قِيلَ:Itإِنَّهُwas said:
It was said:
أَتَىcameسَائِلٌa beggarدَاراًto a houseيَسْأَلُaskingمِنْهَاfrom it
a beggar came to a house asking from it
فَأَشْرَفَتْand looked downعَلَيْهِupon himامْرَأَةٌa womanمِنَfromالْغُرْفَةِthe room
and a woman looked down upon him from the room
فَقَالَSo he saidلَهَا:to her:
So he said to her:
يَاOأَمَةَmaidservantاللَّهِof God
O maidservant of God
اللَّهَby Godأَنْthatتُصَدِّقِيyou give charityعَلَيَّto meبِشَيْءٍ!with something!
for God's sake, give me charity with something!
قَالَتْ:She said:أَيَّWhatشَيْءٍthingتُرِيدُ؟do you want?
She said: What thing do you want?
قَالَ:He said:دِرْهَماً.A dirham.
He said: A dirham.
قَالَتْ:She said:لَيْسَ.None.
She said: None.
قَالَ:He said:فَدَانِقاً.Then a daniq.
He said: Then a daniq.
قَالَتْ:She said:لَيْسَ.None.
She said: None.
قَالَ:He said:فَفِلْساً.Then a fals.
He said: Then a fals.
قَالَتْ:She said:لَيْسَ.None.
She said: None.
قَالَ:He said:فَكِسْوَةً.Then a garment.
He said: Then a garment.
قَالَتْ:She said:لَيْسَ.None.
She said: None.
قَالَ:He said:فَكَفّاًThen a handfulمِنْofدَقِيقٍ.flour.
He said: Then a handful of flour.
قَالَتْ:She said:لَيْسَ.None.
She said: None.
قَالَ:He said:فَزَيْتٍ،Then oil,حَتَّىuntilعَدَّhe countedكُلَّeveryشَيْءٍthingيَكُونُthat isفِيinالْبُيُوتِthe housesوَهِيَwhile sheتَقُولُ:was saying:لَيْسَ.None.
He said: Then oil, until he counted everything that is in houses while she was saying: None.
فَقَالَSo he saidلَهَا:to her:يَاOزَانِيَةُadulteressفَمَاthen whatيُجْلِسُكِ؟makes you sit?
So he said to her: O adulteress, then what makes you sit?
مُرِّيGoتَصَدَّقِيand give charityمَعِي.with me.
Go and give charity with me.
قَالَSaidالْأَصْمَعِيُّ:Al-Asma'i:وَقَفْتُI stoodعَلَىbyسَائِلٍa beggarبِالْمِرْبَدِat Al-Mirbadوَهُوَwhile heيَقُولُ:was saying:
Al-Asma'i said: I stood by a beggar at Al-Mirbad while he was saying:
قَدْI haveرَهَنْتُmortgagedالْقِصَاعَthe bowlsمِنْout ofشَهْوَةِcraving forالْخُبْزِbread
I have mortgaged the bowls out of craving for bread
فَقُلْتُSo I saidلَهُ:to him:أَتِمْمَهُ.Complete it.
So I said to him: Complete it.
فَقَالَ:He said:أَتِمْمَهُComplete itأَنْتَ.yourself.
He said: Complete it yourself.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:فَمَنْThen who isلِيfor meبِمَنْwith one whoيَفُكُّwill redeemالْقِصَاعَاthe bowls?
So I said: Then who will redeem the bowls for me?
فَقَالَ:He said:اضْمُمْJoinإِلَيْهِto itبَيْتاً.a verse.
He said: Join a verse to it.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:
So I said:
مَاI did notرَهَنْتُmortgageالْقِصَاعَthe bowlsيَاOقَوْمِpeopleحَتَّىuntilخِفْتُI fearedوَاللَّهِby GodأَنْthatأَمُوتَI would dieضِيَاعاًdestitute
I did not mortgage the bowls, O people, until I feared by God that I would die destitute
فَقَالَ:So he said:أَنْتَYouوَاللَّهِby Godأَحْوَجُare more in needإِلَىofالْمَسْأَلَةِbeggingوَأَحَقُّand more deservingبِهَاof itمِنِّي.than I.
So he said: By God, you are more in need of begging and more deserving of it than I.
وَلِأَبِيAnd for AbuفُرُونَFurunالْأَعْرَابِيِّthe Bedouinالسَّائِلِ:the beggar:
And for Abu Furun the Bedouin beggar:
وَصَبِيَّةٍAnd young childrenمِثْلِlikeصِغَارِthe smallالذَّرِّantsسُودِblackالْوُجُوهِof facesكَسَوَادِlike the blacknessالْقِدْرِof the pot
And young children like small ants, with black faces like the blackness of the pot
كُلُّهُمْAll of themمُلْتَصِقٌclingingبِصَدْرِيto my chestحَتَّىuntilإِذَاwhenلَاحَappearedعَمُودُthe pillarالْفَجْرِof dawn
All of them clinging to my chest until when the pillar of dawn appeared
وَلَاحَتِand appearedالشَّمْسُthe sunخَرَجْتُI went outأَسْرِيprowlingأَسْبِقُهُمْoutstripping themإِلَىtoأُصُولِthe basesالْجُدُرِof the walls
and the sun appeared, I went out prowling, outstripping them to the bases of the walls
أَلَاAhفَتًىis there a youthيَحْمِلُwho will carryعَنِّيfrom meإِصْرِيmy burden?
Ah, is there a youth who will carry my burden from me?
هَذَاThis isجَمِيعُallقِصَّتِيof my storyوَأَمْرِيand my affair
This is all of my story and my affair
فَاسْمَعْSo listen toمَقَالِيmy speechوَتَوَقَّand beware ofشَرِّيmy evil
So listen to my speech and beware of my evil
فَأَنْتَfor youأَنْتَyouبُغْيَتِيare my goalوَذُخْرِيand my treasure
for you, you are my goal and my treasure
كَنَّيْتُI have givenنَفْسِيmyselfكُنْيَةًa Kunyaفِيinشِعْرِيmy poetry
I have given myself a Kunya in my poetry
أَنَاI amأَبُوAbuالْفَقْرِAl-Faqrوَأُمُّand UmmالْفَقْرِAl-Faqr
I am Abu Al-Faqr and Umm Al-Faqr
قَالَ:He said:قَالَSaidالْأَصْمَعِيُّ:Al-Asma'i:رَأَيْتُI sawسَائِلاًa beggarوَقَدْwhile heتَعَلَّقَclungبِأَسْتَارِto the coveringsالْكَعْبَةِof the KaabaمِنْfromبَنِيBanuتَمِيمٍTamimوَهُوَwhile heيَقُولُ:was saying:
He said: Al-Asma'i said: I saw a beggar from Banu Tamim clinging to the coverings of the Kaaba while he was saying:
أَيَاOرَبِّLordرَبَّLord ofالنَّاسِthe peopleوَالْمَنِّand the favorوَالْهُدَىand the guidance
O Lord, Lord of the people, favor, and guidance
أَمَاIs there notلِيfor meفِيinهَذَاthisالْأَنَامِmankindقَسِيمُa partner?
Is there not a partner for me in this mankind?
أَمَاDo you notتَسْتَحِيfeel shyمِنِّيof meوَقَدْwhileقُمْتُI standعَارِياًnaked
Do you not feel shy of me while I stand naked
أُنَاجِيكَwhispering to YouيَاOرَبِّيmy Lordوَأَنْتَwhile You areكَرِيمُgenerous
whispering to You, O my Lord, while You are generous
أَتَرْزُقُDo You provide forأَبْنَاءَthe sonsالْعُلُوجِof the non-Arabsوَقَدْwhile theyعَصَوْاdisobeyed
Do You provide for the sons of the non-Arabs while they disobeyed
وَتْتْرُكُand leaveقَرْماًa nobleمِنْfromقُرُومِthe noblesتَمِيمِof Tamim?
and leave a noble from the nobles of Tamim?
قَالَ:He said:وَرَأَيْتُand I sawرَجُلاًanother manآخَرَfromمِنَthe Bedouinsالْأَعْرَابِwhile heوَقَدْclungتَعَلَّقَto the coveringsبِأَسْتَارِof the Kaabaالْكَعْبَةِwhile heوَهُوَwas saying:يَقُولُ:O Lord
He said: And I saw another man from the Bedouins clinging to the coverings of the Kaaba while he was saying:
يَاOرَبِّLordإِنِّيverily I amسَائِلٌa beggarكَمَاasتَرَىyou see
O Lord, verily I am a beggar as you see
مُشْتَمِلٌwrapped inشَمِيلَتِيmy garmentكَمَاasتَرَىyou see
wrapped in my garment as you see
وَشَيْخَتِيand my old womanجَالِسَةٌis sittingفِيمَاin whatتَرَىyou see
and my old woman is sitting in what you see
وَالْبَطْنُand the bellyمِنِّيof mineجَائِعٌis hungryكَمَاasتَرَىyou see
and my belly is hungry as you see
فَمَاso whatتَرَىdo you seeيَاOرَبَّنَاour Lordفِيمَاregarding whatتَرَىyou see?
so what do you see, O our Lord, regarding what you see?
قَالَ:He said:وَأَتَىand cameسَائِلٌa beggarمِنَfromالْأَعْرَابِthe BedouinsإِلَىtoبَنِيBanuعَبْدِAbdالْعَزِيزِal-AzizبْنِbinمَرْوَانَMarwanفَقَالَ:and said:
He said: And a beggar from the Bedouins came to Banu Abd al-Aziz bin Marwan and said:
أَتَتْHas comeعَلَيْنَاupon usسُنُونَyearsلَمْthat did notتُبْقِleaveزَرْعاًa cropحَصِيداًharvestedوَلَاnorمَالاًwealthتَلِيداًinherited
Years have come upon us that left no harvested crop nor inherited wealth
إِلَّاexceptاجْتَاحَتْهُit swept it awayبِزُوبَرِهِwith its whirlwindوَأَصْلِهِand its rootوَأَنْتُمْand you areأَئِمَّةُthe leaders ofأَمَلِيmy hopeوَقَصْدُand the destination ofثِقَتِي.my trust.
except it swept it away with its whirlwind and its root, and you are the leaders of my hope and the destination of my trust.
فَلَمْSo they did notيُعْطُوهُgive himشَيْئاً،anything,فَقَالَ:so he said:
So they did not give him anything, so he said:
بَنُوBanuعَبْدِAbdالْعَزِيزِal-Azizإِذَاwhenأَرَادُواthey desired
Banu Abd al-Aziz when they desired
سَمَاحاًgenerosityلَمْdid notيَلِقْsuitبِهِمُthemالسَّمَاحُgenerosity
generosity, generosity did not suit them
لَهُمْFor themعَنْfromكُلِّeveryمَكْرُمَةٍnoble deedحِجَابٌis a barrier
For them from every noble deed is a barrier
فَقَدْforتَرَكُواthey have leftالْمَكَارِمَnoble deedsوَاسْتَرَاحُواand rested
for they have left noble deeds and rested
قَالَ:He said:وَمَرَّand passedسَائِلٌa beggarمِنْهُمْfrom themبِرَجُلٍby a manيُكَنَّىcalledأَبَاAbuالْغَمْرِal-Ghamrضَخْمٍstoutعَرِيضٍbroadوَكَانَand he wasبَوَّاباًa doorkeeperلِبَعْضِfor someالْمُلُوكِkingsفَقَالَso he saidلَهُ:to him:
He said: And a beggar from them passed by a stout, broad man called Abu al-Ghamr, and he was a doorkeeper for some kings, so he said to him:
أَعِنِHelpالْمِسْكِينَthe poorالضَّعِيفَweakالْفَقِيرَdestituteالْمُحْتَاجَ.needy man.
Help the poor, weak, destitute, needy man.
فَقَالَ:So he said:مَاHowأَلْحَفَimportunateجَائِعَكُمْis your hungry oneوَأَكْثَرَand how numerousسَائِلَكُمْ،is your beggar,أَرَاحَنَاmay God relieveاللَّهُusمِنْكُمْ!from you!
So he said: How importunate is your hungry one and how numerous is your beggar, may God relieve us from you!
