سَوَاعِدُforearmsعِزّof mightالْمُسْلِمِينَof the Muslimsوَإِنَّمَاand indeed
Forearms of the might of Muslims and indeed...
يَنُوءُbearsبِصَوْلَاتِwith the assaultsالْأَكُفِّof the palmsالسَّوَاعِدُthe forearms
the forearms bear the assaults of the palms.
يَزِينُadornsبَنِيthe sons ofسَاقِيthe cupbearer ofالْحَجِيجِthe pilgrimsخَلِيفَةٌa caliph
A caliph adorns the sons of the pilgrim's cupbearer,
عَلَىuponوَجْهِهِhis faceنُورٌis a lightمِنَfromالْحَقِّthe truthشَاهِدُtestifying
upon his face a light from the truth testifying.
يَكُونُisغِرَاراًsparse/briefنَوْمُهُhis sleepمِنْout ofحَذَارِهِhis caution
His sleep is brief out of his caution
عَلَىoverقُبَّةِthe domeالْإِسْلَامِof Islamوَالْخَلْقُwhile creationرَاقِدُis sleeping
over the dome of Islam while creation is sleeping.
كَأَنَّas ifأَمِيرَthe commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe faithfulمُحَمَّداًMuhammad
As if the Commander of the Faithful, Muhammad,
لِرَأْفَتِهِout of his compassionبِالنَّاسِfor the peopleلِلنَّاسِfor the peopleوَالِدُis a father
out of his compassion for the people, is a father to the people.
عَلَىyetأَنَّهُthat heمَنْwhoeverخَالَفَopposedالْحَقَّthe truthمِنْهُمْamong them
Yet whoever among them opposed the truth,
سَقَتْهُgave him to drinkبِهِtherebyالْمَوْتُdeathالْحُتُوفُthe destiniesالرَّوَاصِدُthe lying-in-wait
death and the waiting destinies made him drink from it.
أَشَارَHe gesturedإِلَيَّto meفَأَمْسَكْتُso I stoppedفَقَالَThen he saidيَاOبَنِيsons ofالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbas
He gestured to me, so I stopped. Then he said: O sons of al-Abbas,
هَذَاthis isشَاعِرُكُمُyour poetالْمُنْقَطِعُdevotedإِلَيْكُمُto youالْمُعَادِيwho shows enmityفِيكُمْconcerning youفَآتُواso giveإِلَيْهِto himمَاwhatيَسُرُّهُpleases him
this is your poet devoted to you, who is hostile [to your enemies] for your sake, so give him what pleases him.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidيَنْبَغِيIt is fittingإِذْsinceسَمِعُواthey heardكَلَامَthe speech ofأَمِيرِthe commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe faithful
So I said: It is fitting, since they heard the speech of the Commander of the Faithful
وَعَرَفُواand knewرَأْيَهُhis opinionأَنْthatيَصِلُونِيthey reward meمِنْfromأَمْوَالِهِمْtheir wealth
and knew his opinion, that they reward me from their wealth.
فَقَالَHe saidأَنَاIفَارِضٌwill assignعَلَيْهِمْupon themلَكَfor youمَالاًwealth
He said: I will assign for you wealth upon them.
فَفَرَضَSo he assignedعَلَىforمُوسَىMusaابْنِهِhis sonخَمْسَةَfiveآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
So he assigned for his son Musa five thousand dirhams,
وَعَلَىand forهَارُونَHarunخَمْسَةَfiveآلَافٍthousand
and for Harun five thousand,
ثُمَّthenفَرَضَhe assignedعَلَىuponالْقَوْمِthe peopleعَلَىaccording toقَدْرِthe measure ofحَالَاتِهِمْtheir conditions
then he assigned upon the people according to their conditions
حَتَّىuntilفَرَضَhe assignedعَلَيْهِمْupon themسَبْعَةًsevenوَثَلَاثِينَand thirtyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
until he assigned upon them thirty-seven thousand dirhams,
وَالرَّبِيعُwhile al-Rabiيَكْتُبُwas writingكُلَّeverythingمَاthatفُرِضَwas assignedعَلَىtoكُلِّeachرَجُلٍmanمِنْهُمْof them
while al-Rabi was writing down everything assigned to each man of them.
فَقَالَSaidأَبُوAbuعُبَيْدِUbaydاللَّهِAllah
Abu Ubayd Allah said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulإِنَّمَاwe are indeedنَحْنُweمِنْofأَهْلِكَyour family
O Commander of the Faithful, we are indeed of your family,
فَأَدْخِلْنَاso include usفِيمَاin whatأَدْخَلْتَهُمْyou included themفِيهِin it
so include us in what you included them in.
فَجَعَلَSo he assignedعَلَيْهِfor himأَلْفاًone thousandوَعَلَىand forالرَّبِيعِal-Rabiأَلْفَيْنِtwo thousand
So he assigned for him one thousand and for al-Rabi two thousand,
فَتَمَّتْmaking it completeأَرْبَعِينَfortyأَلْفاًthousand
making it a total of forty thousand.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulمَنْwhoلِيfor meبِهَذَاwith thisالْمَالِwealth
So I said: O Commander of the Faithful, who will secure this wealth for me?
قَالَHe saidهَذَاThis one
He said: This one,
وَأَشَارَand pointedإِلَىtoالرَّبِيعِal-Rabi
and he pointed to al-Rabi.
ثُمَّThenقَالَhe saidإِنَّIndeedأَمِيرَthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulيُعْطِيكَgives youمِنْfromصُلْبِthe core ofمَالِهِhis wealth
Then he said: Indeed, the Commander of the Faithful gives you from the core of his own wealth.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedلِيfor meبِثَلَاثِينَthirtyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsفِيinثَلَاثِthreeبِدَرٍpurses
So he ordered for me thirty thousand dirhams in three purses.
فَجِيءَThey were broughtبِهِنَّwith themفَطُرِحْنَand they were castقَرِيباًnearby
They were brought and placed nearby,
فَدَعَوْتُso I prayedوَشَكَرْتُand gave thanks
so I prayed and gave thanks.
فَقَالَHe saidيَاOابْنَson ofأَبِيAbiحَفْصَةَHafsahسَتَجِيئُكَwill come to youصِلَاتِيmy giftsوَبِرِّيand my beneficence
He said: O son of Abi Hafsah, my gifts and beneficence will come to you,
وَيَأْتِيكَand will come to youمِنِّيfrom meمَاthat whichيُؤَدِّيكَleads youإِلَىtoالْغِنَىwealth
and there will come to you from me that which will lead you to richness.
قُلْتُI saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe FaithfulقَدْindeedرَأَيْتُI have seenمِنْofقَبُولِكَyour acceptance
I said: O Commander of the Faithful, I have seen of your acceptance,
وَبُشْرِكَyour cheerfulnessوَسُرُورِكَand your joyبِمَاat whatسَمِعْتَyou heardمَنِّيfrom meمَاwhatسَأَزْدَادُI will increaseبِهِtherebyشِعْراًin poetry
your cheerfulness, and your joy at what you heard from me, that I will increase in poetry thereby,
وَسَتَسْمَعُand you will hearوَيَبْلُغُكَand it will reach you
and you will hear and it will reach you.
وَقُلْتُAnd I saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulلَاdoes notيَبْلُغُreachمَاwhatأَعْطَيْتَنِيyou gave meلِشَاعِرٍto a poetبَعْدِيafter me
And I said: O Commander of the Faithful, what you gave me will not reach any poet after me.
قَالَHe saidأَجَلْIndeed
He said: Indeed.
قُلْتُI saidوَآذِنِّيAnd grant me permissionفِيinزِيَارَتِكَvisiting you
I said: And grant me permission to visit you.
قَالَHe saidنَعَمْYes
He said: Yes.
قُلْتُI saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe FaithfulلِيI haveعَدُوٌّan enemyفِيكَregarding youوَفِيand regardingأَهْلِthe people ofبَيْتِكَyour house
I said: O Commander of the Faithful, I have an enemy regarding you and your household,
فَإِنْso ifرَأَىseesأَمِيرُthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulأَنْthatيُجْعَلَbe madeلِأَحَدٍfor anyoneعَلَيَّover meسُلْطَانٌauthorityدُونَهُother than him
so if the Commander of the Faithful deems it fit that no one should have authority over me other than him...
قَالَHe saidلَاNoسُلْطَانَauthorityعَلَيْكَover youدُونَother thanأَمِيرِthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithful
He said: No authority is over you other than the Commander of the Faithful.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidاكْتُبْWriteإِلَيَّto meبِذَلِكَconcerning thatكِتَاباًa document
So I said: Write a document for me concerning that.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedبِالْكِتَابِwith the documentبِذَلِكَconcerning thatفَانْصَرَفْتُso I left
So he ordered the document to be written for that, and I departed.
فَلَمَّاWhenصِرْتُI becameخَلْفَbehindالسِّتْرِthe curtainخَرَجَcame outإِلَيَّto meخَادِمٌa servantبِمَنْدِيلٍwith a napkinفِيهِin which wasأَرْبَعَةُfourأَثْوَابٍgarments
When I got behind the curtain, a servant came out to me with a napkin containing four garments:
ثَوْبُa garment ofوَشْيٍbrocadeوَثَوْبُand a garment ofخَزٍّsilkوَجُبَّةُand a jubbah ofبَيَاضٍwhiteمَحْشُوَّةٌpaddedوَقَمِيصٌand a shirt
a brocade garment, a silk garment, a padded white jubbah, and a shirt.
فَقَالَHe saidأَلْبِسُوهُDress himوَأَعِيدُوهُand bring him backإِلَيَّto me
He said: Dress him and bring him back to me.
فَلَبِسْتُSo I woreالْخَزَّthe silkوَالْوَشْيَand the brocadeعَلَىoverالثِّيَابِthe garmentsالَّتِيthatكَانَتْwereعَلَيَّon me
So I put the silk and brocade over the clothes that were on me,
وَأَلْقَيْتُand I threwالْقَمِيصَthe shirtعَلَىoverأَحَدِone ofمَنْكِبِيmy shouldersوَالْجُبَّةَand the jubbahعَلَىonالْمَنْكِبِthe shoulderالْآخَرِother
and I threw the shirt over one of my shoulders and the jubbah on the other shoulder.
فَقَالَHe saidلِيto meيَاOابْنَson ofأَبِيAbiحَفْصَةَHafsahأَتَدْخُلُdo you enterعَلَىuponأَمِيرِthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulهَكَذَاlike this
He said to me: O son of Abi Hafsah, do you enter upon the Commander of the Faithful like this
وَقَدْwhile you haveمَثَّلْتَmade an exampleبِنَفْسِكَof yourself
and made a spectacle of yourself?
فَقُلْتُSo I saidوَاللَّهِBy Allahلَوْifكَانَتْwereكَرَامَةُthe honor ofأَمِيرِthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe FaithfulأُحُداًMount Uhud
So I said: By Allah, if the honor of the Commander of the Faithful were Mount Uhud,
لَمَاI would notخَلَعْتُhave taken offمِنْهَاof itشَيْئاًanythingأُطِيقُI am ableحَمْلَهُto carry it
I would not have taken off of it anything that I am able to carry.
ثُمَّThenدَخَلْتُI entered
Then I entered.
فَلَمَّاWhenرَآنِيhe saw meتَبَسَّمَhe smiledثُمَّthenقَالَhe saidمُطَرَّفٌMutarrif
When he saw me, he smiled, then said: Mutarrif!
فَأَبْطَأُواSo they were slowبِهِwith it
So they were slow with it (bringing the mutarraf garment).
فَقَالَHe saidالْمُطَرَّفَThe mutarraf!
He said: The mutarraf!
وَأَنَاwhile Iقَائِمٌwas standing
while I was standing.
ثُمَّThenقَالَhe saidالثَّالِثَةَa third timeالْمُطَرَّفَThe mutarraf!
Then he said a third time: The mutarraf!
فَلَمَّاWhenأَبْطَأُواthey delayedانْصَرَفْتُI turned awayوَقَعَدْتُand satخَلْفَbehindالسِّتْرِthe curtain
When they delayed, I turned away and sat behind the curtain.
فَلَمْIt was notأَلْبَثْlongأَنْthatرُفِعَwas raisedالسِّتْرُthe curtain
It was not long before the curtain was raised
وَخَرَجَand came outأَمِيرُthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulعَلَىuponدَابَّةٍa mount
and the Commander of the Faithful came out on a mount.
فَقُمْتُSo I stoodإِلَيْهِto him
So I stood up to him.
فَلَمَّاWhenرَآنِيhe saw meقَالَhe saidالْمُطَرَّفَThe mutarraf!
When he saw me, he said: The mutarraf!
فَمَاHe did notبَرِحَbudgeحَتَّىuntilأُتِيَit was broughtبِهِwith it
He did not budge until it was brought.
فَنُشِرَSo it was spreadعَلَيَّover meبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْهِhis hands
So it was spread over me before him.
وَأَمَرَAnd he orderedلِيfor meبِعَشَرَةٍtenمِنْofخَدَمِthe servants ofالرُّومِRome
And he ordered for me ten Roman servants
وَقَطِيعَةٍand an estateبِنَاحِيَةِin the area ofالسَّوَادِal-Sawad
and an estate in the area of al-Sawad.
فَبِعْتُSo I soldالْقَطِيعَةَthe estateمِنْtoعِيسَىIsaبْنِson ofمُوسَىMusaبِعِشْرِينَfor twentyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
So I sold the estate to Isa ibn Musa for twenty thousand dirhams,
وَبِرْذَوْنٍand a pack-horseبِسَرْجِهِwith its saddleوَلِجَامِهِand bridle
and a pack-horse with its saddle and bridle.
قَالَHe saidفَلَمْdid notيَزَلْceaseمَرْوَانُMarwanعَلَىatبَابِthe door ofالْمَهْدِيِّal-Mahdiحَتَّىuntilهَلَكَhe died
He said: Marwan remained at the door of al-Mahdi until he died.
وَعَنْAnd on the authority ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahبْنِson ofهَارُونَHarunقَالَwho said
And on the authority of Abd Allah ibn Harun who said:
حَدَّثَنِيNarrated to meعَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malikبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdالْعَزِيزِal-Azizبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllah
Narrated to me Abd al-Malik ibn Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah
عَنِfromالْمُغِيرَةِal-Mughirahقَالَwho said
from al-Mughirah who said:
دَخَلَEnteredالْمُغِيرَةُal-Mughirahبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdالرَّحْمَنِal-Rahmanالْمَخْزُومِيُّal-Makhzumi
Al-Mughirah ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Makhzumi entered,
وَأَبُوalong with Abuالسَّائِبِal-Sa'ibوَالْعُثْمَانِيُّand al-Uthmaniابْنُson ofلُؤْلُؤِLu'lu'الرَّطْبِal-Ratb
and Abu al-Sa'ib, and al-Uthmani ibn Lu'lu' al-Ratb,
وَابْنُand the son ofأُخْتِthe sister ofالْأَحْوَصِal-Ahwasعَلَىuponالْمَهْدِيِّal-Mahdi
and the son of the sister of al-Ahwas, upon al-Mahdi
وَهُوَwhile heبِالْمَدِينَةِwas in MedinaفَقَالَSo he saidأَنْشِدُونِيRecite poetry to me
while he was in Medina. So he said: Recite poetry to me.
فَأَنْشَدَSo recitedالْمُغِيرَةُal-Mughirah
Al-Mughirah recited:
وَلِلنَّاسِAnd for peopleبَدْرٌis a full moonفِيinالسَّمَاءِthe skyيَرَوْنَهُthey see it
And for people there is a full moon in the sky they see it,
وَأَنْتَand youلَنَاfor usبَدْرٌare a full moonعَلَىonالْأَرْضِthe earthمُقْمِرُshining brightly
and you are for us a full moon on earth shining brightly.
فَبِاللَّهِSo by AllahيَاOبَدْرَfull moon ofالسَّمَاءِthe skyوَضَوْءَهُand its light
So by Allah, O full moon of the sky and its light,
تَزَالُdo you continueتُكَافِيto recompenseعُشْرَa tenth ofمَاwhatلَكَfor youأَضْمَرُI conceal
do you continue to recompense a tenth of what I conceal for you?
وَمَاAnd is notالْبَدْرُthe full moonإِلَّاexceptدُونَlesser thanوَجْهِكَyour faceفِيinالدُّجَىthe darkness
And the full moon is only lesser than your face in the darkness,
يَغِيبُit setsفَتَبْدُوwhile you appearحِينَwhenغَابَit setsفَتَقْمُرُand outshines
it sets while you appear when it sets and outshines it.
وَمَاAnd neverنَظَرَتْlookedعَيْنِيmy eyeإِلَىatالْبَدْرِthe full moonمَاشِياًwalking
And my eye has never looked at the full moon walking
وَأَنْتَwhile youفَتَمْسِيso you spend the eveningفِيinالثِّيَابِgarmentsفَتَسْحَرُand bewitch
while you—so you spend the evening in garments and bewitch.
وَأَنْشَدَAnd recitedابْنُthe son ofأُخْتِthe sister ofالْأَحْوَصِal-Ahwas
And the son of the sister of al-Ahwas recited:
قَالَتْSaidكِلَابَةُKilabahمَنْWho isهَذَاthisفَقُلْتُSo I saidلَهَاto her
Kilabah said: Who is this? So I said to her:
هَذَاThis isالَّذِيthe one whoمِنْofأَعْدَائِهِhis enemiesزَعَمُواthey claimed
This is the one whom his enemies claimed...
إِنِّيIndeed I amامْرُؤٌa manلَجَّpersistedبِيin meحُبٌّloveفَأَحْرَضَنِيand made me ill
Indeed I am a man in whom love has persisted and made me ill,
حَتَّىuntilبَلِيتُI witheredوَحَتَّىand untilشَفَنِيwasted me awayالسَّقَمُdisease
until I withered and until disease wasted me away.
وَأَنْشَدَهُAnd recited to himالْعُثْمَانِيُّal-Uthmaniالْمَخْزُومِيُّal-Makhzumi
And al-Uthmani al-Makhzumi recited to him:
رَمَىStruckالْقَلْبَthe heartمِنْfromقَلْبِيmy heartالسَّوَادُthe blacknessفَأَوْجَعَاand caused pain
The blackness struck the heart from my heart and caused pain,
وَصَاحَand cried outفَصِيحٌan eloquent oneبِالرَّحِيلِwith departureفَأَسْمَعَاand made it heard
and an eloquent caller cried out with departure and made it heard.
وَغَرَّدَAnd chirpedحَادِيthe camel-driver ofالْبَيْنِseparationوَانْشَقَّتِand splitالْعَصَاthe staff
And the camel-driver of separation chirped and the staff split,
فَأَصْبَحْتُso I becameمَسْلُوبَdeprived ofالْفُؤَادِheartمَفْجَّعاًafflicted
so I became deprived of heart, afflicted.
كَفَىSufficient isحُزْناًas griefمِنْfromحَادِثِthe incident ofالدَّهْرِtimeأَنَّنِيthat I
Sufficient as grief from the incidents of time is that I
أَرَىseeالْبَيْنَseparationلَاnotأُسْتِيعُI am ableلِلْبَيْنِfor separationمَدْفَعاًto ward off
see separation and am not able to ward off separation.
وَقَدْAnd indeedكُنْتُI wasقَبْلَbeforeالْيَوْمِtodayبِالْبَيْنِwith separationجَاهِلاًignorant
And indeed before today I was ignorant of separation,
فَيَاso ohلَكَto youبَيْناًof a separationمَاhowأَمَرَّbitterوَأَوْجَعَاand painful
so how bitter and painful is a separation to you!
وَأَنْشَدَهُAnd recited to himأَبُوAbuالسَّائِبِal-Sa'ib
And Abu al-Sa'ib recited to him: