وَقَالَAnd saidبَعْضُsomeالْفَلَاسِفَةِ:of the philosophers:
And some of the philosophers said:
يَنْبَغِيIt behoovesلِلْعَاقِلِthe wise manأَنْthatيَتَّقِيَhe guards againstالْبَرْدَthe coldفِيinأَوَّلِthe beginning ofالشِّتَاءِwinterوَفِيand inآخِرِهِ.its end.
The wise man should guard against the cold at the beginning and end of winter.
فَقِيلَSo it was saidلَهُ:to him:
So it was said to him:
فَفِيAnd inوَسَطِهِ؟its middle?
And in its middle?
قَالَ:He said:ذَاكَThatيَتَّقِيهِguards against itالْعَاقِلُthe wise manوَالْأَحْمَقُ.and the foolish man.
He said: That is guarded against by both the wise and the foolish.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَأَوْصَىAnd advisedبَعْضُsomeالْحُكَمَاءِof the wise menوَلَدَهُhis sonفَقَالَand saidلَهُ:to him:
It was said: One of the wise men advised his son, saying to him:
إِيَّاكَBewareأَنْthatتَسِيرَyou walkشِبْراًa spanمِنَofالْأَرْضِthe earthوَأَنْتَwhile you areحَافٍ،barefoot,
Beware of walking even a span of earth while barefoot,
وَلَاand do notتَذُوقَنَّtasteنَبْتَةًa plantوَلَاand do notتَشُمَّهَاsmell itحَتَّىuntilتَعْرِفَهَا،you know it,
and do not taste a plant nor smell it until you know it,
وَإِيَّاكَand bewareوَأَنْthatتَبُولَyou urinateفِيinشِقِّa crack ofالْأَرْضِthe earthفَتُخْرِجَso there comes outمِنْهُfrom itعَلَيْكَagainst youدَاهِيَةٌ،a calamity,
and beware of urinating in a crack in the ground lest a calamity emerge from it against you,
وَلَاand do notتَشْرَبْdrinkمِنْfromفَمِthe mouth ofقِرْبَةٍa water-skinوَلَاnorإِدَاوَةٍa water-jugحَتَّىuntilيَكُونَisالْمَاءُthe waterمَعِيناً،flowing and clear,
and do not drink from the mouth of a water-skin or a water-jug until the water is clear and known,
وَاحْذَرْand bewareمُرَافَقَةَof the companionship ofالْمَعْرِفَةِacquaintanceوَمَنْand whoeverلَاnotتَعْرِفْyou knowفَلَاthen do notتُصَاحِبْهُ،accompany him,
and beware of casual acquaintances, and whoever you do not know, do not accompany him,
وَإِيَّاكَand bewareوَالسُّجُودَof prostratingعَلَىonبَارِيَةٍa reed matجَدِيدَةٍnewحَتَّىuntilتَمْسَحَهَاyou wipe itبِكُمِّكَwith your sleeveفَرُبَّfor many aشَظِيَّةٍsplinterحَقِيرَةٍdespisedفَقَأَتْhas piercedعَيْناًan eyeخَطِيرَةً،dangerous,
and beware of prostrating on a new reed mat until you wipe it with your sleeve, for many a small splinter has put out a precious eye,
وَلَاand do notتَنْظُرَنَّlookفِيintoبِئْرٍa wellعَادِيَةٍ،ancient,
and do not look into an ancient well,
وَلَاand do notتَشْهَدَنَّwitnessمِنَofالْحَيَوَانِthe animalsالْكِبَارِlargeمَاwhatهُوَit isفِيinالنَّزْعِ،the throes of death,
and do not witness large animals when they are in the throes of death,
وَاقْبَلْand acceptوَصِيَّتِيmy adviceتَرْشُدْyou will be guidedوَلَاand do notتَدَعْهَاleave itفَتَنْدَمَ.lest you regret.
and accept my advice, you will be guided, and do not abandon it lest you regret it.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَدَخَلَand enteredأَعْرَابِيٌّa BedouinذُوpossessingكَدَنَةٍcorpulenceعَلَىuponمُعَاوِيَةَMuawiyahبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiسُفْيَانَSufyanفَأَعْجَبَهُand he amazed himفَقَالَ:so he said:
It was said: A corpulent Bedouin entered upon Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan, and he impressed him, so he said:
يَاOأَعْرَابِيُّBedouinمِمَّfrom whatهَذَاis thisالسِّمَنُ؟fatness?
