ثُمَّThenاتَّخَذَappointedالرَّشِيدُal-RashidقُطْرُباًQutrubالنَّحْوِيَّthe grammarianعَلَىoverالْأَمِينِ،al-Amin,
Then al-Rashid appointed Qutrub the grammarian over al-Amin,
وَكَانَandحَمَّادُHammadعَجْرَدٍAjradيَتَعَشَّقُwas infatuated withالْأَمِينَal-Aminوَيَطْمَعُand desiredفِيهِhimأَنْthatيَتَّخِذَهُhe appoint himعَلَيْهِover himمُؤَدِّباًas a tutor,
and Hammad Ajrad was infatuated with al-Amin and desired that he appoint him as his tutor,
فَلَمْbutيَتَهَيَّأْit was not made possibleلَهُfor himذَلِكَthatلِتَهَتُّكِهِdue to his shamelessnessوَقَبِيحِand uglyذِكْرِهِreputationفِيamongالنَّاسِ،the people,
but that was not made possible for him due to his shamelessness and ugly reputation among the people,
وَقَدْandكَانَhe hadرَامَsoughtذَلِكَthatفَلَمْbutيُجَبْwas not answeredإِلَيْهِ،thereto,
and he had sought that, but his request was not granted,
فَلَمَّاso whenسَمِعَhe heardأَنَّthatقُطْرُباًQutrubقَدْhadاسْتَوَىbecome establishedأَمْرُهُhis affairوَأُجِيبَand he was acceptedإِلَىforذَلِكَthatلِسِتْرِهِdue to his modestyوَعَفَافِهِand chastity,أَخَذَthere seizedحَمَّاداًHammadالْمُقِيمُthe chronicوَالْمُقْعَدُand immobilizingحَسَداًenvyعَلَىoverمَاwhatنَالَهُQutrub attainedقُطْرُبُofمِنْthatذَلِكَofوَبَلَغَهُand reachedمِنْofالْمَنْزِلَةِthe stationالرَّفِيعَةِloftyوَالدَّرَجَةِand degreeالسَّنِيَّةِ،high,
so when he heard that Qutrub's position had become established and he was chosen for that due to his modesty and chastity, a chronic and immobilizing envy seized Hammad over what Qutrub attained of that lofty station and high degree,
فَأَخَذَso he tookرُقْعَةًa scrap of paperوَكَتَبَand wroteفِيهَاin itأَبْيَاتاًversesوَدَفَعَهَاand handed itإِلَىtoبَعْضِsomeالْخَدَمِof the servantsالَّذِينَwhoيَقُومُونَstandعَلَىatرَأْسِthe headالرَّشِيدِof al-Rashid
so he took a scrap of paper, wrote some verses in it, and handed it to one of the servants who stood at al-Rashid's head,
وَجَعَلَand madeلَهُfor himعَلَىforذَلِكَthatجُعْلاًa wageوَسَأَلَهُand asked himأَنْtoيُودِعَslipالرُّقْعَةَthe paperدَوَاةَinto the inkwellأَمِيرِof the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.
and offered him a wage for that, asking him to slip the paper into the inkwell of the Commander of the Faithful.
