قِيلَ:It was said:
It was said:
كَانَwasأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbasيُطِيلُprolongingالسَّهَرَstaying awake
Abu al-Abbas used to stay awake late,
وَيُعْجِبُهُand he admiredالْفَصَاحَةُeloquenceوَمُنَازَعَةُand debatingالرِّجَالِ،men.
and he admired eloquence and debating with men.
فَسَهِرَSo he stayed awakeذَاتَoneلَيْلَةٍnight
So one night he stayed awake
وَعِنْدَهُand with him wereأُنَاسٌpeopleمِنْfromمُضَرَMudarوَفَهْرٍand Fahr
and with him were people from Mudar and Fahr,
وَفِيهِمْand among them wasخَالِدُKhalidبْنُson ofصَفْوَانَSafwanبْنِson ofالْأَهْتَمِal-Ahtamالتَّمِيمِيُّal-Tamimi
among them Khalid ibn Safwan ibn al-Ahtam al-Tamimi,
وَنَاسٌand peopleمِنْfromالْيَمَنِYemen
and people from Yemen,
فِيهِمْamong them wasإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimبْنُson ofمِخْرَمَةَMikhramahالْكِنْدِيُّ،al-Kindi.
among them Ibrahim ibn Mikhramah al-Kindi.
فَقَالَSo saidأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِ:al-Abbas:
Abu al-Abbas said:
هَاتُوا"Bring forthوَاقْطَعُواand passلَيْلَتَنَاour nightبِمُحَادَثَتِكُمْ.with your conversation."
"Speak and pass our night with your conversation."
فَبَدَأَSo beganإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimبْنُson ofمِخْرَمَةَMikhramahوَقَالَ:and said:
Ibrahim ibn Mikhramah began and said:
يَا"OأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,إِنَّindeedإِخْوَالَكُمْyour maternal unclesهُمُareالنَّاسُthe people,
"O Commander of the Faithful, indeed your maternal uncles are the people,
وَهُمُand they areالْعَرَبُthe Arabs,الْأَوَّلُونَthe first,
and they are the first Arabs
الَّذِينَto whomدَانَتْsubmittedلَهُمُto themالدُّنْيَاthe world,
to whom the world submitted
وَكَانَتْand for them wasلَهُمُfor themالْيَدُthe upper hand,الْعُلْيَا،highest,
and who held the upper hand,
مَاnotزَالُواceasing to beمُلُوكاًkingsوَأَرْبَاباً،and lords.
always remaining kings and lords.
تَوَارَثُواThey inheritedالرِّئَاسَةَleadershipكَابِراًgenerationعَنْfromكَابِرٍgeneration
They inherited leadership generation after generation,
وَآخِراًand lastعَنْfromأَوَّلٍ،first,
last from first,
يَلْبَسُwearsآخِرُهُمْtheir lastسَرَابِيلَgarments ofأَوَّلِهِمْ،their first,
their last wearing the garments of their first,
يَعْرِفُونَthey knowبَيْتَthe house ofالْمَجْدِgloryوَمَآثِرَand the exploits ofالْحَمْدِ،praise.
knowing the house of glory and the deeds of praise.
مِنْهُمُAmong them areالنُّعْمَانَاتُthe Nu'mansوَالْمُنذِرَاتُand the Mundhirsوَالْقَابُوسَاتُ،and the Qabusis,
Among them are the Nu'mans, the Mundhirs, and the Qabusis.
وَمِنْهُمْAnd among them isغَسِيلُthe washed byالْمَلَائِكَةِ،the angels,
Among them is the one washed by the angels,
وَمِنْهُمْand among them isمَنْhe whoاهْتَزَّshookلِمَوْتِهِat his deathالْعَرْشُ،the Throne,
among them he at whose death the Throne shook,
وَمِنْهُمْand among them isمُكَلِّمُthe speaker toالذِّئْبِ،the wolf,
among them the speaker to the wolf,
وَمِنْهُمْand among them isمَنْhe whoكَانَused toيَأْخُذُtakeكُلَّeveryسَفِينَةٍshipغَصْباًby force
among them he who used to seize every ship by force
وَيَحْوِيand collectفِيinكُلِّeveryنَائِبَةٍcalamityنَهْباً،plunder,
and gather plunder in every calamity,
وَمِنْهُمُand among them areأَصْحَابُthe owners ofالتِّيجَانِcrownsوَكُمَاةُand the braveالْفُرْسَانِ،horsemen,
among them the wearers of crowns and the brave horsemen.
لَيْسَThere is notمِنْofشَيْءٍthingوَإِنْeven ifعَظُمَit was great inخَطَرُهُimportanceوَعُرِفَand known inأَثَرُهُeffect
There is nothing, no matter how great its importance and known its impact,
مِنْofفَرَسٍhorseرَائِعٍsplendidوَسَيْفٍand swordقَاطِعٍsharpأَوْorمِجَنٍّshieldوَاقٍprotectiveأَوْorدِرْعٍarmorحَصِينٍstrongأَوْorدُرَّةٍpearlمَكْنُونَةٍhidden
whether a splendid horse, a sharp sword, a protective shield, strong armor, or a hidden pearl,
إِلَّاexceptوَهُمْtheyأَرْبَابُهَاare its lordsوَأَصْحَابُهَا،and its masters.
except that they are its lords and masters.
إِنْIfحَلَّalightedضَيْفٌa guestأَقْرَوْهُ،they entertained him,
If a guest arrived, they hosted him;
وَإِنْand ifسَأَلَهُمْasked themسَائِلٌa petitionerأَعْطَوْهُ،they gave him,
if a petitioner asked them, they gave him.
لَاNo oneيَبْلُغُهُمْreaches them inمُكاثِرٌboasting in numbersوَلَاnorيُطَاوِلُهُمْrivals them inمُطَاوِلٌheightوَلَاnorمُفَاخِرٌ،boasting.
No one can match them in abundance, rival them in stature, or boast against them.
فَمَنْSo whoمِثْلُهُمْis like themيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟of the Faithful?
So who is like them, O Commander of the Faithful?
الْبَيْتُThe Houseيَمَانٍis Yamani,وَالْحَجَرُand the Stoneيَمَانٍis Yamani,وَالرُّكْنُand the Cornerيَمَانٍis Yamani,وَالسَّيْفُand the swordيَمَانٍ.is Yamani.
The House is Yamani, the Stone is Yamani, the Corner is Yamani, and the sword is Yamani.
فَقَالَSo saidأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِ:al-Abbas:
Abu al-Abbas said:
مَاI do notأَرَىthinkمُضَرَMudarتَقُولُsaysبِقَوْلِكَwith your sayingهَذَاthis
"I do not think Mudar would say what you have said,
وَمَاand I do notأَظُنُّsupposeخَالِداًKhalidيَرْضَىwould be pleasedبِذَلِكَ.with that."
and I do not suppose Khalid would be pleased with that."
فَقَالَSo saidخَالِدٌ:Khalid:
Khalid said:
إِنْ"Ifأَذِنَpermitsأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَأَمِنْتُand I am secured fromالْمُؤَاخَذَةَblame,تَكَلَّمْتُ.I will speak."
"If the Commander of the Faithful permits and I am secure from blame, I will speak."
فَقَالَSo saidأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِ:al-Abbas:
Abu al-Abbas said:
تَكَلَّمْ"Speakوَلَاand do notتَرْهَبْfearأَحَداً.anyone."
"Speak and do not fear anyone."
فَقَالَSo saidخَالِدٌ:Khalid:
Khalid said:
يَا"OأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,خَابَhas failedالْمُتَكَلِّمُthe speakerوَأَخْطَأَand erredالْمُتَقَحِّمُthe reckless one
"O Commander of the Faithful, the speaker has failed and the reckless one has erred,
إِذْwhenقَالَhe spokeبِغَيْرِwithoutعِلْمٍknowledgeوَنَطَقَand utteredبِغَيْرِwithoutصَوَابٍ،correctness.
since he spoke without knowledge and uttered without correctness.
