وَحُكِيَAnd it was narratedعَنْfromأَبِيAbuعَبَّادٍAbbadالْكَاتِبِthe secretaryأَنَّهُthat heقَالَ:said:
And it was narrated from Abu Abbad the secretary that he said:
كُنْتُI wasيَوْماًone dayعِنْدَwithالْمَأْمُونِAl-Ma'munفَدَعَاand he calledبِالْغَدَاءِfor lunch
I was one day with Al-Ma'mun and he called for lunch
وَكَانَand he used toيَسْتَنْزِلُmake descendمَنْwhoeverقَامَroseمِنْfromمَجْلِسِهِhis gatheringعِنْدَuponذِكْرِmention ofالطَّعَامِfood
and he used to make anyone who rose from his gathering upon the mention of food sit back down
وَيَقُولُ:and say:هَذَاThis isمِنْfromأَخْلَاقِthe manners ofاللِّئَامِ،the mean-spirited.
and say: This is from the manners of the mean-spirited.
فَقَدَّمُواSo they presentedإِلَيْهِto himبِطِيخاًmelonsعَلَىonأَطْبَاقٍplattersجُدُدٍnew
So they presented to him melons on new platters
فَجَعَلَand he beganيُقَوِّرُto carveبِيَدِهِwith his handوَيَذُوقُand tasteالْبَطِيخَةَthe melon
and he began to carve with his hand and taste the melon
فَإِذَاand ifحَمِدَhe praisedحَلَاوَتَهَاits sweetnessقَالَ:he said:ادْفَعْPassهَذِهِthisبِسِكِّينِهَاwith its knifeإِلَىtoفُلَانٍ.so-and-so.
and if he praised its sweetness he said: Pass this with its knife to so-and-so.
فَقَالَHe saidلِيto meوَقَدْhavingدَفَعَpassedإِلَيَّto meبَطِيخَةًa melonكَانَتْthat wasأَحْلَىsweeterمِنَthanالشَّهْدِhoneyالْمُذَابِ:dissolved:
And he said to me, having passed to me a melon that was sweeter than dissolved honey:
يَاOأَبَاAbuعَبَّادٍAbbadبِمَby whatتَسْتَدِلُّdo you inferعَلَىregardingحُمْقِthe foolishness ofالرَّجُلِ؟a man?
O Abu Abbad, by what do you infer the foolishness of a man?
قُلْتُ:I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَمَّاas forعِنْدَwithاللَّهِGodفَعَلَامَاتٌthere are signsكَثِيرَةٌmany
I said: O Commander of the Faithful, as for with God there are many signs
وَأَمَّاand as forعِنْدِيwith meفَإِذَاifرَأَيْتَyou seeالرَّجُلَa manيُحِبُّlovesالشَّاهْلُوجَshahloojوَيُبْغِضُand hatesالْبَطِيخَmelonعَلِمْتُI knowأَنَّهُthat he isأَحْمَقُ.foolish.
and as for with me, if you see a man loves shahlooj and hates melon, I know that he is foolish.
قَالَ:He said:وَهَلْAnd doتَعْرِفُyou knowصَاحِبَthe possessor ofهَذِهِthisالصِّفَةِ؟trait?
He said: And do you know the possessor of this trait?
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْYesيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulالرَّسْتُمِيُّAl-Rustumiأَحَدُis one ofمَنْthoseهَذِهِthisصِفَتُهُ.is his description.
I said: Yes, O Commander of the Faithful, Al-Rustumi is one of those whose description is this.
قَالَ:He said:فَدَخَلَThen enteredالرَّسْتُمِيُّAl-Rustumiعَلَىuponأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,
He said: Then Al-Rustumi entered upon the Commander of the Faithful,
فَقَالَand saidلَهُto himالْمَأْمُونُ:Al-Ma'mun:مَاWhatتَقُولُdo you sayفِيaboutالْبَطِيخِthe melonالرَّمْشِيّ؟ِRamshi?
and Al-Ma'mun said to him: What do you say about the Ramshi melon?
قَالَ:He said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulيُفْسِدُit ruinsالْمَعِدَةَthe stomachوَيُلَطِّخُهَاand coats itوَيُرِقُّهَا،and thins it,
He said: O Commander of the Faithful, it ruins the stomach, coats it, and thins it,
يُرْخِيit relaxesالْعَصَبَthe nervesوَيَرْفَعُand raisesالْبُخَارَthe vaporإِلَىtoالرَّأْسِ.the head.
it relaxes the nerves and raises the vapor to the head.
قَالَ:He said:لَمْI did notأَسْأَلْكَask youعَنْaboutفِعْلِهِits effectإِنَّمَاratherسَأَلْتُكَI asked youأَشَهِيٌّis it appetizingهُوَ؟it is?
He said: I did not ask you about its effect, rather I asked you: Is it appetizing?
قَالَ:He said:لَا.No.
He said: No.
قَالَ:He said:فَمَاThen whatتَقُولُdo you sayفِيaboutالشَّاهْلُوجِ؟shahlooj?
He said: Then what do you say about shahlooj?
قَالَ:He said:سَمَّاهُChosroes named itكِسْرَىChosroesسَيِّدَthe master ofأَجْنَاسِهِ.its kinds.
He said: Chosroes named it the master of its kinds.
قَالَ:He said:فَالْتَفَتَThen turnedالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munإِلَيَّto meوَقَالَ:and said:الرَّجُلُThe manالَّذِيwhoكُنَّاwe wereفِيinحَدِيثِهِdiscussion of himأَمْسِyesterdayمِنْis ofتَلَامِذَةِthe disciples ofكِسْرَىChosroesفِيinالْحُمْقِ.foolishness.
He said: Then Al-Ma'mun turned to me and said: The man whom we were discussing yesterday is of the disciples of Chosroes in foolishness.
قَالَ:He said:وَدَخَلَAnd enteredأَبُوAbuطَالِبٍTalebصَاحِبُthe man in charge ofالطَّعَامِthe foodعَلَىuponالْمَأْمُونِAl-Ma'munوَكَانَand he wasأَحْمَقَfoolishفَقَالَ:so he said:
He said: And Abu Taleb, the man in charge of the food, entered upon Al-Ma'mun, and he was foolish, so he said:
كَانَYour fatherأَبُوكَwasيَاOأَبَاAbuخَيْراًbetterلَنَاfor usمِنْكَthan youوَأَنْتَand youيَاOأَبَاAbuلَيْسَare notتَعِدُنَاpromising usوَلَاnorتَبْعَثُsendingإِلَيْنَاto usوَنَحْنُwhile weيَاOأَبَاAbuتُجَّارُكَare your merchantsوَجِيرَانُكَ.and neighbors.
Your father was better for us than you, O Abu, and you, O Abu, neither promise us nor send to us, while we, O Abu, are your merchants and neighbors.
قَالَ:He said:فَجَعَلَSo Al-Ma'mun beganالْمَأْمُونُ[implied]لَاnotيَزِيدُهُto increase himعَلَىbeyondالتَّبَسُّمِ.smiling.
He said: So Al-Ma'mun did nothing more than smile at him.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd saidمَرْوَانُMarwanبْنُson ofالْحَكَمِAl-Hakamلِرَجُلٍ:to a man:إِنِّيIndeed Iأَظُنُّكَthink youأَحْمَقَ.foolish.
He said: And Marwan son of Al-Hakam said to a man: Indeed I think you are foolish.
فَقَالَ:He said:ظَنٌّIs it a guessأَوْorيَقِينٌ؟certainty?
He said: Is it a guess or certainty?
قَالَ:He said:بَلْRatherظَنٌّ.a guess.
He said: Rather a guess.
فَقَالَ:He said:أَحْمَقُMost foolishمَاwhatيَكُونُisالشَّيْخُan old manإِذَاwhenاسْتَعْمَلَhe employsظَنَّهُ.his guess.
He said: Most foolish is an old man when he employs his guess.
