قَالَHe said
He said:
وَAndدَخَلَenteredقَوْمٌa groupمِنْofحَاشِيَةِthe entourageالْمَنْصُورِof Al-Mansur
And a group from the entourage of Al-Mansur entered
وَandخَدَمِهِhis servantsعَلَيْهِupon him
and his servants upon him
فَsoرَأَىhe sawمِنْهُمْamong themرَجُلاًa man
so he saw among them a man
عَلَيْهِupon whom wasسَوَادٌblack clothingخَلَقٌworn out
wearing worn-out black clothing
فَsoقَالَhe saidلَهُto him
so he said to him:
يَاOفُلَانُso-and-soمَاwhatلِيis it to me thatأَرَىI seeسَوَادَكَyour black attireمُنْقَطِعاًragged
"O so-and-so, why do I see your black attire ragged,
أَمَاdo you notتَقْبِضُreceiveرِزْقَكَyour stipend?
do you not receive your stipend?"
قَالَHe said
He said:
بَلَىYesيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
"Yes, O Commander of the Faithful,
وَandلَكِنَّhoweverأَبِيmy fatherتُوُفِّيَpassed away
but my father passed away
وَandتَرَكَleftدَيْناًa debt
and left a debt,
فَsoبِعْتُI soldتَرِكَتَهُhis estateفِيinقَضَاءِsettlement ofدَيْنِهِhis debt
so I sold his estate to pay off his debt,
وَandصَرَفْتُI directedأَكْثَرَmost ofرِزْقِيmy stipendإِلَىtowardحُرْمَتِهِhis householdوَandوَلَدِهِhis childrenمِنْafterبَعْدِهِhim
and I directed most of my stipend toward his dependents and children after him."
فَSoقَالَhe said
He said:
أَعِدْRepeatعَلَيَّto meمَاwhatقُلْتَyou said
"Repeat to me what you said."
فَSoأَعَادَهُhe repeated it
So he repeated it.
فَThenقَالَhe said
Then he said:
مَاHowأَحْسَنَexcellentمَاis whatفَعَلْتَyou did!
"How excellent is what you did!
اغْدُCome earlyعَلَيَّto meفِيinغَدٍtomorrow
Come to me early tomorrow."
فَSoغَدَاhe came earlyعَلَيْهِto him
So he went to him early,
فَandوَجَدَfoundالرَّبِيعَAl-Rabi'جَالِساًsittingعَلَىonالْكُرْسِيِّthe chair
and found Al-Rabi' sitting on the chair.
فَSoقَالَhe said
He said:
قَدْhasسَأَلَaskedعَنْكَabout youأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
"The Commander of the Faithful has asked about you,
فَsoادْخُلْenter
so enter."
فَSoدَخَلَhe entered
So he entered
فَandوَجَدَهُfound himقَائِماًstandingيُصَلِّيpraying
and found him standing in prayer.
فَSoقَضَىhe finishedصَلَاتَهُhis prayer
He finished his prayer
وَandقَالَsaid
and said:
أَلَمْDid I notآمُرْكَcommand youأَنْthatتَغْدُوَyou come early?
"Did I not command you to come early?"
فَHeقَالَsaid
He said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
"O Commander of the Faithful,
مَاI did notقَصَّرْتُfall shortفِيinالْغُدُوِّcoming earlyعِنْدَaccording toنَفْسِيmyself
I did not fall short in coming early to the best of my ability."
قَالَHe said
He said:
خُذْTakeمَاwhat isتَحْتَunderتِلْكَthatالْمُضَرَّبَةِquilted mattress
"Take what is under that quilted mattress."
وَAndإِذَاbeholdالسِّرَاجُthe lampيُزْهِرُis glowing
And behold, the lamp was glowing
وَandسَرِيرٌa small bedصَغِيرٌsmallفِيinنَاحِيَةِa corner ofالْمَجْلِسِthe assembly room
and a small bed was in a corner of the room
يَنَامُhe sleepsعَلَيْهِon it
on which he sleeps.
فَSoرَفَعْتُI liftedالْمِضْرَبَةَthe mattress
He said: "I lifted the mattress
فَandإِذَاbeholdدَنَانِيرُdinars
and behold, there were gold dinars.
