فَوَاللَّهِBy Allah,مَاI did notأَتَمَمْتُcompleteالْكَلَامَthe speechحَتَّىuntilانَهَالَتْpouredعَلَيَّupon meالدَّرَاهِمُthe dirhamsمِنْfromكُلِّeveryجَانِبٍsideوَانْصَرَفْتُand I leftوَمَعِيand with me wasأَكْثَرُmoreمِنْthanمِائَةِa hundredدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
By Allah, I had not even finished speaking when dirhams poured upon me from every side, and I left with more than a hundred dirhams.
فَوَثَبَThen sprangإِلَيْهِto himالشَّابُّthe young manوَقَبَّلَand kissedرَأْسَهُhis headوَقَالَ:and said:أَنْتَYouوَاللَّهِby Allahمُعَلِّمُare the teacher ofالْخَيْرِgoodفَجَزَاكَmay reward youاللَّهُAllahعَنْon behalf ofإِخْوَانِكَyour brothersخَيْراً.with good.
Then the young man sprang toward him, kissed his head, and said, 'By Allah, you are a teacher of good; may Allah reward you well on behalf of your brothers.'
[أَصْنَافُ[The classes ofالْمُكَدِّينَbeggarsوَأَفْعَالُهُمْ]and their deeds]
[The classes of beggars and their deeds]
مِنْهُمُAmong them isالْمَكِّيُّthe Meccan,وَهُوَand he isالَّذِيthe one whoيَأْتِيكَcomes to youوَعَلَيْهِand upon him isسَرَاوِيلُtrousers,وَاسِعٌwide,دَبِيقِيٌّDabiqiأَوْorنَرْسِيٌّNarsi,وَفِيهِand in it isتِكَّةٌa cordأَرْمَنِيَّةٌArmenian,قَدْwhichشَدَّهَاhe has tiedإِلَىtoعُنُقِهِhis neck.
Among them is the Meccan, who comes to you wearing wide Dabiqi or Narsi trousers, with an Armenian cord tied around his neck.
فَيَأْتِيHe comesالْمَسْجِدَto the mosqueفَيَقُولُ:and says:أَنَا'I amمِنْfromمَدِينَةِthe city ofمِصْرَEgypt,ابْنُthe son ofفُلَانٍso-and-soالتَّاجِرِthe merchant.
He comes to the mosque and says, 'I am from the city of Egypt, the son of so-and-so the merchant.
وَجَهَّنِيMy father sent meأَبِيmy fatherإِلَىtoمَرْوَMervفِيonتِجَارَةٍa trading journey,وَمَعِيand I had with meمَتَاعٌgoodsبِعَشَرَةِworth tenآلافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams.
My father sent me to Merv on a trading trip, and I had goods worth ten thousand dirhams.
فَقَطَعَThen interceptedعَلَيَّmeالطَّرِيقَthe road,وَتُرِكْتُand I was leftعَلَىinهَذِهِthisالْحَالِcondition.
Then highwaymen waylaid me, and I was left in this condition.
وَلَسْتُI do notأُحْسِنُknow wellصِنَاعَةًa craft,وَلَاnorمَعِيdo I have with meبِضَاعَةٌmerchandise.
I am not skilled in any craft, nor do I have any merchandise.
وَأَنَاAnd Iابْنُam a child ofنِعْمَةٍaffluence,وَقَدْand nowبَقِيتُI have becomeابْنَa child ofحَاجَةٍ.'need.'
I was born to wealth, but now I have been reduced to need.'
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالسَّحَرِيُّthe Sahari,الَّذِيwhoيُبَكِّرُgoes earlyإِلَىtoالْمَسَاجِدِthe mosquesمِنْbeforeقَبْلِbeforeأَنْthatيُؤَذِّنَcallsالْمُؤَذِّنُ.the muezzin.
Among them is the Sahari, who hurries to the mosques before the muezzin gives the call to prayer.
وَالشَّجَوِيُّAnd the Shajawi,الَّذِيwhoكَانَwould tieيُؤَثِّرُmark/scarفِيinيَدِهِhis handالْيُمْنَىrightوَرِجْلَيْهِand his feetحَتَّىso thatيُرِيhe showsالنَّاسَthe peopleأَنَّهُthat heكَانَwasمُقَيَّداًshackledمَغْلُولاًand chained.
And the Shajawi, who would scar his right hand and feet so as to make people think he had been shackled and chained.
وَيَأْخُذُAnd he takesبِيَدِهِin his handتِكَّةًa cordفَيَنْسُجُهَاand weaves it,يُوَهِّمُكَmaking you imagineأَنَّهُthat heمِنَis fromالْخَلْدِيَّةِthe Khaldiyyahوَقَدْand thatحُبِسَhe was imprisonedفِيinالْمُطَبَّقِthe dungeonخَمْسِينَfor fiftyسَنَةً.years.
He holds a cord in his hand and weaves it, making you think he belongs to the Khaldiyyah sect and has been imprisoned in the dungeon for fifty years.
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالذَّرَارِحِيُّthe Dhararahi,الَّذِيwhoيَأْخُذُtakesالذَّرَارِيحَblister beetlesفَيَشُدُّهَاand binds themفِيtoمَوْضِعٍa placeمِنْonجَسَدِهِhis bodyمِنْfromأَوَّلِthe beginning ofاللَّيْلِthe night,وَيَبِيتُand he spends the nightعَلَيْهِwith them on itلَيْلَتَهُall nightحَتَّىuntilيَتَيَقَّظَhe wakes upفَيُخْرِجُand emergesبِالْغَدَاةِin the morningعُرْياناًnaked.
Among them is the Dhararahi, who takes blister beetles and binds them to a part of his body at the beginning of the night, spending the night like that until he wakes up and comes out in the morning naked.
وَقَدْAndتَنَفَّطَhas blisteredذَلِكَthatالْمَوْضِعُplaceوَصَارَand there has formedفِيهِin itالْقَيْحُthe yellowالْأَصْفَرُpus,وَيَصُبُّand he poursعَلَىuponظَهْرِهِhis backقَلِيلَa littleرَمَادٍashفَيُوهِمُmakingالنَّاسَpeople thinkأَنَّهُthat he isمُحْتَرِقٌ.burned.
That spot has blistered and filled with yellow pus, and he scatters a little ash on his back, making people think he is burned.
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالْحَاجُورُthe Hajur,وَهُوَand he isالَّذِيthe one whoيَأْخُذُtakesالْحَلْقُومَthe windpipeمَعَalong withالرِّئَةِthe lung,فَيُدْخِلُinsertsالْحَلْقُومَthe windpipeفِيintoدُبُرِهِhis anusوَيُشَرِّحُand slicesالرِّئَةَthe lungعَلَىonفَخِذِهِhis thighتَشْرِيحاًin thinرَقِيقاًslices,وَيَذُرُّand sprinklesعَلَيْهِupon itدَمَthe blood ofالْأَخْوَيْنِ.dragon's blood.
Among them is the Hajur, who takes a windpipe and lung, inserts the windpipe into his anus, slices the lung thinly on his thigh, and sprinkles dragon's blood over it.
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالْخَاقَانِيُّthe Khaqani,الَّذِيwhoيَحْتَالُmanipulatesفِيinوَجْهِهِhis faceحَتَّىuntilيَجْعَلَهُhe makes itمِثْلَlikeوَجْهِthe face ofخَاقَانَKhaqan,مَلِكِthe king ofالتُّرْكِthe Turks,وَيُسَوِّدُهُand blackens itبِالصَّبْرِwith aloesوَالْمِدَادِand ink,وَيُوهِمُكَmaking you thinkأَنَّهُthat it isوَرَمٌ.a swelling.
Among them is the Khaqani, who disfigures his face to resemble the face of Khaqan, the king of the Turks, blackening it with aloes and ink, and making you think it is a tumor.
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالسَّكُوتُthe silent one,الَّذِيwhoيُوهِمُكَmakes you thinkأَنَّهُthat heلَاdoes notيُحْسِنُknow howأَنْtoيَتَكَلَّمَ.speak.
Among them is the silent one, who pretends he does not know how to speak.
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالْكَانُthe Kan,وَهُوَand he isالَّذِيthe one whoيُوَاضِعُmakes an agreement withالْقَاصَّthe storytellerمِنْatأَوَّلِthe beginning ofاللَّيْلِthe nightعَلَىthatأَنَّهُheيُعْطِيهِwill give himالنِّصْفَhalfأَوْorالثُّلُثَa third,فَيَتْرُكُهُso he leaves himحَتَّىuntilإِذَاwhenفَرَغَhe finishesمِنَcollectingالْأَخْذِforلِنَفْسِهِhimself,انْدَفَعَhe rushes forwardهُوَhimselfفَتَكَلَّمَ.and speaks.
Among them is the Kan, who makes a deal with the storyteller at the start of the night to give him half or a third of the earnings; the storyteller lets him speak after finishing his own collection.
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالْمُفَلْفَلُ،the Mufalfal:الرَّفِيقَانِtwo companionsيَتَرَافَقَانِaccompany each other,فَإِذَاand whenدَخَلَاthey enterمَدِينَةًa city,قَصَدَاthey head toأَنْبَلَthe noblestمَسْجِدٍmosqueفِيهَاin it.
Among them is the Mufalfal: two companions travel together, and upon entering a city, they head for its finest mosque.
فَيَقُومُOne of them standsأَحَدُهُمَاupفِيatأَوَّلِthe front ofالصَّفِّthe row,فَإِذَاand whenسَلَّمَconcludes the prayerالْإِمَامُthe imam,صَاحَcalls outالَّذِيthe oneفِيatآخِرِthe back ofالصَّفِّthe rowبِالَّذِيto the oneفِيatأَوَّلِthe front ofالصَّفِّ:the row:
One of them stands at the front of the row, and when the imam finishes the prayer, the one at the back of the row calls out to the one at the front:
يَا'Oفُلَانُso-and-so,قُلْtellلَهُمْ.them.'
'O so-and-so, tell them.'
فَيَقُولُThe other says:الْآخَرُ:'Tellقُلْthemلَهُمْyourself,أَنَاwhat amأَيْشَ.I?'
The other replies, 'Tell them yourself, who am I?'
فَيَقُولُ:He says:قُلْ'Speak,وَيْحَكَwoe to you,وَلَاand do notتَسْتَحِ.be ashamed.'
He says, 'Speak, woe to you, and do not be ashamed.'
فَلَاThey continueيَزَالَانِthus,كَذَلِكَwhileوَقَدْthey haveعَلَّقَاhookedقُلُوبَthe hearts ofالنَّاسِthe people,يَنْتَظِرُونَwho waitمَاfor whatيَكُونُwill comeمِنْهُمَا.from them.
They keep this up, having captivated the people's hearts as they wait to see what will happen.
فَإِذَاThen whenعَلِمَاthey realizeأَنَّهُمَاthat theyقَدْhaveعَلَّقَاhookedالْقُلُوبَthe hearts,تَكَلَّمَاthey speakبِحَوَائِجِهِمَاabout their needsوَقَالَا:and say:نَحْنُ'We areشَرِيكَانِpartners,وَكَانَand there wereمَعَنَاwith usأَحْمَالُbales ofبَزٍّclothكُنَّاwhich weحَمَلْنَاهَاcarriedمِنْfromفُسْطَاطِFustat ofمِصْرَEgyptنُرِيدُintendingالْعِرَاقَIraq,فَقَطَعَand highwaymen waylaidعَلَيْنَاusوَقَدْand weبَقِينَاhave remainedعَلَىinهَذِهِthisالْحَالِcondition,لَاnotنُحْسِنُknowing howأَنْtoنَسْأَلَbegوَلَيْسَتْand this is notهَذِهِourصِنَاعَتَنَا.craft.'
Once they know they have captured the crowd's attention, they voice their needs, saying, 'We are partners; we had bales of cloth which we brought from Fustat, Egypt, heading for Iraq, but we were waylaid, and we have been left in this state, not knowing how to beg, for this is not our trade.'
فَيُوهِمَانِAnd they makeالنَّاسَthe people thinkأَنَّهُمَاthat theyقَدْhaveمَاتَاdiedمِنَofالْحَيَاءِ.shame.
They make people think they are dying of shame.
وَمِنْهُمْAnd among them isزَكِيمُthe fakeالْحَبَشَةِAbyssinian,الَّذِيwhoيَأْتِيكَcomes to youوَعَلَيْهِand upon him isدَرَّاعَةُa tunicصُوفٍof wool,مُضَرَّبَةٌquilted,مَشْقُوقَةٌslitمِنْfromخَلْفٍbehindوَقُدَّامٍand in front,وَعَلَيْهِand on him areخُفٌّbootsثَغْرِيٌّof the Thughr styleبِلَاwithoutسَرَاوِيلَtrousers,يَتَشَبَّهُresemblingبِالْغُزَاةِ.the holy warriors.
Among them is the fake Abyssinian, who comes to you wearing a quilted woolen tunic slit at the back and front, and Thughr boots without trousers, imitating the holy warriors.
وَمِنْهُمْAnd among them areزُكَيْمُthe fakeالْمَرْحُومَةِof the deceasedالْمَكَانِيفِblind:يَجْتَمِعُونَthey gatherخَمْسَةًin groups of five,وَسِتَّةًsix,وَأَقَلَّfewer,وَأَكْثَرَor more.
And among them are the fake blind of the departed ones, who gather in groups of five, six, fewer, or more.
وَقَائِدُهُمْTheir guideيُبْصِرُcan seeأَدْنَىeven the smallestشَيْءٍthing,عَيْنُهُhis eyeمِثْلُis likeالْخُفَّاشِa bat's,يُقَالُhe is calledلَهُby the nameالْأَسْطِيلُAl-Ustil;فَهُوَheيَدْعُوsupplicatesوَهُمْwhile theyيُؤَمِّنُونَ.say 'Amen'.
Their guide can see the tiniest thing with eyes like a bat's; he is called Al-Ustil. He makes supplications while they say 'Amen'.
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالْكَاغَانِيُّthe Kaghani,الَّذِيwhoيَتَجَنَّنُfeigns madnessأَوْorيَتَصَارَعُhas epileptic fitsوَيُزْبِدُand foams at the mouthحَتَّىso thatلَاno oneيَشُكَّdoubtsأَحَدٌanyoneفِيinجُنُونِهِhis madnessوَأَنَّهُand thatلَاthere is noدَوَاءَcureلَهُfor himلِشِدَّةِdue to the severity ofمَاwhatيَنْزِلُbefallsبِهِ.him.
Among them is the Kaghani, who feigns madness or epilepsy and foams at the mouth so that no one doubts his insanity and the hopelessness of his condition.
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالْقُرْسِيُّthe Qursi,وَهُوَand he isالَّذِيthe one whoيَعْصِبُbinds tightlyسَاقَيْهِhis legsأَوْorذِرَاعَيْهِhis armsعَصْباًwith a bindingشَدِيداًthat is severe,وَيَبِيتُand he spends the nightعَلَىinذَلِكَthatلَيْلَةً.state for a night.
Among them is the Qursi, who binds his legs or arms tightly and spends the night like that.
فَإِذَاThen whenتَوَرَّمَit swellsوَاحْتَقَنَand poolsفِيهِin itالدَّمُthe blood,مَسَحَهُhe wipes itبِشَيْءٍwith someمِنْofصَابُونٍsoapوَدَمِand dragon'sالْأَخْوَيْنِblood,وَقَطَّرَand dripsعَلَيْهِupon itمِنْsomeسَمْنِghee ofالْبَقَرِcows,وَأَطْبَقَand coversعَلَيْهِit withخِرْقَةًa rag.
When it swells and the blood stagnates in it, he wipes it with some soap and dragon's blood, drips cow's ghee on it, and covers it with a rag.
فَإِذَاThen whenكَشَفَhe uncoversبَعْضَهُpart of it,فَلَاno oneيَشُكُّdoubtsمَنْwhoرَآهُsees itأَنَّهُthat it isآكِلَةٌa gangreneنَعُوذُwe seek refugeبِاللَّهِin Allahمِنْهَا.from it.
When he uncovers a part of it, anyone who sees it has no doubt that it is a gangrenous sore—may Allah protect us from it.
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالْمُشَعِّبُthe Musha'hib,الَّذِيwhoيَحْتَالُplotsلِلصَّبِيِّconcerning a childحِينَwhenيُولَدُhe is born,بِأَنْbyيُزْمِنَهُmaking him chronically ill/disabledأَوْorيُعْمِيَهُblinding himلِيَسْأَلَto begبِهِwith himالنَّاسَ.from people.
Among them is the Musha'hib, who schemes with a newborn child by disabling or blinding him in order to beg from people using him.
وَرُبَّمَاAnd sometimesجَاءَتْcomesأُمُّهُhis motherأَوْorيَجِيءُcomesأَبُوهُhis fatherفَيَتَوَلَّىand takes charge ofذَلِكَthat,فَفِإِمَّاso eitherأَنْtheyيَكْسِبَاearnبِهِthrough himأَوْorيُكْرِبَاهُ.cause him hardship.
Sometimes his mother or father comes and takes charge of this, so that they either earn a living through him or distress him.
فَإِنْThen ifكَانَthere isعِنْدَهُمَاwith themثِقَةٌtrustworthiness,وَإِلَّاotherwiseأَقَامَhe appointsبِالْأَوْلَادِover the childrenوَالْأُجْرَةِand the wageكَفِيلًا.a guarantor.
If they are trusted, well and good; otherwise, someone is appointed as a guarantor over the children and their wages.
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالْفَيْلُورُthe Faylur,وَهُوَand he isالَّذِيthe one whoيَحْتَالُmanipulatesلِخُصْيَتَيْهِhis testiclesحَتَّىuntilيُرِيَكَhe shows youأَنَّهُthat heآدِرٌ،has a hernia,وَرُبَّمَاand perhapsأَرَاكَhe shows youأَنَّthatبِهِمَاin them isشَرْطاًan incisionأَوْorجُرْحاً،a wound.
Among them is the Faylur, who manipulates his testicles to make you think he has a hernia, and sometimes shows you an incision or a wound on them.
وَرُبَّمَاAnd perhapsأَرَاكَhe showsذَلِكَthatفِيinدُبُرِهِ،his anus,وَتَفْعَلُand doesالْمَرْأَةُthe womanذَلِكَthatبِفَرْجِهَا.with her vulva.
And he might show you that in his anus, just as a woman might do that with her vulva.
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالْكَاخَانُthe Kakhan:الْغُلَامُthe youngالْمُكَدِّيbeggarإِذَاwhenوَاجَرَhe hires himself outوَعَلَيْهِwhile upon him isمَسْحَةٌa traceمِنْofجَمَالٍbeautyوَعَمِلَand he performsالْعَمَلَيْنِboth jobsجَمِيعاً.together.
Among them is the Kakhan: a young beggar who hires himself out when he has a trace of beauty, performing both jobs at once.
وَالْعَوَّاءُAnd the Awwa,الَّذِيwhoيَسْأَلُbegsبَيْنَbetweenالْمَغْرِبِMaghribوَالْعِشَاءِand Ishaوَيُطَرِّبُand modulates melodiouslyفِيinصَوْتِهِ.his voice.
And the Awwa, who begs between Maghrib and Isha, modulating his voice melodiously.
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالْأَسْطِيلُthe Al-Ustil,وَهُوَand he isالْمُتَعَامِيthe feigned blind manالَّذِيwhoإِنْifشَاءَhe willsأَرَٰكَhe shows youأَنَّهُthat he isأَعْمَىٰblind,وَإِنْand ifشَاءَhe willsأَرَٰكَhe shows youأَنَّهُthat he isمِمَّنْsomeone in whoseنَزَلَhas descendedفِيeyeعَيْنِهِa cataractالْمَاءُ(water),وَإِنْand ifشَاءَhe willsأَرَٰكَhe shows youأَنَّهُthatلَاhe doesيُبْصِرُ.not see at all.
And among them is the Al-Ustil, the feigned blind man who can make you think he is completely blind, or that he has cataracts, or that he cannot see at all, whichever he wishes.
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالْمَزِيدِيُّthe Mazidi,وَهُوَand he isالَّذِيthe one whoيَدُورُgoes aroundوَمَعَهُand with him areدُرَيْهِمَاتٌa few small dirhams,يَقُولُ:saying:هَذِهِ'Theseدُرَيْهِمَاتٌare small dirhamsقَدْthatجُمِعَتْhave been gatheredلِيfor meفِيtowardثَمَنِthe price ofقَطِيفَةٍa velvet blanket,فَزِيدُونِيso increase themفِيهَاfor meوَرَحِمَكُمُand may Allah have mercy onاللَّهُ.'you.'
Among them is the Mazidi, who goes around carrying a few small dirhams, saying, 'These are small coins collected for me toward the price of a blanket, so add to them, and may Allah have mercy on you.'
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالْمُسْتَعْرِضُthe Musta'rid,الَّذِيwhoيُعَارِضُكَcrosses your pathوَهُوَwhile he isذُوa man ofهَيْأَةٍgood appearanceفِيinثِيَابٍrespectableصَالِحَةٍclothes,يُرِيكَmaking you thinkأَنَّهُthatيَسْتَحْيِيhe is too ashamedمِنَofالْمَسْأَلَةِbeggingوَيَخَافُand fearsأَنْthatيَرَاهُmight see himمَعْرِفَةٌan acquaintance,فَيَعْرِضُso he approachesلَكَyouاعْتِرَاضاًas if by chanceوَيُكَلِّمُكَand speaks to youخَفْتاً.in a whisper.
Among them is the Musta'rid, who crosses your path wearing respectable clothes, giving the impression that he is too ashamed to beg and fears an acquaintance might see him, so he intercepts you and speaks in a whisper.
وَمِنْهُمُAnd among them isالْمُطَيَّنُthe Mutayyan,وَهُوَand he isالَّذِيthe one whoيُطَيِّنُsmears mud onنَفْسَهُhimselfمِنْfromقَرْنِهِthe crown of his headإِلَىtoقَدَمِهِhis foot,وَيَأْخُذُand takesالْبَلَاذُرَmarking nutsيُرِيكَmaking you thinkأَنَّهُthatيَأْكُلُhe eatsالْبَلَاذُرَ.marking nuts.
Among them is the Mutayyan, who coats himself in mud from head to toe and takes marking nuts, making people think he eats them.
وَمِنْAnd fromنَوَادِرِهِمْtheir anecdotes
And from their anecdotes