أَصِيخَاListen closelyلِدَاعِيto the callerحُبِّof the loveلَيْلَىof Layla,
Listen closely to the caller of the love of Layla,
فَيُمَيِّمَاthen directصُدُورَthe chestsالْمَطَايَاof the riding mountsنَحْوَهَاtowards her,فَتَسْمَعَاso that you both may hear.
then direct the chests of the riding mounts towards her, so that you both may hear.
خَلِيلَيَّO my two friends,إِنَّindeedلَيْلَىLaylaأَقَامَتْhas stayed,فَإِنَّنِيand verily I
O my two friends, indeed Layla has stayed, and verily I
مُقِيمٌam staying,وَإِنْand ifبَانَتْshe departs,فَبَيْنَاthen whileبَنَاwe areمَعَاtogether.
am staying, and if she departs, then while we are together.
وَإِنْAnd ifانْثَنَتْturns backلَيْلَىLaylaبِرَبْعٍto an abodeيَحُوزُهَاthat contains her,
And if Layla turns back to an abode that contains her,
قَعِيدَكُمَاI implore you both byبِاللَّهِGodأَنْthatتَتَزَعْزَعَاyou do not waver.
I implore you both by God that you do not waver.
فَقَالَHe said:وَاللَّهِ"By Allah,لَأُغَنِّيَنَّكُمُI will certainly entertain youاللَّيْلَةَtonight!"
He said: "By Allah, I will certainly entertain you tonight!"
ثُمَّThenقَالَhe saidلِلْمُغِيرَةِto Al-Mughirah:هَلْ"Doلَكَyou haveمِنْanyحَاجَةٍneed?
Then he said to Al-Mughirah: "Do you have any need?
فَإِنَّهُFor indeedبَلَغَنِيit has reached meأَنَّكَthat youبِعْتَsoldجَارِيَتَكَyour slave girlفِيforدَيْنٍa debtكَانَthat wasعَلَيْكَupon you."
For indeed it has reached me that you sold your slave girl for a debt that was upon you."
قَالَHe said:وَاللَّهِ"By Allah,يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,لَقَدْindeedفَعَلْتُI have doneذَلِكَthat."و
He said: "By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, indeed I have done that."
قَالَHe said:فَلَأُرُدَّنَّهَا"Then I will certainly return herعَلَيْكَto you,"فَأَجَازَand he bestowed gifts uponثَلَاثَةٍthreeمِنْهُمْof themبِعَشَرَةِwith tenآلَافِthousandدِينَارٍdinarsإِلَّاexceptابْنَIbnلُؤْلُؤٍLu'lu'الرَّطْبِAl-Ratb,
He said: "Then I will certainly return her to you," and he bestowed gifts upon three of them with ten thousand dinars except Ibn Lu'lu' Al-Ratb,
فَإِنَّهُfor indeed heسَارَtraveledمَعَهُwith him,فَمَرَّand he passedبِدَارٍby a houseفَقَالَand said:لِمَنْ"To whomهَذِهِdoes thisالدَّارُ؟house belong?"
for indeed he traveled with him, and he passed by a house and said: "To whom does this house belong?"
فَقَالَHe said:لِلْأَحْوَصِ"To Al-Ahwasالَّذِيwhoيَقُولُsays:
He said: "To Al-Ahwas who says:
يَاOبَيْتَhouseعَاتِكَةَof 'AtikahالَّذِيwhichأَتَعَزَّلُI avoid
O house of 'Atikah which I avoid
حَذَرَout of fear ofالْعِدَىenemies,وَبِهِand in itالْفُؤَادُthe heartمُوَكَّلُis entrusted
out of fear of enemies, and in it the heart is entrusted
وَأَرَاكَAnd I see youتَفْعَلُdoingمَاwhatهَوَيْتَyou desired,وَبَعْضُهُمْwhile some of them
And I see you doing what you desired, while some of them
مَدِقُّsharp inالْحَدِيثِspeech,يَقُولُsaysمَاwhatلَاhe doesيَفْعَلُnot do
sharp in speech, says what he does not do
فَقَالَHe said:عَزَّ"It is hardعَلَيَّupon meلَمْthat you did notتَأْخُذْtakeشَيْئاًanything."
He said: "It is hard upon me that you did not take anything."
ثُمَّThenقَالَhe saidلِلرَّبِيعِto Al-Rabi':أَعْتِقْ"Emancipateمَاwhatتَمْلِكُyou own
Then he said to Al-Rabi': "Emancipate what you own
إِنْifلَمْyou do notتُعْطِهِgive himأَنْتَyouعَشَرَةَtenآلَافِthousandدِينَارٍdinarsوَأَنَاand Iعَشَرَةُtenآلَافِthousandدِينَارٍdinars."
if you do not give him you ten thousand dinars and I ten thousand dinars."
فَقَبَضَهَاSo he received themوَخَرَجَand left.
So he received them and left.
قَالَHe said:وَدَخَلَAnd IbnابْنُAl-KhayyatالْخَيَّاطِenteredعَلَىuponالْمَهْدِيِّAl-Mahdi
He said: And Ibn Al-Khayyat entered upon Al-Mahdi
فَمَدَحَهُand praised him,فَأَمَرَso he orderedلَهُfor himبِخَمْسِينَfiftyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams.
and praised him, so he ordered for him fifty thousand dirhams.
فَلَمَّاSo whenقَبَضَهَاhe received them,فَرَّقَهَاhe distributed themبَيْنَamongالنَّاسِthe peopleوَأَنْشَأَand beganيَقُولُsaying:
So when he received them, he distributed them among the people and began saying:
لَمَسْتُI touchedبِكَفِّيwith my palmكَفَّهُhis palmأَبْتَغِيseekingالْغِنَىwealth,
I touched with my palm his palm seeking wealth,
وَلَمْand I didأَدْرِnot knowأَنَّthatالْجُودَgenerosityمِنْfromكَفِّهِhis palmيَعْدِيis contagious
and I did not know that generosity from his palm is contagious
فَلَاSo neitherأَنَاIمِنْهُfrom itمَاwhatأَفَادَthose possessing wealthذَوُوgainedالْغِنَىgained,
So neither I from it what those possessing wealth gained,
أَفَدْتُI gained,وَأَعْدَانِيand it infected meفَبَدَّدْتُso I scatteredمَاwhatعِنْدِيI had.
I gained, and it infected me so I scattered what I had.
فَأَعْطَاهُSo he gave himلِكُلِّfor everyدِرْهَمٍdirhamدِينَاراًa dinar.
So he gave him for every dirham a dinar.
قَالَHe said:وَدَخَلَAnd Salmسَلْمُbin 'AmrبْنُAl-KhasirعَمْرٍوenteredالْخَاسِرُuponعَلَىAl-Mahdiالْمَهْدِيِّand said:فَقَالَHe said:
He said: And Salm bin 'Amr Al-Khasir entered upon Al-Mahdi and said:
أَلَيْسَ"Is notأَحَقَّthe most deservingالنَّاسِof peopleأَنْto attainيُدْرِكَwealthالْغِنَىthe one whose hopeمُرَجِّيis the Commanderأَمِيرِof the Faithfulالْمُؤْمِنِينَand his petitionerوَسَائِلِهِ."l
"Is not the most deserving of people to attain wealth the one whose hope is the Commander of the Faithful and his petitioner."
لَقَدْIndeedبَسَطَhas spreadالْمَهْدِيُّAl-Mahdiعَدْلاًjusticeوَنَائِلاًand bounty,
Indeed has spread Al-Mahdi justice and bounty,
كَأَنَّهُمَاas if they bothعَدْلُare the justiceالنَّبِيِّof the Prophetوَنَائِلُهُand his bounty.
as if they both are the justice of the Prophet and his bounty.
فَقَالَHe said:أَمَّا"As forمَاwhatذَكَرْتَyou mentionedيَاOسَلْمُSalm,مِنْofالْجُودِgenerosity,فَوَاللَّهِby Allah,مَاdoes notتَعْدِلُequalالدُّنْيَاthe worldعِنْدِيto meخَاتَمِيthis ring of mine,هَذَا...
He said: "As for what you mentioned O Salm, of generosity, by Allah, does not equal the world to me this ring of mine,
وَأَمَّاand as forالْعَدْلُjustice,فَإِنَّهُitلَاis notيُقَاسُcomparedبِرَسُولِto the Messengerاللَّهِof Allah,صَلَّىmay Allahاللَّهُbless himعَلَيْهِand grant himوَسَلَّمَpeace,أَحَدٌanyone,
and as for justice, it is not compared to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, anyone,
وَإِنِّيand indeed Iلَأَتَحَرَّاهُstrive for itجُهْدِيto the best of my ability."
and indeed I strive for it to the best of my ability."
ثُمَّThenأَمَرَhe orderedلَهُfor himبِعَشَرَةِtenآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsوَعَشَرَةِand tenأَثْوَابٍgarments.
Then he ordered for him ten thousand dirhams and ten garments.
ثُمَّThenوَفَدَhe cameعَلَيْهِto himفِيinالسَّنَةِthe secondالثَّانِيَةِyearفَأَنْشَدَهُand recited to him:
Then he came to him in the second year and recited to him:
إِنَّIndeedالْخِلَافَةَthe Caliphateلَمْwas notتَكُنْa trueبِخِلَافَةٍcaliphate
Indeed the Caliphate was not a true caliphate
حَتَّىuntilاسْتَقَرَّتْit settledفِيinبَنِيthe sonsالْعَبَّاسِof Abbas.
until it settled in the sons of Abbas.
شُدَّتْWere strengthenedمَنَاكِبُthe shouldersمُلْكِهِمْof their kingdomبِخَلِيفَةٍby a caliph
Were strengthened the shoulders of their kingdom by a caliph
كَالدَّهْرِlike time,يَخْلِطُmixingلِينَهُits gentlenessبِشَمَاسٍwith sternness.
like time, mixing its gentleness with sternness.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedلَهُfor himبِعِشْرِينَtwentyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsوَعِشْرِينَand twentyثَوْباًgarments.
So he ordered for him twenty thousand dirhams and twenty garments.
فَلَمَّاThen whenكَانَit wasفِيinالْعَامِthe thirdالثَّالِثِyearوَفَدَhe cameعَلَيْهِto himفَأَنْشَدَهُand recited to him:
Then when it was in the third year he came to him and recited to him:
أَفْنَىExhaustsسُؤَالَthe requestsالسَّائِلِينَof the petitionersبِجُودِهِthrough his generosity
Exhausts the requests of the petitioners through his generosity
مَلِكٌa kingمَوَاهِبُهُwhose giftsتَرُوحُcome and goوَتَغْتَدِيmorning and evening.
a king whose gifts come and go morning and evening.
هَذَاThisالْخَلِيفَةُis the Caliphجُودُهُwhose generosityوَنَوَالُهُand bounty
This is the Caliph whose generosity and bounty
نَفِدَare exhaustedالسُّؤَالُby questioningوَجُودُهُwhile his generosityلَمْis neverيَنْفَدِexhausted.
are exhausted by questioning while his generosity is never exhausted.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedلَهُfor himبِثَلَاثِينَthirtyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsوَثَلَاثِينَand thirtyثَوْباًgarments.
So he ordered for him thirty thousand dirhams and thirty garments.
وَعَنْAnd on the authority ofأَحْمَدَAhmadبْنِbinبَكْرٍBakrالْبَاهِلِيِّAl-Bahiliقَالَhe said:
And on the authority of Ahmad bin Bakr Al-Bahili he said:
حَدَّثَنِيNarrated to meحَاجِبُthe chamberlainالْمَهْدِيِّof Al-Mahdiقَالَwho said:
Narrated to me the chamberlain of Al-Mahdi who said:
قَالَSaidلِيto meالْمَهْدِيُّAl-Mahdiيَوْماًone dayنِصْفَat midday:النَّهَارِ...اخْرُجْ"Go outوَانْظُرْand seeمَنْwhoبِالْبَابِis at the door."
Said to me Al-Mahdi one day at midday: "Go out and see who is at the door."
فَخَرَجْتُSo I went outفَإِذَاand behold,بِشَيْخٍthere was an old manوَاقِفٌstanding,فَقُلْتُand I said:أَلَكَ"Do you haveحَاجَةٌ؟a need?"
So I went out and behold, there was an old man standing, and I said: "Do you have a need?"
فَقَالَHe said:مَا"It is notيُمْكِنُpossibleأَنْthatأُخْبِرَI informبِحَاجَتِيof my needأَحَداًanyoneغَيْرَother thanأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful."
He said: "It is not possible that I inform of my need anyone other than the Commander of the Faithful."
فَتَرَكْتُهُSo I left himوَدَخَلْتُand enteredعَلَىuponالْمَهْدِيِّAl-Mahdi,فَقَالَand he saidلِيto me:
So I left him and entered upon Al-Mahdi, and he said to me:
اخْرُجْ"Go outفَانْظُرْand seeمَنْwhoبِالْبَابِis at the door."
"Go out and see who is at the door."
فَخَرَجْتُSo I went outفَإِذَاand behold,الشَّيْخُit was the old man,فَقُلْتُand I said:إِنْ"Ifكَانَthere isلَكَfor youحَاجَةٌa need,فَاذْكُرْهَاthen mention it."
So I went out and behold, it was the old man, and I said: "If there is for you a need, then mention it."
قَالَHe said:لَا"I willأَذْكُرُهَاnot mention itإِلَّاexceptلِأَمِيرِto the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful."
He said: "I will not mention it except to the Commander of the Faithful."
فَفَعَلَSo he didهَذَاthisمَرَّاتٍseveral times,فَقَالَand Al-Mahdi said:الْمَهْدِيُّ...انْظُرْ"Seeمَنْwhoبِالْبَابِis at the door."
So he did this several times, and Al-Mahdi said: "See who is at the door."
فَقُلْتُSo I said:شَيْخٌ"An old manقَدْhasسَأَلَنِيasked meغَيْرَmore thanدُفْعَةٍonceعَنْaboutحَاجَةٍa need,فَقَالَand he said:
So I said: "An old man has asked me more than once about a need, and he said:
مَا"It is notيُمْكِنُpossibleأَنْthatأُخْبِرَI informبِحَاجَتِيof my needأَحَداًanyoneدُونَother thanأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful."
"It is not possible that I inform of my need anyone other than the Commander of the Faithful."
فَقُلْتُSo I said:أَيَدْخُلُ؟"Shall he enter?"قَالَHe said:نَعَمْ"Yes,وَمُرْهُand command himبِالتَّخْفِيفِto be brief."
So I said: "Shall he enter?" He said: "Yes, and command him to be brief."
فَخَرَجْتُSo I went outوَقُلْتُand saidلَهُto him:ادْخُلْ"Enterوَخَفِّفْand be brief."
So I went out and said to him: "Enter and be brief."
فَدَخَلَSo he enteredوَسَلَّمَand greetedبِالْخِلَافَةِwith the title of Caliphateثُمَّthenقَالَsaid:
So he entered and greeted with the title of Caliphate then said:
يَا"OأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,إِنَّاverily weقَدْhaveأُمِرْنَاbeen commandedبِالتَّخْفِيفِto be brief:
"O Commander of the Faithful, verily we have been commanded to be brief:
فَإِنْSo ifشِئْتَyou wishخَفَّفْنَاwe shorten,فَكُنَّاand we are likeكَرِيشَةٍa feather
So if you wish we shorten, and we are like a feather
مَتَىwheneverتُلْقِهَاthe windsالْأَنْفَاسُcast itفِيinالْجَوِّthe airتَذْهَبْit goes away.
whenever the winds cast it in the air it goes away.
وَإِنْAnd ifشِئْتَyou wishثَقَّلْنَاwe lengthen,فَكُنَّاand we are likeكَصَخْرَةٍa rock
And if you wish we lengthen, and we are like a rock
مَتَىwheneverتُلْقِهَاyou cast itفِيinحَوْمَةِthe depth ofالْبَحْرِthe seaتَرْسُبْit sinks.
whenever you cast it in the depth of the sea it sinks.
وَإِنْAnd ifشِئْتَyou wishسَلَّمْنَاwe say peace,فَكُنَّاand we are likeكَرَاكِبٍa rider
And if you wish we say peace, and we are like a rider
مَتَىwheneverيَقْضِhe fulfillsحَقّاًa rightمِنْofسَلَامِكَyour greetingيَعْزُبْhe departs."
whenever he fulfills a right of your greeting he departs."
فَضَحِكَSo smiledالْمَهْدِيُّAl-Mahdiوَقَالَand said:بَلْ"Nay,تُكْرَمُyou shall be honoredوَتُقْضَىand fulfilledحَاجُتُكَis your need."
So smiled Al-Mahdi and said: "Nay, you shall be honored and fulfilled is your need."
فَقَضَىSo he fulfilledحَاجَتَهُhis needوَوَصَلَهُand bestowed upon himبِعَشَرَةِtenآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams.
So he fulfilled his need and bestowed upon him ten thousand dirhams.