فَSoجَعَلْتُI beganأَحْثُوهَاto scoop them upفِيintoكُمِّيmy sleeve
So I began to scoop them into my sleeve,
ثُمَّthenدَعَوْتُI prayedلَهُfor himوَandخَرَجْتُI went out
then I prayed for him and left.
فَThenبَصُرَhe caught sightبِofصُفْرَةِthe yellownessدِينَارٍof a dinarفِيinضَوْءِthe light ofالسِّرَاجِthe lamp
Then he caught sight of the yellow glint of a dinar in the lamp's light,
فَsoدَعَاhe calledلِيme back
so he called me back
فَandقَالَsaidلِيto me
and said to me:
انْظُرْLookمَاat whatعَلَىis onالسَّرِيرِthe bed
"Look at what is on the bed."
فَBeholdإِذَاthere wasدِينَارٌa dinar
He said: "Behold, there was a dinar,
فَsoأَخَذْتُهُI took it
so I took it."
فَThenقَالَhe said
He said:
ادْنُDraw closeمِنِّيto me
"Draw close to me."
فَSoدَنَوْتُI drew closeمِنْهُto him
So I drew close to him,
فَandعَرَكَhe pinchedأُذُنِيmy earتَعْرِيكاًa pinchشَدِيداًsevere
and he pinched my ear severely
فَandقَالَsaid
and said:
تَتْرُكُDo you leaveدِينَاراًa dinarوَwhileفِيهِin it isنَفَقَةُthe upkeepيَوْمِكَof your day?
"Do you leave a dinar behind when it covers your daily expenses?"
قَالَHe said
He said:
فَSoأَخَذْتُI tookالدِّينَارَthe dinar
"So I took the dinar,
وَandوَزَنْتُI weighedالدَّنَانِيرَthe dinars
and I weighed the dinars
وَandإِذَاbeholdهِيَthey wereأَلْفُa thousandدِينَارٍdinars
and behold, they were a thousand dinars,
عَدَدُهَاtheir count beingتِسْعُ مِائَةٍnine hundredوَandتِسْعَةٌnineوَandتِسْعُونَninetyدِينَاراًdinars
their count being nine hundred and ninety-nine dinars
فِيsafelyعَافِيَةٍin well-being
acquired in safety,
وَandأَخَذْتُI tookوَاحِداًoneبِbyعَرْكِthe pinching ofالْأُذُنِthe ear
and I took one for the ear-pinching."
قِيلَIt was said
It was said:
وَAndقَالَsaidعَلْقَمَةُAlqamahبْنُson ofلَبِيدٍLabidلِtoابْنِهِhis son
Alqamah ibn Labid said to his son:
يَاOبُنَيَّmy dear son
"O my dear son,
إِنْifنَازَعَتْكَcompels youنَفْسُكَyour soulيَوْماًone dayإِلَىtowardصُحْبَةِcompanionship ofالرِّجَالِmen
if your soul compels you one day to seek the companionship of men
لِout ofحَاجَتِكَyour needإِلَيْهِمْfor them
due to your need for them,
فَthenاصْحَبْbefriendمَنْone whoإِنْifصَحِبْتَهُyou befriend himزَانَكَhe adorns you
then befriend one who, if you accompany him, adorns you,
وَandإِنْifتَخَفَّفْتَyou servedلَهُhimصَانَكَhe protects you
and if you serve him, he protects you,
وَandإِذَاwhenنَزَلَتْbefallsبِكَyouنَازِلَةٌa calamityمَانَكَhe supports you
and when a calamity befalls you, he supports you,
وَandإِنْifقُلْتَyou speakصَدَّقَhe confirmsقَوْلَكَyour word
and if you speak, he confirms your word,
وَandإِنْifصُلْتَyou attackبِهِwith himشَدَّدَhe strengthensصَوْلَكَyour attack
and if you launch an assault with him, he strengthens your assault.
اصْحَبْBefriendمَنْone whoإِذَاwhenمَدَدْتَyou extendيَدَكَyour handلِforفَضْلٍa favorمَدَّهَاhe extends it
Befriend one who, when you extend your hand for a favor, extends his,
وَandإِنْifرَأَىhe seesمِنْكَfrom youحَسَنَةًa good deedعَدَّهَاhe counts it
and if he sees from you a good deed, he counts it,
وَandإِنْifبَدَتْappearsمِنْكَfrom youثُلْمَةٌa flawسَدَّهَاhe plugs it
and if a flaw appears from you, he covers it.
