وَقِيلَAndلِطَرَفَةَ:it was said to Tarafa:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to Tarafa: What is happiness?
قَالَ:He said:مَطْعَمٌA deliciousشَهِيٌّmealوَمَرْكَبٌand a mountوَطِيٌّand a smooth oneوَمَلْبَسٌand a garmentدَفِيٌّ.warm.
He said: A delicious meal, a smooth mount, and a warm garment.
وَقِيلَAndلِلْأَعْشَى:it was said to Al-A'sha:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to Al-A'sha: What is happiness?
فَقَالَ:So he said:صَهْبَاءُClearصَافِيَةٌred wineتَمْزُجُهَاmixed byغَانِيَةٌa singing girlبِصَوْبِwith the pouring ofغَادِيَةٍ.an early rain.
So he said: Clear red wine mixed by a singing girl with the pouring of an early rain.
وَقِيلَAndلِمَلِكٍ:it was said to a king:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to a king: What is happiness?
فَقَالَ:So he said:حِمًىA sanctuaryتَرْعَاهُyou grazeوَعَدُوٌّand an enemyتَنْعَاهُ.you mourn.
So he said: A sanctuary you rule and an enemy you defeat.
وَقِيلَAndلِرَاهِبٍ:it was said to a monk:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to a monk: What is happiness?
قَالَ:He said:الْأَمَانُSafetyمِنَfromالْوَجَلِfearإِذَاwhenانْقَضَتْexpiresمُدَّةُthe term ofالْأَجَلِ.life.
He said: Safety from fear when the term of life expires.
وَقِيلَAndلِبَعْضِهِمْ:it was said to one of them:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to one of them: What is happiness?
قَالَ:He said:زَوْجَةٌA wifeوَسِيمَةٌbeautifulوَنِعْمَةٌand a blessingجَسِيمَةٌ.immense.
He said: A beautiful wife and an immense blessing.
وَقِيلَAndلِمُغَنٍّ:it was said to a singer:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to a singer: What is happiness?
قَالَ:He said:مَجْلِسٌA gatheringيَقِلُّwhere is littleهَذَرُهُits nonsenseوَعُودٌand a luteيَصْفُوwhose stringوَتَرُهُis clearوَعُقُولٌand mindsتَفْهَمُthat understandمَاwhatأَقُولُ.I say.
He said: A gathering with little nonsense, a lute with a clear string, and minds that understand what I say.
وَقِيلَAndلِمَظْلُومٍ:it was said to an oppressed person:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to an oppressed person: What is happiness?
قَالَ:He said:كِفَايَةٌSufficiencyوَوَطَنٌand a homelandوَسَلَامَةٌand safetyوَسَكَنٌ.and a dwelling.
He said: Sufficiency, a homeland, safety, and a dwelling.
وَقِيلَAndلِوَرَّاقٍ:it was said to a copyist/stationer:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to a copyist: What is happiness?
قَالَ:He said:جُلُودٌLeathersوَأَوْرَاقٌand papersوَحِبْرٌand inkبَرَّاقٌshiningوَقَلَمٌand a penمَشَّاقٌ.eager.
He said: Leathers, papers, shining ink, and an eager pen.
وَقِيلَAndلِبَعْضِهِمْ:it was said to one of them:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to one of them: What is happiness?
قَالَ:He said:بَنُونَSonsأُغَيْظُby whom I vexبِهِمْwith themأَعْدَائِيmy enemiesوَلَاand they do notتُقْرَعُdisturbمَعَهُمْwith themصَفَائِي.my serenity.
He said: Sons by whom I vex my enemies, and with whom my serenity is not disturbed.
وَقِيلَ:And it was said:لِفَتَاةٍ:to a young woman:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to a young woman: What is happiness?
فَقَالَتْ؟So she said:زَوْجٌA husbandيَمْلَأُwho fillsقَلْبِيmy heartجَلَالاًwith majestyوَعَيْنِيand my eyesجَمَالاًwith beautyوَفِنَائِيand my courtyardجِمَالاً.with camels.
So she said: A husband who fills my heart with majesty, my eyes with beauty, and my courtyard with camels.
