فالنَّمْلُAnd the ant——مِنْfromهَذاthisالْوَجْهِside——فِيinغايَةِthe utmostالْحَزْمِ،firmness,فَسُبْحانَSo glory beالْمُلْهِمِ،to the inspirer,لاnoإِلَهَgodغَيْرُهُ.other than Him.
And the ant — from this side — is in the utmost firmness, so glory be to the inspirer, there is no god other than Him.
وَلَيْسَAnd there is notشَيْءٌanythingمِنَofالْحَيَوانِthe animalيَقَوَىcan bearعَلَىuponحَمْلِcarryingماwhatيَكُونُwould beضِعْفَthe weakness ofوَزْنِهِits weightمِرارًاrepeatedly::غَيْرُother thanالنَّمْلَةِthe ant.والنَّمْلُAnd the antيَشُمُّsmellsماwhatلَيْسَdoes not haveلَهُfor itرِيحٌ،a scent,مِمَّاfrom whatلَوْifوَضَعَهُa person puts itالإِنْسانُthe humanعِنْدَatأَنْفِهِ،its nose,لَماit would notوَجَدَfindلَهُfor itرِيحًا.a scent.
And there is nothing -- of the animal -- that can bear what would be the weakness of its weight repeatedly: other than the ant. And the ant smells what does not have a scent, from what if a person puts it at its nose, it would not find a scent.
وَمِنْAnd fromأَسْبابِthe reasonsهَلاكِdestructionالنَّمْلَةِthe antنَباتُthe plantsالأَجْنِحَةِwingsلَها.for it.فَإِذاSo whenصارَbecomesالنَّمْلُthe antكَذِلِكَ،like this,صادَتْهُit is caughtالْعَصافِيرُ،the birds,وَأَكَلَتْهُ.and ate it.
And from the reasons for the destruction of the ant, the plants of its wings. So when the ant becomes like this, it is caught by the birds, and eaten.
وَandفِيinذَلِكَthatيَقُولُsaysأَبُوAbuالْعَتاهِيَةِAl-Atahiyah
And in that, Abu Al-Atahiyah says:
وَإِذاAnd whenاسْتَوَتْit stands uprightلِلنَّمْلِfor the antsأَجْنِحَةٌwings
And when it stands upright for the ants, wings.
حَتَّىuntilيَطِيرَhe fliesفَقَدْthenدَناcame closeعَطَبُهُhis failure
Until he flies, then his failure has come close.
•••...
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وَلَمَّاAnd whenانْتَهَىfinished«أَبُو فاضِلٍ»'Abu Fadhl'مِنْfromقِراءَةِreadingهَذاthisالْفَصْلِchapterالْمُعْجِبِwonderfulالنَّفِيسِ،the precious,امْتَلأَتْfilledنَفْسُsoul«فاضِلٍ»'Fadl'فَرَحًاjoyبِماwith whatأَدْرَكَhe understoodمِنْfromحَقائِقَ.truths.
And when 'Abu Fadl' finished reading this wonderful chapter, the soul of 'Fadl' was filled with joy at what he understood of the truths.
وَكانَAnd there wasلِهَذاfor thisالدَّرْسِlessonأَبْلَغُmost effectiveالأَثَرِimpactفِيinنَفْسِهِ.his self.
And there was the most effective impact of this lesson in his self.
فِيinغُرْفَةِroomالْمائِدَةِthe table
In the Room of the Table
وَنَعُودُAnd we returnإِلَىtoصاحِبَتِناour companion«أُمِّ مازِنٍ»‘Um Mazin’الَّتِيwhoلَبِثَتْstayedفِيinمَكانِهاher placeمُخْتَبِئَةًhiddenلاnoتُبْدِيshowingأَقَلَّthe leastحَراكٍmovementلِنَرَى:to see:ماذاwhatفَعَلَتْ؟did?
And we return to our companion 'Um Mazin', who stayed in her place hidden, not showing the least movement, to see: what did she do?
لَقَدْIndeedجَهَدَهاstruggled with itماwhatلَقِيَتْreceivedمِنْfromإِرْهاقٍexhaustionوإِعْناتٍ،and distress,فاسْتَسْلَمَتْso she surrenderedلِلنَّوْمِto sleepالْعَمِيقِ،the deep,وَظَلَّتْand she keptتَحْلُمُdreamingبِالْبَراغِيثِof the deliciousالشَّهِيَّةِtreatsمَرَّةً،once,وَandبِفَطِيرَةِof the cakeالْبُرْقُوقِthe plumمَرَّةًonce againأُخْرَى.more.
Indeed, she struggled with what she received from exhaustion and distress, so she surrendered to deep sleep, and she kept dreaming of delicious treats once, and of the plum cake once again.
وَلَمَّاAnd whenاسْتَيْقَظَتْshe woke upمِنْfromسُباتِهاher slumberرَأَتْshe sawأَهْلَthe people ofالْبَيْتِthe houseقَدْalreadyنامُواsleptجَمِيعًاallوَسادَand peacefulness spreadالصَّمْتُsilenceوالسُّكُونُand calmnessوانْطَفَأَتِand the lights went outالأَضْواءُthe lightsفَلَمْso there was notيَبْقَremainمِنْهَاof itإِلَّاexceptبَصِيصٌa glimmerضَئِيلٌsmallكانَthat wasيُرْسِلُهُsending itالْقَمَرُthe moonفِيinزاوِيَةٍa cornerمِنْofزَواياcornersالْمَطْبَخِthe kitchen.
And when she woke up from her slumber, she saw the people of the house had already slept all together, and peace and calmness spread, and the lights went out, so there was not of it except a small glimmer that was sending it from the moon in a corner of the kitchen.
فَتَشَجَّعَتْAnd she became encouraged«أُمُّ مازِنٍ»‘Um of Mazin’وَخَرَجَتْand she exitedمِنْfromمَخْبَئِها،her hideout,باحِثَةًseeking— فِي جَمِيعِ— throughout allالأَرْجاءِ —the areas —عَنْaboutثَقْبٍa holeتَنْفُذُthat penetratesمِنْهُfrom itإِلَىtoخارِجِoutsideالْبَيْتِ.the house.
And she became encouraged, ‘Um of Mazin’ exited from her hideout, seeking — throughout all the areas — about a hole that penetrates from it to outside the house.
وَماAnd notزالَتْshe continuedتَسِيرُwalkingحَتَّىuntilوَصَلَتْshe arrivedإِلَىtoحُجْرَةِthe roomالْمائِدَةِof the tableوَهِيand itحُجْرَةٌa roomفَسِيحَةٌspaciousمُنَسَّقَةٌwell-organizedأَجْمَلَmost beautifulتَنْسِيقٍarrangementثُمَّthenوَقَفَتْshe stoodواجِمَةًsilentقَلِقَةًworriedلأَنَّهاbecause sheسَمِعَتْheardجَمْجَمَةًmurmuringبِالْقُرْبِnearمِنْهاfrom her
And she continued walking until she arrived at the room of the table, and it was a spacious room, well-organized in the most beautiful arrangement. Then she stood silently, worried, because she heard murmuring near her.
وَظَلَّتْAnd she remainedتُنْصِتُlisteningلِتَتَثَبَّتَto verifyمِمَّاfrom whatسَمِعَتْهُshe heardفَطَرَقَThen there came aسَمْعَهاher hearingصَوْتٌsoundضَئِيلٌfaintفَهَمَسَتْSo she whispered«أُمُّMotherمازِنٍ»Mazinقائِلَةً:saying:«تُرَى:Do you see:مِنِ الطَّارِقُ؟»Who is there?
And she remained listening, to verify what she had heard, then a faint sound reached her hearing. So she whispered, 'Mother Mazin,' saying: 'Do you see: who is there?'
فَسَمِعَتِSo she heardالصَّوْتَthe soundواضِحًاclearlyتِكْ، تِكْ؛Tick, tick;ثُمَّthenارْتَفَعَit roseالصَّوْتُthe soundصائِحًاcrying outفِيinهَذِهِthisالْمَرَّةِtimeرن … رن … رن …!ring... ring... ring...!إِيذانًاsignifyingبِأَنَّthatالسَّاعَةَthe hourالثَّالِثَةُthirdالْآن.now.
So she heard the sound clearly: Tick, tick; then the sound rose crying out in this time: ring... ring... ring...! Signifying that the third hour is now.
فاشْتَدَّ intensifiedرُعْبُterrorأُمِّMother ofمازِنٍMazinوَهَرَبَتْand fledمُسْرِعَةًquicklyوَهِيَand sheلاnotتَعْرِفُknowsإِلَىtoأَيْنَwhereتَقْصِدُis headingوَلاand does notتَهْتَدِيfinds her wayإِلَىtoمَخْرَجٍexitلَهَاfor herمِنْfromذَلِكَthatالْمَكانِplaceالْمُوحِشِlonelyالْمُخِيفِscaryوَكانَand wasالظَلامُdarknessحالِكًاpitch blackوَالسُكُونُand the silenceيَسُودُdominatedأَهْلَthe people ofالْبَيْتِthe house
The terror of 'Mother Mazin' intensified, and she fled quickly, not knowing where she was heading, and could not find an exit from that lonely, scary place: the darkness was pitch black, and silence dominated the inhabitants of the house.
وانْسَلَّتْand slipped out«أُمُّ مازِنٍ»'Um of Mazin'الصَّغِيرَةُthe small oneمِنْfromتَحْتِunder الْبابِ،the door,باحِثَةًseekingعَنْforمَنْفَذٍan exitتَخْرُجُto get outمِنْهُ،from it,فَإِذاand whenبِهاsheقَدْindeedعادَتْreturnedمِنْfromحَيْثُwhereأَتَتْ.she had come.
And 'Um of Mazin' the small one slipped out from under the door, seeking an exit to get out, and when she indeed returned from where she had come.
وَرَجَعَتْand she returnedإِلَىtoالْمَطْبَخِthe kitchenالَّذِيthatكانَتْshe wasبِهِin it
and she returned to the kitchen that she was in.
فِيinالْمَطْبَخِthe kitchen
(13) In the kitchen
وَلَمْAnd did notيَكَدْalmostيَقَرُّsettleقَرَارُهاher decisionفِيinالْمَطْبَخِthe kitchenحَتَّىuntilأَبصَرَتْshe sawدابَّةًa creatureتَقْرِضُchewingتَحْتَunderخِوانٍa tableوَهِيَand she isجادَّةٌseriousفِيinعَمَلِهِاher workفَقالَتْthen she said«أُمُّMother ofمازِنٍ»:Mazin»«ماWhatأَشْبَهَresemblesهَذِهِthisالدَّابَّةَcreatureبِأُمِّwith the mother ofراشِدٍRashidوَأُمِّand the mother ofأَدْراصٍ!Adras»!وَإِنْAnd ifكَانَتْshe wasأَضْخَمَbiggerمِنْهُما.than them.
And she almost settled her decision in the kitchen, until she saw a creature chewing under a table, and she was serious in her work. Then she (said), 'What this creature resembles the mother of Rashid and the mother of Adras! And if she was bigger than them.'
عَلَىonأَنَّthatأَنْفَهاits noseالْمُحَدَّدَdefinedيُماثِلُcorresponds toأَنْفَيْهِماits two nosesوَلاand does notيَفْتَرِقُdifferعَنْهُماfrom themفِيinشَيْءٍanythingوَلَسْتُand I am notأَشُكُّI doubtفِيinأَنَّthatهَذِهِthisالدَّابَّةَcreatureلَيْسَتْis notإِلَّاexceptفَأْرَةًa ratفَلاso do notأُضَيِّعَنَّI will wasteالْفُرْصَةَthe opportunityوَلاand there is noبُدَّthere must beمِنْfromسُؤالِهاits questionلَعَلَّهاperhaps itتُرْشِدُنِيguides meإِلَىtoوَسِيلَةٍa wayلِلْخُرُوجِto exitمِنْfromهَذِهِthisالدَّارِhouse
That its defined nose corresponds to their two noses, and does not differ from them in anything. And I do not doubt that this creature is nothing but a rat, so I will not waste the opportunity. And there must be a question from it, perhaps it will guide me to a way to exit from this house.
ثُمَّthenأَسْرَعَتْhurried«أُمُّ مازِنٍ»Um Mazinإِلَىtoالدَّابَّةِthe creatureالسَّمْراءِ.the gray.وَلَكِنَّهاbut sheرَأَتْsawعَيْنَيْنِtwo eyesكَبِيرَتَيْنِbigخَضَراوَيْنِgreenتَقْدَحانِsparklingنارًا،fire,فَلَمْso she did notتَدْرِ:know:أَيَّwhichعَيْنَيْنِeyesهاتانِ؟these?
Then Um Mazin hurried to the gray creature. But she saw two big green eyes, sparkling like fire, and did not know: which eyes are these?
وَأَرْهَفَتْAnd she sharpenedسَمْعَهاher hearingفَلَمْSo she did notتَسْمَعْhearإِلَّاexceptصَوْتَthe sound ofالْفَأَرَةِthe little mouseالصَّغِيرَةِthe smallوَAndهِيَsheتَقْرِضُis nibblingبِأَسْنانِهاwith her teeth
And she sharpened her hearing, so she heard nothing except the sound of the small mouse, while it was nibbling with her teeth.
فاسْتَأْنَفَتْThen she resumed«أُمُّthe mother ofمازِنٍ»Mazen»سَيْرَها،her journey,وَهِيَand sheتَقُولُsaysفِيinنَفْسِها:herself:«لَقَدْ"Indeed,كُنْتُI wasواهِمَةًmistaken —— بِلا— withoutرَيْبٍ —doubt —فِيماin whatحَسِبْتُهُI thought itفَقَدْfor I trulyخُيِّلَimaginedإِلَيَّto meأَنَّنِيthat Iأَرَىseeعَيْنَيْنِtwo eyes,كَبِيرَتَيْنِlargeتَقْدَحانِshiningنارًا،fire,فَلَمَّاso whenأَنْعَمْتُI focusedالنَّظَرَ،the look,لَمْI did notأَعْثُرْfindلَهُماthemعَلَىuponأَثَرٍ.sign.وَلَعَلَّAnd perhapsسَبَبَthe reasonهَذاfor thisالْوَهْمِillusionعائِدٌreturnsإِلَىtoضَعْفِweakness,أَعْصَابِي،of my nerves,الَّتِيwhichأَضْناهاhave exhausted itمَاwhatبَذَلْتُهُI spentمِنَofالْجُهْدِ،effort,وَكابَدْتُهُand I endured it,مِنَofالْعَناءِ،hardship,فِيinالْيَوْمِthe dayالسَّابِقِ.»before."
Then "the mother of Mazen" resumed her journey, saying to herself, "Indeed, I was mistaken — without a doubt — in what I thought, for I imagined that I saw two large eyes shining with fire, but when I focused my gaze, I could not find any trace of them. And perhaps the reason for this illusion is due to the weakness of my nerves, which have been exhausted by the effort I expended and the hardship I endured on the previous day."
ثُمَّThenتَقَدَّمَتْshe approachedإِلَىtoالْفَأْرَةِ،the mouse,قائِلَةً:saying:«سُعِدَYou have a happyلَيْلُكِ،night,ياOسَيِّدَتِيmy lady!الْفَأْرَةَ!»the mouse!"
Then she approached the mouse, saying: "You have a happy night, my lady the mouse!"