ثُمَّThenمَضَيْتُI wentفَوَاللَّهِby AllahمَاnotانْصَرَفْتُI turned awayحَتَّىuntilوَرَدَreachedعَلَىuponالْمَنْصُورِAl-Mansurالْخَبَرُthe newsبِانْتِقَاضِof the rebellionأَمْرِof the affairالْمَوْصِلِof Mosulوَانْتِشَارِand the spreadالْأَكْرَادِof the Kurdsبِهَاin it
Then I went, and by Allah, I did not leave until the news reached Al-Mansur of the uprising in Mosul and the spread of the Kurds there.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَنْصُورُAl-MansurوَيْحَكُمْWoe to youمَنْwhoلَهَاfor it
Al-Mansur said, "Woe to you, who is for it?"
وَكَانَAnd wasالْمُسَيَّبُAl-Musayyabبْنُson ofزُهَيْرٍZuhayrعِنْدَwithالْمَنْصُورِAl-Mansurوَكَانَand wasصَدِيقاًa friendلِخَالِدٍto Khalid
Al-Musayyab bin Zuhayr was with Al-Mansur, and he was a friend of Khalid.
فَقَالَSo he saidعِنْدِيI haveوَاللَّهِby Allahمَنْsomeone whoيَكْفِيكَهُwill suffice you for it
He said, "I have, by Allah, someone who will suffice you for it,"
وَأَنَاand Iأَعْلَمُknowأَنَّكَthat youسَتَلْقَانِيwill meet meبِمَاwith whatأَكْرَهُI dislike
"and I know that you will meet me with what I dislike,"
وَلَكِنِّيbut Iلَاdo notأَدَعُabandonعَلَىuponحَالٍany conditionنُصْحَكَyour sincere advice
"yet I will not abandon sincere advice to you under any circumstance."
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَنْصُورُAl-MansurقُلْSpeakفَلَسْتُfor I am notأَرُدُّrejectingعَلَيْكَagainst you
Al-Mansur said, "Speak, for I will not reject anything from you."
قَالَHe saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulمَاyou do notتَرْمِيهَاtarget itبِمِثْلِwith the likes ofخَالِدٍKhalid
He said, "O Commander of the Faithful, you do not launch at it the likes of Khalid."
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَنْصُورُAl-MansurوَيْحَكَWoe to youوَتَرَاهُand do you see himيَصْلُحُsuitableلَنَاfor usبَعْدَafterمَاwhatأَتَيْنَاهُwe did to himإِلَيْهِto him
Al-Mansur said, "Woe to you, do you see him as suitable for us after what we did to him?"
قُلْتُI saidنَعَمْYesيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَأَنَاand I amزَعِيمُهُguarantor for himبِذَلِكَwith thatوَالضَّامِنُand the suretyعَلَيْهِfor him
I said, "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful, and I am his guarantor for that and surety for him."
فَتَبَسَّمَSo smiledالْمَنْصُورُAl-Mansurوَقَالَand saidصَدَقْتَyou have spoken the truthوَاللَّهِby Allahمَاnoneلَهَاfor itغَيْرُهُother than him
Al-Mansur smiled and said, "You have spoken the truth, by Allah, none is for it other than him."
فَلْيَحْضُرْSo let him attendغَداًtomorrow
"So let him attend tomorrow."
فَأُحْضِرَSo he was broughtفَصَفَحَand he pardonedلَهُhimعَنِforالثَّلَاثِthe threeمِائَةِhundredالْأَلْفِthousandالدِّرْهَمِdirhamsالْبَاقِيَةِremainingعَلَيْهِupon himوَعَقَدَand he appointedلَهُhim
So he was brought, and he forgave him the three hundred thousand dirhams remaining upon him, and appointed him.
قَالَSaidيَحْيَىYahyaفَنَمُرُّso we passوَاللَّهِby Allahبِالزَّاجِرِby the chanterوَاللِّوَاءِand the bannerبَيْنَin front ofيَدَيَّme
Yahya said: So we passed, by Allah, with the herald and the banner before me.
فَلَمَّاWhenرَآنِيhe saw meقَالَhe saidأَنَاIهَاhereهُنَاam hereأَنْتَظِرُكَwaiting for youمُنْذُsinceغُدْوَةٍmorning
When he saw me, he said, "I have been here waiting for you since morning!"
قَالَHe saidفَتَبَسَّمْتُso I smiledإِلَيْهِat himفَقَالَand he saidامْضِProceed
He said: So I smiled at him, and he said, "Proceed."
فَمَضَىSo he proceededمَعِيwith meوَدَفَعْتُand I paidإِلَيْهِto himالْخَمْسَةَthe fiveآلَافِthousandالدِّرْهَمِdirhams
So he proceeded with me, and I paid him the five thousand dirhams.
مَسَاوِئُThe evils ofالْفَأْلِbad omens
The Evils of Bad Omens
قَالَSaidإِسْحَاقُIshaqبْنُson ofإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimالْمَوْصِلِيُّAl-MawsiliحَضَرْتُI attendedمَجْلِسَthe gathering ofالْمَأْمُونِAl-Ma'mun
Ishaq bin Ibrahim Al-Mawsili said: I attended the gathering of Al-Ma'mun
فَقُلْتُand I saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَلَاwill you notأُحَدِّثُكَlet me narrate to youعَنِaboutالْفَضْلِAl-Fadlبْنِson ofيَحْيَىYahya
and said, "O Commander of the Faithful, shall I not tell you about Al-Fadl bin Yahya?"
قَالَHe saidبَلَىYes
He said, "Yes."
فَقُلْتُSo I saidدَخَلْتُI enteredدَارَthe house ofالرَّشِيدِAl-Rashid
So I said, "I entered the house of Al-Rashid,
وَإِذَاand beholdالْفَضْلُAl-Fadlبْنُson ofيَحْيَىYahyaوَإِسْمَاعِيلُand Ismailبْنُson ofصُبَيْحٍSubayhوَعَبْدُand AbdالْمَلِكِAl-Malikبْنُson ofصَالِحٍSalihفِيinبَعْضِsome ofتِلْكَthoseالْأَرْوِقَةِcorridorsيَتَحَدَّثُونَtalking
and there were Al-Fadl bin Yahya, Ismail bin Subayh, and Abd al-Malik bin Salih in some of those corridors talking.
فَلَمَّاWhenبَصُرَcaught sightبِيof meالْفَضْلُAl-Fadlأَوْمَأَhe signaledإِلَيَّto meوَقَالَand said
When Al-Fadl caught sight of me, he signaled to me and said,
يَاOإِسْحَاقُIshaqانْتَظَرْنَاكَwe have awaited youمُنْذُsinceالْغَدَاةِmorningلِتُسَاعِدَto assistعَلَىinمَاwhatنَحْنُweفِيهِare inمِنَofالْمُذَاكَرَةِdiscussion
"O Ishaq, we have been waiting for you since the morning to assist in what we are engaged in of academic discussion!"
فَقُلْتُSo I saidيَاOسَيِّدِيmy masterأَنَاI amالسَّكِيتُthe silent oneإِذَاwhenأُجْرِيَتِare made to runالْجِيَادُthe racehorsesوَفَازَand winsالسَّابِقُthe foremostوَالْمُصَلِّيand the runner-up
I said, "O my master, I am the silent one when racehorses are set to run and the foremost and runner-up win."
فَقَالَSo he saidهَيْهَاتَFar from itعِنْدَهَاat that timeمَدَحْتَyou praisedنَفْسَكَyourselfوَلَمَّاand you have not yetتُكَذَّبْbeen proven false
He said, "Far from it! At that, you have praised yourself and have not yet been proven false."
فَلَمَّاWhenفَرَغَfinishedعَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِAl-Malikمِنْfromحَدِيثِهِhis narrationقَالَsaidالْفَضْلُAl-Fadl
When Abd al-Malik finished his narration, Al-Fadl said,
إِنَّIndeedلِقَسٍّfor Qassحَدِيثاًis a narrationسَمِعْتُهُI heard itمِنَfromالْخَلِيلِAl-Khalilبْنِson ofأَحْمَدَAhmadفَهَلْso isعِنْدَwithوَاحِدٍoneمِنْكُمْof youلَهُof itذِكْرٌany mention
"Indeed, Qass has a narration that I heard from Al-Khalil bin Ahmad, so does any of you have any mention of it?"
فَسَكَتَSo fell silentالْقَوْمُthe people
The people fell silent.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidيَاOسَيِّدِيmy masterمَاwe do notنَعْرِفُknowلَهُfor himحَدِيثاًany narrationإِلَّاexceptحَدِيثَthe narration ofخُطْبَتِهِhis sermonبِعُكَاظَat Ukaz
I said, "O my master, we know no narration for him except the narration of his sermon at Ukaz."
قَالَHe saidذَاكَthatشَيْءٌis somethingقَدْalreadyفَهِمَتْهُunderstood itالْعَامَّةُthe general publicوَاخْتَبَرَتْهُand tested itالْخَاصَّةُthe elite
He said, "That is something the general public has understood and the elite have tested."
ثُمَّThenأَطْرَقَhe lowered his headسَاعَةًfor a while
Then he lowered his head in silence for a while.
فَقُلْنَاSo we saidإِنْifرَأَيْتَyou see fitأَنْtoتُحَدِّثَنَاnarrate to us
We said, "If you see fit to narrate to us,
فَقَالَthen he saidحَدَّثَنِيnarrated to meالْخَلِيلُAl-Khalilبْنُson ofأَحْمَدَAhmadأَنَّthatقَيْصَرَCaesarمَلِكَthe king ofالرُّومِthe RomansبَعَثَsentإِلَىtoقَسِّQassبْنِson ofسَاعِدَةَSa'idahأُسْقُفِّbishop ofنَجْرَانَNajran
then he said: Al-Khalil bin Ahmad narrated to me that Caesar, the king of the Romans, sent to Qass bin Sa'idah, the bishop of Najran,
وَكَانَand he wasحَكِيماًa wise manطَبِيباًa physicianبَلِيغاًeloquentفِيinمَنْطِقِهِhis speech
and he was a wise man, a physician, eloquent in his speech.
فَلَمَّاWhenدَخَلَhe enteredعَلَيْهِupon himوَمَثَلَand stoodبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْهِhimحَمِدَhe praisedاللَّهَAllahوَأَثْنَىand extolledعَلَيْهِHim
When he entered upon him and stood before him, he praised Allah and extolled Him.
فَأَمَرَهُSo he commanded himبِالْجُلُوسِto sitفَجَلَسَand he sat
He ordered him to sit, so he sat.
فَرَحَّبَThen he welcomedبِهِhimوَأَدْنَىand brought nearمَجْلِسَهُhis seatوَقَالَand said
Then he welcomed him, brought his seat close, and said,
مَاnotزِلْتُI have ceasedمُشْتَاقاًlongingإِلَيْكَfor youمَعَalong withمَاwhatأَحْبَبْتُI lovedمِنْofمُنَاظَرَتِكَdebating with youفِيinالطِّبِّmedicine
"I have continually longed for you, despite my desire to debate with you regarding medicine."
فَكَانَSo wasأَوَّلَthe firstمَاwhatسَأَلَهُhe asked himعَنْaboutالشَّرَابِdrinkلِعُجْبِهِdue to his fascinationبِهِwith it
The very first thing he asked him about was drink, due to his fascination with it.
