بِسَرِيرِيwith my bedإِلَىtoالسَّمَاءِ.the sky.
with my bed to the sky.
ثُمَّThenأَمَرَhe orderedلِخَالِدٍfor Khalidبِمِئَةِwith one hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
Then he ordered one hundred thousand dirhams for Khalid.
رِيRiإِلَىtoالسَّمَاءِ.the sky.
Ri to the sky.
ثُمَّThenأَمَرَhe orderedلِخَالِدٍfor Khalidبِمِئَةِwith one hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
Then he ordered one hundred thousand dirhams for Khalid.
وَعَنْAnd on the authority ofأَبِيAbuبَكْرٍBakrالْهُذَلِيِّAl-Hudhaliقَالَ:he said:
And on the authority of Abu Bakr Al-Hudhali, he said:
اجْتَمَعْنَاWe gatheredعِنْدَatأَبِيAbuالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbas
We gathered at Abu Al-Abbas
أَهْلُthe people ofالْبَصْرَةِBasraوَأَهْلُand the people ofالْكُوفَةِKufa
the people of Basra and the people of Kufa
وَلَمْand there was notيَكُنْfromمِنْamongأَهْلِthe people ofالْبَصْرَةِBasraغَيْرِيanyone other than me
and there was no one from the people of Basra other than me
وَكَانَand there wasمِنْfromأَهْلِthe people ofالْكُوفَةِKufaالْحَجَّاجُAl-Hajjajبْنُson ofأَرْطَاةَArta'ahوَالْحَسَنُand Al-Hasanبْنُson ofزَيْدٍZaydوَابْنُand IbnأَبِيAbiلَيْلَىLayla
and from the people of Kufa were Al-Hajjaj bin Arta'ah, Al-Hasan bin Zayd, and Ibn Abi Layla
فَتَاذَكَرُواso they discussedأَهْلَthe people ofالْكُوفَةِKufaوَأَهْلَand the people ofالْبَصْرَةِBasra
so they discussed the people of Kufa and the people of Basra
فَقَالَThen saidابْنُIbnأَبِيAbiلَيْلَى:Layla:نَحْنُWe areوَاللَّهِby AllahيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.......the Faithful.......
Then Ibn Abi Layla said: By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful.......
وَكَيْفَAnd howيَكُونُcan beلَنَاfor usذَلِكَthatوَلَنَاwhile we haveالسِّنْدُSindوَالْهِنْدُand Hindوَكَرْمَانُand Kermanوَمَكْرَانُand Makranوَالْفُرَضُand Al-Furatوَالْعَرْضُand Al-Ardوَالدِّيَارُand the landsوَسَعَةُand the vastness ofالْأَنْهَارِ؟rivers?
And how can that be for us when we possess Sind, Hind, Kerman, Makran, the ports, the regions, the lands, and the vast rivers?
فَقَالَThen saidابْنُIbnأَبِيAbiلَيْلَى:Layla:نَحْنُWeأَعْلَمُare more knowledgeableمِنْهُمْthan themعِلْماًin knowledgeوَأَكْثَرُand moreمِنْهُمْthan themفَهْماً،in understanding,
Then Ibn Abi Layla said: We are more knowledgeable than them and have greater understanding,
يُقِرُّacknowledgesبِذَلِكَthatأَهْلُthe people ofالْبَصْرَةِBasraلِأَهْلِto the people ofالْكُوفَةِ.Kufa.
and the people of Basra acknowledge that to the people of Kufa.
قُلْتُ:I said:هُمْThey areأَكْثَرُmoreأَنْبِيَاءَprophetsوَأَقَلُّand fewerأَتْقِيَاءَpious peopleوَأَعْظَمُand greaterكِبْرِيَاءَ،in arrogance,
I said: They are more in prophets, fewer in pious people, and greater in arrogance.
مِنْهُمُAmong them isالْمُغِيرَةُAl-Mughirahالْخَبِيثُthe wickedالسَّرِيرَةِin secretوَبَيَانٌand Bayanوَأَبُوand Abuبَيَانٍ،Bayan,
Among them are Al-Mughirah, wicked in secret, and Bayan, and Abu Bayan,
وَتُنْسَبُand are attributedفِيهِمُamong themالْأَنْبِيَاءُthe prophetsوَاللَّهِand by Allahمَاdid notأَتَانَاcome to usإِلَّاexceptنَبِيٌّone prophetوَاحِدٌ.only.
and prophets are attributed to them, yet by Allah, not a single prophet came to us except one.
