قَالَ:Heوَكَانَand there wasلِشُرَيْحٍfor Shurayhالْقَاضِيthe judgeابْنٌa sonيُكْثِرُwho did muchالْبَطَالَةَidleness
He said: Shurayh the judge had a son who practiced much idleness.
فَنَظَرَso lookedإِلَيْهِat himشُرَيْحٌShurayhيَوْماًone dayوَهُوَwhile heيُهَارِشُwas inciting to fightبِكَلْبٍwith a dogلَهُof his
Shurayh looked at him one day while he was inciting a dog of his to fight.
فَكَتَبَSo he wroteرُقْعَةًa noteإِلَىtoمُعَلِّمِهِhis teacherوَفِيهَاand in it wereهَذِهِtheseالْأَبْيَاتُ:verses:
So he wrote a note to his teacher containing these verses:
تَرَكَHe abandonedالصَّلَاةَprayerلِأَكْلُبٍfor dogsيَسْعَىhe runsبِهَاwith them
He abandoned prayer for dogs, running about with them,
طَلَبَseekingالْهِرَاشَdog-fightingمَعَwithالْغُوَاةِthe straying onesالرُّجْسِthe filthy ones.
Seeking dog-fighting with the filthy, misguided folk.
فَإِذَاSo whenأَتَاكَhe comes to youفَغُطَّهُthen wrap himبِمَلَامَةٍin blame
So when he comes to you, envelop him in blame,
وَعِظْهُand admonish himمَوْعِظَةَwith the admonitionالرَّفِيقِof the companionالْأَكْيَسِthe shrewd.
And admonish him with the advice of the shrewd companion.
فَإِذَاAnd ifهَمَمْتَyou intendبِضَرْبِهِto beat himفَبِبَدْرَةٍthen with a whip-cord
And if you intend to beat him, then use a whip-cord,
وَإِذَاand whenضَرَبْتَyou strikeبِهَاwith itثَلَاثاًthree timesفَاحْبُسِthen stop.
And when you strike with it three times, then stop.
وَلِيَحْمِلَنَّAnd he shall surely carryمِنِّيfrom meإِلَيْكَto youصَحِيفَةًa letter
And he shall surely carry to you from me a letter,
نَكْرَاءَterribleمِثْلَlikeصَحِيفَةِthe letterالْمُتَلَمِّسِof Al-Mutalammis.
Terrible like the letter of Al-Mutalammis.
اعْلَمْKnowبِأَنَّكَthat youمَاwhateverأَتَيْتَyou commitفَنَفْسُهُthen its self
Know that whatever you commit, its very self,
مَعَalong withمَاwhatيُجَرِّعُنِيhe makes me swallowأَعَزُّis the dearestالْأَنْفُسِof souls.
Along with what he makes me swallow, is the dearest of souls.
فَضَرَبَهُSo he beat himالْمُعَلِّمُthe teacherعَشْراًtenعَشْراًby ten.
So the teacher beat him ten by ten.
فَقَالَThen saidلَهُto himشُرَيْحٌ:Shurayh:لِمَWhyثَنَّيْتَdid you repeatعَلَيْهِupon himالضَّرْبَ؟the beating?
Shurayh said to him: Why did you repeat the beating on him?
فَقَالَ:He said:الْعَشْرُThe first tenالْأُولَىwereلِلْبَطَالَةِfor idlenessوَالثَّانِيَةُand the secondلِلْبَلَادَةِfor stupidityحَيْثُsinceلَاnotيَدْرِيhe knowsمَاwhatيَحْمِلُ.he carries.
He said: The first ten were for idleness, and the second for stupidity, since he does not know what he is carrying.
[مَسَاوِئُ[The Vicesالْمُعَلِّمِينَ]of Teachers]
[The Vices of Teachers]
قِيلَ:It was said:كَانَthere wasمُعَلِّمٌa teacherيُصَلِّيwho led in prayerبِالنَّاسِfor the peopleفِيinشَهْرِthe monthرَمَضَانَof Ramadan
It was said: There was a teacher who led the people in prayer in the month of Ramadan,
وَكَانَand he usedيَقِفُto pauseعَلَىatمَاwhatلَاshould notيُوقَفُbe pausedعَلَيْهِ،upon,
and he used to pause where one should not pause.
فَقَرَأَ:So he recited:وَاتَّبَعُواAnd they followedمَاwhatتَتْلُواrecitedالشَّ،sha...ثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:اللَّهُGodأَكْبَرُ،is the greatest,فَرَكَعَso he bowedثُمَّthenقَامَstoodفِيinالثَّانِيَةِ.the second.
So he recited: "And they followed what the de..." then said: God is the greatest, bowed, and then stood for the second [rak'ah].
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:مَاWhatتَرَاهُdo you see himيَصْنَعُ؟doing?
So I said: What do you see him doing?
فَلَمَّاThen whenقَالَ:he said:وَلَاAnd notالضَّالِّينَ،those astray,فَقَالَ:he said:يَاطِينَO mudعَلَىuponمُلْكِthe kingdomسُلَيْمَانَ.of Solomon.
Then when he said: "Nor those astray," he said: "O clay upon the kingdom of Solomon."
قَالَ:He said:وَسَمِعْتُAnd I heardمُعَلِّماًa teacherيَقْرَأُreadingبِالنَّاسِto the peopleفِيinشَهْرِthe monthرَمَضَانَ:of Ramadan:
He said: And I heard a teacher reciting to the people in the month of Ramadan:
وَإِذْAnd whenقَالَsaidلُقْمَانُLuqmanلِابْنِهِto his sonوَهُوَwhile heيَعِظُهُwas admonishing him
"And when Luqman said to his son while admonishing him:
يَاOبُنَيَّmy little sonلَاdo notتَقْصُصْrelateرُؤْيَاكَyour visionعَلَىtoإِخْوَتِكَyour brothersفَيَكِيدُواlest they plotلَكَagainst youكَيْداًa plot
O my little son, do not relate your vision to your brothers, lest they devise against you a plot,
وَأَكِيدُand I am plottingكَيْداًa plotفَمَهِّلِso give respiteالْكَافِرِينَto the disbelieversأَمْهِلْهُمْgive them respiteرُوَيْداً.a little."
And I am planning a plan. So grant a respite to the disbelievers. Deal gently with them for a while."
وَقَالَAnd saidبَعْضُهُمْ:some of them:اللَّهُGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyأَعَانَassistedعَلَىagainstعَرَامَةِthe wildnessالصِّبْيَانِof boysبِرَقَاعَةِwith the foolishnessالْمُعَلِّمِينَ.of teachers.
And some of them said: God, Majestic and Mighty, aided against the wildness of boys with the foolishness of teachers.
وَقَالَAnd saidفِيهِمْabout themبَعْضُsomeالشُّعَرَاءِ:poets:
And some poets said about them:
وَهَلْAnd doesيَسْتَفِيدُbenefitالْعَقْلَthe intellectمَنْhe whoكَانَisدَهْرَهُall his time
And does the intellect benefit one who all his time
يَرُوحُgoes at eveningعَلَىwithأُنْثَىa femaleوَيَغْدُوand goes at morningعَلَىwithطِفْلِa child
Spends his evenings with females and mornings with children?
وَقَالَAnd saidآخَرُ:another:
And another said:
إِذَاIfكُنْتَyou areوَرَّاقاًa copyistفَأَنْتَthen you areمَحَارِفٌdestitute
If you are a copyist, then you are destitute,
وَحَسْبُكَand suffice it for youنَوْكَىas foolishnessأَنْthatتَكُونَyou areمُعَلِّماًa teacher.
And it is foolishness enough for you to be a teacher.
[مَحَاسِنُ[The Meritsالسُّؤَالِ]of Begging]
[The Merits of Begging]
قَالَHe saidالْجَاحِظُ:Al-Jahiz:سَمِعْتُI heardشَيْخاًan old manمِنَfromالْمُكَدِّينَthe beggars
Al-Jahiz said: I heard an old man of the beggars
وَقَدِwhile he hadالْتَقَىmetمَعَwithشَابٍّa youthمِنْهُمْfrom themقَرِيبِnewالْعَهْدِto the eraبِالصِّنَاعَةِof the profession
who had met with a youth among them, new to the profession.
فَسَأَلَهُSo asked himالشَّيْخُthe old manعَنْaboutحَالِهِhis condition
The old man asked him about his condition.
فَقَالَ:He said:بَعَثَMay God curseاللَّهُGodالْكُدْيَةَbeggingوَلَعَنَand curseأَصْحَابَهَاits practitioners
He said: May God curse begging and curse its practitioners!
مِنْWhatصِنَاعَةٍa professionمَاhowأَخَسَّهَاbase it isوَأَقَلَّهَا!and how little it is!
What a base and meager profession it is!
إِنَّهَاIndeed, itمَاas far asعَلِمْتُI knowتُخْلِقُwears outالْوَجْهَthe faceوَتَضَعُand lowersمِنَfromالرِّجَالِ،men.
Indeed, as far as I know, it wears out the face and degrades men.
وَهَلْAnd haveرَأَيْتَyou seenمُكَدِّياًa beggarأَفْلَحَ؟prosper?
And have you ever seen a beggar prosper?
قَالَ:He said:فَرَأَيْتُSo I sawالشَّيْخَthe old manقَدْhasغَضِبَbecome angry
He said: I saw the old man become angry,
وَالْتَفَتَand he turnedإِلَيْهِtowards himفَقَالَ:and said:
and he turned to him and said:
يَاOهَذَاthis manأَقْلِلِlessenالْكَلَامَspeechفَقَدْfor you haveأَكْثَرْتَ،talked too much.
"O man, lessen your speech for you have talked too much.
مِثْلُكَThe likes of youلَاwill notيُفْلِحُprosperلِأَنَّكَbecause youمَحْرُومٌare deprivedوَلَمْand have notتَسْتَحْكِمْmasteredبَعْدُyet,
The likes of you will not prosper because you are deprived and have not yet mastered [it],
وَإِنَّand indeedلِلْكُدْيَةِfor beggingرِجَالاًthere are menفَمَاso whatلَكَto youوَلَهَذَاand thisالْكَلَامِ!speech!
and indeed begging has its men, so what have you to do with this talk!
ثُمَّThenالْتَفَتَhe turnedفَقَالَ:and said:
Then he turned and said:
اسْمَعُواListenبِاللَّهِby Godيَجِيئُنَاthere comes to usكُلُّeveryنَبَطِيٍّNabateanقَرْنَانِhornedوَكُلُّand everyحَائِكٍweaverصَفْعَانِslappedوَكُلُّand everyضَرَّاطٍflatulentكَشْحَانِlean-flanked
Listen, by God, there comes to us every horned Nabatean, every slapped weaver, and every flatulent, lean-flanked fellow,
يَتَكَلَّمُwho speaksسَبْعاًsevenفِيinثَمَانٍeightإِذَاwhenلَمْdoes notيُصِبْachieveأَحَدُهُمْone of themيَوْماًone dayشَيْئاًanythingثَلَبَhe defamesالصِّنَاعَةَthe professionوَوَقَعَand fallsفِيهَا،upon it,
talking nonsense, who if one of them fails to get something any day, defames the profession and attacks it.
أَوَمَاDo you notعَلِمْتَknowأَنَّthatالْكُدْيَةَbeggingصِنَاعَةٌis a professionشَرِيفَةٌnobleوَهِيَand it isمُحَبَّبَةٌbelovedلَذِيذَةٌdelightful
Do you not know that begging is a noble profession, beloved and delightful,
صَاحِبُهَاits companionفِيinنَعِيمٍblissلَاthat does notيَنْفَدُrun out
whose practitioner is in endless bliss?
فَهُوَFor he isعَلَىuponبَرِيدِthe postal routeالدُّنْيَاof the worldوَمِسَاحَةِand the expanseالْأَرْضِof the earthوَخَلِيفَةِand the successorذِيof Dhuالْقَرْنَيْنِal-Qarnayn
He is upon the world's postal route, the expanse of the earth, and the successor of Dhu al-Qarnayn,
الَّذِيwhoبَلَغَreachedالْمَشْرِقَthe eastوَالْمَغْرِبَand the west
who reached the east and the west.
حَيْثُWhereverمَاwhatحَلَّhe settlesلَاhe does notيَخَافُfearالْبُؤْسَ،destitution,
Wherever he settles, he fears no destitution.
يَسِيرُHe travelsحَيْثُwhereverشَاءَ،he wills,يَأْخُذُtakingأَطَايِبَthe bestكُلُّof everyبَلْدَةٍ؟town?
He journeys wherever he pleases, taking the best parts of every town.
فَهُوَSo he isأَيَّامَin the days ofالنَّرْسِيَانِthe Narsiyan datesوَالْهَيْرُونِand the Hayrun datesبِالْكُوفَةِ،in Kufa,
So during the season of Narsiyan and Hayrun dates he is in Kufa;
وَوَقْتَand at the time ofالسَّبُّوطِthe shabbout fishوَقَصَبِand sugarcaneالسُّكَّرِof sugarبِالْبَصْرَةِ،in Basra;
at the time of shabbout fish and sugarcane in Basra;
وَوَقْتَand at the time ofالْبَرْنِيِّthe Barni datesوَالْأَزَاذِand the Azadh datesوَالرَّازِقِيِّand the Raziqi datesوَالرُّمَّانِand the pomegranatesالْمَرْمَرِof Marmarبِبَغْدَادَ،in Baghdad;
at the time of Barni, Azadh, and Raziqi dates and Marmar pomegranates in Baghdad;
وَأَيَّامَand in the days ofالتِّينِfigsوَالْجَوْزِand walnutsالرَّطْبِfreshبِحُلْوَانَ،in Hulwan;
in the days of fresh figs and walnuts in Hulwan;
وَوَقْتَand at the time ofاللَّوْزِalmondsالرَّطْبِfreshوَالسَّخْتِيَانِand soft leatherوَالطَّبَرْزَدِand Tabarzad sugarبِالْجَبَلِ،in the mountains;
at the time of fresh almonds, soft leather, and Tabarzad sugar in the mountainous region;
يَأْكُلُhe eatsطَيِّبَاتِthe good thingsالْأَرْضِ،of the earth.
he eats the good things of the earth.
فَهُوَSo he isرَخِيُّat easeالْبَالِin mindحَسَنُgoodالْحَالِin conditionلَاhe does notيَغْتَمُّgrieveلِأَهْلٍover familyوَلَاnorمَالٍwealthوَلَاnorدَارٍhouseوَلَاnorعَقَارٍ،estate.
So he is carefree and in a fine condition, grieving over no family, wealth, house, or property.
حَيْثُWhereverمَاwhatحَلَّhe settlesفَعَلَفُهُthen his fodderطَبْلِيٌّ،is on his drum (provided by his music/begging).
Wherever he settles, his sustenance is earned by his drum.
أَمَاBeholdوَاللَّهِby GodلَقَدْindeedرَأَيْتُنِيI have seen myselfوَقَدْwhenدَخَلْتُI enteredبَعْضَsomeبُلْدَانِtownsالْجَبَلِof the mountainوَوَقَفْتُand stoodفِيinمَسْجِدِهَاits mosqueالْأَعْظَمِgreat
Now by God, I have seen myself entering some towns of the mountain and standing in its grand mosque,
وَعَلَيَّwhile upon meفُوطَةٌwas a wrapقَدِwhichائْتَزَرْتُI had tied around my waistبِهَاwith itوَتَعَمَّمْتُand I had wound a turbanبِحَبْلٍwith a ropeمِنْofلِيفٍpalm fiber
wearing a wrap tied around my waist and wearing a turban of palm-fiber rope,
وَبِيَدِيand in my handعُكَّازَةٌwas a staffمِنْofخَشَبِwoodالدَّفْلَىof oleander
and in my hand was a staff of oleander wood,
وَقَدِwhileاجْتَمَعَhad gatheredإِلَيَّaround meعَالَمٌa crowdمِنَofالنَّاسِpeopleكَأَنِّيas if I wereالْحَجَّاجُAl-Hajjajبْنُson ofيُوسُفَYusufعَلَىuponمِنْبَرِهِhis pulpit
while a crowd of people had gathered around me as if I were Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf upon his pulpit,
وَأَنَاand Iأَقُولُ:was saying:يَاOقَوْمِpeopleرَجُلٌa manمِنْfromأَهْلِthe peopleالشَّامِof Syria
and I was saying: O people, a man from the people of Syria,
ثُمَّthenمِنْfromبَلَدٍa townيُقَالُcalledلَهُfor itالْمِصِيصَةُAl-Massisa
then from a town called Al-Massisa,
مِنْfromأَبْنَاءِthe sons ofالْغُزَاةِthe raidersوَالْمُرَابِطِينَand the station-guardsفِيinسَبِيلِthe pathاللَّهِof God
from the sons of the raiders and those stationed in the path of God,
مِنْfromأَبْنَاءِthe sons ofالرَّكَّاضَةِthe runnersوَحَرَسَةِand the guardsالْإِسْلَامِ،of Islam.
from the sons of the runners and guards of Islam.
غَزَوْتُI raidedمَعَwithوَالِدِيmy fatherأَرْبَعَfourعَشْرَةَtenغَزْوَةًraids
I raided with my father fourteen raids,
سَبْعاًsevenفِيinالْبَحْرِthe seaوَسَبْعاًand sevenفِيinالْبَرِّ،the land,
seven at sea and seven on land.
وَغَزَوْتُAnd I raidedمَعَwithالْأَرْمَنِيِّ،Al-Armani,قُولُواsayرَحِمَmay God have mercyاللَّهُGodأَبَاon Abuالْحَسَنِ،Al-Hasan,
And I raided with Al-Armani - say: May God have mercy on Abu al-Hasan -
وَمَعَand withعُمَرَUmarبْنِson ofعُبَيْدِUbaydاللَّهِ،Allah,قُولُواsayرَحِمَmay God have mercyاللَّهُGodأَبَاon Abuحَفْصٍ،Hafs,
and with Umar ibn Ubayd Allah - say: May God have mercy on Abu Hafs -
وَغَزَوْتُand I raidedمَعَwithالْبَطَّالِAl-Battalبْنِson ofالْحُسَيْنِAl-Husaynوَالرَّنْرَدَاقِand Al-Ranridaqبْنِson ofمُدْرِكٍMudrikوَحَمْدَانَand Hamdanبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiقُطَيْفَةَ،Qutayfa,
and I raided with Al-Battal ibn al-Husayn, Al-Ranridaq ibn Mudrik, and Hamdan ibn Abi Qutayfa,
وَآخَرُand the lastمَنْwhoغَزَوْتُI raidedمَعَهُwith himيَاذْمَانُYadhmanالْخَادِمُ،the eunuch,
and the last one I raided with was Yadhman the servant.
وَدَخَلْتُAnd I enteredقُسْطَنْطِينِيَّةَConstantinopleوَصَلَّيْتُand prayedفِيinمَسْجِدِthe mosqueمَسْلَمَةَof Maslamaبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِ،al-Malik.
And I entered Constantinople and prayed in the mosque of Maslama ibn Abd al-Malik.
مَنْWhoeverسَمِعَhas heardبِاسْمِيof my nameفَقَدْthen indeedسَمِعَhe has heardوَمَنْand whoeverلَمْhas notيَسْمَعْheardفَأَنَاthen Iأُعَرِّفُهُintroduce him toنَفْسِي،myself,
Whoever has heard of my name, then he has heard, and whoever has not heard, I will introduce myself to him.
أَنَاI amابْنُthe sonالْغُزَيِّلِof Al-Ghuzyyilبْنِson ofالرَّكَّانِAl-RakkanالْمِصِيصِيِّAl-Masisiالْمَعْرُوفِknownالْمَشْهُورِand famousفِيinجَمِيعِallالثُّغُورِthe frontiers
I am the son of Al-Ghuzyyil ibn Al-Rakkan Al-Masisi, known and famous in all the frontier posts,
وَالطَّارِبِthe strikerبِالسَّيْفِwith the swordوَالطَّاعِنِand the stabberبِالْرُّمْحِ،with the spear,
the striker with the sword and the stabber with the spear,
سُدٌّa damمِنْfromأَسْدَادِthe damsالْإِسْلَامِof Islam,نَازِلُdescendingالْمُلْكِon the kingعَلَىatبَابِthe gateطَرْسُوسَof Tarsus,
a bulwark among the bulwarks of Islam, descending upon the king at the gate of Tarsus,
فَقَتَلَkillingالذَّرَارِيَّthe offspringوَسَبَىand capturingالنِّسَاءَ،the women.
killing the offspring and capturing the women.
وَأُخِذَAnd were takenلَنَاfrom usابْنَانِtwo sonsوَحُمِلَاand they were carriedإِلَىtoبِلَادِthe landالرُّومِof the Byzantines
Two sons were taken from us and carried off to the land of the Byzantines,
فَخَرَجْتُso I set outهَارِباًfleeingعَلَىuponوَجْهِيmy face (aimlessly)وَمَعِيand with me wereكُتُبٌlettersمِنَfromالتُّجَّارِmerchants
so I went forth fleeing aimlessly, and with me were letters from merchants,
فَقَطَعَand waylaidعَلَيَّmeوَقَدِwhileاسْتَجَرْتُI sought refugeبِاللَّهِin Godثُمَّthenبِكُمْin you
and I was waylaid. I have sought refuge in God and then in you,
فَإِنْso ifرَأَيْتُمْyou see fitأَنْtoتَرُدُّواreturnرُكْناًa pillarمِنْofأَرْكَانِthe pillarsالْإِسْلَامِof Islamإِلَىtoوَطَنِهِits homelandوَبَلَدِهِ!and country!
so if you see fit to return a pillar of the pillars of Islam to its homeland and country!