أَوَيَفْخَرُDoes he boastعَلَىoverمُضَرَMudarوَمِنْهَاwhile from her isالنَّبِيُّ،the Prophet,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,
How can he boast over Mudar, when from her is the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,
وَالْخُلَفَاءُand the caliphsمِنْfromأَهْلِthe people ofبَيْتِهِ؟his house?
and the caliphs from the people of his house?
وَهَلْAnd areأَهْلُthe people ofالْيَمَنِYemenيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,إِلَّاexceptدَابِغَa tanner ofجِلْدٍhideوَقَائِدَand a leader ofقَرْدٍmonkeyوَحَائِكَand a weaver ofبْرَدٍ؟cloak?
And what are the people of Yemen, O Commander of the Faithful, except a tanner of hides, a leader of monkeys, and a weaver of cloaks?
دَلَّGuidedعَلَيْهِمُthemالْهُدْهُدُthe hoopoe,وَغَرَّقَهُمُand drowned themالْجُرَذُthe rat,وَمَلَكَتْهُمْand ruled over themأُمُّmother ofوَلَدٍa child [concubine]مِنْfromقَوْمٍ،a people.
Guided against them was the hoopoe, drowned them was the rat, and ruled over them a concubine from a people.
وَاللَّهِBy Allah,يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,مَاthey have notلَهُمْfor themأَلْسِنَةٌtonguesفَصِيحَةٌeloquentوَلَاnorلُغَةٌlanguageصَحِيحَةٌcorrect
By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, they have neither eloquent tongues nor a correct language,
وَلَاnorحُجَّةٌargumentتَدُلُّthat pointsعَلَىtoكِتَابٍa bookوَلَاnorيُعْرَفُis knownبِهَاby itصَوَابٌ،correctness.
nor an argument pointing to a book, nor is correctness known through them.
وَإِنَّهُمْAnd indeed they areمِنَّاto usلِإِحْدَىfor one ofالْخَلَّتَيْنِtwo states:إِنْifحَازُواthey obtainedمَاwhatقَصَدُواthey intended,أُكِلُواthey are consumedوَإِنْand ifحَادُواthey deviatedعَنْfromحُكْمِنَاour judgment,قُتِلُوا.they are killed.
And they are to us in one of two states: if they achieve what they intend, they are consumed; and if they deviate from our judgment, they are killed.
ثُمَّThenالْتَفَتَhe turnedإِلَىtowardالْكِنْدِيِّthe Kindiفَقَالَ:and said:
Then he turned to the Kindi and said:
أَتَفْخَرُ"Do you boastبِأَكْرَمِwith the noblest ofالْأَنَامِcreaturesوَخَيْرِهَاand the best of them,مُحَمَّدٍ،Muhammad,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,
"Do you boast with the noblest of creatures and the best of them, Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,
وَبِهِand through himافْتَخَرَboastedمَنْhe whoذَكَرْتَ؟you mentioned?
while through him boasted the one you mentioned?
فَالْمَنُّSo the favorمِنَis fromاللَّهِAllahعَزَّthe Mightyوَجَلَّand Majesticعَلَيْكُمْupon youإِنْifكُنْتُمْyou wereأَتْبَاعَهُhis followersوَأَشْيَاعَهُ،and partisans.
The favor is from Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, upon you if you are his followers and partisans.
فَمِنَّاFor from us isنَبِيُّthe Prophet ofاللَّهِAllah,الْمُصْطَفَىthe Chosen,وَخَلِيفَةُand the Caliph ofاللَّهِAllah,الْمُرْتَضَىthe Pleasing,
From us is the Prophet of Allah, the Chosen, and the Caliph of Allah, the Pleasing;
وَلَنَاand for us isالسُّؤْدُدُsovereigntyوَالْعُلَىand loftiness,وَفِينَاand in us isالْحِلْمُforbearanceوَالْحِجَاand intellect,
to us belong sovereignty and loftiness, in us are forbearance and intellect,
وَلَنَاand for us isالشَّرَفُthe honorالْمُقَدَّمُforemostوَالرُّكْنُand the pillarالْمُكَرَّمُhonoredوَالْبَيْتُand the houseالْمُعَظَّمُmagnified
and to us belong the foremost honor, the honored pillar, the magnified house,
وَالْجَنَابُand the precinctالْأَخْضَرُgreenوَالْعَدَدُand the numberالْأَكْثَرُgreatestوَالْعِزُّand the gloryالْأَكْبَرُ،greatest.
the green precinct, the greater number, and the greatest glory.