O Bedouin, from what is this fatness?
قَالَ:He said:لَاI do notآكُلُeatحَتَّىuntilأَجُوعَI am hungryوَأَسْتَوْثِقَand I secureمِنْfromأَطْرَافِيmy extremitiesفِيinالشِّتَاءِthe winterوَأَغْفُلَand I neglectغَاشِيَةَthe burden ofالْهَجْرِ.abandonment.
He said: I do not eat until I am hungry, and I secure my extremities in the winter, and I neglect the burden of abandonment.
وَقَالَAnd saidبَعْضُsomeالْفَلَاسِفَةِ:of the philosophers:
And some of the philosophers said:
اخْضَعْSubmitلِلرِّيحِto the windخُضُوعَكَyour submissionلِلْمَلِكِ،to the king,
Submit to the wind as you submit to the king,
وَجَاهِدِand struggle againstالْبَلْغَمَphlegmمُجَاهَدَةَlike the struggle ofعَدُوِّكَ،your enemy,
and struggle against phlegm as you would struggle against your enemy,
وَدَارِand conciliateالْمِرَّةَbileمُدَارَاتَكَas you conciliateصَدِيقِكَ،your friend,
and conciliate bile as you would conciliate your friend,
وَأَنْزِلْand draw downدَمَكَyour bloodفِيinالسَّنَةِthe yearمَرَّةًonceأَوْorمَرَّتَيْنِ،twice,
and let your blood once or twice a year,
وَرُوِّand moistenمُشَاشَتَكَyour cartilage and jointsمِنْwithمَاءِbroth ofلُحُومِmeats ofالطَّيْرِ،birds,
and moisten your joints with the broth of bird meat,
وَعَلَيْكَand you must haveبِالشَّرَابِthe drinkالْأَصْفَرِyellowفَإِنَّهُfor it isحَلِيفُthe ally ofالرُّوحِ.the spirit.
and you must use the yellow drink, for it is the ally of the spirit.
وَذَكَرَAnd mentionedأَبُوAbuالْحُسَيْنِAl-HusseinمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُson ofأَحْمَدَAhmadبْنِson ofيَحْيَىYahyaبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiالْبَغْلِAl-BaghoulعَنْfromأَحْمَدَAhmadبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiالْأَضْبَعِAl-Adbaوَكَانَand he wasكَاتِباًa scribeلِأَحْمَدَfor AhmadعَنْfromيَحْيَىYahyaبْنِson ofمَاسُويَهْMasawayhقَالَ:who said:
Abu Al-Hussein Muhammad bin Ahmad bin Yahya bin Abi Al-Baghoul mentioned from Ahmad bin Abi Al-Adba, who was a scribe for Ahmad, from Yahya bin Masawayh, who said:
أَكْلُEatingالْفَالُوذِfaloodehلِصَاحِبِfor the one who drinksالنَّبِيذِnabidhعِنْدَنَاwith usمِنْis fromشَرِّthe worst ofالطِّبِّ.medicine.
Eating faloodeh for the consumer of nabidh among us is among the worst kinds of medicine.
