearts, the harmony of souls, the comfort of selves, the loneliness of persons upon distant meetings, and the appearance of joy through frequent visiting, and according to the similarity of essences is the agreement in traits.

    وَكَتَبَAndبَعْضُsomeالْكُتَّابِ:writerإِنَّwrote:فُلاناًIndeed,أَوْلَانِيso-and-soجَمِيلاًbestowedمِنَuponالْبَشَرِmeمَقْرُوناًaبِلَطِيفٍkindnessمِنَofالْخِطَابِcountenanceفِيcoupledبَسْطِwithوَجْهٍgentleوَلِينِspeechكَنَفٍ،inفَلَمَّاanكَشَفَهُopenالِامْتِحَانُfaceبِيَسِيرِandالْحَاجَةِsoftnessكَانَofكَالتَّابُوتِdemeanor,الْمَطْلِيِّthenبِالذَّهَبِwhenالْمَمْلُوءِtestedبِالْعَذْرَةِ،byأَعْجَبَكَaحُسْنُهُslightمَاneedدَامَheمُطْبَقاًwasفَلَمَّاlikeفَتَحَtheآذَاكَcoffinنَتْنُهُ،gildedفَلَاwithأَبْعَدَgoldاللَّهُfilledغَيْرَهُ.with

    And some writer wrote: Indeed, so-and-so bestowed upon me a beauty of kindness coupled with gentle speech in an open face and softness of demeanor, but when tested by a slight need he was like a coffin gilded with gold and filled with excrement; its beauty pleased you as long as it was closed, but when it opened its stench harmed you, so may God not distance anyone else.

    وَقَالَAndبَعْضُهُمْ:some of them said:مَنْWhoeverلَمْdoesيُؤَاخِnotمِنَtakeالْإِخْوَانِasإِلَّاbrothersمَنْexceptلَاoneعَيْبَwhoفِيهِhasقَلَّnoصَدِيقُهُ،fault,وَمَنْhisلَمْfriendيَرْضَwillمِنْbeصَدِيقِهِfew;إِلَّاandبِإِيثَارِهِwhoeverإِيَّاهُisعَلَىnotنَفْسِهِsatisfiedدَامَwithسُخْطُهُ،hisوَمَنْfriendجَانَبَexceptعَلَىbyغَيْرِpreferringذَنْبٍhimإِخْوَانَهُoverكَثُرَhimself,عَدُوُّهُ.his

    And some of them said: Whoever does not take as brothers except one who has no fault, his friend will be few; and whoever is not satisfied with his friend except by preferring him over himself, his anger will be everlasting; and whoever avoids his brothers for no sin, his enemy will be many.

    [مَسَاوِئِ[Theالْإِخْوَانِ]Vices of Brothers]

    [The Vices of Brothers]

    أَنْشَدَItلِبَعْضِهِمْ:was recited for some of them:

    It was recited for some of them:

  • وَاللَّهِByلَوْGod,كَرِهَتْifكَفِّيmyمُنَادَمَتِيpalm...hatedلَقُلْتُmyلِلْكَفِّcompanyبَيْنِي...Iإِذْwouldكَرِهَتِينِيsay
  • By God, if my palm hated my company ... I would say to the palm: Depart since you hated me.

    وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:

    And for another:

  • فَإِنِّيForلَوْtrulyتُخَالِفُنِيifشِمَالِيmy...leftخِلَافَكَhandمَاopposedوَصَلَتْyouبِهَا...myيَمِينِيright
  • For truly if my left hand opposed you ... my right hand would not remain connected to it.

  • إِذاًThenلَقَطَعْتُهَاIفَلَقُلْتُwouldبَيْنِيcut...itكَذَلِكَoffأَجْتَوِيandمَنْsayيَجْتُوِينِيdepart
  • Then I would cut it off and say: Depart ... thus I shun whoever shuns me.

    وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:

    And for another:

  • مَنْWhoeverلَمْdoesيُرِدْكَnotفَلَاwantتُرُدَّهُyou,...doهَبْهُnotكَمَنْwantلَمْhim;تَسْتَفِدْهْconsider
  • Whoever does not want you, do not want him ... consider him like one you never benefited from.

  • بَاعِدْKeepأَخَاكَyourإِذَاbrotherنَأَىdistant...ifوَإِذَاheدَنَاgrowsشِبْراًdistantفَزِدْهُ...and
  • Keep your brother distant if he grows distant ... and if he draws near by a span, draw near to him by more.

    قَالَ:Heوَسَمِعَهَاsaid:الْكَسْرَوِيُّAndفَقَالَ:Al-Kasrawi heard them and said:

    He said: And Al-Kasrawi heard them and said:

  • فِيInسَعَةِtheالْأَرْضِvastnessوَفِيofعَرْضِهَاthe...earthمُسْتَبْدَلٌandبِالْأَهْلِitsوَالْجَارِbreadth ... there
  • In the vastness of the earth and its breadth ... there is a substitute for family and neighbor.

  • فَمَنْSoدَنَاwhoeverمِنَّاdrawsفَأَهْلاًnearبِهِto...us,وَمَنْthenتَوَلَّىwelcomeفَإِلَىtoالنَّارِhim ... and
  • So whoever draws near to us, then welcome to him ... and whoever turns away, then to the fire.

    وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:

    And for another:

  • وَقَائِلٍAndكَيْفَaتَهَاجَرْتُمَاspeaker...askingفَقُلْتُhowقَوْلاًyouفِيهِestrangedإِنْصَافُone
  • And a speaker asking how you estranged one another ... I said a reply containing fairness.

  • لَمْHeيَكُwasمِنْnotشَكْلِيofفَتَارَكْتُهُmy...type,وَالنَّاسُsoأَشْكَالٌIوَأَلَّافُleft
  • He was not of my type, so I left him ... and people are of various types and affinities.

    وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:

    And for another:

  • تَوَدُّYouعَدُوِّيbefriendثُمَّmyتَزْعُمُenemyأَنَّنِيthen...claimصَدِيقُكَthatإِنَّIالرَّأْيَamعَنْكَyourلَعَازِبُfriend ... surely
  • You befriend my enemy then claim that I am your friend ... surely judgment has strayed far from you.

  • وَلَيْسَAndأَخِيnotمَنْisوَدَّنِيmyرَأْيَbrotherعَيْنِهِwho...lovesوَلَكِنْmeأَخِيtoمَنْmyوَدَّنِيfaceوَهُوَ...butغَائِبُmy
  • And not is my brother who loves me to my face ... but my brother is who loves me while he is absent.

    وَقَدْAndقَالَتِtheالْحُكَمَاءُearlyالْأَوَائِلُ:sagesنَعُوذُhaveبِاللَّهِsaid:مِنْWeبَوَائِقِseekالثِّقَاتِrefugeوَمِنَinالِاغْتِرَارِGodبِظَاهِرِfromالْمَوَدَّاتِ.the

    And the early sages have said: We seek refuge in God from the calamities of the trusted ones and from being deceived by outward affections.

    وَأَنْشَدَAndالْآخَرُ:the other recited:

    And the other recited:

  • إِنَّIndeedاخْتِيَارَيْكَyourعَلَىchoiceخِبْرَةٍbased...onأَعْجَبُexperienceشَيْءٍ...isمَرَّtheفِيmostالْعَالَمِamazing
  • Indeed your choice based on experience ... is the most amazing thing that passed in the world.

    وَأَنْشَدَAndلِآخَرَ:he recited for another:

    And he recited for another:

  • إِنَّIndeedاخْتِيَارَيْكَyourلَاchoiceعَنْnotخِبْرَةٍfromسَلَفَتْpast...experienceإِلَّا...exceptالرَّجَاءَhopeوَمِمَّاandيُخْطِيءُwhatالنَّظَرُsight
  • Indeed your choice not from past experience ... except hope and what vision errs in.

  • كَالْمُسْتَغِيثِLikeبِبَطْنِoneالسَّيْلِcryingيَحْسَبُهُfor...helpجِزْراًinيُبَادِرُهُtheإِذْbedبَلَّهُofالْمَطَرُa
  • Like one crying for help in the bed of a torrent, thinking it ... dry land, rushing to it when the rain drenched him.