وَمِمَّاAnd among whatقِيلَwas saidفِيهِمْabout themمِنَofالشِّعْرِ:poetry:
And among what was said about them of poetry:
يَاOثَابِتَfirm ofالْعَقْلِmindكَمْhow manyعَايَنْتَhave you witnessedذَاpossessor ofحُمْقِfoolishness......الرِّزْقُProvisionأَغْرَىis more eagerبِهِfor itمِنْthanلَازِمِthe persistentالْجَرَبِmange
O firm of mind, how many a possessor of foolishness have you witnessed... Provision is more eager for him than persistent mange
وَإِنَّنِيAnd indeed Iوَاجِدٌfindفِيamongالنَّاسِpeopleوَاحِدَةًone thing......الرِّزْقُProvisionأَرْوَغُis the most elusiveشَيْءٍthingعَنْfromذَوِيthe possessors ofالْأَدَبِculture
And indeed I find among people one thing... Provision is the most elusive thing from the possessors of culture
وَخَصْلَةًAnd a traitلَيْسَthere is notفِيهَاin itمَنْanyone whoيُخَالِفُنِيdisagrees with me......الرِّزْقُProvisionوَالنُّوكُand foolishnessمَقْرُونَانِare pairedفِيinسَبَبِa cause
And a trait in which no one disagrees with me... Provision and foolishness are paired in a cause
وَلِآخَرَ:And by another:
And by another:
أَرَىI seeزَمَناًan eraنُوكَاهُwhose foolsأَسْعَدُare the happiestأَهْلِهِof its people......عَلَىdespiteأَنَّهُthatيَشْقَىsuffersبِهِin itكُلُّeveryعَاقِلِsane person
I see an era whose fools are the happiest of its people... despite that every sane person suffers in it
سَعَىRanفَوْقَهُabove himرِجْلَاهُhis two legsوَالرَّأْسُand the headتَحْتَهُis beneath him......فَكُبَّso were cast downالْأَعَالِيthe highsبِرْتِفَاعِby the elevation ofالْأَسَافِلِthe lows
His two legs ran above him and the head is beneath him... so the highs were cast down by the elevation of the lows
وَلِآخَرَ:And by another:
And by another:
رَأَيْتُI sawالدَّهْرَtimeبِالْأَحْرارِwith the freebornيَكْبُوstumble......وَيَرْفَعُand raiseرُتْبَةَthe rank ofالْقَوْمِthe peopleاللِّئَامِthe mean
I saw time stumble with the freeborn... and raise the rank of the mean people
كَأَنَّAs ifالدَّهْرَtimeمَوْتُورٌis seeking vengeanceحَقُودٌgrudger......يُطَالِبُdemandingثَأْرَهُits blood-vengeanceعِنْدَfromالْكِرَامِthe noble
As if time is a grudging avenger... demanding its blood-vengeance from the noble
وَلِآخَرَ:And by another:
And by another:
كَمْHow manyمِنْofقَوِيٍّstrongقَوِيٍّstrongفِيinتَقَلُّبِهِhis bustling......مَهَذَّبِrefined ofاللُّبِّmindعَنْهُfrom himالرِّزْقُprovisionمُنْحَرِفُis turned away
How many a truly strong man in his bustling... refined of mind, yet provision is turned away from him
وَمِنْAnd ofضَعِيفٍweakضَعِيفِweakالْعَقْلِmindمُخْتَلِطٍconfused......كَأَنَّهُas if heمِنْfromخَلِيجِthe gulf ofالْبَحْرِthe seaيُغْتَرِفُis scooping
And of a weak, weak-minded, confused man... as if he is scooping from the gulf of the sea
[مَحَاسِنُ[The beauties ofمَضَاحِيكَjokesوَأَلْقَابٍ]and nicknames]
[The beauties of jokes and nicknames]
قَالَ:He said:كَانَThe name ofاسْمُ[implied]الْأَقَيْشَرِAl-Uqayshir wasالْمُغِيرَةَAl-Mughirahبْنَson ofالْأَسْوَدِAl-Aswad
He said: The name of Al-Uqayshir was Al-Mughirah son of Al-Aswad
وَكَانَand he used toيَغْضَبُget angryإِذَاifدُعِيَhe was calledبِالْأَقَيْشَرِ،Al-Uqayshir.
and he used to get angry if he was called Al-Uqayshir.
فَمَرَّSo he passedذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayبِقَوْمٍby a peopleمِنْfromبَنِيBaniعَبْسٍAbsفَقَالَand saidبَعْضُهُمْ:some of them:يَاOأَقَيْشَرُ.Uqayshir.
So he passed one day by a people from Bani Abs and some of them said: O Uqayshir.
فَنَظَرَSo he lookedإِلَيْهِat themطَوِيلاًfor a long timeوَهُوَwhile he wasمَغْضَبٌangryثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:
So he looked at them for a long time while he was angry, then he said:
أَتَدْعُونَنِيDo you call meالْأَقَيْشَرَAl-Uqayshirذَاكَthat isإِسْمِيmy name......وَأَدْعُوكَand I call youابْنَson ofمُطْفِئَةِthe extinguisher ofالسِّرَاجِthe lamp
Do you call me Al-Uqayshir, that is my name... and I call you the son of the lamp-extinguisher
تُنَاجِيShe whispersخَدَنَهَاto her secret companionبِاللَّيْلِat nightسِرّاًsecretly......وَرَبُّand the Lord ofالنَّاسِpeopleيَعْلَمُknowsمَنْwhomتُنَاجِيyou whisper to
She whispers to her secret companion at night secretly... and the Lord of people knows whom you whisper to
فَسُمِّيَSo was namedذَلِكَthatالرَّجُلُmanابْنَson ofمُطْفِئَةِthe extinguisher ofالسِّرَاجِthe lampوَبِذَلِكَand by thatيُعْرَفُis knownوَلَدُهُhis offspringإِلَىuntilالْيَوْمِ.today.
So that man was named the son of the lamp-extinguisher, and by that his offspring are known until today.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَانَAnd Al-Mughirahالْمُغِيرَةُ[implied]بْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiعَقِيلٍAqilعَامِلَwas the governor ofالْحَجَّاجِAl-Hajjajعَلَىoverالْكُوفَةِ،Kufa,
He said: And Al-Mughirah son of Abdullah son of Abi Aqil was the governor of Al-Hajjaj over Kufa,
وَكَانَand he wasيُلَقَّبُnicknamedأَبَاAbuصَفِيَّةَ،Safiyyah,فَاسْتَعَدَتْso sought recourseامْرَأَةٌa womanعَلَىagainstزَوْجِهَا،her husband,
and he was nicknamed Abu Safiyyah, so a woman sought recourse against her husband,
فَأَتَاهُso came to himصَاحِبُthe man ofالْعَدْوَىthe patrolعِنْدَatالْمَسَاءِeveningفَأَعْلَمَهُ.and informed him.
so the patrol officer came to him at evening and informed him.
فَقَالَ:He said:نَعَمْYesأَغْدُوI will go earlyمَعَهَا.with her.
He said: Yes, I will go early with her.
فَبَاتَSo spent the nightالرَّجُلُthe manيَقُولُsayingلِامْرَأَتِهِ:to his wife:لَوْIfقَدْ[emphasizer]أَتَيْتِyou come toالْأَمِيرَthe governorفَقُلْتِand you sayأَبَاAbuصَفِيَّةَSafiyyahإِنَّهَاthat sheتَفْعَلُdoesكَذَاsuchوَكَذَا،and such,
So the man spent the night saying to his wife: When you come to the governor and say 'Abu Safiyyah, she does such and such',
فَيَأْمُرُhe will orderمَنْwhoeverيُوجِعُكِwill hurt youضَرْباً،with beating,وَجَعَلَand he keptيُكَرِّرُrepeatingعَلَيْهَاto herبِأَبِيAbuصَفِيَّةَSafiyyah
he will order someone to hurt you with a beating, and he kept repeating to her 'Abu Safiyyah'
فَحَفِظَتِso she memorizedالْكُنْيَةَthe nicknameوَظَنَّتْand thoughtأَنَّهَاthat it wasكُنْيَتُهُ،his nickname.
so she memorized the nickname and thought that it was his nickname.