وَقِيلَ:And it was said:مَاthere isمِنْofأَحَدٍanyoneإِلَّاexceptوَفِيهِthat in him areأَرْبَعَةُfourعُرُوقٍ:veins:
And it was said: There is no one except that in him are four veins:
عِرْقُthe vein ofالْجُذَامِleprosyوَعِرْقُand the vein ofالْبَرَصِvitiligoوَعِرْقُand the vein ofالْعَمَىblindnessوَعِرْقُand the vein ofالْجُنُونِ،madness,
the vein of leprosy, the vein of vitiligo, the vein of blindness, and the vein of madness.
فَإِذَاSo whenتَحَرَّكَstirsعِرْقُthe vein ofالْجُذَامِleprosyقَمَعَهُsuppresses itاللَّهُAllahبِالزُّكَامِwith a coldفَأَذْهَبَهُ،and removes it,
When the vein of leprosy stirs, Allah suppresses it with a cold and removes it,
وَإِذَاand whenتَحَرَّكَstirsعِرْقُthe vein ofالْبَرَصِvitiligoسَلَّطَsendsاللَّهُAllahجَلَّthe Majesticوَعَزَّand Mightyعَلَيْهِupon itالدَّمَامِيلَboilsفَأَذْهَبَتْهُ،and removes it,
and when the vein of vitiligo stirs, Allah, Majestic and Mighty, sends boils upon it to remove it,
وَإِذَاand whenتَحَرَّكَstirsعِرْقُthe vein ofالْجُنُونِmadnessسَلَّطَsendsاللَّهُAllahعَلَيْهِupon itالْبَلْغَمَphlegmفَقَطَعَهُ،and cuts it off,
and when the vein of madness stirs, Allah sends phlegm upon it to cut it off,
وَإِذَاand whenتَحَرَّكَstirsعِرْقُthe vein ofالْعَمَىblindnessسَلَّطَsendsاللَّهُAllahعَلَيْهِupon itالرَّمَدَophthalmiaفَأَذْهَبَهُ.and removes it.
and when the vein of blindness stirs, Allah sends ophthalmia upon it to remove it.
وَقَدْAnd it has beenرُوِيَnarratedعَنِfromالنَّبِيِّ،the Prophet,صَلَّىpeaceاللَّهُof Allahعَلَيْهِbe upon himوَسَلَّمَ:and his blessings:
And it has been narrated from the Prophet, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him:
لَاDo notتَكْرَهُواdislikeأَرْبَعاًfour thingsلِأَرْبَعٍ،for four reasons:
Do not dislike four things for four reasons:
لَاdo notتَكْرَهُواdislikeالزُّكَامَthe coldفَإِنَّهُfor itيَقْطَعُcuts offعِرْقَthe vein ofالْجُذَامِ،leprosy,
do not dislike the cold, for it cuts off the vein of leprosy,
وَتَكْرَهُواand [do not] dislikeالسُّعَالَthe coughفَإِنَّهُfor itيَقْطَعُcuts offعِرْقَthe vein ofالْفَالِجِ،hemiplegia,
and do not dislike the cough, for it cuts off the vein of hemiplegia,
وَلَاand do notتَكْرَهُواdislikeالرَّمَدَophthalmiaفَإِنَّهُfor itيَقْطَعُcuts offعِرْقَthe vein ofالْعَمَى،blindness,
and do not dislike ophthalmia, for it cuts off the vein of blindness,
وَلَاand do notتَكْرَهُواdislikeالدَّمَامِيلَboilsفَإِنَّهَاfor theyتَقْطَعُcut offعِرْقَthe vein ofالْبَرَصِ.vitiligo.
and do not dislike boils, for they cut off the vein of vitiligo.