وَقِيلَAndلِطُفَيْلِيٍّ:it was said to a parasite:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to a parasite: What is happiness?
فَقَالَ:So he said:نُدَامَىDrinking companionsتَسْكُنُwhose breastsصُدُورُهُمْare calmوَتَغْلِيand boilقُدُورُهُمْtheir potsوَلَاand are not closedتُغْلَقُclosedدُورُهُمْ.their houses.
So he said: Drinking companions whose chests are calm, whose pots boil, and whose doors are not closed.
وَقِيلَAndلِقَانِصٍ:it was said to a hunter:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to a hunter: What is happiness?
فَقَالَ:So he said:قَوْسٌA bowمَأْطُورَةٌstrungوَشَرْعَةٌand an arrow-notchمَشْزُورَةٌfittedوَنِبَالٌand arrowsمَطْرُورَةٌ.sharpened.
So he said: A strung bow, a fitted arrow-notch, and sharpened arrows.
وَقِيلَAndلِمَحْبُوسٍ:it was said to a prisoner:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to a prisoner: What is happiness?
فَقَالَ:So he said:فِكَاكٌReleaseيَفْجَأُthat comes suddenlyوَإِطْلَاقٌand freedomلَاthat does notيَرْزَأُ.harm.
So he said: A sudden release and freedom that does not harm.
وَقِيلَAndلِلْوَطِيِّ:it was said to the intimate companion:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to the intimate companion: What is happiness?
فَقَالَ:So he said:شَخْصٌA personنَاضِرٌradiantوَدِرْهَمٌand a dirhamحَاضِرٌ.present.
So he said: A radiant person and a present dirham.
وَقِيلَAndلِعَاشِقٍ:it was said to a lover:مَاWhatالسُّرُورُ؟is happiness?
And it was said to a lover: What is happiness?
فَقَالَ:So he said:لُقْيَةٌA meetingتَشْفِيthat curesمِنَfromالْفُرْقَةِseparationوَاعْتِنَاقٌand an embraceيُدَاوِيthat healsمِنَfromالْحُرْقَةِ.burning longing.
So he said: A meeting that cures separation and an embrace that heals burning longing.
وَكَانَAndيُقَالُit used to be saidإِنَّهُthatحُكِيَit was narratedعَنِfromالْحُكَمَاءِthe wise:أَنَّthatلَذَّةَthe pleasure ofالثَّوْبِa garmentيَوْماًis for a dayوَلَذَّةَand the pleasure ofالْمَرْكَبِa mountجُمْعَةًis for a weekوَلَذَّةَand the pleasure ofالْمَرْأَةِa womanشَهْراًis for a monthوَلَذَّةَand the pleasure ofالضَّيْعَةِan estateسَنَةًis for a yearوَلَذَّةَand the pleasure ofالدَّارِa houseالْأَبَدَ.is forever.
And it used to be said that it was narrated from the wise: The pleasure of a garment is for a day, the pleasure of a mount is for a week, the pleasure of a woman is for a month, the pleasure of an estate is for a year, and the pleasure of a house is forever.
[الشِّعْرُ[Poetryفِيinهَذَاthisالْفَنِّ]art]
[Poetry in this art]
أَطْيَبُThe bestالطِّيبَاتِof good things isقَتْلُkillingالْأَعَادِيenemies......وَاحْتِفَالٌand a gatheringعَلَىonمُتُونِthe backs ofالْجِيَادِsteeds.
The best of good things is killing enemies ... and a gathering on the backs of steeds.
وَأَيَادٍAnd favorsتَحْبُوbestowed uponبِهِنَّwith themكَرِيماًa noble person......إِنَّindeedعِنْدَwithالْكَرِيمِthe nobleتَزْكُوflourishالْأَيَادِيfavors.
And favors bestowed upon a noble person ... indeed, with the noble, favors flourish.
وَرَسُولٌAnd a messengerيَأْتِيcomingبِوَعْدِwith the promise ofحَبِيبٍa beloved......وَحَبِيبٌand a belovedيَأْتِيcomingعَلَىonمِيعَادِappointment.
And a messenger coming with the promise of a beloved ... and a beloved coming on appointment.
