يَاOهَذَاthisإِنَّكَindeed youسَأَلْتَنَاasked usأَيَّabout anyمَسْأَلَةٍquestionشِئْتَyou wished
O man, indeed you asked us whatever question you wished,
فَلَمْand so we did notنَكْتُمْكَhide from youشَيْئاًanything
and we did not hide anything from you,
فَأَخْبَرَنَاso inform usمِمَّنْfrom whomأَنْتَ؟are you?
so tell us, from whom are you?
فَقَالَSo saidأَبُوAbuبَكْرٍ،Bakr,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُ:him:مِنْFromقُرَيْشٍ.Quraysh.
Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, said: From Quraysh.
قَالَHe saidبَخٍّBravoبَخٍّbravoأَهْلُpeople ofالشَّرَفِnobilityوَالرِّئَاسَةِ،and leadership,
He said: Bravo, bravo, the people of nobility and leadership,
فَأَخْبِرْنِيso inform meمِنْfromأَيِّwhichقُرَيْشٍQurayshأَنْتَ؟are you?
so tell me, from which branch of Quraysh are you?
قَالَ:He said:مِنْFromتَمِيمِTamimبْنِson ofمُرَّةَ.Murrah.
He said: From Tamim ibn Murrah.
قَالَ:He said:أَفَمِنْكُمْIs it from youقُصَيُّQusayyبْنُson ofكِلَابٍKilabالَّذِيwhoجَمَّعَgatheredالْقَبَائِلَthe tribesمِنْfromفِهْرٍFihrفَكَانَand so it wasيُقَالُthat he was calledلَهُfor himمُجَمِّعٌ؟Mujammi' (The Gatherer)?
He said: Is Qusayy ibn Kilab among you, who gathered the tribes from Fihr and was called Mujammi'?
قَالَSaidأَبُوAbuبَكْرٍ:Bakr:لَا.No.
Abu Bakr said: No.
قَالَ:He said:أَفَمِنْكُمْIs it from youهَاشِمٌHashimالَّذِيwhoهَشَمَcrumbledالثَّرِيدَthe tharid (bread and meat dish)لِقَوْمِهِfor his peopleوَرِجَالُwhile the men ofمَكَّةَMeccaمُسْتَنُونَwere suffering from droughtعِجَافٌ؟and emaciated?
He said: Is Hashim among you, who crumbled tharid for his people while the men of Mecca were suffering from drought and emaciated?
قَالَSaidأَبُوAbuبَكْرٍ:Bakr:لَا.No.
Abu Bakr said: No.
قَالَ:He said:أَفَمِنْكُمْIs it from youشَيْبَةُShaybahالْحَمْدِAl-Hamdالَّذِيwhoكَانَwasوَجْهُهُhis faceقَمراًa moonيُضِيءُilluminatingلَيْلَةَthe night ofالظُّلْمَةِthe darknessالدَّاجِيَةِpitch-blackمُطْعِمُfeeder ofطَيْرِthe birds ofالسَّمَاءِ؟the sky?
He said: Is Shaybah Al-Hamd among you, whose face was like a moon illuminating the pitch-black night, the feeder of the birds of the sky?
قَالَ:He said:لَا.No.
He said: No.
قَالَ:He said:أَفَمِنَIs it fromالْمُفِيضِينَthose who lead the overflow (ifadah)بِالنَّاسِwith the peopleأَنْتَ؟are you?
He said: Are you among those who lead the people in the ifadah (from Arafat)?
قَالَ:He said:لَا.No.
He said: No.
قَالَ:He said:أَفَمِنْIs it fromأَهْلِthe people ofالرِّفَادَةِAl-Rifadah (provisioning pilgrims)أَنْتَ؟are you?
He said: Are you among the people of Al-Rifadah?
قَالَ:He said:لَا.No.
He said: No.
قَالَ:He said:أَفَمِنْIs it fromأَهْلِthe people ofالسِّقَايَةِAl-Siqayah (supplying water to pilgrims)أَنْتَ؟are you?
He said: Are you among the people of Al-Siqayah?
قَالَ:He said:لَا.No.
He said: No.
قَالَ:He said:أَفَمِنْIs it fromأَهْلِthe people ofالْحِجَابَةِAl-Hijabah (custodianship of the Kaaba)أَنْتَ؟are you?
He said: Are you among the people of Al-Hijabah?
قَالَ:He said:لَا.No.