فَقَالَSo he saidأَيُّWhichالْأَشْرِبَةِdrinksأَفْضَلُis bestعَاقِبَةًin consequenceفِيinالْبَدَنِthe body
He said, "Which drinks are best in their consequence for the body?"
قَالَHe saidمَاthat whichصَفَاclarifiedفِيinالْعَيْنِthe eyeوَاشْتَدَّand was strongعَلَىonاللِّسَانِthe tongueوَطَابَتْand was pleasantرَائِحَتُهُits aromaفِيinالْأَنْفِthe noseمِنْfromشَرَابِwine ofالْكَرْمِthe grapevine
He said, "That which is clear to the eye, strong on the tongue, and pleasant in aroma to the nose, from the wine of the grapevine."
قَالَHe saidفَمَاThen whatتَقُولُdo you sayفِيaboutمَطْبُوخِهِits cooked form
He said, "Then what do you say about its cooked form?"
قَالَHe saidمَرْعًىa pastureوَلَاand notكَالسَّعْدَانِlike the Sa'dan plant
He said, "A pasture, but not like the Sa'dan plant."
قَالَHe saidفَمَاThen whatتَقُولُdo you sayفِيaboutنَبِيذِthe wine ofالزَّبِيبِraisins
He said, "Then what do you say about raisin wine?"
قَالَHe saidمَيِّتٌA dead thingأُحْيِيَbrought back to lifeوَفِيهِand in itبَعْضُis someالْمُتْعَةِenjoymentوَمَاand it hardlyيَكَادُalmostيَقْوَىretains strengthشَيْءٌanythingبَعْدَafterالْمَوْتِdeath
He said, "A dead thing brought back to life, in which there is some enjoyment, but nothing hardly retains strength after death."
قَالَHe saidفَمَاThen whatتَقُولُdo you sayفِيaboutنَبِيذِthe wine ofالْعَسَلِhoney
He said, "Then what do you say about honey wine?"
قَالَHe saidنِعْمَAn excellentشَرَابُdrinkالشَّيْخِfor the old manلِلْبَرْدَةِfor coldnessوَالْمَعِدَةِand the stomachالْفَاسِدَةِweak/spoiled
He said, "An excellent drink for the elderly man, for coldness and a weak stomach."
قَالَHe saidفَمَاThen whatتَقُولُdo you sayفِيaboutأَنْبِذَةِthe wines ofالتَّمْرِdates
He said, "Then what do you say about date wines?"
قَالَHe saidأَوْسَاخٌFilthيَطِيبُwhich tastes pleasantمَذَاقُهَاits tasteفِيinاللَّهَوَاتِthe palatesوَتَسُوءُand turns badعَاقِبَتُهَاits consequenceفِيinالْبَدَنِthe bodyوَتُولِدُand generatesالْأَرْوَاحَwindsفِيinالْبَطْنِthe abdomenلِرِقَّتِهَاdue to its thinness
He said, "Filth whose taste is pleasant in the palates, but whose consequence is bad in the body, generating winds in the abdomen due to its thinness."
قَالَHe saidفَمِنْThen fromأَيِّwhatشَيْءٍthingيَكُونُisالثَّمَلُthe intoxicationالَّذِيwhichيُذْهِبُremovesالْغَمَّthe griefوَيُطَيِّبُand makes pleasantالنَّفْسَthe soul
He said, "Then from what thing is the intoxication that removes grief and gladdens the soul?"
قَالَHe saidزَعَمُواThey claimedأَنَّthatالْعَقْلَthe intellectتُصْعِدُهُcauses it to ascendسَوْرَةُthe surge ofالشَّرَابِdrinkإِلَىtoالدِّمَاغِthe brainالَّذِيwhichهُوَit isأَصْلُهُits originبِقُوَّةِby the strength ofالرُّوحِthe spiritالَّذِيwhichجُعِلَwas placedفِيهِin it
He said, "They claim that the surge of drink causes the intellect to ascend to the brain, which is its origin, by the power of the spirit placed within it."