وَلِلْخَلِيعِ:And for Al-Khali':
And for Al-Khali':
أَطْيَبُThe bestالطِّيبَاتِof good things isأَمْرٌan orderوَنْهْيٌand a prohibition......لَاthat are notيُرَدَّانِrejectedفِيinالْأُمُورِmattersالْجِسَامِmomentous.
The best of good things is an order and a prohibition ... that are not rejected in momentous matters.
وَامْتِطَاءُAnd ridingالْخُيُولِhorsesفِيinكَنَفِthe shelter ofالْأَمْنِsafety......بِغَيْرِwithoutالْإِقْدَامِadvancingوَالْإِحْجَامِand retreating.
And riding horses in the shelter of safety ... without advancing and retreating.
وَسَمَاعُAnd hearingالصَّهِيلِthe neighingفِيinلَجَبِthe roar ofالْمَوْكِبِthe procession......تَحْتَunderاللِّوَاءِthe bannerوَالْأَعْلَامِand flags.
And hearing the neighing in the roar of the procession ... under the banner and flags.
الْمَوْصِلِيُّ:Al-Mawsili said:
Al-Mawsili said:
أَطْيَبُThe bestالطِّيبَاتِof good things isطِيبُthe goodness ofالزَّمَانِtime......وَنِدَامُand the drinking companions ofالْمُنْعَمَاتِluxuriousالْغَوَانِيwomen.
The best of good things is the goodness of time ... and the drinking companions of luxurious women.
وَاحْتِسَاءُAnd sippingالْعُقَارِwineفِيatغُرَّةِthe dawn ofالصُّبْحِmorning......عَلَىtoشَدْوِthe singing ofمَاهِرَاتِskilledالْقِيَانِslave songstresses.
And sipping wine at the dawn of morning ... to the singing of skilled slave songstresses.
وَأَمَانٌAnd safetyمِنَfromالْهُمُومِworriesوَمَالٌand wealth......لَيْسَthat is notتُفْنِيهِexhausted byنَائِبَاتُthe calamities ofالزَّمَانِtime.
And safety from worries and wealth ... that is not exhausted by the calamities of time.
[مَحَاسِنُ[Virtues ofالْفَقْرِ]poverty]
[Virtues of poverty]
رُوِيَIt was narratedفِيinالْحَدِيثِthe hadithأَنَّthatالْفَقِيرَthe poorالصَّبُورَpatient personيَدْخُلُwill enterالْجَنَّةَParadiseقَبْلَbeforeالْغَنِيِّthe richالشَّكُورِgrateful personبِأَرْبَعِينَby fortyعَاماً.years.
It was narrated in the hadith that the patient poor person will enter Paradise before the grateful rich person by forty years.
وَرُوِيَAnd it was narratedعَنْfromأَبِيAbuالدَّرْدَاءِAl-Darda'أَنَّهُthat heقَالَ:said:لَأَنْthat Iأَمُوتَshould dieوَعَلَيَّand upon meأَرْبَعَةُfourآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsأَنْوِيintendingقَضَاءَهَاto pay them backأَحَبُّis more belovedإِلَيَّto meمِنْthanأَنْthatأْتْرُكَI leaveمِثْلَهَاthe like of themحَلَالاً.as lawful wealth.
And it was narrated from Abu Al-Darda' that he said: That I should die with four thousand dirhams of debt upon me, intending to repay them, is more beloved to me than leaving the like of them as lawful wealth.
وَقَالَAnd saidسَلْمَانُSalmanالْفَارِسِيُّ:Al-Farsi:قَدْI haveخَشِيتُfearedأَنْthatأَكُونَI mightقَدْhaveتَرَكْتُleftعَهْدَthe covenant ofرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،God,صَلَّىmay Godاللَّهُbless himعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,قِيلَ:it was said:وَلِمَAnd whyذَاكَ؟is that?قَالَ:He said:لِأَنَّهُBecause heقَالَsaid:مَنْWhoeverأَرَادَwantsأَنْtoيَدْخُلَenterالْجَنَّةَParadiseفَلَاthen let notيَكُونَbeزَادُهُhis provisionمِنَfromالدُّنْيَاthe worldإِلَّاexceptكَزَادِlike the provision ofالرَّاكِبِ،a rider,وَأَنَاand Iقَدْhaveجَمَعْتُgatheredمَاwhatتَرَوْنَ.you see.
And Salman Al-Farsi said: I have feared that I might have left the covenant of the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace. It was said: And why is that? He said: Because he said: Whoever wants to enter Paradise, let his provision from the world be nothing except like the provision of a rider, and I have gathered what you see.
فَقَوَّمُواSo they appraisedمَاwhatعِنْدَهُhe hadفَبَلَغَand it reachedثَمَانِيَةَeighteenعَشَرَteenدِرْهَماً.dirhams.
So they appraised what he had, and it amounted to eighteen dirhams.
وَكَانَAndيُقَالُ:it used to be said:مَنْWhoeverأَصْبَحَwakes upآمِناًsafeفِيinسِرْبِهِhis dwellingمُعَافًىhealthyفِيinبَدَنِهِhis bodyعِنْدَهُand he hasقُوتُthe food ofيَوْمِهِhis dayفَعَلَىthen uponالدُّنْيَاthe worldالْعَفَاءُ.be the ruin (i.e. he needs nothing else).
And it used to be said: Whoever wakes up safe in his dwelling, healthy in his body, and has his food for the day, then let the world perish (he has all he needs).
وَرُوِيَAnd it was narratedعَنِfromالنَّبِيِّ،the Prophet,صَلَّىmay Godاللَّهُbless himعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,أَنَّهُthat heكَانَused to beمِنْfromدُعَائِهِ:his supplication:اللَّهُمَّO Godأَحْيِنِيcause me to liveمِسْكِيناًas a poor personوَأَمِتْنِيand cause me to dieمِسْكِيناًas a poor personوَاحْشُرْنِيand gather meفِيinزُمْرَةِthe company ofالْفُقَرَاءِ،the poor,اللَّهُمَّO Godاجْعَلْmakeرِزْقَthe sustenance ofآلِthe family ofمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadكَفَافاً.just sufficiency.
And it was narrated from the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, that among his supplications was: O God, cause me to live poor, cause me to die poor, and gather me in the company of the poor. O God, make the sustenance of Muhammad's family just enough to suffice.
فَسَأَلَSo askedبَعْضُهُمْ:some of them:مَاWhatالْكَفَافُ؟is sufficiency?
So some of them asked: What is sufficiency?
فَقَالَ:So he said:جُوعُHunger ofيَوْمٍa dayوَشِبَعُand fullness ofيَوْمٍ.a day.
So he said: Hunger one day and fullness another.
وَرُوِيَAnd it was narratedأَنَّthatعِيسَىJesusبْنَson ofمَرْيَمَ،Mary,عَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ،be peace,كَانَusedلَاnotيَأْوِيto take shelter underسَقْفَthe roof ofبَيْتٍ،a house,فَأَلْجَأَهُso drove himالْمَطَرُthe rainذَاتَon oneلَيْلَةٍnightإِلَىtoغَارٍ،a cave,فَدَخَلَهُso he entered itفَإِذَاand beholdسَبُعٌa beast of preyقَدْhadسَبَقَهُpreceded himإِلَيْهِ،to it,فَكَأَنَّand it was as ifصَدْرَهُhis chestضَاقَgrew constrictedفَأَوْحَىso revealedاللَّهُGodعَزَّAlmightyوَجَلَّand Majesticإِلَيْهِ:to him:يَاOعِيسَىJesusضَاقَhas your chestصَدْرُكَgrown constrictedفَوَعِزَّتِيby My MightلَأُزَوِّجَنَّكَI will surely marry you toأَرْبَعَةَfourآلَافِthousandحُورَاءَhourisوَلَأُولِمَنَّand I will surely hold a wedding feast forعَلَيْكَyouأَلْفَthousandعَامٍ.years.