اصْحَبْBefriendمَنْone whoلَاnotتَأْتِيكَcomes to youمِنْهُfrom himالْبَوَائِقُcalamities
Befriend one from whom calamities do not come to you,
وَandلَاnorتَخْتَلِفُvaryعَلَيْكَupon youمِنْهُfrom himالطَّرَائِقُways
nor do his ways vary toward you,
وَandلَاdoes notيَخْذُلُكَfail youعِنْدَatالْحَقَائِقِcritical truths
and he does not forsake you at times of critical truth."
وَAndقَالَsaidبَعْضُsomeالْحُكَمَاءِphilosophers
Some sages said:
إِذَاIfرَأَيْتَyou seeكَلْباًa dogتَرَكَleavingصَاحِبَهُits masterوَandتَبِعَكَfollowing you
"If you see a dog that has left its master and followed you,
فَthenارْجُمْهُstone itبِwithالْحِجَارَةِstones
then stone it with stones,
فَforإِنَّهُit isتَارِكُكَgoing to leave youكَمَاjust asتَرَكَit leftصَاحِبَهُits master
for it will leave you just as it left its master."
وَAndقَالَsaidآخَرُanother
Another said:
اصْحَبْBefriendمَنْone whoخَوَّلَكَmade you master ofنَفْسَهُhimselfوَandمَلَّكَكَput in your possessionخِدْمَتَهُhis service
"Befriend one who makes you master of himself and places his service in your possession,
وَandتَخَيَّرَكَchose youلِforزَمَانِهِhis time
and chooses you for his time;
فَsoقَدْverilyوَجَبَhas become incumbentعَلَيْكَupon youحَقُّهُhis rightوَandذِمَامُهُhis protection
verily, his right and protection have become incumbent upon you."
وَAndكَانَit usedيُقَالُto be saidمِنْfromقَبْلُbefore
And it used to be said of old:
مَنْWhoeverبَاعَsellsدِينَهُhis religionبِforصِلَتِكَyour gift
"Whoever sells his religion for your gift,
فَthenقَدْverilyبَاعَكَhe has sold youمُرُوءَتَهُhis manliness
verily he has sold you his manliness
وَandأَذَلَّhumiliatedلِforقَدْرِكَyour statusعِزَّهُhis honor
and humbled his honor for your status."
وَAndقَالَsaidبَعْضُهُمْsome of them
And some of them said:
أَنَاI amأَطْوَعُmore obedientلَكَto youمِنْthanالْيَدِthe hand
"I am more obedient to you than the hand
وَandأَذَلُّmore submissiveمِنْthanالنَّعْلِthe sandal
and more submissive than the sandal."
وَAndقَالَsaidبَعْضُهُمْsome of them
And some of them said:
أَنَاI amأَطْوَعُmore obedientلَكَto youمِنْthanالرِّدَاءِthe cloak
"I am more obedient to you than the cloak
وَandأَذَلُّmore submissiveمِنْthanالْحِذَاءِthe shoe
and more submissive than the shoe."
قِيلَIt was said
It was said:
وَAndقَالَsaidابْنُIbnأَبِيAbiدُؤَادَDu'adلِtoرَجُلٍa man
Ibn Abi Du'ad said to a man
انْقَطَعَwho attached himselfإِلَىtoمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِAl-MalikالزَّيَّاتِAl-Zayyat:
who had attached himself to Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik al-Zayyat:
مَاWhatخَبَرُكَis your newsمَعَwithصَاحِبِكَyour master?
"What is your news with your master?"
قَالَHe said
He said:
لَاHe does notيُقَصِّرُfall shortفِيinالْإِحْسَانِkindnessإِلَيَّto me
"He does not fall short in kindness to me."
قَالَHe said
He said:
يَاOهَذَاman
"O man,
إِنَّverilyلِسَانَthe tongue ofحَالِكَyour stateيُكَذِّبُgives the lie toلِسَانَthe tongue ofمَقَالِكَyour speech."ль
verily, the state of your condition gives the lie to your words."
مَسَاوِئُThe evils ofالصُّحْبَةِcompanionship
The Evils of Companionship
قَالَHe said
He said:
كَانَYusuf ibn Umarيُوسُفُused toبْنُgovernعُمَرَthe two IraqsيَتَوَلَّىforالْعِرَاقَيْنِHisham ibnلِهِشَامِAbd al-Malikبْنِandعَبْدِhe wasالْمَلِكِblameworthy
Yusuf ibn Umar governed the two Iraqs for Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik, and he was blameworthy in his administration.
وَAndكَانَhe wasمَذْمُوماًblameworthyفِيinعَمَلِهِhis work
And he was blameworthy in his work.
فَSoحَدَّثَnarratedالْمَدَائِنِيُّAl-Mada'ini
Al-Mada'ini narrated and said:
قَالَHe said
He said:
وَزَنَweighedيُوسُفُYusufبْنُson ofعُمَرَUmarدِرْهَماًa dirham
"Yusuf ibn Umar weighed a dirham
فَandنَقَصَit fell short byحَبَّةًone grain
and it was short by one grain.
فَSoكَتَبَhe wroteإِلَىtoدُورِthe mint housesالضَّرْبِof stampingبِinالْعِرَاقِIraq
So he wrote to the mint houses in Iraq,
فَandضُرِبَwere lashedأَهْلُهَاits peopleمِائَةَa hundredسَوْطٍlashes
and its people were lashed one hundred lashes."
قِيلَIt was said
It was said:
وَAndخَطَبَhe delivered a sermonفِيinمَسْجِدِthe mosque ofالْكُوفَةِKufa
"He delivered a sermon in the mosque of Kufa,
فَwhenتَكَلَّمَspokeإِنْسَانٌa humanمَجْنُونٌmad
and a madman spoke up.
فَSoقَالَhe said
He said:
يَاOأَهْلَpeople ofالْكُوفَةِKufaأَلَمْdid I notأَنْهَكُمْforbid youأَنْthatيَدْخُلَenterمَجَانِينُكُمْyour madmenالْمَسْجِدَthe mosque?
'O people of Kufa, did I not forbid your madmen to enter the mosque?'
اضْرِبُواStrike offعُنُقَهُhis neck!
'Strike off his neck!'
فَSoضُرِبَتْwas struckعُنُقُهُhis neck
So his neck was struck off."
قَالَHe said
He said:
وَAndقَالَhe saidلِtoهَمَّامِHammamبْنِson ofيَحْيَىYahya
"And he said to Hammam ibn Yahya,
وَwhileكَانَhe wasعَامِلَهُhis governor
who was his governor:
يَاOفَاسِقُyou wicked manأَخْرَبْتَyou have ruinedمِهْرَجَانْقِذَقَMihrajanqizhaq!
'O wicked man, you have ruined Mihrajanqizhaq!'
قَالَHe said
He said:
إِنِّيVerily Iلَمْdid notأَكُنْhappen to beعَلَيْهَاin charge of it
"I was not in charge of it;
إِنَّمَاratherكُنْتُI wasعَلَىin charge ofمَاهِMahدِينَارٍDinar
rather, I was in charge of Mah Dinar,
وَandتَقُولُyou sayأَخْرَبْتَyou ruinedمِهْرَجَانْقِذَقَMihrajanqizhaq!
and you say you ruined Mihrajanqizhaq!"
فَSoلَمْdid notيَزَلْceaseيُوسُفُYusufيُعَذِّبُهُtormenting himحَتَّىuntilقَتَلَهُhe killed him
So Yusuf kept torturing him until he killed him.
قَالَHe said
He said:
وَAndقَالَhe saidلِtoكَاتِبِهِhis scribe
"And he said to his scribe:
مَاWhatحَبَسَكَdetained youعَنِّيfrom me?
'What detained you from me?'
قَالَHe said
He said:
اشْتَكَيْتُI complained ofضِرْسِيmy tooth
'I was suffering from my tooth.''
قَالَHe said
He said:
تَشْتَكِيYou suffer fromضِرْسَكَyour toothوَandتَقْعُدُstay awayعَنِfromالدِّيرَانِthe bureau?
'You suffer from your tooth and stay away from the bureau?'
وَAndدَعَاhe calledلَهُfor himبِforالْحِجَّامِa cupper
And he called for a cupper for him
وَandأَمَرَهُcommanded himبِtoقَلْعِextractضِرْسَيْنِtwo teethمِنْfromأَضْرَاسِهِhis teeth.
and ordered him to extract two of his teeth."