وَلَنَاAnd for us isالْبَيْتُthe HouseالْمَعْمُورُFrequentedوَالْمَشْعَرُand the MonumentالْمَشْهُورُFamousوَالسَّقْفُand the RoofالْمَرْفُوعُRaised
To us belong the Frequented House, the Famous Monument, the Raised Roof,
وَزَمْزَمُand Zamzamوَبَطْحَاؤُهَاand its flatlandsوَجِبَالُهَاand its mountainsوَصَحْرَاؤُهَاand its desertsوَحِيَاضُهَاand its basinsوَغِيَاضُهَاand its thicketsوَأَحْجَارُهَاand its stonesوَأَعْلَامُهَاand its landmarks
Zamzam, its flatlands, mountains, deserts, basins, thickets, stones, and landmarks,
وَمَنَابِرُهَاand its pulpitsوَسِقَايَتُهَاand its wateringوَحِجَابَتُهَاand its guardianshipوَسَدَانَةُand the custody ofبَيْتِهَا،its house.
its pulpits, its watering services, its chamberlainship, and the custody of its house.
فَهَلْSo doesيَعْدِلُنَاequal usعَادِلٌanyone equalوَيَبْلُغُand does reachفَخْرَنَاour boastقَائِلٌ،any speaker?
So can anyone equal us, or can any speaker reach our level of boasting?
وَمِنَّاAnd from us isأَعْلَمُthe most knowledgeableالنَّاسِof people,ابْنُIbnعَبَّاسٍAbbas,أَعْلَمُthe most knowledgeable ofالْبَشَرِmankind,طَيِّبَةٌgoodأَخْبَارُهُare his reportsحَسَنَةٌfineآثَارُهُ،are his traces.
From us is the most knowledgeable of people, Ibn Abbas, the most knowledgeable of mankind, whose reports are good and traces fine.
وَمِنَّاAnd from us isالْوَصِيُّthe Successorوَذُوand the Possessor ofالنُّورِ،the Light,
From us is the Successor and the Possessor of the Light,
وَمِنَّاand from us isالصِّدِّيقُthe Siddiqوَالْفَارُوقُ،and the Faruq,
from us are the Siddiq and the Faruq,
وَمِنَّاand from us isأَسَدُthe Lion ofاللَّهِAllahوَسَيْفُand the Sword ofاللَّهِ،Allah,
from us are the Lion of Allah and the Sword of Allah,
وَمِنَّاand from us isسَيِّدُthe Master ofالشُّهَدَاءِthe Martyrsوَذُوand the Possessor ofالْجَنَاحَيْنِ،the Two Wings,
from us are the Master of Martyrs and the Possessor of the Two Wings,
وَمِنَّاand from us areالْكُمَاةُthe braveوَالْفُرْسَانُ،and horsemen,
from us are the brave and horsemen,
وَمِنَّاand from us areالْفُقَهَاءُthe juristsوَالْعُلَمَاءُ،and scholars.
from us are the jurists and scholars.
بِنَاThrough usعُرِفَwas knownالدِّينُthe religionوَمِنْand fromعِنْدِنَاusأَتَاكُمُcame to youالْيَقِينُ،the certainty.
Through us the religion was known, and from us came certainty to you.
فَمَنْSo whoeverزَاحَمَنَاvied with usزَاحَمْنَاهُwe vied with him,وَمَنْand whoeverعَادَانَاwas hostile to usاصْطَلَمْنَاهُwe uprooted him,وَمَنْand whoeverفَاخَرَنَاboasted against usفَاخَرْنَاهُwe boasted against him,وَمَنْand whoeverبَدَّلَalteredسُنَّتَنَاour wayقَتَلْنَاهُ.we killed him.
So whoever vied with us, we vied with him; whoever was hostile to us, we uprooted him; whoever boasted against us, we boasted against him; and whoever altered our way, we killed him.
ثُمَّThenالْتَفَتَhe turnedإِلَىtoالْكِنْدِيِّthe Kindiفَقَالَ:and said:
Then he turned to the Kindi and said:
كَيْفَ"Howعِلْمُكَis your knowledgeبِلُغَاتِof the languages ofقَوْمِكَ؟your people?"
"How is your knowledge of the languages of your people?"
قَالَ:He said:أَنَا"Iبِهَاof itعَالِمٌ.am knowledgeable."
He said: "I am knowledgeable of it."
قَالَ:He said:مَا"What isالْجَحْمَةُal-Jahmahفِيinلُغَتِكُمْ؟your language?"
He said: "What is al-Jahmah in your language?"
قَالَ:He said:الْعَيْنُ."The eye."
He said: "The eye."
قَالَ:He said:فَمَا"Then what isالْمِيزَمُ؟al-Mizam?"
He said: "Then what is al-Mizam?"
قَالَ:He said:السِّنُّ."The tooth."
He said: "The tooth."
قَالَ:He said:فَالشَّنَاتِرُ؟"And what are al-Shanatir?"
He said: "And what are al-Shanatir?"
قَالَ:He said:الْإِصْبَعُ."The finger."
He said: "The finger."
قَالَ:He said:فَالصَّنَانِيرُ؟"And what are al-Sananir?"
He said: "And what are al-Sananir?"
قَالَ:He said:الْآذَانُ."The ears."
He said: "The ears."
قَالَ:He said:فَمَا"Then what areالْقُلُوبُ؟al-Qulub?"
He said: "Then what are al-Qulub?"
قَالَ:He said:الذِّئْبُ."The wolf."
He said: "The wolf."
قَالَ:He said:فَمَا"Then what isالزُّبُّ؟al-Zubb?"
He said: "Then what is al-Zubb?"
قَالَ:He said:اللِّحْيَةُ."The beard."
He said: "The beard."
قَالَ:He said:أَفَتَقْرَأُ"Do you readكِتَابَthe Book ofاللَّهِAllahعَزَّthe Mightyوَجَلَّ؟and Majestic?"
He said: "Do you read the Book of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic?"
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ."Yes."
He said: "Yes."
قَالَ:He said:فَإِنَّ"For indeedاللَّهَAllahعَزَّthe Mightyوَجَلَّand Majesticيَقُولُ:says:
He said: "For indeed Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, says:
""إِنَّاIndeed Weأَنْزَلْنَاهُhave sent it downقُرْآنَاًas a QuranعَرَبِيّاًArabic""
"Indeed We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran,"
وَقَالَ:and He said:بِلِسَانٍ"In a tongueعَرَبِيٍّArabicمُبِينٍ،clear,"
and He said: "In a clear Arabic tongue,"
وَقَالَand He saidجَلَّHe whose majesty is greatذِكْرُهُ:His remembrance:""وَمَاAnd notأَرْسَلْنَاWe sentمِنْofرَسُولٍmessengerإِلَّاexceptبِلِسَانِin the tongue ofقَوْمِهِhis people""
and He, whose majesty is great, said: "And We did not send any messenger except in the tongue of his people,"
وَقَالَand He saidعَزَّthe Mightyوَجَلَّ:and Majestic:""الْعَيْنُThe eyeبِالْعَيْنِfor the eye""
and the Mighty and Majestic said: "The eye for the eye,"
وَلَمْand He did notيَقُلِsayالْجَحْمَةُal-Jahmahبِالْجَحْمَةِ،for al-Jahmah,
and He did not say al-jahmah for al-jahmah.
وَقَالَ:And He said:""جَعَلُواThey putأَصَابِعَهُمْtheir fingersفِيinآذَانِهِمْtheir ears""
And He said: "They put their fingers in their ears,"
وَلَمْand He did notيَقُلْsayشَنَاتِرُهُمْtheir fingersفِيinصَنَانِيرِهِمْ،their ears,
and He did not say their shanatir in their sananir.
وَقَالَ:And He said:السِّنُّThe toothبِالسِّنِّ،for the tooth,
And He said: The tooth for the tooth,
وَلَمْand He did notيَقُلِsayالْمِيزَمُal-Mizamبِالْمِيزَمِ،for al-Mizam,
and He did not say al-mizam for al-mizam.
وَقَالَ:And He said:فَأَكَلَهُSo ate himالذِّئْبُ،the wolf,
And He said: So the wolf ate him,
وَلَمْand He did notيَقُلِsayالْقُلُوبُ،al-Qulub,
and He did not say al-qulub.
وَقَالَ:And He said:لَا"Do notتَأْخُذْtakeبِلِحْيَتِي،by my beard,"
And He said: "Do not take hold of my beard,"
وَلَمْand He did notيَقُلْsayبِزَبِي،by my zubb,
and He did not say by my zubb.
وَأَنَاAnd Iسَائِلُكَam asking youيَاOابْنَson ofمِخْرَمَةَMikhramahعَنْaboutثَلَاثِthreeخِصَالٍtraits;
And I am asking you, O son of Mikhramah, about three traits:
فَإِنْifأَنْتَyouأَقْرَرْتَadmitبِهَاto themقُهِرْتَ،you are defeated;
if you admit to them, you are defeated;
وَإِنْand ifجَحَدْتَهَاyou deny themكَفَرْتَ،you disbelieve;
if you deny them, you disbelieve;
وَإِنْand ifأَنْكَرْتَyou reject themقُتِلْتَ.you are killed.
and if you reject them, you are killed.
قَالَ:He said:وَمَا"And whatهِيَ؟are they?"
He said: "And what are they?"
قَالَ:He said:أَتَعْلَمُ"Do you knowأَنَّthatفِينَاamong us isنَبِيَّthe Prophet ofاللَّهِAllah,الْمُصْطَفَى،the Chosen,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ؟and grant him peace?"
He said: "Do you know that among us is the Prophet of Allah, the Chosen, may Allah bless him and grant him peace?"
قَالَ:He said:اللَّهُمَّ"O Allah,نَعَمْ.yes."
He said: "O Allah, yes."
قَالَ:He said:أَتَعْلَمُ"Do you knowأَنَّthatفِينَاamong us isكِتَابَthe Book ofاللَّهِAllahتَعَالَى؟Exalted?"
He said: "Do you know that among us is the Book of Allah, the Exalted?"
قَالَ:He said:اللَّهُمَّ"O Allah,نَعَمْ.yes."
He said: "O Allah, yes."
قَالَ:He said:أَفَتَعْلَمُ"Do you knowأَنَّthatفِينَاamong us isخَلِيفَةَthe Caliph ofاللَّهِAllah,الْمُرْتَضَى؟the Pleasing?"
He said: "Do you know that among us is the Caliph of Allah, the Pleasing?"
قَالَ:He said:اللَّهُمَّ"O Allah,نَعَمْ.yes."
He said: "O Allah, yes."
قَالَ:He said:فَأَيُّ"Then whatشَيْءٍthingيَعْدِلُequalsهَذِهِtheseالْخِصَالَ؟traits?"
He said: "Then what thing equals these traits?"
فَقَالَSo saidأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِ:al-Abbas:اكْفُفْ"Ceaseعَنْهُfrom him,فَوَاللَّهِfor by AllahمَاI have notرَأَيْتُseenغَلَبَةًa victoryأَنْكَرَmore confoundingمِنْهَا،than it,وَاللَّهِand by Allahمَاyou did notفَرَغْتَfinishمِنْfromكَلامِكَyour speechيَاOأَخَاbrother ofمُضَرَMudarحَتَّىuntilإِنَّهُheلَيُعْرِجُlimps
Abu al-Abbas said: "Cease from him, for by Allah I have not seen a more confounding victory than it. By Allah, O brother of Mudar, you had barely finished your speech until he was limping