فَلَمَّاSo whenتَقَدَّمَتْshe came forwardإِلَيْهِto himقَالَتْ:she said:أَصْلَحَكَMay Allah set you rightاللَّهُ[implied]أَبَاAbuصَفِيَّةَ.Safiyyah.
So when she came forward to him she said: May Allah set you right, Abu Safiyyah.
فَقَالَHe saidلَهَا:to her:أَبُوAbuعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِ[implied]عَافَاكَmay Allah give you wellbeingاللَّهُ.[implied]
He said to her: Abu Abdullah, may Allah give you wellbeing.
فَأَعَادَتْ.So she repeated it.
So she repeated it.
فَقَالَHe saidلَهَا:to her:أَبُوAbuعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِ.[implied]
He said to her: Abu Abdullah.
فَأَعَادَتْ.So she repeated it.
So she repeated it.
فَقَالَ:He said:يَاOفَاسِقَةُwicked womanأَظُنُّكِI think youظَالِمَةً!to be unjust!خُذْTakeبِيَدِهَاby her handالْخَبِيثَةِ.the wicked one.
He said: O wicked woman, I think you to be unjust! Take the wicked one by her hand.
وَحَكَمَAnd he ruledلِلزَّوْجِfor the husbandعَلَيْهَا.against her.
And he ruled for the husband against her.
وَوَلَّىAnd appointedيُوسُفُYusufبْنُson ofعُمَرَUmarرَجُلاًa manمِنْfromبَنِيBaniسُلَيْمٍSulaymيُلَقَّبُnicknamedبِأَبِيAbuالْعَاجِ،Al-Aaj,
And Yusuf son of Umar appointed a man from Bani Sulaym nicknamed Abu Al-Aaj,
وَكَانَand he used toيَغْضَبُget angryمِنْهُ،at it,
and he used to get angry at it,
فَقَدَّمَso brought forwardإِلَيْهِto himرَجُلٌa manخَصْماًan adversaryلَهُof hisفَقَالَ:and said:يَاOأَبَاAbuالْعَاجِ.Al-Aaj.
so an adversary of his brought a man forward to him and said: O Abu Al-Aaj.
فَقَالَ:He said:أَبُوAbuمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadيَاOابْنَson ofالْبَطْرَاءِ.the disfigured woman.
He said: Abu Muhammad, O son of the disfigured woman.
فَقَالَ:He said:أَتَقُولُDo you sayهَذَاthisلِأُمِّيto my motherوَقَدْwhileحَجَّتْ!she performed pilgrimage!
He said: Do you say this to my mother while she performed pilgrimage!
قَالَ:He said:لَاIt does notيَمْنَعُهَاprevent herمَاwhatقُلْتُI saidمِنَfromالْحَجِّ.pilgrimage.
He said: What I said does not prevent her from pilgrimage.
فَنٌّA branchمِنْهُof itفِيconcerningالطَّمَعِgreed
A branch of it concerning greed
قِيلَIt was saidلِأَشْعَبَ:to Ash'ab:أَيُّWhatشَيْءٍthingبَلَغَhas reachedمِنْofطَمَعِكَ؟your greed?
It was said to Ash'ab: What thing has your greed reached?
قَالَ:He said:نَادَيْتُI calledبِصِبْيَانٍto boysوَلِعُواwho were fondبِيof meفَقُلْتُand I saidلَهُمْto themلِأُنَحِّيَهُمْto turn them awayعَنْfromنَفْسِي:myself:
He said: I called to boys who were fond of me and I said to them to turn them away from myself:
إِنَّIndeedفِيinدَارِthe house ofبَنِيBaniفُلَانٍso-and-soعُرْساًthere is a weddingوَهُناكَand there isنِثَارٌ.scattered money.
Indeed in the house of Bani so-and-so there is a wedding and there is scattered money.
فَوَلَّوْاSo they turned awayعَنِّيfrom meمُبَادِرِينَhasteningوَجَعَلْتُand I beganأَشْتَدُّto run hardمَعَهُمْwith themطَمَعاًout of greedفِيforالنِّثَارِ.the scattered money.
So they turned away from me hastening, and I began to run hard with them out of greed for the scattered money.