وَرَأَىAnd sawأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manظَلُوماًoppressiveيَدْعُوsupplicatingفَقَالَ:so he said:
An oppressive Bedouin man was seen supplicating, so he said:
يَاOهَذَاthisإِنَّمَاverilyيُسْتَجَابُit is answeredلِمَظْلُومٍfor an oppressed personأَوْorمُؤْمِنٍa believerوَلَسْتَand you are notأَحَداًoneمِنْهُمَا،of them both,
O man, prayers are only answered for an oppressed person or a believer, and you are neither of them.
أَرَاكَI see youتَخِفُّlightenعَلَيْكَupon youالذُّنُوبُsinsوَتَحْسُنُand look goodعِنْدَكَwith youمَقَابِحُthe ugliness ofالْعُيُوبِ.faults.
I see that sins are light upon you, and the ugliness of faults seems good to you.
وَذَمَّAnd condemnedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:
And a Bedouin condemned a man, saying:
فُلَانٌSo-and-soلَاdoes notيَسْتَحْيِيfeel shyمِنَfromالشَّرِّevilوَلَاand does notيُحِبُّloveأَنَّهُthat heأُحِبَّis lovedالْخَبَرَ،for the good,
So-and-so does not feel ashamed of evil, nor does he like that good is loved.
وَلَاAndيَكُونُhe isفِيinمَوْضِعٍa placeإِلَّاexcept thatحُرِمَتْis forbiddenفِيهِin itالصَّلَاةُ،prayer,
And he is never in a place except that prayer is forbidden therein.
وَلَوْAnd ifقُذِفَwere hurledلُؤْمُهُhis meannessعَلَىuponاللَّيْلِthe nightطَمَسَit would blot outنُجُومَهُ،its stars,
And if his meanness were cast upon the night, it would blot out its stars.
وَلَوْAnd ifأَفْلَتَتْescapedكَلِمَةُa wordسُوءٍof evilلَمْit would notتَصِرْgoإِلَّاexceptإِلَيْهِ.to him.
And if a bad word escaped, it would go nowhere except to him.
وَسَأَلَAnd askedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:
And a Bedouin asked a man, saying:
لَقَدْIndeedنَزَلْتَyou have descendedبِوَادٍat a valleyغَيْرِother thanمَمْطُورٍrained uponوَبِرَجُلٍand with a manبِكَwith youغَيْرِother thanمَسْرُورٍ،pleased,
Verily, you have come to a rainless valley and to a man who is not pleased with you.
فَارْتَحِلْSo departبِنَدَمٍwith regretأَوْorأَقِمْstayبِعَدَمٍ.with destitution.
So depart with regret or stay with destitution.
وَذَمَّAnd condemnedآخَرُanotherرَجُلاًa manفَقَالَ:and said:
And another condemned a man, saying:
مَاThere wasكَانَnotعِنْدَهُwith himفَائِدَةٌany benefitوَلَاnorعَائِدَةٌreturnوَلَاnorرَأْيٌany goodجَمِيلٌopinionوَلَاnorإِكْرَامُhonoringالدَّخِيلِ.the guest.
He had neither benefit nor return, nor a good opinion, nor any honoring of the guest.
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidلِأَعْرَابِيٍّ:to a Bedouin:مَاWhatبَلَغَhas reachedمِنْofسُوءِthe badness ofخُلُقِكَ؟your character?
And it was said to a Bedouin: How bad has your character become?
قَالَ:He said:تَبْدُوAppearsلِيto meالْحَاجَةُthe needإِلَىtoالْجَارِthe neighborأَوْorالصَّاحِبِthe companionفِيinبَعْضِsomeاللَّيْلِof the nightفَأُصْبِحُand I wake upغَضْبَانَangryعَلَيْهِwith himأَقُولُsayingكَيْفَhowلَمْdid he notيَعْلَمْهَا؟know it?
He said: A need arises for me from my neighbor or companion during part of the night, and I wake up angry with him, saying: Why didn't he know about it?