قَالَSaidالْحَسَنُAl-Hasanبْنُson ofزَيْدٍ:Zayd:أَنْتُمْYouأَصْحَابُwere the companions ofعَلِيٍّAliيَوْمَon the dayسِرْنَاwe marchedإِلَيْهِto himلِنَقْتُلَهُto kill him
Al-Hasan bin Zayd said: You were the companions of Ali on the day we marched toward him to kill him,
فَكَفَّso withheldاللَّهُAllahأَيْدِيَنَاour handsعَنْهُfrom himوَسَارَand he marchedإِلَىtoالْكُوفَةِKufaفَقَتَلُوهُand they killed himفَأَيْنَاso which of usأَعْظَمُis greater inذَنْباً؟sin?
so Allah withheld our hands from him, and he marched to Kufa where they killed him, so which of us is greater in sin?
فَقَالَThen saidالْحَجَّاجُ:Al-Hajjaj:وَاللَّهِBy AllahيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulلَقَدْit has indeedبَلَغَنِيreached meأَنَّthatأَهْلَthe people ofالْبَصْرَةِBasraكَانُواwereيَوْمَئِذٍthat dayعِشْرِينَtwentyأَلْفاًthousandوَكَانَand there wereأَهْلُthe people ofالْكُوفَةِKufaخَمْسَةَfiveآلافٍ،thousand,
Al-Hajjaj said: By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, it has reached me that the people of Basra that day were twenty thousand, and the people of Kufa were five thousand,
فَلَمَّاso whenالْتَقَتْmetحَلَقَتَاthe two circles ofالْبِطَانِthe belly-girthsوَأَخَذَتِand tookالرِّجَالُthe menأَقْرَانَهَاtheir peersشَدَّتْchargedخَيْلُهُمْtheir horsesفِيinصَعِيدٍoneوَاحِدٍ.ground.
so when the two armies clashed and every man engaged his peer, their horses charged across a single plain.
فَقُلْتُ:I said:وَكَيفَAnd howيَكُونُcouldذَلِكَthat beوَخَرَجَتْwhen went forthرَبِيعَةُRabi'ahسَامِعَةًhearingمُطِيعَةًand obeyingتُعِينُassistingعَلِيّاًAliوَخَرَجَand went forthالْأَحْنَفُAl-Ahnafبْنُson ofقَيْسٍQaisفِيwithسَعْدٍSa'dوَالرِّبَابِand Ar-Rabab
I said: How could that be when Rabi'ah went forth obedient and responsive, assisting Ali, and Al-Ahnaf bin Qais went forth with Sa'd and Ar-Rabab,
وَهُمُwhile they wereالسَّنَامُthe highest peakالْأَعْظَمُthe greatestوَالْجُمْهُورُand the largest multitudeالْأَكْبَرُthe greatestيُعِينُونَassistingعَلِيّاً؟Ali?
being the highest peak and the largest multitude assisting Ali?
وَلَكِنْButسَلْaskهَؤُلَاءِthese peopleيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulكَمْhow manyكَانَتْwereعُدَّتُهُمْtheir numberيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulيَوْمَon the dayاسْتَغَاثُواthey cried out for helpبِنَا،to us,
Rather, ask these people, O Commander of the Faithful, what was their number on the day they cried out for help to us,
فَلَمَّاso whenالْتَقَيْنَاwe metكَانُواthey wereكَرَمَادٍlike ashesاشْتَدَّتْblown hard byبِهِitالرِّيحُthe windفِيonيَوْمٍa dayعَاصِفٍ.stormy.
so when we met, they were like ashes scattered by a strong wind on a stormy day.
فَقَالَThen saidابْنُIbnأَبِيAbiلَيْلَى:Layla:وَاللَّهِBy AllahيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulإِنَّاwe are indeedلَأَشْرَفُmore nobleمِنْهُمْthan themأَشْرَافاًin nobilityوَأَكْثَرُand more numerousمِنْهُمْthan themأَسْلَافاً.in ancestors.
Then Ibn Abi Layla said: By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, we are indeed more noble than them in nobility and more numerous than them in ancestors.
قُلْتُ:I said:مَعَاذَGod forbidاللَّهِAllahيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَ!the Faithful!هَلْWasكَانَthereفِيinتَمِيمِTamim ofالْكُوفَةِKufaمِثْلُthe likes ofالْأَحْنَفِAl-Ahnafابْنِson ofقَيْسٍQaisفِيinتَمِيمِTamim ofالْبَصْرَةِBasra
I said: God forbid, O Commander of the Faithful! Was there in Tamim of Kufa anyone like Al-Ahnaf bin Qais in Tamim of Basra,
الَّذِيabout whomفِيهِin himيَقُولُsaysالشَّاعِرُ:the poet:
about whom the poet says:
إِذَاWhenالْأَبْصَارُeyesأَبْصَرَتِbeheldابْنَthe son ofقَيْسٍQais......ظَلِلْنَthey remainedمَهَابَةًin aweمِنْهُof himخُشُوعاًsubmissive
When eyes beheld the son of Qais... they remained submissive in awe of him
وَهَلْAnd wasكَانَthereفِيinقَيْسِQais ofالْكُوفَةِKufaمِثْلُthe likes ofقُتَيْبَةَQutaybahبْنِson ofمُسْلِمٍMuslimفِيinقَيْسِQais ofالْبَصْرَةِBasraالَّذِيwhoيَقُولُsaysفِيهِabout himالشَّاعِرُ:the poet:
And was there in Qais of Kufa the likes of Qutaybah bin Muslim in Qais of Basra, about whom the poet says:
كُلَّEveryعَامٍyearيَحْوِيgathersقُتَيْبَةُQutaybahنَهْباًplunder......وَيَزِيدُand addsالْأَمْوَالَto the wealthمَالاًwealthجَدِيداًnew
Every year Qutaybah gathers plunder... and adds new wealth to wealth
دَوَّخَHe subduedالصُّغْدَSogdianaبِالْقَبَائِلِwith the tribesحَتَّىuntil......تَرَكَhe leftالصُّغْدَSogdianaبِالْعَرَاءِin the open desertقُعُوداًsitting
He subdued Sogdiana with the tribes until... he left the people of Sogdiana sitting in the open desert
بَاهِلِيٌّA Bahiliتَعَصَّبَboundالتَّاجَthe crownحَتَّىuntil......شَبْنَbecame greyمِنْهُfrom itمَفَارِقُlocks of hairكُنَّthat wereسُوداًblack
A Bahili bound the crown until... locks of hair that were black turned grey from it
وَهَلْAnd wasكَانَthereفِيinأَزْدِAzd ofالْكُوفَةِKufaمِثْلُthe likes ofمُهَلَّبِMuhallabبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiصُفْرَةَSufrahفِيinأَزْدِAzd ofالْبَصْرَةِBasraالَّذِيwhoيَقُولُsaysفِيهِabout himالشَّاعِرُ:the poet:
And was there in Azd of Kufa the likes of Muhallab bin Abi Sufrah in Azd of Basra, about whom the poet says:
إِذَاWhenكَانَisالْمُهَلَّبُAl-Muhallabمِنْbehindوَرَائِيme......هَدَأَwas calmلَيْلِيmy nightوَقَرَّand was tranquilلَهُfor itفُؤَادِيmy heart
When Al-Muhallab is behind me... my night is calm and my heart is tranquil because of him
وَلَمْAnd I do notأَخْشَfearالدَّنِيَّةَhumiliationمِنْfromأُنَاسٍany people......وَلَوْeven ifصَالُواthey attackedبِقُوَّةِwith the power ofقَوْمِthe people ofعَادٍ'Ad
And I do not fear humiliation from any people... even if they attacked with the power of the people of 'Ad
وَهَلْAnd wasكَانَthereفِيinبَكْرِBakr ofالْكُوفَةِKufaمِثْلُthe likes ofمَالِكِMalikبْنِson ofمِسْمَعٍMisma'فِيinبَكْرِBakr ofالْبَصْرَةِBasraالَّذِيwhoيَقُولُsaysفِيهِabout himالشَّاعِرُ:the poet:
And was there in Bakr of Kufa the likes of Malik bin Misma' in Bakr of Basra, about whom the poet says:
إِذَاWhenمَاeverخَشِينَاwe fearedمِنْfromأَمِيرٍan emirظُلَامَةًinjustice......أَمَرْنَاwe orderedأَبَاAbuغَسَّانَGhassanيَوْماًone dayفَعَسْكَرُواso they set up camp
Whenever we feared an injustice from an emir... we ordered Abu Ghassan one day, and they set up camp