He said: No.
قَالَ:He said:أَمَاVerilyوَاللَّهِby AllahلَوْifشِئْتُI wishedلَأَخْبَرْتُكَI would have told youأَنَّكَthat youلَسْتَare notمِنْfromأَشْرَافِthe nobles ofقُرَيْشٍ،Quraysh.
He said: Verily, by Allah, if I wished, I could have told you that you are not from the nobles of Quraysh.
فَاجْتَذَبَSo pulledأَبُوAbuبَكْرٍBakrزِمَامَthe reins ofنَاقَتِهِhis she-camelمِنْهُfrom himكَهَيْئَةِlike the manner ofالْمَغْضَبِ،one who is angered,
Abu Bakr pulled the reins of his she-camel away from him in the manner of an angry person,
فَقَالَand saidالْأَعْرَابِيُّ:the Bedouin:
and the Bedouin recited:
صَادَفَMetدَرَّthe flow ofالسَّيْلِthe torrentدَرٌّa flowيَدْفَعُهُpushing it......فِيinهَضْبَةٍa high ground/hillتَرْفَعُهُraising itوَتَضَعُهُand lowering it
The torrent's flow met another flow pushing it, in a high ground that raises it and lowers it.
فَتَبَسَّمَSo smiledرَسُولُthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,صَلَّىmay Allah send blessingsاللَّهُand peaceعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,
The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, smiled.
قَالَSaidعَلِيٌّ:Ali:فَقُلْتُ:So I said:يَاOأَبَاAbuبَكْرٍBakrإِنَّكَverily youلَقَدْhave indeedوَقَعْتَencounteredمِنْfromهَذَاthisالْأَعْرَابِيِّBedouinعَلَىuponبَاقِعَةٍ!a great calamity!
Ali said: I said, 'O Abu Bakr, you have indeed encountered a cunning calamity from this Bedouin!'
فَقَالَ:So he said:أَجَلْYesيَاOأَبَاAbuالْحَسَنِAl-Hasanمَاthere is noمِنْofطَامَّةٍcalamityإِلَّاexceptفَوْقَهَاabove it isطَامَّةٌa greater calamityوَإِنَّand indeedالْبَلَاءَafflictionمُوَكَّلٌis entrustedبِالْمَنْطِقِ.to speech.
He said: 'Yes, O Abu al-Hasan, there is no calamity except that above it is a greater calamity, and indeed affliction is entrusted with speech.'
[مَحَاسِنُ[The Virtues ofكَلَامِthe Speech ofالْحَسَنِAl-Hasanبْنِson ofعَلِيٍّ]Ali]
[The Virtues of the Speech of Hasan ibn Ali]
[رَضِيَ[May Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُ]him]
[May Allah be pleased with him]
قِيلَ:It was said:وَأَتَىAnd cameالْحَسَنُAl-Hasanبْنُson ofعَلِيٍّ،Ali,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُمَا،both of them,مَعَاوِيَةَto Mu'awiyahبْنَson ofأَبِيAbiسُفْيَانَSufyan
It was said: Al-Hasan ibn Ali, may Allah be pleased with both of them, came to Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan
وَقَدْand indeedسَبَقَهُhad preceded himابْنُIbnعَبَّاسٍAbbasفَأَمَرَso orderedمَعَاوِيَةُMu'awiyahفَأُنْزِلَ،and he was accommodated,
while Ibn Abbas had already preceded him, so Mu'awiyah gave orders and he was accommodated.
فَبَيْنَمَاSo whileمَعَاوِيَةُMu'awiyahمَعَwas withعَمْرِوAmrبْنِson ofالْعَاصِAl-Asوَمَرْوَانَand Marwanابْنِson ofالْحَكَمِAl-Hakamوَزِيَادِand Ziyadبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiسُفْيَانَSufyanيَتَحَاوَرُونَconversingفِيaboutقَدِيمِهِمْtheir ancient pastوَحَدِيثِهِمْand their recent affairsوَمَجْدِهِمْ،and their glory,
While Mu'awiyah was with Amr ibn al-As, Marwan ibn al-Hakam, and Ziyad ibn Abi Sufyan, conversing about their past, recent affairs, and glory,
فَقَالَsaidمَعَاوِيَةُ:Mu'awiyah:أَكْثَرْتُمُYou have exaggeratedالْفَخْرَboastingفَلَوْso ifحَضَرَكُمْwere present before youالْحَسَنُAl-Hasanبْنُson ofعَلِيٍّAliوَعَبْدُand AbdullahاللَّهِofابْنُIbnالْعَبَّاسِAbbasلَقَصَّرَاthey would shortenمِنْfromأَعِنَّتِكُمَاyour reinsمَاwhateverطَالَ.has lengthened.
Mu'awiyah said: 'You have boasted excessively; if Al-Hasan ibn Ali and Abdullah ibn Abbas were present with you, they would shorten your extended reins.'
فَقَالَSaidزِيَادٌ:Ziyad:وَكَيْفَAnd howذَلِكَis thatيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،the Faithful,
Ziyad said: 'And how is that, O Commander of the Faithful?
مَاAreيَقُومَانِthey able to standلِمَرْوَانَagainst Marwanابْنِson ofالْحَكَمِAl-Hakamفِيinغَرْبِsharpness ofمَنْطِقِهِhis speechوَلَاnorلَنَاagainst usفِيinبَوَاذِخِنَا؟our high status?
Can they stand against Marwan ibn al-Hakam in the sharpness of his speech, or against us in our lofty status?'
فَابْعَثْSo sendإِلَيْهِمَاto them bothفِيtomorrowغَدٍtomorrowحَتَّىso thatنَسْمَعَwe may hearكَلَامَهُمَا.their speech.
So send for them tomorrow so that we may hear their speech.
فَقَالَSaidمَعَاوِيَةُMu'awiyahلِعَمْرٍو:to Amr:مَاWhatتَقُولُ؟do you say?
Mu'awiyah said to Amr: 'What do you say?'
قَالَHe saidهَذَا:this:فَابْعَثْso sendإِلَيْهِمَاto them bothفِيinغَدٍ.tomorrow.
He said: 'This is it, so send for them tomorrow.'
فَبَعَثَSo sentإِلَيْهِمَاto them bothمَعَاوِيَةُMu'awiyahابْنَهُhis sonيَزِيدَ،Yazid,
So Mu'awiyah sent his son Yazid to them both,
فَأَتَيَاهُand they came to himوَدَخَلَاand enteredعَلَيْهِupon himوَبَدَأَand beganمَعَاوِيَةُMu'awiyahفَقَالَ:and said:
and they came and entered upon him, and Mu'awiyah began by saying:
إِنِّيIndeed Iأُجِلُّكُمَاesteem you bothوَأَرْفَعُand elevateقَدْرَكُمَاyour statusعَنِaboveالْمُسَامَرَةِnight conversationبِاللَّيْلِat nightوَلَاand especiallyسِيَّمَاespeciallyأَنْتَyouيَاOأَبَاAbuمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadفَإِنَّكَfor indeed youابْنُare the son ofرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,صَلَّىmay Allah send blessingsاللَّهُand peaceعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,وَسَيِّدُand the master ofشَبَابِthe youth ofأَهْلِthe people ofالْجَنَّةِ.Paradise.
'I hold you both in high esteem and elevate your status above idle night conversation, especially you, O Abu Muhammad, for you are the son of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the master of the youth of the people of Paradise.'
فَتَشَكَّرَاSo they both thankedلَهُ،him,
So they both thanked him.
فَلَمَّاWhenاسْتَوَيَاthey settledفِيinمَجْلِسِهِمَاtheir sitting placeوَعَلِمَand Amr knewعَمْرٌوAmrأَنَّthatالْحِدَّةَsharpness/tensionسَتَقَعُwould fallبِهِupon himقَالَ:he said:
When they settled in their gathering, and Amr knew that tension would fall upon him, he said:
وَاللَّهِBy Allahلَاthere isبُدَّno escapeأَنْfrom thatأَقُولَI speakفَإِنْso ifقَهَرْتُI overcomeفَسَبِيلُthen that is the wayذَلِكَof itوَإِنْand ifقُهِرْتُI am overcomeأَكُونُI will beقَدِhavingابْتَدَأْتُ.initiated.
'By Allah, I must speak; if I overcome, then that is what is sought, and if I am overcome, at least I will have initiated.'
فَقَالَ:He said:يَاOحَسَنُHasanإِنَّاverily weتَفَاوَضْنَاdiscussedفَقُلْنَاand saidإِنَّthatرِجَالَthe men ofبَنِيBanuأُمَيَّةَUmayyahأَصْبَرُare more patientعِنْدَatاللِّقَاءِthe encounterوَأَمْضَىand more resoluteفِيinالْوَغَىbattleوَأَوْفَىand more faithfulعَهْداًto a covenantوَأَكْرَمُand noblerخِيمَاًin dispositionوَأَمْنَعُand more protectiveلِمَاof what isوَرَاءَbehindظُهُورِهِمْtheir backsمِنْthanبَنِيBanuعَبْدِAbdالْمُطَّلِبِ.Al-Muttalib.
He said: 'O Hasan, indeed we conversed and said that the men of Banu Umayyah are more patient in battle, more resolute in combat, more faithful to covenants, nobler in disposition, and more protective of what is behind their backs than Banu Abd al-Muttalib.'
ثُمَّThenتَكَلَّمَspokeمَرْوَانُMarwanفَقَالَ:and said:وَكَيْفَAnd howلَاcan youتَكُونُونَnot beكَذَلِكَlike thatوَقَدْwhileقَارَعْنَاكُمْwe contested youفَغَلَبْنَاكُمْ،and overcame you,وَحَارَبْنَاكُمْand fought youفَمَلَكْنَاكُمْ،and ruled you,فَإِنْso ifشِئْنَاwe wishعَفَوْنَاwe pardonوَإِنْand ifشِئْنَاwe wishبَطَشْنَا.we strike fiercely.
Then Marwan spoke and said: 'And how could you not be so, when we contested you and overcame you, and fought you and ruled you? If we wish we pardon, and if we wish we strike fiercely.'
ثُمَّThenتَكَلَّمَspokeزِيَادٌZiyadفَقَالَ:and said:مَاIt doesيَنْبَغِيnot befitلَهُمْthemأَنْtoيُنْكِرُواdenyالْفَضْلَvirtueلِأَهْلِهِto its peopleوَيَجْحَدُواand rejectالْخَيْرَgoodnessفِيinمَظَانِّهِ،its proper places,نَحْنُwe areأَهْلُthe people ofالْحَمْلَةِcarrying the chargeفِيinالْحُرُوبِwarsوَلَنَاand for us isالْفَضْلُthe virtueعَلَىoverسَائِرِthe rest ofالنَّاسِpeopleقَدِيماًancientlyوَحَدِيثاً.and recently.
Then Ziyad spoke and said: 'It does not befit them to deny virtue to its people and reject goodness in its proper places; we are the bearers of the burden in wars, and we have superiority over all other people, anciently and recently.'
فَتَكَلَّمَThen spokeالْحَسَنُ،Al-Hasan,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُ،him,فَقَالَ:and said:لَيْسَIt is notمِنَofالْعَجْزِweaknessأَنْthatيَصْمُتَremains silentالرَّجُلُa manعِنْدَatإِرْدَادِpresentingالْحُجَّةِthe proofوَلَكِنَّbutمِنَofالْإِفْكِfalsehoodأَنْthatيَنْطِقَspeaksالرَّجُلُa manبِالْخَنَاwith obscenity/foul talkوَيُصَوِّرَand portraysالْبَاطِلَfalsehoodبِصُورَةِin the form ofالْحَقِّ.truth.
Then Al-Hasan, may Allah be pleased with him, spoke and said: 'It is not weakness for a man to remain silent when presenting proof, but it is falsehood for a man to speak with foul talk and portray falsehood in the guise of truth.'
يَاOعَمْرُوAmrأَفْتِخَاراًis it boastingبِالْكَذِبِwith liesوَجُرْأَةًand audacityعَلَىinالْإِفْكِ!falsehood!
'O Amr, boasting with lies and such audacity in falsehood!
مَاYou haveزِلْتُalwaysأَعْرِفُknownمَثَالِبَكَyour malicious faultsالْخَبِيثَةَvileأُبْدِيهَاrevealing themمَرَّةًonceوَأُمْسِكُand holding backعَنْهَاfrom themأُخْرَىanother timeفَتَأْبَىyet you refuseإِلَّاexceptانْهِمَاكاًto plungeفِيin الضَّلَالَةِ،misguidance,
I have always known your vile and malicious faults, sometimes revealing them and other times holding back, yet you refuse to do anything but plunge deeper into misguidance.
أَتَذْكُرُDo you mentionمَصَابِيحَthe lamps ofالدُّجَىdarknessوَأَعْلَامَand the beacons ofالْهُدَىguidanceوَفُرْسَانَand the horsemen ofالطِّرَادِcombatوَحُتُوفَand the banes ofالْأَقْرَانِpeers/rivalsوَأَبْنَاءَand the sons ofالطَّعَانِspearingوَرَبِيعَand the spring of الضَّيْفَانِguestsوَمَعْدِنَand the mine ofالنُّبُوَّةِprophethoodوَمَهْبِطَand the landing place ofالْعِلْمِknowledge?
Do you mention the lamps of the darkness, the beacons of guidance, the horsemen of combat, the banes of rivals, the sons of spearing, the spring of guests, the mine of prophethood, and the landing place of knowledge?
وَزَعَمْتُمْAnd you claimedأَنَّكُمْthat youأَحْمَىare more protectiveلِمَاof what isوَرَاءَbehindظُهُورِكُمْyour backsوَقَدْwhileتَبَيَّنَit became clearذَلِكَthatيَوْمَon the day ofبَدْرٍBadrحِينَwhenنَكَصَتِretreatedالْأَبْطَالُthe championsوَتَسَاوَرَتِand clashedالْأَقْرَانُthe rivalsوَاقْتَحَمَتِand plunged inاللُّيُوثُthe lionsوَاعْتَرَكَتِand locked in combatالْمَنِيَّةُdeathوَقَامَتْand stoodرَحَاؤُهَاits millstoneعَلَىonقُطْبِهَاits axisوَفَرَّتْand fledعَنْfromنَابِهَاits fangوَطَارَand flewشَرَارُthe sparks ofالْحَرْبِwarفَقَتَلْنَاso we killedرِجَالَكُمْyour menوَمَنَّand showed graceالنَّبِيُّ،the Prophet,صَلَّىmay Allah send blessingsاللَّهُand peaceعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,عَلَىtoذَرَارِيكُمْyour offspringفَكُنْتُمْand you wereلَعَمْرِيby my lifeفِيinهَذَاthisالْيَوْمِdayغَيْرَnotمَانِعِينَprotectingلِمَاwhat wasوَرَاءَbehindظُهُورِكُمْyour backsمِنْofبَنِيBanuعَبْدِAbdالْمُطَّلِبِ!Al-Muttalib!
And you claimed that you are more protective of what is behind your backs, yet that became clear on the Day of Badr when champions retreated, rivals clashed, lions plunged in, death locked in combat, its millstone stood firmly on its axis, people fled from its fangs, and the sparks of war flew! We killed your men, and the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, showed grace to your offspring; so by my life, on that day you were hardly protectors of what was behind the backs of Banu Abd al-Muttalib!
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:وَأَمَّاAnd as forأَنْتَyouيَاOمَرْوَانُMarwanفَمَاwhat areأَنْتَyouوَالْإِكْثَارُand talking excessivelyفِيaboutقُرَيْشٍQurayshوَأَنْتَwhile you areطَلِيقٌa freed captiveوَأَبُوكَand your fatherطَرِيدٌwas an exileيَتَقَلَّبُtossingمِنْfromخِزَايَةٍdisgraceإِلَىtoسُوءَةٍshame
Then he said: 'And as for you, O Marwan, what business do you have talking excessively about Quraysh, when you are a freed captive and your father was an exile, tossing from disgrace to shame?
وَلَقَدْAnd indeedجِيءَyou were broughtبِكَtoإِلَىtoأَمِيرِthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،the Faithful,فَلَمَّاand whenرَأَيْتَyou sawالضَّرْغَامَthe lionقَدْthatدَمِيَتْwere stained with bloodبَرَاثِنُهُits clawsوَاشْتَبَكَتْand interlockedأَنْيَابُهُits fangsكُنْتَyou wereكَمَاasقَالَ:he said:
You were brought to the Commander of the Faithful, and when you saw the lion whose claws were stained with blood and whose fangs were interlocked, you were as the saying goes:
لَيْثٌA lionإِذَاwhenسَمِعَhe heardاللُّيُوثَthe lionsزَئِيرَهُhis roar......بَبْصَبْنَthey wagged their tailsثُمَّthenقَذَفْنَthey castبِالْأَبْعَارِdung
A lion, when the lions heard his roar, wagged their tails and then defecated.
وَيُرْوَىAnd it is narratedرَمَيْنَthey threwبِالْأَبْعَارِ.dung.
And it is narrated as 'they threw dung'.