فَفَعَلَSo he didفَمَاand it wasكَانَnotبِأَسْرَعَquickerمِنْthanأَنْthatدَعَاcalledالرَّشِيدُal-Rashidبِالدَّوَاةِfor the inkwellفَإِذَاand beholdفِيهَاin itرُقْعَةٌwas a paperفِيهَاcontainingهَذِهِtheseالْأَبْيَاتُ:verses:
So he did, and no sooner did al-Rashid call for the inkwell than behold, there was a paper in it containing these verses:
قُلْSayلِلْإِمَامِto the Imamجَزَاكَmay God reward youاللَّهُGodمَغْفِرَةًwith forgiveness......لَاneverيَجْمَعُdoes gatherالدَّهْرُtimeبَيْنَbetweenالسَّخْلِthe lambوَالذِّئْبِand the wolf
Say to the Imam—may God reward you with forgiveness: Time never gathers the lamb and the wolf together
السَّخْلُThe lambغِرٌّis naiveوَهَمُّand the concernالذِّئْبِof the wolfغَفْلَتُهُis its heedlessness
The lamb is naive, and the wolf's concern is its heedlessness
وَالذِّئْبُAnd the wolfيَعْلَمُknowsمَاwhatبِالسَّخْلِis in the lambمِنْofطِيبِdeliciousness
And the wolf knows how delicious the lamb is
فَلَمَّاSo whenقَرَأَreadالرَّشِيدُal-Rashidالرُّقْعَةَthe paperقَالَ:he said:انْظُرُواSeeأَنْthatلَاnotيَكُونَthisهَذَاteacherالْمُعَلِّمُbeلُوطِيّاًa sodomite;انْفُوهُbanish himمِنَfromالدَّارِ.the house.
So when al-Rashid read the paper, he said: 'See to it that this teacher is not a sodomite; banish him from the house.'
فَأَخْرَجُوهُSo they expelled himعَنْfromتَأْدِيبِtutoringالْأَمِينِal-Aminوَاتَّخَذَand appointedعَلَيْهِover himحَمَّاداً،Hammad,وَجَعَلَand placedعَلَيْهِover himثَمَانِينَeightyمِنَofالرُّقَبَاءِ.the guards.
So they removed him from tutoring al-Amin, appointed Hammad over him, and assigned eighty guards to watch him.
قَالَ:He said:وَلَمَّاAnd whenوُسِمَbrandedقُطْرُبٌQutrubبِهَذِهِwith thisالسِّمَةِbrandالْقَبِيحَةِuglyخَافَhe fearedأَنْthatيَلْحَقَهُmight befall himبَعْضُsomeمَاof whatيَكْرَهُhe dislikedفَهَرَبَso he fledإِلَىtoالْكَرَجِal-Karaj
He said: When Qutrub was branded with this ugly stigma, he feared that some harm might befall him, so he fled to al-Karaj
وَتَوَسَّلَand sought recourseإِلَىwithأَبِيAbuدُلَفَDulafوَمَعْقِلٍand Ma'qilبِبَرَاعَةِthrough the excellenceالْأَدَبِ،of literature,
and sought the patronage of Abu Dulaf and Ma'qil through his literary excellence,
فَلَمَّاso whenعَرَفَاthey two recognizedغَزَارَةَthe abundanceفَنِّهِof his artوَوَقَفَاand realizedعَلَىofمَعْرِفَتِهِhis knowledgeاصْطَفَيَاهُthey chose himلِأَنْفُسِهِمَاfor themselvesوَأَحْلَاهُand placed himمَحَلاًّin a stationرَفِيعاًloftyوَقَدَّمَاهُand placed him aheadعَلَىofجَمِيعِallأَهْلِthe peopleالْأَدَبِof literatureوَأَرْغَدَاand made generousلَهُfor himفِيinالْعَطِيَّةِ،gifts,
so when they recognized the abundance of his learning and understood his knowledge, they chose him for themselves, placed him in a lofty station, advanced him above all people of letters, and made his stipends generous.
فَلَمَّاSo whenرَأَىhe sawقُطْرُبٌQutrubبِرَّهُمَاtheir kindnessبِهِto himوَإِلْطَافَهُمَاand their gentlenessبِهِto himرَغِبَhe desiredفِيtoالْمُقَامِstayبِالْكَرَجِin al-Karajوَأَثْرَىand he grew richوَكَثُرَand increasedمَالُهُ.his wealth.
So when Qutrub saw their kindness and gentleness toward him, he desired to stay in al-Karaj, where he grew rich and his wealth increased.
فَيُقَالُ:It is said:إِنَّthatأَصْلَthe originهَذِهِof theseالْآدَابِliterary artsالَّتِيthatوَقَعَتْappearedبِالْكَرَجِin al-KarajإِلَىwithأَبِيAbuدُلَفَDulafوَمَعْقِلٍand Ma'qilمِنْfromعِلْمِthe knowledgeقُطْرُبٍof Qutrubوَتَصْنِيفِهِand his authorship ofالْكُتُبَ.books.
It is said that the origin of these literary arts that appeared in al-Karaj with Abu Dulaf and Ma'qil came from Qutrub's knowledge and his authorship of books.
وَإِنَّAnd thatالْمَأْمُونَal-Ma'munسَأَلَaskedأَبَاAbuدُلَفَ:Dulaf:مَنْWhomخَلَّفْتَdid you leaveبِالْجَبَلِin the mountain regionمَنْسُوباًnotedإِلَىforالْأَدَبِ؟literature?
And that al-Ma'mun asked Abu Dulaf: 'Whom did you leave in the mountain region noted for literature?'
قَالَ:He said:مَاI didخَلَّفْتُnot leaveغَيْرَanyone exceptقُطْرُبٍ.Qutrub.
He said: 'I left no one except Qutrub.'
فَقَالَThen saidالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:صَدَقْتَ،You have spoken the truth,إِنَّindeedلِقُطْرُبٍfor Qutrub hasلَمَحَلاًّa stationمِنْinهَذَاthisالشَّأْنِ.matter.
Then al-Ma'mun said: 'You have spoken the truth; indeed, Qutrub has a true station in this field.'
وَعَنْAnd on the authority ofأَبِيAbuمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadالْيَزِيدِيِّal-Yazidiقَالَ:who said:كُنْتُI wasأُؤَدِّبُtutoringالْمَأْمُونَal-Ma'munوَهُوَwhile he wasفِيinحِجْرِthe care ofسَعِيدِSaeedالْجَوْهَرِيِّ،al-Jawhari,
And on the authority of Abu Muhammad al-Yazidi, who said: I was tutoring al-Ma'mun while he was in the care of Saeed al-Jawhari,
فَأَتَيْتُهُso I came to himيَوْماًone dayوَهُوَwhile he wasدَاخِلٌinsideفَوَجَّهْتُso I sentإِلَيْهِto himبَعْضَsomeغِلْمَانِهِof his pagesيُعْلِمُهُto inform himبِمَوْضِعِيof my presenceفَأَبْطَأَbut he delayedعَلَيَّin coming to me
so I came to him one day while he was inside, and I sent one of his pages to inform him of my presence, but he delayed coming to me.
ثُمَّThenوَجَّهْتُI sentإِلَيْهِto himآخَرَanotherفَأَبْطَأَ،and he delayed,
Then I sent another page to him, and he delayed,
فَقُلْتُso I saidلِسَعِيدٍ:to Saeed:إِنَّIndeedهَذَاthisالْفَتَىyouthرُبَّمَاsometimesتَأَخَّرَtardyوَتَشَاغَلَand occupies himselfبِالْبَطَالَةِ.with idleness.
so I said to Saeed: 'This youth is sometimes tardy and occupies himself with idleness.'
قَالَ:He said:أَجَلْ'Yes,وَمَعَand withهَذَاthisإِذَاwhenتَأَخَّرَhe is tardyتَعَرَّمَhe acts aggressivelyعَلَىtowardخَدَمِهِhis servantsوَلَقُواand they encounterمِنْهُfrom himأَذىًharmفَقَوِّمْهُso discipline himبِالْأَدَبِ.with correction.'
He said: 'Yes, and moreover, when he is tardy, he acts aggressively toward his servants and they suffer harm from him, so discipline him with correction.'
فَلَمَّاSo whenخَرَجَhe came outأَمَرْتُI orderedبِحَمْلِهِthat he be carriedوَضَرَبْتُهُand I struck himتِسْعَnineدَرَرٍ،lashes,
So when he came out, I ordered that he be brought forward, and I struck him nine lashes,
قَالَ:He said:فَإِنَّهُand asلَيُدَلِّكُhe was rubbingعَيْنَهُhis eyeمِنْfromأَثَرِthe traceالْبُكَاءِof weepingإِذْwhenأَقْبَلَapproachedجَعْفَرُJa'farبْنُson ofيَحْيَىYahyaفَاسْتَأْذَنَand asked permission to enter
He said: As he was rubbing his eye from the trace of weeping, Ja'far ibn Yahya approached and asked permission to enter,
وَأَخَذَand he tookمِنْدِيلاًa handkerchiefفَمَسَحَand wipedعَيْنَيْهِhis eyesوَجَمَعَand straightenedثِيَابَهُhis clothesوَقَامَand stood upإِلَىtoفِرَاشِهِhis mattressوَقَعَدَand satعَلَيْهِupon itمُتَرَبِّعاًcross-leggedثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:يَدْخُلُ.'Let him enter.'
and al-Ma'mun took a handkerchief, wiped his eyes, straightened his clothes, went to his mattress, sat upon it cross-legged, and then said: 'Let him enter.'
فَدَخَلَSo he enteredوَقُمْتُand I stood upعَنِfromالْمَجْلِسِthe assemblyوَخِفْتُand I fearedأَنْthatيَشْكُوَنِيhe would complain of meإِلَيْهِto himفَأَلْقَىand I would meetمِنْهُfrom himمَاwhatأَكْرَهُ.I disliked.
So he entered, and I stood up from the assembly, fearing that he would complain of me to him and that I would suffer what I disliked from him.
قَالَ:He said:فَأَقْبَلَSo he turnedعَلَيْهِto himبِوَجْهِهِwith his faceوَحَدِيثِهِand his conversationحَتَّىuntilأَضْحَكَهُhe made him laughوَضَحِكَ.and laughed.
He said: So Ja'far turned to him with his face and conversation until he made him laugh, and he laughed.
فَلَمَّاThen whenهَمَّhe intendedبِالْحَرَكَةِto moveدَعَاhe calledبِدَابَّتِهِfor his mountوَأَمَرَand orderedغِلْمَانَهُhis pagesفَسَعَوْاto walk hastilyبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْهِhimثُمَّthenسَأَلَhe askedعَنِّيabout meفَجِئْتُso I cameفَقَالَ:and he said:خُذْ'Take upمَاwhatبَقِيَremainedمِنْofحُزْنِي.my lesson.'
Then when Ja'far intended to leave, he called for his mount, and his pages ran before him. Then al-Ma'mun asked about me, so I came, and he said: 'Resume what remained of my lesson.'
فَقُلْتُ:I said:أَيُّهَا'OالْأَمِيرُPrince,لَقَدْI trulyخِفْتُfearedأَنْthatتَشْكُوَنِيyou would complain of meإِلَىtoجَعْفَرٍJa'farوَلَوْand hadفَعَلْتَyou doneذَلِكَthatلَتَنَكَّرَhe would have turned hostileلِي.to me.'
I said: 'O Prince, I truly feared that you would complain of me to Ja'far, and had you done that, he would have turned hostile to me.'
قَالَ:He said:إِنَّا'To Godلِلَّهِ،we belong;أَتُرَانِيdo you thinkيَاOأَبَاAbuمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadكُنْتُthat I wouldأُطْمِعُallowالرَّشِيدَal-Rashidفِيinهَذِهِthisفَكَيْفَso howجَعْفَراًJa'farأُطْلِعُهُwould I let knowعَلَىthatأَنِّيIأَحْتَاجُam in needإِلَىofأَدَبٍ؟correction?
He said: 'To God we belong; do you think, O Abu Muhammad, that I would allow al-Rashid to know of such a thing, let alone Ja'far, or that I would let him know that I am in need of correction?
يَغْفِرُMay God forgiveاللَّهُGodلَكَ،you;خُذْproceedفِيwithأَمْرِكَyour businessفَقَدْforخَطَرَhas occurredبِبَالِكَto your mindمَاwhatلَاyou willتَرَاهُseeأَبَداًneverوَلَوْeven ifعُدْتَyou were to returnفِيto itكُلِّeveryيَوْمٍdayمَرَّةً.once.'
May God forgive you; proceed with your business, for something has crossed your mind that you will never see happen, even if you were to repeat it every single day once.'
وَكَانَAnd there wasلِسَعِيدِfor Saeedالْجَوْهَرِيِّal-Jawhariغُلَامٌa pageقَدْwhoلُزِّwas attachedبِالْمَأْمُونِto al-Ma'munفِيinالْكُتَّابِthe schoolroom
And Saeed al-Jawhari had a page who was attached to al-Ma'mun in the schoolroom,
فَكَانَand he usedإِذَاwheneverاحْتَاجَneededالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munإِلَىtoمَحْوِeraseلَوْحِهِhis slateبَادَرَhe would hastenإِلَيْهِto himفَأَخَذَand takeاللَّوْحَthe slateمِنْfromيَدِهِhis handفَمَحَاهُand erase it
so whenever al-Ma'mun needed to erase his slate, that page would hasten to him, take the slate from his hand, and erase it,
وَغَلَبَand he would outdoعَلَىthe otherغِلْمَانِpages ofالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munوَمَسَحَهُwipe itوَجَاءَand bringبِهِit backفَوَضَعَهُand place itعَلَىonالْمِنْدِيلِthe handkerchiefفِيinحِجْرِهِ.his lap.
outdoing al-Ma'mun's other pages, wiping it, bringing it back, and placing it on the handkerchief in his lap.
فَلَمَّاSo whenسَارَjourneyedالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munإِلَىtoخُرَاسَانَKhorasanوَكَانَand there occurredمِنْfromأَخِيهِhis brotherمَاwhatكَانَoccurredخَرَجَwent forthإِلَيْهِto meet himغُلَامُthe page ofسَعِيدٍSaeedفَوَقَفَand stoodبِالْبَابِat the doorحَتَّىuntilجَاءَcameأَبُوAbuمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadالْيَزِيدِيُّal-Yazidi
So when al-Ma'mun journeyed to Khorasan and what happened with his brother happened, Saeed's page went forth and stood at the door until Abu Muhammad al-Yazidi came.
فَلَمَّاWhenرَآهُhe saw himعَرَفَهُhe recognized himفَدَخَلَso he enteredفَأَخْبَرَand informedالْمَأْمُونَ.al-Ma'mun.
When he saw him, he recognized him, entered, and informed al-Ma'mun.
فَقَالَSo he saidلَهُto himمُسْتَبْشِراًrejoicingبِقُدُومِهِ:at his arrival:لَكَ'You shall haveالْبُشْرَى!glad tidings!'
So al-Ma'mun said to him, rejoicing at his arrival: 'You shall have glad tidings!'
ثُمَّThenأَذِنَhe gave permissionلَهُto himفَدَخَلَso he enteredعَلَيْهِto himفَضَحِكَand he smiledإِلَيْهِat himحِينَwhenرَآهُhe saw himثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:أَتَذْكَرُ'Do you rememberوَأَنْتَwhile you wereتُبَادِرُhasteningإِلَىtoمَحْوِeraseلَوْحِي؟my slate?'
Then he gave him permission to enter, and when he saw him, he smiled at him and said: 'Do you remember when you used to hasten to erase my slate?'
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ'Yes,يَاOسَيِّدِي.my master.'
He said: 'Yes, O my master.'
فَوَصَلَهُSo he rewarded himبِخَمْسِwith fiveمِائَةِhundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
So he rewarded him with five hundred thousand dirhams.
ثُمَّThenاتَّخَذَappointedالرَّشِيدُal-Rashidالْحَسَنَal-Hasanاللُّؤْلُؤِيَّal-Lu'lu'iبَعْدَafterأَبِيAbuمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadالْيَزِيدِيِّal-Yazidiعَلَىoverالْمَأْمُونِ،al-Ma'mun,
Then al-Rashid appointed al-Hasan al-Lu'lu'i after Abu Muhammad al-Yazidi over al-Ma'mun,
فَبَيْنَمَاso whileهُوَheيُطَارِحُهُwas discussing with himشَيْئاًsomethingمِنَofالْفِقْهِjurisprudenceإِذْwhenنَعَسَgrew drowsyالْمَأْمُونُ.al-Ma'mun.
and while he was discussing some point of jurisprudence with him, al-Ma'mun grew drowsy.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himاللُّؤْلُؤِيُّ:al-Lu'lu'i:نَمْتَ'You have sleptأَيُّهَاOالْأَمِيرُ!Prince!'
So al-Lu'lu'i said to him: 'You have slept, O Prince!'
فَقَالَWhereupon saidالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:سُوقِيٌّ'A boorish fellowوَرَبِّby the Lordالْكَعْبَةِ!of the Kaaba!خُذُواTakeبِيَدِهِ.him by the hand.'
Whereupon al-Ma'mun said: 'A boorish fellow, by the Lord of the Kaaba! Take him by the hand [and remove him].'
فَبَلَغَSo reachedالرَّشِيدَal-Rashidمَاwhatصَنَعَhe didفَقَالَand he saidمُتَمَثِّلاً:reciting as a proverb:
What he did reached al-Rashid, and he said, reciting as a proverb:
وَهَلْAnd doesيَنْبُتُgrowالْخَطِّيُّthe Khattiyan spearإِلَّاexceptوَشِيجُهُfrom its roots
And does the Khattiyan spear grow except from its roots
وَتُغْرَسُAnd are plantedإِلَّاexceptفِيinمَنَابِتِهَاtheir native soilsالنَّخْلُ1the palm trees
And are palm trees planted except in their native soils?
[مَحَاسِنِThe Virtuesالْمُعَلِّمِينَ]of Teachers
[The Virtues of Teachers]
قَالَ:He said:شَهِدَtestifiedرَجُلٌa manعِنْدَbeforeسَوَّارٍSawwarالْقَاضِيthe judgeفَقَالَ:and he said:مَا'Whatصِنَاعَتُكَ؟is your profession?'
He said: A man testified before Sawwar the judge, and he said: 'What is your profession?'
قَالَ:He said:مُعَلِّمٌ.'A teacher.'
He said: 'A teacher.'
قَالَ:He said:فَإِنَّا'Then weلَاdo notنُجِيزُacceptشَهَادَتَكَ.your testimony.'
He said: 'Then we do not accept your testimony.'
قَالَ:He said:وَلِمَ؟'And why?'
He said: 'And why?'
قَالَ:He said:لِأَنَّكَ'Because youتَأْخُذُtakeعَلَىforالتَّعْلِيمِteachingأَجْراً.a wage.'
He said: 'Because you take a wage for teaching.'
قَالَ:He said:وَأَنْتَ'And youتَأْخُذُtakeعَلَىforالْقَضَاءِjudgingبَيْنَbetweenالْمُسْلِمِينَthe Muslimsأَجْراً.a wage.'
He said: 'And you take a wage for judging between the Muslims.'
قَالَ:He said:أُكْرِهْتُ'I was forcedعَلَيْهِ.into it.'
He said: 'I was forced into it.'
قَالَ:He said:فَهَبْكَ'So suppose youأُكْرِهْتَwere forcedعَلَىintoالْقَضَاءِjudgingفَمَنْthen whoأَكْرَهَكَforced youعَلَىintoأَخْذِكَyour takingالْأَجْرَthe wageوَالرِّزْقَand stipendعَلَىfromاللَّهِ؟God?'
He said: 'So suppose you were forced into judging, then who forced you to take your wage and stipend from God?'
فَقَالَ:So he said:هَلُمَّ'Bring forthشَهَادَتَكَ،your testimony,'فَأَجَازَهَا.and he accepted it.
So he said: 'Bring forth your testimony,' and he accepted it.
Footnotes
- 1.كتاب محاسن المعلمين للجاحظ
Kitab Mahasin al-Mu'allimin by al-Jahiz