وَرُوِيَAnd it was narratedعَنْfromعَلِيٍّ،Ali,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwith himعَنْهُ،andأَنَّهُthat heقَالَ:said:
And it was narrated from Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said:
مَنْWhoeverابْتَدَأَbeginsغَدَاءَهُhis lunchبِالْمِلْحِwith saltأَذْهَبَremovesاللَّهُAllahعَنْهُfrom himسَبْعِينَseventyنَوْعاًtypesمِنَofالسُّوءِ،evil,
Whoever begins his meal with salt, Allah removes from him seventy types of evil,
وَمَنْand whoeverأَكَلَeatsإِحْدَىtwentyوَعِشْرِينَand oneزَبِيبَةًraisinحَمْرَاءَredلَمْwill notيَرَseeفِيinجَسَدِهِhis bodyشَيْئاًanythingيَكْرَهُهُ،he dislikes,
and whoever eats twenty-one red raisins will not see anything in his body that he dislikes,
وَمَنْand whoeverأَكَلَeatsسَبْعَsevenتَمَرَاتٍdatesعَجْوَةٍof Ajwaقَتَلَتْthey killكُلَّeveryدَابَّةٍcreeping creatureفِيinبَطْنِهِ،his belly,
and whoever eats seven Ajwa dates, they kill every creature in his belly,
وَاللَّحْمُand meatيُنْبِتُmakes growاللَّحْمَ،meat,
and meat grows meat,
وَالثَّرِيدُand tharidطَعَامُis the food ofالْعَرَبِ،the Arabs,
and tharid is the food of the Arabs,
وَالسِّوَاكُand using the siwakوَقِرَاءَةُand the recitation ofالْقُرْآنِthe Quranيُذْهِبَانِremoveبِالْبَلْغَمِ،phlegm,
and using the siwak and reciting the Quran remove phlegm,
وَالْبَقَرُand cowsلُحُومُهَاtheir meatدَاءٌis a diseaseوَأَلْبَانُهَاand their milkدَوَاءٌis a medicineوَسَمْنُهَاand their gheeشِفَاءٌ،is a cure,
and cows: their meat is a disease, their milk is a medicine, and their ghee is a cure,
وَالسَّمَكُand fishيُذِيبُdissolvesالْجَسَدَ،the body,
and fish dissolves the body,
وَالشَّحْمُand fatيُخْرِجُbrings outمِثْلَهُits likeمِنَofالدَّاءِ،disease,
and fat expels its like of disease,
وَلَنْand people will notيَتَدَاوَىtreat themselves with medicineالنَّاسُpeopleبِمِثْلِwith the likes ofالسِّمْنِ،ghee,
and people will not treat themselves with medicine like ghee,
وَلَنْand will notتَسْتَشْفِيseek cureالنُّفَسَاءُthe woman who has recently given birthبِمِثْلِwith the likes ofالرُّطَبِ،fresh dates,
and a woman who has recently given birth will not seek a cure like fresh dates,
وَالْمَرْءُand manيَسْعَىstrivesبِجِدِّهِby his diligenceوَالسَّيْفُand the swordيَقْطَعُcutsبِحَدِّهِ،by its edge,
and man strives by his diligence, and the sword cuts by its edge,
وَمَنْand whoeverأَرَادَwantsالْبَقَاءَsurvivalوَلَاand there is noبَقَاءَsurvivalفَلْيُبَاكِرِthen let him have earlyالْغَدَاءَlunchوَلْيُخَفِّفِand let him lightenالرِّدَاءَhis garmentوَلْيُقَلِّلْand let him reduceمِنْofغِشْيَانِapproachingالنِّسَاءِ،women,
and whoever wants survival - and there is no survival - let him eat lunch early, lighten his garment, and reduce approaching women,
وَخِفَّةُand lightness ofالرِّدَاءِthe garmentقِلَّةُis paucity ofالدَّيْنِ.debt.
and lightness of the garment is paucity of debt.
قِيلَ:It was said:مَنْwhoeverبَاتَspends the nightوَالْهِنْدَبَاءُand chicoryفِيinجَوْفِهِhis bellyبَاتَspends the nightآمِناًsafeمِنَfromالدُّبَيْلَةِ،abscess,
It was said: Whoever spends the night with chicory in his belly spends the night safe from abscess,
وَمَنْand whoeverبَاتَspends the nightوَالْفُجْلُand radishفِيinجَوْفِهِhis bellyبَاتَspends the nightآمِناًsafeمِنَfromالْبَشَمِ،indigestion from overeating,
and whoever spends the night with radish in his belly spends the night safe from indigestion,
وَمَنْand whoeverبَاتَspends the nightوَالْكَرَفْسُand celeryفِيinجَوْفِهِhis bellyبَاتَspends the nightآمِناًsafeمِنْfromوَجَعِpain ofالْأَضْرَاسِ،the molars,
and whoever spends the night with celery in his belly spends the night safe from toothache,
وَمَنْand whoeverبَاتَspends the nightوَالْجِرْجِيرُand arugulaفِيinجَوْفِهِhis bellyبَاتَspends the nightوَعُرُوقُwhile the veins ofالْجُذَامِleprosyتَتَرَدَّدُare throbbingفِيinصَدْرِهِ،his chest,
and whoever spends the night with arugula in his belly spends the night while the veins of leprosy are throbbing in his chest,
وَمَنْand whoeverبَاتَspends the nightوَالْكَرَّاثُand leekفِيinجَوْفِهِhis bellyبَاتَspends the nightآمِناًsafeمِنَfromالْبَوَاسِيرِ.hemorrhoids.
and whoever spends the night with leek in his belly spends the night safe from hemorrhoids.
وَقَالَAnd saidبَعْضُsomeالْفَلَاسِفَةِ:of the philosophers:
And some of the philosophers said:
لَاIt does notيَنْبَغِيbehooveلِلْعَاقِلِthe wise manأَنْthatيَسْتَخِفَّhe belittlesبِالْقَلِيلِthe smallمِنْofثَلَاثَةِthreeأَشْيَاءَ،things,
The wise man should not belittle a small amount of three things,
بِالْقَلِيلِthe small amount ofمِنَofالنَّارِfireوَبِالْقَلِيلِand the small amount ofمِنَofالسُّلْطَانِauthorityوَبِالْقَلِيلِand the small amount ofمِنَofالسَّقَمِ.illness.
a small amount of fire, a small amount of authority, and a small amount of illness.
وَقَالَAnd saidأَبُوAbuهَفَّانَ:Haffan:حَدَّثَنِيnarrated to meالْعَبَّاسُAl-Abbasبْنُson ofالْمَأْمُونِAl-Mamunقَالَ:who said:
And Abu Haffan said: Al-Abbas bin Al-Mamun narrated to me, saying:
كُنْتُI wasعِنْدَwithالْمَأْمُونِAl-Mamunذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayوَعِنْدَهُand with him wasالْمُوبِذُthe Mobadhفَسَأَلَهُ:so he asked him:
I was with Al-Mamun one day, and the Mobadh was with him, so he asked him:
مَاWhat isأَنْفَعُthe most beneficial ofالْأَشْيَاءِ؟things?
What is the most beneficial of things?
فَقَالَ:He said:الِاقْتِصَادُmoderationفِيinالطَّعْمِfoodوَالشُّرْبِand drinkفَإِنَّforكَثِيرَهُmuch of itيُثْقِلُmakes heavyالْجِسْمَthe bodyوَيُوهِنُand weakensالْعِلْمَknowledgeوَالْفَهْمَand understandingوَيُكَدِّرُand muddiesصَفَاءَthe clarity ofالْبَشَرَةِthe skinوَيَفْتَحُand opensالْأَدْوَاءَdiseasesوَيُخْمِدُand extinguishesنَارَthe fire ofالْمَعِدَةِthe stomachوَيَمْمُحُand wipes outشَرَفَthe honor ofصَاحِبِهِ.its owner.
He said: Moderation in food and drink, for much of it makes the body heavy, weakens knowledge and understanding, muddies the clarity of the skin, opens the doors to diseases, extinguishes the fire of the stomach, and wipes out the honor of its owner.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَأْمُونُ:Al-Mamun:لَوْIfأَسْلَمْتَyou had converted to IslamيَاOمُوبِذُMobadhوَلَمْand I had notأَسْتَقْضِكَappointed you as a judgeكُنْتَyou would haveقَدْindeedضَيَّعْتَwastedحُجَّةَthe proof ofاللَّهِAllahفِيinأَرْضِهِ.His earth.
Al-Mamun said: If you had converted to Islam, O Mobadh, and I had not appointed you as a judge, you would have wasted Allah's proof on His earth.
الْحَسَنُAl-Hasanبْنُson ofعَلِيٍّAliبْنِson ofزَيْدٍZaydقَالَ:said:سَمِعْتُI heardعَلِيَّAliبْنَson ofالْجَعْدِAl-Jadيَقُولُ:saying:
Al-Hasan bin Ali bin Zayd said: I heard Ali bin Al-Jad saying:
لَمَّاWhenقَدِمَarrivedبَخْتِيشُوعُBakhtishuالْأَكْبَرُthe ElderعَلَىuponأَبِيAbuجَعْفَرٍJafarمِنَfromالسُّوسِSusaأَمَرَhe orderedلَهُfor himبِالطَّعَامِ،food,
When Bakhtishu the Elder arrived at the presence of Abu Jafar from Susa, he ordered food for him,
فَلَمَّاand whenوُضِعَwas placedبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْهِhimالْخِوَانُthe dining trayقَالَ:he said:الشَّرَابُ.The drink.
and when the dining tray was placed before him, he said: The drink.
قِيلَIt was saidلَهُ:to him:لَاIt is notيُشْرَبُdrankعَلَىatمَائِدَةِthe table ofأَمِيرِthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.the Faithful.
It was said to him: No drinking is done at the table of the Commander of the Faithful.
قَالَ:He said:لَاI will notآكُلُeatطَعَاماًfoodلَيْسَthat is notمَعَهُwith itشَرَابٌ.drink.
He said: I will not eat food that does not have drink with it.
فَأُخْبِرَSo was informedأَمِيرُthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulبِذَلِكَ،of that,فَقَالَ:so he said:دَعُوهُ.Leave him.
The Commander of the Faithful was informed of that, and he said: Leave him.
فَلَمَّاSo whenحَضَرَcameالْعَشَاءُdinnerفَعَلَhe didبِهِwith itمِثْلَlikeذَلِكَ،that,فَطَلَبَso he requestedالشَّرَابَ،the drink,
When dinner was served, he did the same thing, and requested the drink,
فَقِيلَand it was saidلَهُ:to him:لَاIt is notيُشْرَبُdrankعَلَىatمَائِدَةِthe table ofأَمِيرِthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.the Faithful.
and it was said to him: No drinking is done at the table of the Commander of the Faithful.
فَتَعَشَّىSo he had dinnerوَشَرِبَand drankمَاءَwater ofدِجْلَةَ.Tigris.
So he had dinner and drank the water of the Tigris.
فَلَمَّاAnd whenكَانَit wasالْغَدُthe next dayنَظَرَhe lookedإِلَىatمَائِهِits waterفَقَالَ:and said:
When the next day came, he looked at its water and said:
مَاI do notكُنْتُthinkأَحْسَبُthatشَيْئاًanythingيَجْرِيflowsمَجْرَىin the manner ofالشَّرَابِdrinkفَهَذَاso this isمَاءُthe water ofدِجْلَةَTigrisيَجْرِيflowingمَجْرَىin the manner ofالشَّرَابِ.drink.
I did not think anything flows in the manner of drink, but this is the water of the Tigris flowing in the manner of drink.
يُرِيدُHe meantفِيinالْمَنْفَعَةِbenefitأَنَّهُthat itمِثْلُهُ.is like it.
He meant in terms of benefit that it is like it.
مَسَاوِئُThe evils ofمَاwhatيُفْسِدُcorruptsالْبَدَنَthe body
The evils of what corrupts the body