وَذُكِرَAnd it was mentionedأَنَّهُthatتَنَافَرَcompeted in boastingرَجُلَانِtwo menمِنْfromبَنِيBanuأَسَدٍAsadإِلَىbeforeهَرِمِHaramبْنِbinسِنَانٍSinanالْمُرِّيِّAl-Murriفِيregardingالشَّرِّevilوَعِنْدَهُwhile with himالْحُطَيْئَةُwas Al-Hutai'ahفَقَالَand saidأَحَدُهُمَا:one of them:
And it was mentioned that two men from Banu Asad competed in boasting about who was worse before Haram bin Sinan Al-Murri, while Al-Hutai'ah was with him, and one of them said:
إِنِّيVerily Iبَقِيتُremainedزَمَاناًfor a timeوَأَنَاwhile Iأَرَىthoughtأَنِّيthat Iشَرُّthe worst ofالنَّاسِpeopleوَأَلْأَمُهُمْand the meanest of themحَتَّىuntilأَتَانِيcame to meهَذَاthis oneفَزَعَمَand claimedأَنَّهُthat heشَرُّis worseمِنِّي،than me,
Verily, I remained for a time thinking that I was the worst and meanest of people, until this man came to me and claimed that he was worse than me.
فَقَالَSo saidهَرِمٌ:Haram:أَخْبِرَانِيTell meعَنْكُمَا.about yourselves.
So Haram said: Tell me about yourselves.
فَقَالَSo saidأَحَدُهُمَا:one of them:لَمْDid notيَمُرَّpass byبِيmeأَحَدٌanyoneقَطُّeverإِلَّاexcept thatاغْتَبْتُهُI backbit himوَلَاand neitherائْتَمَنَنِيdid anyone trust meإِلَّاexcept thatخُنْتُهُI betrayed himوَلَاand neitherسَأَلَنِيdid anyone ask meإِلَّاexcept thatمَنَعْتُهُ.I refused him.
One of them said: No one ever passed by me except that I backbit him, no one trusted me except that I betrayed him, and no one asked me except that I refused him.
وَقَالَAnd saidالْآخَرُ:the other:أَمَّاAs forأَنَاmeفَأَبْطَرُI am the most insolentالنَّاسِof peopleفِيinالرَّخَاءِprosperityوَأَجْبَنُهُمْand the most cowardly of themفِيinاللِّقَاءِbattleوَأَقَلُّهُمْand the least of themحَيَاءًin shynessوَأَمْنَعُهُمْand the most withholding of themخِبَاءً.of his tent.
And the other said: As for me, I am the most insolent of people in prosperity, the most cowardly of them in battle, the least of them in shyness, and the most withholding of his tent.
فَقَالَSo saidهَرِمٌ:Haram:وَأَبِيكُمَاBy your fatherلَقَدْverilyتَرَدَّدْتُمَاyou two have alternatedفِيinالشَّرِّevilوَلَكِنْbutأُخْبِرُكُمَاI will tell you bothبِمَنْabout one whoهُوَisشَرٌّworseمِنْكُمَا!than you both!
Haram said: By your father, you two have indeed waded deep into evil, but I will tell you of someone who is worse than both of you!
قَالَا:They said:مَاDid notوَلَدَتْgive birth toذَاكَthatالنِّسَاءُ!women!
They said: Women have not given birth to such a person!
قَالَ:He said:بَلَى،Yes,هَذَاthisالْحُطَيْئَةُAl-Hutai'ahهَجَاhas satirizedأَبَاهُhis fatherوَأُمَّهُand his motherوَنَفْسَهُand himselfوَمَنْand whoeverأَعْطَاهُgave himوَمَنْand whoeverأَحْسَنَdid goodإِلَيْهِ،to him,
He said: Yes, this Al-Hutai'ah has satirized his father, his mother, himself, everyone who gave to him, and everyone who did good to him.
فَقَالَSo he saidلِأَبِيهِ:to his father:
So he said to his father:
لَحَاكَMay God curseاللَّهُyouثُمَّthenلَحَاكَcurse youحَقّاًtruly......أباًas a fatherولحاكand curse youمنasعمan uncleوخالand maternal uncle
May God curse you, then truly curse you as a father, and curse you as an uncle and maternal uncle.
فبئسSo wretchedالشيخelderأنتare youعلىuponالنواديgatherings......وبئسAnd wretchedالشيخelderأنتare youلدىatالمعاليnoble matters
Wretched elder are you in gatherings, and wretched elder are you regarding noble matters.
جمعتYou gatheredاللؤمmeannessلاmayحياكGod not greetربيmy Lord......وأبوابand the doorsالمخازيof disgraceوالضلالand straying
You gathered meanness—may my Lord not greet you—and the doors of disgrace and straying.
وَقَالَAnd he saidلِأُمِّهِ:to his mother:
And he said to his mother:
تنحيStep asideفاقعديand sitمنيfrom meبعيداًfar away......أراحmay God relieveاللهGodمنكfrom youالعالميناthe worlds
Step aside and sit far away from me; may God relieve the worlds of you.
أغربالاًAre you a sieveإذاwhenاستودعتentrustedسراًwith a secret......وكانوناًand a brazierعلىuponالمتحدثيناthe talkers
Are you a sieve when entrusted with a secret, and a brazier upon those who converse?
ألمDid I notأوضحmake clearلكto youالبغضاءhatredمنيfrom me......ولكنbutلاI doإخالكnot think youتعلميناknow
Did I not make my hatred for you clear, but I do not think you know?
وَقَالَAnd he saidلِنَفْسِهِ:to himself:
And he said to himself:
أبتRefusedشفتايmy lipsاليومtodayإلاexceptتكلماto speak......بشرwith evilفماso I doأدريnot knowلمنfor whomأناI amقائلهsaying it
My lips refused today to speak of anything except evil, so I do not know for whom I am saying it.
أرىI seeليfor meوجهاًa faceشوهdisfiguredاللهGodخلقهits creation......فقبحso wretchedمنisوجهa faceوقبحand wretchedحاملهits bearer
I see for myself a face whose creation God has disfigured, so wretched is the face and wretched is its bearer.
وَقَالَAnd he saidلِمَنْto the one whoأَعْطَاهُ:gave him:
And he said to the one who gave him:
سألتI askedفلمand you did notتبخلstingyولمand you did notتعطgiveنائلاًa gift......فسيانso it is equalلاnoذمblameعليكupon youولاnorحمدpraise
I asked and you were not stingy, yet you gave no gift; so it is all the same, neither blame nor praise is upon you.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَلَمَّاAnd whenحَضَرَتِapproachedالْحُطَيْئَةَAl-Hutai'ahالْوَفَاةُdeathقِيلَit was saidلَهُ:to him:أَوْصِ.Make a will.
It was said: And when death approached Al-Hutai'ah, it was said to him: Make a will.
فَقَالَ:So he said:
So he said:
الشعرPoetryصعبis difficultوطويلand longسلّمهits ladder......إذاwhenارتقىascendsفيهin itالذيhe whoلاdoes notيعلمهknow it
Poetry is difficult and its ladder is long, when he who does not know it ascends it.
زلّتSlipsبهwith himإلىtoالحضيضthe abyssقدمهhis foot......والشعرand poetryلاdoes notيسطيعهmaster itمنhe whoيظلمهtreats it unjustly
His foot slips with him to the abyss, and poetry cannot be mastered by one who treats it unjustly.
يريدHe wantsأنtoيعربهmake it eloquentفيعجمهso he makes it obscure
He wants to make it clear, so he makes it obscure.
فَقِيلَSo it was saidلَهُ:to him:أَوْصِMake a willلِلْمَسَاكِينِfor the poorبِشَيْءٍ.with something.
So it was said to him: Make a will with something for the poor.
فَقَالَ:So he said:أُوصِيهِمْI enjoin themبِالْمَسْأَلَةِto begمَاas long asعَاشُواthey liveفَإِنَّهَاfor verily itتِجَارَةٌis a tradeلَنْthat will neverتَبُورَ.fail.
So he said: I enjoin them to beg as long as they live, for verily it is a trade that will never fail.
قِيلَ:It was said:أَوْصِMake a willفَقَدْfor indeedحَضَرَكَhas come to youأَمْرُكَ.your matter.
It was said: Make a will, for indeed your hour has come.
فَقَالَ:So he said:مَالِيMy wealthلِلذُّكُورِis for the malesمِنْofوَلَدِيmy childrenدُونَexcludingالْإِنَاثِ.the females.
So he said: My wealth is for the males of my children to the exclusion of the females.
قِيلَIt was saidلَهُ:to him:إِنَّVerilyاللَّهَGodعَزَّAlmightyوَجَلَّand Majesticلَمْdid notيَأْمُرْcommandبِهَذَا!with this!
It was said to him: Verily, Allah the Almighty and Majestic did not command this!
قَالَ:He said:لَكِنِّيBut Iآمُرُcommandبِهِ.it.
He said: But I command it.
فَقِيلَThen it was saidلَهُ:to him:اعْتِقْFreeغُلَامَكَyour servantيَسَاراًYasarالْأَسْوَدَ.the Black.
Then it was said to him: Free your black servant Yasar.
قَالَ:He said:هُوَHeمَمْلُوكٌis a slaveمَاas long asدَامَhe remainsعَلَىuponظَهْرِthe back ofالْأَرْضِthe earthعَبْسِيٌّ.an Absi.
He said: He is a slave as long as he remains on the face of the earth, belonging to Abs.
قِيلَIt was saidلَهُ:to him:مَنْWhoأَشْعَرُis the most poeticalالنَّاسِ؟of people?
It was said to him: Who is the greatest poet among people?
فَقَالَ:So he said:هَذَاThisالْمِحْجَنُcrooked stickمَاdoes notأَطْمَعُhopeفِيforخَيْرٍ،any good,
He said: This tongue is like a crooked stick that I have no hope of any good from,
وَأَوْمَأَand he gesturedإِلَىtowardsلِسَانِهِhis tongueثُمَّthenجَعَلَbeganيَبْكِي.to weep.
and he gestured toward his tongue, then began to weep.
فَقِيلَSo it was saidلَهُ:to him:مَاWhatيُبْكِيكَ،makes you weep,أَجَزَعاًout of panicمِنَatالْمَوْتِdeathيَاOأَبَاAbuمُلَيْكَةَ؟Mulaykah?
So it was said to him: What makes you weep, is it out of panic at death, O Abu Mulaykah?
قَالَ:He said:لَاNoوَلَكِنْbutوَيْلٌwoeلِلشِّعْرِto poetryمِنْfromرِوَايَةِthe narrationالسُّوءِ!of the wicked!
He said: No, but woe to poetry from the narration of the wicked!
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:أَبْلِغُواConveyالشَّمَّاخَto Al-Shammakhأَنَّهُthat heأَشْعَرُis the most poeticalغَطَفَانَof Ghaطفانعَلَىuponوَجْهِthe face ofالْأَرْضِ،the earth,
Then he said: Convey to Al-Shammakh that he is the greatest poet of Ghaftan on the face of the earth,
وَإِنْand ifمُتُّI dieفَحْمِلُونِيthen carry meعَلَىuponحِمَارٍa donkeyفَإِنَّهُfor verilyلَمْneverيَمُتْdiedعَلَيْهِupon itكَرِيمٌa noble personقَطُّ.ever.
and if I die, carry me upon a donkey, for no noble person has ever died upon one.
وَفِيAnd inغَيْرِother thanهَذِهِthisالرِّوَايَةِnarrationأَنَّهُthat heقَالَ:said:احْمِلُونِيCarry meعَلَىuponحِمَارٍa donkeyفَإِنَّهُfor verilyلَمْneverيَمُتْdiedعَلَيْهِupon itكَرِيمٌa noble personقَطُّeverلَعَلِّيperhaps Iأَنْwillأَنْجُوَ،be saved,
And in other than this narration, it is stated that he said: Carry me upon a donkey, for no noble person ever died upon one, perhaps I may be saved.
ثُمَّThenأَنْشَأَhe beganيَقُولُ:to recite:
Then he began to recite:
لكلFor everyجديدnew thingلذةis a delightغيرexcept thatأننيI......رأيتhave foundجديدthe newness ofالموتdeathغيرnotلذيذdelightful
Every new thing has a delight, except that I have found the newness of death not to be delightful.
لهIt hasنكهةa flavorليستthat is notبطعمthe taste ofسفرجلquince......ولاnorطعمthe taste ofتفاحapplesولاnorبنبيذwine
It has a flavor that is neither the taste of quince, nor the taste of apples, nor of wine.
ثُمَّThenخَرَجَتْdepartedرُوحُهُ،his soul,
Then his soul departed.
فَلَمَّاSo whenمَاتَhe diedقَالَsaidفِيهِabout himالشَّاعِرُ:the poet:
So when he died, the poet said about him:
لاNoشاعرpoetألأمis meanerمنthanحطيهHutayyah......هجاhe satirizedبنيهhis childrenوهجاand satirizedالمريهthe woman of Murrah
No poet is meaner than Hutayyah; he satirized his children and satirized the woman of Murrah.
منBecause ofلؤمهhis meannessماتhe diedعلىuponفريهa falsehood
Because of his meanness, he died upon a falsehood.