فَقَالَSo saidالسَّائِلُ:the beggar:اسْكُتْShut upفَوَاللَّهِfor by Godلَوْifفُرِّقَwere distributedقُوتُthe nourishmentجِسْمِكَof your bodyفِيamongعَشَرَةِtenأَجْسَامٍbodiesمَنَّاof usلَكَفَانَاit would suffice usطَعَامُكَyour foodلِيَوْمٍfor a dayشَهْراً،a month,
So the beggar said: Shut up, for by God if the nourishment of your body were distributed among ten bodies of us, your food for a day would suffice us for a month,
وَإِنَّكَand you areلَنَبِيهُnotable forالضَّرْطَةِfartingلَوْifذُرِّيَwere winnowedبِهَاby itبَيْدَرٌa threshing floorلَكَفَتْهُit would suffice itالرِّيحُ،the wind,
and you are notable for flatulence, if a threshing floor were winnowed by it, the wind would suffice it,
عَظِيمُimmense ofالسِّلْحَةِexcrementلَوْifضُرِبَتْit were beatenلِبِنَاءٍfor a buildingلَكَفَتْit would sufficeسُوراً.as a wall.
immense of excrement, if it were beaten for a building it would suffice as a wall.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَand saidأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinوَهُوَwhile heيَسْأَلُ:was begging:رَحِمَMay God have mercy onاللَّهُGodمَنْwhoeverأَعْطَىgaveمِنْout ofفَضْلٍabundanceوَآثَرَand preferred othersمِنْdespiteقِلَّةٍscarcityوَوَاسَىand comfortedمِنْout ofكَفَافٍ.sufficiency.
He said: And a Bedouin said while he was begging: May God have mercy on whoever gave out of abundance, and preferred others despite scarcity, and comforted out of sufficiency.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَدَخَلَand enteredرَجُلٌa manمِنْهُمْfrom themعَلَىuponهِشَامِHishamبْنِbinعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِal-MalikبْنِbinمَرْوَانَMarwanفَقَالَ:and said:
It was said: And a man from them entered upon Hisham bin Abd al-Malik bin Marwan and said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَتَتْنَاhave come upon usسُنُونَyearsثَلَاثٌ،three,
O Commander of the Faithful, three years have come upon us,
فَأَمَّاso as forالْأُولَىthe firstفَأَذَابَتِit meltedالشَّحْمَ،the fat,وَأَمَّاand as forالثَّانِيَةُthe secondفَأَغْضَتِit consumedاللَّحْمَ،the meat,وَأَمَّاand as forالثَّالِثَةُthe thirdفَهَاضَتِit brokeالْعَظْمَ،the bone,
so as for the first, it melted the fat; as for the second, it consumed the meat; and as for the third, it broke the bone,
وَعِنْدَكَand with youأَمْوَالٌare wealthsفَإِنْso ifكَانَتْthey areلِلَّهِfor GodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyفَبُثَّهَاthen scatter themفِيamongعِبَادِthe servantsاللَّهِ،of God,
and with you is wealth, so if it is for God Majestic and Mighty, then scatter it among the servants of God,
وَإِنْand ifكَانَتْthey areلَهُمْfor themفَفِيمَthen whyتَحْبِسُهَاdo you withhold itعَنْهُمْ؟from them?
and if it is for them, then why do you withhold it from them?
وَإِنْand ifكَانَتْit isلَكَyoursفَتَصَدَّقْthen give charityعَلَيْنَاto usإِنَّverilyاللَّهَGodيَجْزِيrewardsالْمُتَصَدِّقِينَ.the givers of charity.
and if it is yours, then give charity to us, verily God rewards the givers of charity.
قَالَ:He said:وَدَخَلَand enteredأَزْهَرُAzharالسَّمَّانُal-Sammanعَلَىuponالْمَنْصُورِal-Mansurفَشَكَاand complainedإِلَيْهِto himالْحَاجَةَof needوَسُوءَand badالْحَالِ،condition,
He said: And Azhar al-Samman entered upon al-Mansur and complained to him of need and bad condition,
فَأَمَرَso he orderedلَهُfor himبِأَلْفِwith a thousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsوَقَالَ:and said:يَاOأَزْهَرُAzharلَاdo notتَأْتِنَاcome to usفِيforحَاجَةٍa needأَبَداً.ever.
so he ordered a thousand dirhams for him and said: O Azhar, do not come to us for a need ever.