    وَأَنْشَدَAndلِآخَرَ:he recited for another:

    And he recited for another:

  • إِذَاIfكُنْتَyouفِيareقَوْمٍamongفَقَارِنْpeople,سَرَاتَهُمْthen...befriendفَإِنَّكَtheirمَنْسُوبٌnoblesإِلَى...forمَنْyouتُقَارِنُare
  • If you are among people, then befriend their nobles ... for you are attributed to whom you befriend.

    وَبَيْتُAndعَدِيِّtheبْنِverseزَيْدٍofفِيAdiهَذَاbinالْمَعْنَىZaidمُخْتَارٌregardingقَدِيمٌ:this

    And the verse of Adi bin Zaid regarding this meaning is an ancient choice:

  • عَنِAboutالْمَرْءِaلَاmanتَسْأَلْdoوَأَبْصِرْnotقَرِينَهُask...butفَإِنَّobserveالْقَرِينَhisبِالْمُقَارِنِcompanionيَقْتَدِي...for
  • About a man do not ask, but observe his companion ... for the companion emulates the one he accompanies.

    وَلِآخَرَAndفِيforهَذَاanotherالْمَعْنَى:regarding this meaning:

    And for another regarding this meaning:

  • مَشْيُTheالْبَرِيُّwalkingمَعَofالْمُقَارِفِtheتُهْمَةٌinnocent...withوَيُرَىtheالْبَرِيُّsinnerمَعَisالسَّقِيمِanفَيُلْصَقُaccusation
  • The walking of the innocent with the sinner is an accusation ... and the innocent with the sick is seen and tainted.

    وَلِآخَرَAndفِيforهَذَاanotherالْمَعْنَى:regarding this meaning:

    And for another regarding this meaning:

  • إِذَاIfاعْتَذَرَtheالصَّدِيقُfriendإِلَيْكَapologizesيَوْماًto...youمِنَoneالتَّقْصِيرِdayعُذْرَ...forأَخٍshortcomingمُقِرٍّwith
  • If the friend apologizes to you one day ... for shortcoming with the excuse of an acknowledging brother.

  • فَصُنهُThenعَنْprotectجَوَابِكَhimوَاغْضُfromعَنْهُyour...replyفَإِنَّandالْعَفْوَturnشِيمَةُawayكُلِّfromحُرٍّhim ... for
  • Then protect him from your reply and turn away from him ... for forgiveness is the trait of every free person.

    وَلِبَعْضِAndالْكُتَّابِ:for some writer:

    And for some writer:

  • وَصَاحِبٍAndكَانَaلِيcompanionوَكُنْتُwhoلَهُwas...toأَشْفَقَmeمِنْandوَالِدٍIعَلَىtoوَلَدٍhim ... was
  • And a companion who was to me and I to him ... more compassionate than a parent to a child.

  • وَكَانَAndلِيheمُؤْنِساًwasوَكُنْتُanلَهُintimate...companionلَيْسَتْtoبِنَاmeحَاجَةٌandإِلَىIأَحَدٍto
  • And he was an intimate companion to me and I to him ... neither of us had any need for anyone.

  • كُنَّاWeكَسَاقٍwereتَمْشِيlikeبِهَاaقَدَمٌshank...uponأَوْwhichكَذِرَاعٍaنِيطَتْfootإِلَىwalksعَضُدٍ...or
  • We were like a shank upon which a foot walks ... or like a forearm attached to an upper arm.

  • حَتَّىUntilإِذَاwhenأَمْكَنَaccidentsالْحَوَادِثَallowedمِنْme...myحَظِّيshareوَحَلَّandالزَّمَانُtimeمِنْloosenedعَقْدِيmy
  • Until when accidents allowed my share ... and time loosened my knot.

  • ازْوَرَّHeعَنِّيturnedوَكَانَawayيَنْظُرُfromمِنْme...andعَيْنِيusedوَيَرْمِيtoعَنْlookسَاعِدِيfromوَيَدِيmy
  • He turned away from me and used to look from my eye and shoot from my forearm and hand.

  • حَتَّىUntilإِذَاwhenاسْتَرْفَدْتُIيَدِيsoughtيَدَهُhelp...fromكُنْتُhisكَمُسْتَرْفِدٍhandيَدَ...Iالْأَسَدِwas
  • Until when I sought help from his hand ... I was like one seeking help from the lion's paw.

    مَحَاسِنُTheالْخِصْيَانِVirtues of Eunuchs

    The Virtues of Eunuchs