And it was narrated that Jesus son of Mary, peace be upon him, used not to take shelter under the roof of a house. One night, the rain drove him to a cave, so he entered it, and behold, a beast of prey had preceded him there. It was as if his chest grew constricted, so God, Almighty and Majestic, revealed to him: O Jesus, has your chest grown constricted? By My Might, I will surely marry you to four thousand houris and hold a wedding feast for you for a thousand years.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَانَAndالْفُضَيْلُAl-Fudaylبْنُson ofعِيَاضٍ'Iyadيَقُولُused to sayفِيinدُعَائِهِ:his supplication:اللَّهُمَّO GodأَجَعْتَنِيYou made me hungryوَأَجَعْتَand made hungryعِيَالِيmy familyوَتَرَكْتَنَاand left usفِيinظُلْمَةِthe darkness ofاللَّيْلِthe nightبِلَاwithoutمِصْبَاحٍa lampوَإِنَّمَاand you onlyتَفْعَلُdoهَذَاthisبِأَوْلِيَائِكَwith your beloved friendsفَبِأَيِّso by whatمَنْزِلَةٍstatusنِلْتُdid I attainهَذَاthisمِنْكَfrom youيَاOرَبِّ؟Lord?
He said: Al-Fudayl ibn 'Iyad used to say in his supplication: O God, You made me and my family hungry, and left us in the darkness of the night without a lamp, and You only do this with Your beloved friends—so by what status did I attain this from You, O Lord?
[مَسَاوِئُ[Evils ofالْفَقْرِ]poverty]
[Evils of poverty]
قِيلَ:It was said:أَمَرَcommandedاللَّهُGodعَزَّAlmightyوَجَلَّand Majesticمُوسَى،Moses,عَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ،be peace,فَقَالَ:so He said:ائْتِGo toكُورَةَthe district ofكَذَاsuch-and-suchوَكَذَا،and such,فَقَالَ:so he said:يَاOرَبِّLordإِنِّيIقَتَلْتُkilledمِنْهُمْfrom themنَفْساًa personوَأَنَاand Iخَائِفٌ،am afraid,فَقَالَso saidاللَّهُGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّ:and Mighty:إِنِّيIndeed Iقَدْhaveأَمَتُّcaused to dieأَقْرِبَاءَهُ.his relatives.
It was said: God, Almighty and Majestic, commanded Moses, peace be upon him, saying: Go to the district of such-and-such. He said: O Lord, I killed a person from among them and I am afraid. God, Majestic and Mighty, said: I have caused his relatives to die.
فَصَارَSo he wentإِلَيْهَاto itفَأَوَّلُand the first thing thatاسْتَقْبَلَهُmet himقِرَابَةٌwas a relativeلِلْمَقْتُولِ.of the slain person.
So he went to it, and the first thing that met him was a relative of the slain person.
فَقَالَ:He said:يَاOرَبِّLordهَذَاthisأَخُوهُ!is his brother!قَالَ:He said:يَاOمُوسَىMosesإِنِّيindeed Iجَعَلْتُهُhave made himفَقِيراًpoorوَالْفَقِيرُand the poor person isمَيِّتٌdeadمِنَin terms ofالْعَقْلِmindوَعِنْدَand withالنَّاسِpeopleمَيِّتٌdeadوَعِنْدَand withالْحَلَالِthe lawfulوَالْحَرَامِand unlawfulمَيِّتٌdeadوَالْفَقْرُand poverty isالْمَوْتُthe deathالْأَكْبَرُ.greater.
He said: O Lord, this is his brother! He said: O Moses, indeed I have made him poor, and the poor person is dead in mind, dead among people, and dead regarding the lawful and the unlawful, and poverty is the greater death.
وَقِيلَ:And it was said:إِنَّهُthatإِذَاwhenأَيْسَرَbecomes well-offالْفَقِيرُthe poor personابْتُلِيَhe is testedبِهِwith itثَلَاثَةٌ:by three things:صَدِيقُهُhis friendالْقَدِيمُoldيَجْفُوهُshuns himوَامْرَأَتُهُand his wifeيَتَزَوَّجُhe marriesعَلَيْهَاover herوَدَارُهُand his houseيَهْدِمُهَاhe demolishes itوَيَبْنِيهَا.and rebuilds it.
And it was said: When a poor person becomes well-off, he is tested by three things: his old friend shuns him, he marries another woman over his wife, and he demolishes his house and rebuilds it.