قَالَ:He said:أَفْعَلُI will do soيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.
He said: I will do so, O Commander of the Faithful.
فَلَمَّاSo whenكَانَit wasبَعْدَafterقَلِيلٍa littleعَادَhe returnedفَقَالَand saidلَهُ:to him:يَاOأَزْهَرُAzharمَاwhatحَاجَتُكَ؟is your need?
So when a little time had passed, he returned and said to him: O Azhar, what is your need?
قَالَ:He said:جِئْتُI cameلِأَدْعُوَto prayلِأَمِيرِfor the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.
He said: I came to pray for the Commander of the Faithful.
قَالَ:He said:بَلْRatherأَتَيْتَنَاyou came to usلِمِثْلِfor the like ofمَاwhatأَتَيْتَ.you came for before.
He said: Rather, you came to us for the like of what you came for.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedلَهُfor himبِأَلْفِwith a thousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsوَقَالَ:and said:يَاOأَزْهَرُAzharلَاdo notتَأْتِنَاcome to usثَالِثَةًa third timeفَلَاfor there is noحَاجَةَneedلَنَاfor usفِيinدُعَائِكَ.your prayer.
So he ordered a thousand dirhams for him and said: O Azhar, do not come to us a third time, for there is no need for us in your prayer.
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ،Yes,ثُمَّthenلَمْhe did notيَلْبَثْlingerأَنْbeforeعَادَ،he returned,فَقَالَ:and said:يَاOأَزْهَرُAzharمَاwhatجَاءَbroughtبِكَ؟you?
He said: Yes, then he did not linger before he returned, and said: O Azhar, what brought you?
قَالَ:He said:دُعَاءٌA prayerكُنْتُI wasسَمِعْتُهُhearing itمِنْكَfrom youأُحِبُّand I loveأَنْtoآخُذَهُtake itعَنْكَ.from you.
He said: A prayer I had heard from you, and I love to take it from you.
فَقَالَ:So he said:لَاDo notتُرَدِّدْهُrepeat itفَإِنَّهُfor it isغَيْرُnotمُسْتَجَابٍansweredوَقَدْand I haveدَعَوْتُprayedبِهِwith itاللَّهَto GodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand MightyأَنْthatيُرِيحَنِيHe relieve meمِنْfromخِلْقَتِكَyour creationفَلَمْand He did notيَفْعَلْ.do so.
So he said: Do not repeat it, for it is not answered, and I have prayed with it to God Majestic and Mighty that He relieve me from your creation and He did not do so.
وَمِمَّنْAnd among those whoسَأَلَbeggedالْخُلَفَاءَthe caliphsأَيْضاًalsoرَبِيعَةُRabi'ahبْنُbinرَبِيعَةَ،Rabi'ah,ذَكَرُواthey mentionedأَنَّهُthat heدَخَلَenteredعَلَىuponمُعَاوِيَةَMuawiyahبْنِbinأَبِيAbiسُفْيَانَSufyanفَقَالَ:and said:
And among those who begged the caliphs also was Rabi'ah bin Rabi'ah; they mentioned that he entered upon Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan and said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulزَوِّجْنِيmarry me toبَعْضَsomeبَنَاتِكَ.of your daughters.
O Commander of the Faithful, marry me to some of your daughters.
فَقَالَ:He said:قَدْWe haveشَغَلْنَاهُنَّbusied themبِأَكْفَائِهِنَّ.with their equals.
He said: We have busied them with their equals.
قَالَ:He said:فَوَلِّنِيThen appoint me overشُرْطَةَthe policeالْبَصْرَةِ.of Basra.
He said: Then appoint me over the police of Basra.
فَقَالَ:He said:قَدْWe haveوَلَّيْتُهَاappointed to itمَنْone whoكَفَانَا.sufficed us.
He said: We have appointed to it one who sufficed us.
قَالَ:He said:فَهَبْThen grantلِيto meقَطِيفَةً.a velvet cloak.
He said: Then grant to me a velvet cloak.
فَقَالَ:He said:أَمَّاAs forهَذَاthisفَنَعَمْ.then yes.
He said: As for this, then yes.