وَهَلْAnd wasكَانَthereفِيinعَبْدِ'AbdقَيْسِQais ofالْكُوفَةِKufaمِثْلُthe likes ofالْحَكَمِAl-Hakamبْنِson ofالْمُنْذِرِAl-Mundhirبْنِson ofالْجَارُودِAl-Jarudفِيinعَبْدِ'AbdقَيْسِQais ofالْبَصْرَةِBasraالَّذِيwhoيَقُولُsaysفِيهِabout himالشَّاعِرُ:the poet:
And was there in 'Abd Qais of Kufa the likes of Al-Hakam bin Al-Mundhir bin Al-Jarud in 'Abd Qais of Basra, about whom the poet says:
يَاOحَكَمَHakamبْنَson ofالْمُنْذِرِAl-Mundhirبْنِson ofالْجَارُودِAl-Jarud......أَنْتَyou areالْجَوَادُthe generousبْنُson ofالْجَوَادِthe generousالْمَحْمُودُpraised
O Hakam bin Al-Mundhir bin Al-Jarud... you are the generous son of the praised generous man
فَضَحِكَSo laughedأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbasحَتَّىuntilضَرَبَhe struckبِرِجْلِهِwith his footوَقَالَ:and said:وَاللَّهِBy AllahمَاI have notرَأَيْتُseenمِثْلَthe likes ofهَذِهِthisالْغَلَبَةِprevailingقَطُّ!1ever!
So Abu Al-Abbas laughed until he struck with his foot and said: By Allah, I have never seen such a victory!
مَحَاسِنُThe merits ofالِافْتِخَارِboastingبِالنَّبِيِّ2about the Prophet
The Merits of Boasting about the Prophet
صَلَّىMay Allah send prayersاللَّهُupon himعَلَيْهِand grant himوَسَلَّمَpeace
May Allah's prayers and peace be upon him
قِيلَ:It was said:كَانَwasعَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنِAl-Abbasالْعَبَّاسِ،may Allah be pleased with himرَضِيَatاللَّهُAbdul-Malikعَنْهُ،bin Marwanعِنْدَwhenعَبْدِhe boastedالْمَلِكِto himبْنِAbdul-Malikمَرْوَانَso he beganإِذْmentioningفَاخَرَهُthe days ofعَبْدُthe BanuالْمَلِكِUmayyah
It was said: Ali bin Abdullah bin Al-Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, was with Abdul-Malik bin Marwan when Abdul-Malik boasted to him and began mentioning the days of the Banu Umayyah,
فَجَعَلَso whileيَذْكُرُhe was thusأَيَّامَwhen the callerبَنِيcalledأُمَيَّةَ،for the prayerفَبَيْنَاso Ali saidهُوَto Abdul-Malik:كَذَلِكَthatإِذْisنَادَىnotالْمُنَادِيtwo milking-vesselsلِلْأَذَانِof milkفَقَالَ:mixedأَشْهَدُwith waterأَنْthen they revertedلَاto beingإِلَهَurineإِلَّاThen saidاللَّهُAbdul-MalikوَأَنَّThe truthمُحَمَّداًin thisرَسُولُis clearerاللَّهِ.than to beفَقَالَdeniedعَلِيٌّAli binلِعَبْدِMuhammadالْمَلِكِ:Al-Nadim
so while he was thus, the caller for the prayer called out, saying: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Ali said to Abdul-Malik: Those are the glories, not two milking-vessels of milk mixed with water, then reverting to being urine. Abdul-Malik said: The truth in this is clearer than to be denied.
تِلْكَThoseالْمَكَارِمُare the gloriesلَاnotقِعْبَانِtwo milking-vesselsمِنْofلَبَنٍmilk......شَيْبَاmixedبِمَاءٍwith waterفَعَادَاthen they revertedبَعْدُafterwardsأَبْوَالَاto urine
Those are the glories, not two milking-vessels of milk... mixed with water, then reverting afterwards to urine
فَقَالَThen saidعَبْدُAbdul-Malik:الْمَلِكِ:The truthالْحَقُّin thisفِيis clearerهَذَاthan to beأَبْيَنُdenied.مِنْAli binأَنْMuhammadيُكَابَرَ.Al-Nadim
Abdul-Malik said: The truth in this is clearer than to be denied.
عَلِيُّAliبْنُbinمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadالنَّدِيمُAl-Nadimقَالَ:said:دَخَلْتُI enteredعَلَىuponالْمُتَوَكِّلِAl-Mutawakkilوَعِنْدَهُand with himالرِّضِيُّwas Al-Radiفَقَالَ:so he said:يَاOعَلِيُّAli,مَنْwhoأَشْعَرُis the most poeticalالنَّاسِof peopleفِيinزَمَانِنَا؟our time?
Ali bin Muhammad Al-Nadim said: I entered upon Al-Mutawakkil while Al-Radi was with him, and he said: O Ali, who is the most poetical of people in our time?
قُلْتُ:I said:الْبُحْتُرِيُّ.Al-Buhturi.قَالَ:He said:وَبَعْدَهُ؟And after him?قُلْتُ:I said:وَلَدُThe son ofمَرْوَانَMarwanبْنِbinأَبِيAbiحَفْصَةَHafsah,خَدَمَكَhe served youوَعَبِيدُكَ.and is your slave.
I said: Al-Buhturi. He said: And after him? I said: The son of Marwan bin Abi Hafsah, who served you and is your slave.
فَالْتَفَتَThen he turnedإِلَىtoالرِّضِيِّAl-Radiوَقَالَ:and said:يَاOابْنَson ofعَمِّmy uncle,مَنْwhoأَشْعَرُis the most poeticalزَمَانِنَا؟of our time?
Then he turned to Al-Radi and said: O cousin, who is the most poetical of our time?
قَالَ:He said:عَلِيُّAliبْنُbinمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadالْعَلَوِيُّ.Al-Alawi.قَالَ:He said:وَمَاAnd whatتَحْفَظُdo you memorizeمِنْofشِعْرِهِ؟his poetry?
He said: Ali bin Muhammad Al-Alawi. He said: And what do you memorize of his poetry?
قَالَHe saidقَوْلَهُ:his saying:
He said: His saying:
لَقَدْIndeedفَاخَرَتْنَاboasted against usمِنْfromقُرَيْشٍQurayshعِصَابَةٌa group......بِمَطِّwith stretchingخُدُودٍcheeksوَامْتِدَادِand extendingالْأَصَابِعِfingers
Indeed a group from Quraysh boasted against us... with stretching of cheeks and extending of fingers
فَلَمَّاSo whenتَنَازَعْنَاwe disputedالْقَضَاءَjudgmentقَضَىruledلَنَاfor us......عَلَيْهِمْover themبِمَاwith whatنَهْوَىwe desireنِدَاءُthe call ofالصَّوَامِعِthe minarets
So when we disputed the judgment, it ruled in our favor... over them with what we desire: the call of the minarets
يَعْنِيHe meansالْمَسَاجِدَ.the mosques.قَالَSaidالْمُتَوَكِّلُ:Al-Mutawakkil:وَمَاAnd what isمَعْنَىthe meaning ofنِدَاءِthe call ofالصَّوَامِعِ؟the minarets?قَالَ:He said:أَشْهَدُI bear witnessأَنْthatلَاthere isإِلَهَno godإِلَّاexceptاللَّهُAllahوَأَنَّand thatمُحَمَّداًMuhammadرَسُولُis the Messenger ofاللَّهِ.Allah.قَالَ:He said:وَأَبِيكَAnd by your fatherإِنَّهُhe is indeedلَأَشْعَرُthe most poeticalالنَّاسِ.3of people.
He means the mosques. Al-Mutawakkil said: And what is the meaning of the call of the minarets? He said: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. He said: And by your father, he is indeed the most poetical of people.
مَحَاسِنُThe merits ofمَاwhatقِيلَwas saidفِيinذَلِكَthatمِنَofالشِّعْرِpoetry
The Merits of What Was Said in That Regard of Poetry
قَالَSaidعَلِيُّAliبْنُbinمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadالْعَلَوِيُّ:Al-Alawi:
Ali bin Muhammad Al-Alawi said: