وَمِنْهُمْAnd among themأَبُوAbuدُلَامَةَDulamahدَخَلَenteredعَلَىuponالْمَنْصُورِal-Mansurفَقَالَand saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulتَأْمُرُdo you commandلِيfor meبِكَلْبِwith a hunting dogصَيْدٍof game?
And among them was Abu Dulamah, who entered upon al-Mansur and said: O Commander of the Faithful, do you command for me a hunting dog?
قَالَHe saidأَعْطُوهُGive it to him.
He said: Give it to him.
قَالَHe saidكَلْبٌA dogبِلَاwithoutصَقْرٍfalcon?
He said: A dog without a falcon?
قَالَHe saidأَعْطُوهُGive himصَقْراًa falcon.
He said: Give him a falcon.
قَالَHe saidكَلْبٌA dogوَصَقْرٌand a falconبِلَاwithoutبَازِبَانِa falconer?
He said: A dog and a falcon without a falconer?
قَالَHe saidأَعْطُوهُGive himغُلَاماًa boyبَازِبَاناًas a falconer.
He said: Give him a boy as a falconer.
قَالَHe saidفَلَاthen notبُدَّescapeلَهُمْfor themمِنْfromدَارٍa house!
He said: Then they must have a house!
قَالَHe saidأَعْطُوهُGive himدَاراًa house.
He said: Give him a house.
قَالَHe saidفَمِنْSo fromأَيِّwhatشَيْءٍthingيَعِيشُونَwill they live?
He said: Then from what thing will they live?
قَالَHe saidقَدْIndeedأَقْطَعْتُكَI have granted youأَرْبَعَfourمِائَةِhundredجَرِيبٍjaribs,مِنْهَاof themمِئَاتَاtwo hundredجَرِيبٍjaribsعَامِرٌcultivatedوَمِئَاتَانِand two hundredغَامِرٌuncultivated.
He said: I have granted you four hundred jaribs, of them two hundred jaribs cultivated and two hundred uncultivated.
قَالَHe saidوَمَاAnd what isالْغَامِرُthe uncultivated?
He said: And what is the uncultivated?
قَالَHe saidالْخَرَابُThe wasteland.
He said: The wasteland.
قَالَHe saidفَأَنَاso Iأَقْطَعْتُكَhave granted youأَرْبَعَةَfourآلَافِthousandجَرِيبٍjaribsبِالدَّهْنَاءِin al-Dahnaغَامِرَةًuncultivated.
He said: So I have granted you four thousand jaribs in al-Dahna, uncultivated.
قَالَHe saidفَقَدْso indeedجَعَلْتُهَاI have made itكُلَّهَاall of itعَامِرَةًcultivated.فَهَلْSo isبَقِيَthere leftلَكَfor youشَيْءٌanything?
He said: So indeed I have made it all cultivated. Is there anything left for you?
قَالَHe saidنَعَمْYes,تَدَعُنِيyou let meأُقَبِّلَkissيَدَكَyour hand.
He said: Yes, you let me kiss your hand.
قَالَHe saidلَيْسَThere is notإِلَىtoذَلِكَthatسَبِيلٌany way.
He said: There is no way to that.
فَقَالَSo he saidمَاWhatمَنَعْتَنِيyou denied meشَيْئاًanythingأَهْوَنَeasierعَلَىuponعِيَالِيmy familyمِنْthanهَذَاthis.
So he said: You have not denied me anything easier upon my family than this.
قَالَHe saidوَبَعَثَand al-Mansur sentالْمَنْصُورُal-MansurإِلَىtoزِيَادِZiyadبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahمَالاًwealthوَأَمَرَهُand commanded himأَنْthatيُفَرِّقَهُhe distribute itفِيamongالْقَوَاعِدِthe elderly womenوَالْأَيْتَامِand the orphansوَالْعُمْيَانِand the blind.
He said: And al-Mansur sent wealth to Ziyad ibn Abd Allah and commanded him to distribute it among the elderly women, orphans, and the blind.
فَدَخَلَSo enteredإِلَيْهِupon himأَبُوAbuحَمْزَةَHamzahالرَّقِيُّal-Raqiفَقَالَand saidأَصْلَحَMay Allah set rightاللَّهُAllahأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful!
So Abu Hamzah al-Raqi entered upon him and said: May Allah set right the Commander of the Faithful!
قَدْIndeedبَلَغَنِيreached meالْكِبَرُold age,فَاكْتُبْنِيso write me downفِيamongالْقَاعِدِينَthose who stay behind.
Old age has reached me, so write me down among those who stay behind.
قَالَHe saidيَغْفِرُMay forgiveاللَّهُAllahلَكَyou!إِنَّمَاIndeedالْقَوَاعِدُthe qawa'idالنِّسَاءُare the womenاللَّوَاتِيwhoقَعَدْنَsat behindعَنِfromالْأَزْوَاجِhusbands.
He said: May Allah forgive you! Indeed the qawa'id are the women who stayed behind from husbands.
قَالَHe saidفَاكْتُبْنِيSo write me downفِيamongالْعُمْيَانِthe blind,فَإِنَّfor indeedاللَّهَAllahجَلَّmajesticذِكْرُهُis His mentionيَقُولُsaysفَإِنَّهَاFor indeed itلَاnotتَعْمَىare blindالْأَبْصَارُthe eyesوَلَكِنْbutتَعْمَىare blindالْقُلُوبُthe heartsالَّتِيwhichفِيare inالصُّدُورِthe chests.
He said: So write me down among the blind, for indeed Allah, majestic is His mention, says: 'For indeed it is not the eyes that are blind, but it is the hearts which are in the chests that are blind.'
وَأَنَاAnd Iأَشْهَدُtestifyأَنَّthatقَلْبِيmy heartأَعْمَىis blind.
And I testify that my heart is blind.
وَاكْتُبْAnd writeوَلَدِيmy childفِيamongالْأَيْتَامِthe orphans,فَإِنَّfor indeedمَنْwhoeverكُنْتُI wasأَبَاهُhis fatherفَهُوَthen heيَتِيمٌis an orphan.
And write my child among the orphans, for indeed whoever I was his father, then he is an orphan.
قَالَHe saidاكْتُبُوهُWrite him downفِيamongالْعُمْيَانِthe blindوَاكْتُبُواand write downوَلَدَهُhis childفِيamongالْأَيْتَامِthe orphans.
He said: Write him down among the blind and write down his child among the orphans.
قَالَHe saidوَقَالَتْand saidأَعْرَابِيَّةٌa Bedouin womanلِحَاتِمِto Hatimبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahالطَّائِيِّal-Ta'i:أَتَيْتُكَI have come to youمِنْfromبِلَادٍlandsنَائِيَةٍdistantشَاسِعَةٍremote.
He said: And a Bedouin woman said to Hatim ibn Abd Allah al-Ta'i: I have come to you from distant, remote lands.
تَخْفِضُنِيLowering meخَافِضَةٌa lowering hardshipوَتَرْفَعُنِيand raising meرَافِعَةٌa raising hardship,لِمُلِمَّاتٍdue to afflictionsمِنَofالْأُمُورِmattersنَزَلْنَthat descendedبِيupon meفَبَرَيْنَso they wore downعَظْمِيmy boneوَأَذْهَبْنَand took awayلَحْمِيmy flesh.
Lowering me and raising me, due to afflictions of matters that descended upon me, so they wore down my bone and took away my flesh.
فَرَتَكْنَنِيSo they tore meبِالْجَرِيضِwith choking griefقَدْwhile hasضَاقَgrown narrowبِيupon meالْبَلَدُthe landالْعَرِيضُthe wide.
So they tore me with choking grief while the wide land has grown narrow upon me.
لَمْThey did notيَتْرُكْنَleaveلِيfor meسَبَداًa camelوَلَمْand they did notيُبْقِينَkeepلِيfor meلَبَداًpossessions.
They left me no camel and kept for me no possessions.
غَابَAbsentالْوَالِدُis the fatherوَهَلَكَand perishedالرَّافِدُis the supporter.
The father is absent and the supporter has perished.
وَأَنَاAnd I amامْرَأَةٌa womanمِنْfromهَوَازِنَHawazin,أَقْبَلْتُI have come forwardفِيamongأَفْنَاءِfragmentsمِنَofالْعَرَبِthe Arabsأَسْأَلُaskingعَنِaboutالْمَرْجُوِّthe one whose bounty is hoped forنَائِلُهُhis bountyوَالْمَحْمُودِand the praisedسَائِلُهُhis petitionerوَالْمَأْمُونِand the secureجَانِبُهُhis side.
And I am a woman from Hawazin, I have come forward among fragments of the Arabs asking about the one whose bounty is hoped for, the one whose petitioner is praised, and whose side is secure.
فَقِيلَSo it was saidلِيto meأَنْتَYou [are he]!فَاصْنَعْSo doبِيwith meإِحْدَىoneثَلَاثٍof three:إِمَّاeitherأَنْthatتُحْسِنَyou show kindnessصَفَدِيto my gift,أَوْorتُقِيمَyou straightenأَوْدِيmy crookedness,أَوْorتَرُدَّنِيyou return meإِلَىtoبَلَدِيmy land.
So it was said to me: You are he! So do with me one of three: either that you show kindness to my gift, or you straighten my crookedness, or you return me to my land.
فَقَالَHe saidأَجْمَعُهُنَّI will gather them allلَكِfor youوَحُبًّاand gladly.
He said: I will gather them all for you and gladly.
فَفَعَلَSo he didبِهَاto herذَلِكَthatكُلَّهُall of it.
So he did all of that to her.
قَالَHe saidوَجَاءَتْand cameأَعْرَابِيَّةٌa Bedouin womanتَسْأَلُaskingفَقَالَتْand saidيَاOقَوْمِpeople,طَرَائِدُtargetsزَمَانٍof timeوَفَرَائِسُand preyنَازِلَةٌdescendingوَلِحْمَانُand fleshوَضَمٌّand gathering.
He said: And a Bedouin woman came asking and said: O people, targets of time, descending prey, flesh and gathering.
نَبَذَتْنَاCast us outالرِّجَالُthe menوَأَنْشَزَتْنَاand uprooted usالْحَالُthe circumstanceوَأَطْمَعَنَاand made us greedyالسُّؤَالُbegging.
The men cast us out, circumstance uprooted us, and begging made us greedy.
فَهَلْSo is thereمِنْfromمُكْتَسِبٍan earnerلِلْأَجْرِfor the rewardأَوْorرَاغِبٍone desirousفِيinالذُّخْرِthe treasure?
Is there an earner of the reward or one desirous of the treasure?
وَسَأَلَAnd askedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinفَقَالَand saidسَنَةٌA yearجَرَّدَتْstrippedوَحَالٌand a stateجَهَدَتْexhaustedوَأَيْدٍand handsخَمَدَتْgrew cold.
And a Bedouin asked and said: A year stripped, a state exhausted, and hands grew cold.
فَرَحِمَSo may have mercyاللَّهُAllahمَنْon whoeverرَحِمَshowed mercyوَأَقْرَضَand lentمَنْto whoeverلَاnotيَظْلِمُwrongs.
So may Allah have mercy on whoever showed mercy and lent to whoever does not wrong.
وَسَأَلَAnd askedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinفَقَالَand saidأَيْنَWhere areالْوُجُوهُthe facesالْوَاضِحَاتُclearالصِّبَاحُbright?
And a Bedouin asked and said: Where are the clear, bright faces?
وَالْعُقُولُAnd the mindsالرَّاجِحَاتُsoundالصِّحَاحُhealthy?
And the sound, healthy minds?
وَالصُّدُورُAnd the chestsالرِّحَابُspaciousالسِّمَاحُgenerous?
And the spacious, generous chests?
وَالْمَكَارِمُAnd the noble traitsالثَّمِينَةُpreciousالرِّبَاحُprofitable?
And the precious, profitable noble traits?
وَسَأَلَAnd askedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinفَقَالَand saidرَحِمَMay have mercyاللَّهُAllahامْرَأًon a manلَمْwho did notيُمُجَّrejectأُذُنَهُwith his earكَلَامِيmy speechوَقَدَّمَand presentedلِمَعَاذَةٍas a refugeمِنْfromسُوءِthe evil ofمَقَامِيmy station.
And a Bedouin asked and said: May Allah have mercy on a man who did not reject my speech with his ear and presented as a refuge from the evil of my station.
فَإِنَّFor indeedالْبِلَادَthe landsمُجْدِبَةٌare barrenوَالْحَالَand the stateمَسْغَبَةٌis famishedوَالْحَيَاءَand modestyزَاجِرٌis a deterrentيَنْهَىforbiddingعَنْfromكَلَامِكُمْspeaking to youوَالْفَقْرَand povertyعَاذِرٌis an excuseيَدْعُوcallingإِلَىtoإِخْبَارِكُمْinforming you.
For indeed the lands are barren, the state is famished, modesty is a deterrent forbidding speaking to you, and poverty is an excuse calling to informing you.
فَرَحِمَSo may have mercyاللَّهُAllahامْرَأًon a manوَاسَىwho comfortedبِمِيرٍwith provisionsأَوْorدَعَاprayedبِخَيْرٍwith good.
So may Allah have mercy on a man who comforted with provisions or prayed with good.
فَقَالَSo saidرَجُلٌa manمِمَّنْFrom whomيَاOأَعْرَابِيُّ؟Bedouin?
So a man said: From whom, O Bedouin?
فَقَالَSo he saidأَخٌA brotherفِيinكِتَابِthe Book ofاللَّهِAllahوَجَارٌand a neighborفِيinبِلَادِthe lands ofاللَّهِAllahوَطَالِبُand a seeker ofخَيْرٍgoodمِنْfromرِزْقِthe provision ofاللَّهِAllah.
So he said: A brother in the Book of Allah, a neighbor in the lands of Allah, and a seeker of good from the provision of Allah.
وَسَأَلَAnd askedآخَرُanotherفَقَالَand saidنَقَصَDiminishedالْكَيْلُthe measureوَعَجَفَتِand emaciatedالْخَيْلُare the horsesوَقَلَّand lessenedالنِّيلُis the Nile.
And another asked and said: The measure has diminished, the horses are emaciated, and the Nile is lessened.
فَهَلْSo is thereمِنْfromرَحِيمٍa merciful oneأَجْرُهُwhose rewardعَلَىis uponاللَّهِAllahفَإِنَّهُfor indeed Heغَنِيٌّis free of needعَنِofاللَّهِAllah
So is there a merciful one whose reward is upon Allah, for indeed He is free of need of Allah
لِقَوْلِهِdue to His sayingجَلَّmajesticوَعَزَّand mighty is He
due to His saying, majestic and mighty is He,
مَنْWho isذَاthisالَّذِيwhoيُقْرِضُwill lendاللَّهَto Allahقَرْضاًa loanحَسَناًgood?
Who is this who will lend to Allah a good loan?
لَمْdid notيَسْتَقْرِضْask a loanرَبُّنَاour Lordجَلَّmajesticوَعَزَّand mighty is Heمِنْout ofعَدَمٍpovertyوَلَكِنْbutلِيَبْلُوَthat He may tryوَيَخْتَبِرَand test.
Our Lord, majestic and mighty is He, did not ask a loan out of poverty, but that He may try and test.
وَسَأَلَAnd askedآخَرُanotherفَقَالَand saidإِنِّيIndeed I amرَجُلٌa manمِنْfromمَدِينَةِthe city ofرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِAllah,عَلَيْهِupon himوَعَلَىand uponآلِهِhis familyالسَّلَامُbe peace,مَشَيْتُI walkedحَتَّىuntilانْتَعَلْتُI put on shoes ofالدَّمَblood.
And another asked and said: Indeed I am a man from the city of the Messenger of Allah, upon him and upon his family be peace, I walked until I put on shoes of blood.
فَرَحِمَSo may have mercyاللَّهُAllahمَنْon whoeverحَمَلَنِيcarried meعَلَىuponنَعْلَيْنِtwo sandals,فَكَأَنَّمَاfor it is as ifحَمَلَنِيhe carried meعَلَىuponنَاقَتَيْنِtwo she-camels.
So may Allah have mercy on whoever carried me upon two sandals, for it is as if he carried me upon two she-camels.
فَلَاSo neitherقَلِيلٌlittleمِنَfromالْأَجْرِthe rewardوَلَاnorغَنَىfreedom of needمِنَfromاللَّهِAllahجَلَّmajesticوَعَزَّand mighty is He.
So neither is there a little from the reward nor freedom of need from Allah, majestic and mighty is He.
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidلِسَائِلٍto a petitionerأَعْرَابِيٍّBedouin:أَيْنَWhere isمَنْزِلُكَ؟your home?
And it was said to a Bedouin petitioner: Where is your home?
قَالَHe saidمَاNotلِيfor me isمَنْزِلٌa home,إِنَّمَاratherأَشْتَمِلُI wrap myself inاللَّيْلَthe nightإِذَاwhenعَسْعَسَit departsوَأَُظْهَرُand I appearبِالنَّهَارِin the dayإِذَاwhenتَنَفَّسَit breathes.
He said: I have no home, rather I wrap myself in the night when it departs and I appear in the day when it breathes.
[مَسَاوِئُ[The Evils ofالثُّقَلَاءِ]the Tiresome People]
[The Evils of the Tiresome People]
قَالَSaidبَخْتِيشُوعُBakhtishuلِلْمَأْمُونِto al-Ma'mun:لَاDo notتُجَالِسِsit withالثُّقَلَاءَthe tiresome people,فَإِنَّاfor indeed weنَجِدُfindفِيinكُتُبِthe books ofالطِّبِّmedicineأَنَّthatمُجَالَسَةَsitting withالثَّقِيلِthe tiresome personحُمَّىis a fever ofالرُّوحِthe soul.
Bakhtishu said to al-Ma'mun: Do not sit with the tiresome people, for indeed we find in the books of medicine that sitting with the tiresome person is a fever of the soul.
وَقَالَAnd saidبَعْضُهُمْsome of them:سُخْنَةُThe burning ofالْعَيْنِthe eyeالنَّظَرُis lookingبِهَاwith itإِلَىatالثُّقَلَاءِthe tiresome people.
And some of them said: The burning of the eye is looking with it at the tiresome people.
قَالَHe saidوَنَقَشَand engravedرَجُلٌa manعَلَىuponخَاتَمِهِhis ring:أَبْرَمْتَYou have wearied me,فَقُمْso stand up.
He said: And a man engraved upon his ring: You have wearied me, so stand up.
فَكَانَSo he wasإِذَاwhenجَلَسَsatإِلَيْهِwith himالثَّقِيلُthe tiresome personنَاوَلَهُhe would hand himإِيَّاهُit.
Whenever the tiresome person sat with him, he would hand him the ring.
قِيلَIt was saidوَدَخَلَand enteredأَبُوAbuحَنِيفَةَHanifahعَلَىuponالْأَعْمَشِal-A'mashيَوْماًone dayفَأَطَالَand prolongedجُلُوسَهُhis sitting.
It was said: Abu Hanifah entered upon al-A'mash one day and prolonged his sitting.
فَقَالَSo he saidلَعَلِّيPerhapsقَدْindeedثَقُلْتُI have grown burdensomeعَلَيْكَ؟upon you?
So he said: Perhaps I have grown burdensome upon you?
قَالَHe saidوَإِنِّيAnd indeed Iلَأَسْتَثْقِلُكَfind you burdensomeوَأَنْتَwhile you areفِيinمَنْزِلِكَyour house,فَكَيْفَso how aboutوَأَنْتَwhile you areعِنْدِي!with me!
He said: And indeed I find you burdensome while you are in your house, so how about while you are with me!
قِيلَIt was saidوَاجْتَمَعَand gatheredأَصْحَابُthe companions ofالْحَدِيثِHadithعِنْدَatشَرِيكِSharikبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllah,فَتَبَرَّمَso he became wearyبِهِمْof themوَأَضْجَرُوهُand they annoyed him.
It was said: The companions of Hadith gathered at Sharik ibn Abd Allah, so he became weary of them and they annoyed him.
فَصَاحَSo he shoutedبِهِمْat themوَفَرَّقَهُمْand dispersed them,فَلَمْyet they did notيَبْرَحُواleave.
So he shouted at them and dispersed them, yet they did not leave.
فَقَالَSo saidبَعْضُهُمْsome of them:أَنَاIأَطْرُدُهُمْwill drive them awayعَنْكَfrom you.
So some of them said: I will drive them away from you.
قَالَHe saidنَعَمْYes.وَانْطَرَدَAnd he went away drivenمَعَهُمْwith them.
He said: Yes. And he went away driven with them.
قِيلَIt was saidوَأَتَىand cameرَجُلٌa manابْنَto the son ofالْمُقَفَّعِal-Muqaffaفِيregardingحَاجَةٍa need,فَلَمْand he did notيَصِلْreachإِلَيْهِhimوَكَانَwhile he wasمُسْتَثْقِلاًfinding him tiresomeلَهُfor him.
It was said: A man came to Ibn al-Muqaffa regarding a need, and he did not reach him while he was finding him tiresome.
فَكَتَبَSo he wroteبَيْتاًa verseفِيonرُقْعَةٍa scrap of paperوَأَرْسَلَand sentبِهِwith itإِلَيْهِto him:
So he wrote a verse on a scrap of paper and sent with it to him:
هَلْIs thereلِذِيfor one who hasحَاجَةٍa needإِلَيْكَto youسَبِيلُany way......وَقَلِيلٌand littleتَلَبُّثِيis my lingeringلَاnotكَثِيرُmuch.
Is there any way for one who has a need to you? My lingering is little, not much.
فَوَقَّعَSo he wrote backإِلَيْهِto him
So he wrote back to him:
أَنْتَYouيَاOصَاحِبَmaster ofالْكِتَابِthe letterثَقِيلٌare tiresome......وَقَلِيلٌand a littleمِنَofالثَّقِيلِthe tiresome personكَثِيرُis much.
You, O master of the letter, are tiresome, and a little of the tiresome person is much.
فَأَجَابَهُSo he answered himالرَّجُلُthe man:
So the man answered him:
قَدْIndeedبَدَأْتَyou beganالْجَوَابَthe replyمِنْكَfrom youبِفُحْشٍwith obscenity......أَنْتَyouبِالْفُحْشِto obscenityوَالْبَذَاءِand foul languageجَدِيرُare worthy.
You have begun the reply from yourself with obscenity; you are worthy of obscenity and foul language.
فَضَحِكَSo he laughedوَقَضَىand fulfilledحَاجَتَهُhis need.
So he laughed and fulfilled his need.