فَإِذَاSo whenصَعِدَتِascendedالسَّوْرَةُthe surgeإِلَىtoالدِّمَاغِthe brainالَّذِيwhichهُوَit isأَصْلُهُits originفَاحْتَوَتْand encompassedعَلَيْهِitحَتَّىuntilتَغْشَاهُit shrouds itحَجَبَتِit veilsالْعَقْلَthe intellectعَنْfromمَنَافِعِهِits functions
When the surge ascends to the brain, which is its origin, and encompasses it until it shrouds it, it veils the intellect from its functions.
فَاحْتَجَبَSo is veiledالْبَصَرُthe sightبِغَيْرِwithoutعَمًىblindnessوَالسَّمْعُand hearingبِغَيْرِwithoutصَمَمٍdeafnessوَاللِّسَانُand the tongueبِغَيْرِwithoutخَرَسٍmuteness
Thus sight is veiled without blindness, hearing without deafness, and the tongue without muteness.
وَالدَّلِيلُAnd the proofعَلَىofذَلِكَthatأَنَّis thatالسَّكْرَانَthe drunk personلَاdoes notيَرَىseeفِيinنَوْمِهِhis sleepشَيْئاًanythingوَلَاand neitherتُصِيبُهُdoes befall himجَنَابَةٌmajor ritual impurity
The proof of that is that the drunk person does not see anything in his sleep, nor does major ritual impurity befall him.
فَلَاSo stillيَزَالُremainsالْعَقْلُthe intellectكَذَلِكَthusمُحْتَجِباًveiledحَتَّىuntilتَفُكَّهُreleases itالطَّبِيعَةُnatureمِنْfromإِسَارِthe shackles ofالسُّكْرِintoxicationإِمَّاeitherبِقُوَّةٍwith strengthفَيُعَجِّلَso it hastensوَإِمَّاorبِضَعْفٍwith weaknessفَيُبْطِئَso it delays
The intellect remains thus veiled until nature releases it from the shackles of intoxication, either quickly through strength or slowly through weakness.
قَالَHe saidفَمِنْThen fromأَيِّwhatشَيْءٍthingالْخُمَارُis the hangoverمِنْfromبَعْدِafterصَحْوِthe sobering ofالسَّكْرَانِthe drunk person
He said, "Then from what thing is the hangover after the drunk person becomes sober?"
قَالَHe saidمِنْFromإِعْيَاءِthe exhaustion ofالطَّبِيعَةِnatureعَنْinمُجَاهَدَةِstruggling againstالسَّوْرَةِthe surgeفِيinافْتِكَاكِfreeingالْعَقْلِthe intellectوَتَخَلُّصِهِand its releaseحَتَّىuntilيَرُدَّهَاreturns itالنَّوْمُsleepإِلَىtoهُدُوءٍcalmnessوَمَاand whatأَشْبَهَهُresembles it
He said, "From the exhaustion of nature in struggling against the surge to free the intellect and release it, until sleep returns it to calmness and the like."
قَالَHe saidالصَّرْفُUnmixed wineأَفْضَلُbetterأَمِorالْمَمْزُوجُmixed wine
He said, "Is unmixed wine better, or mixed wine?"
قَالَHe saidالصَّرْفُUnmixed wineسُلْطَانٌis a rulerجَائِرٌtyrannicalوَالْجَائِرُand the tyrantمُسْتَفْسِدٌis corruptingمَذْمُومٌblameworthyوَالْمَمْزُوجُand mixed wineسُلْطَانٌis a rulerعَادِلٌjustوَالْعَادِلُand the justمُسْتَصْلِحٌreformativeمَحْمُودٌpraiseworthy
He said, "Unmixed wine is a tyrannical ruler, and the tyrant is corrupting and blameworthy; while mixed wine is a just ruler, and the just is reformative and praiseworthy."
قَالَHe saidفَصِفْThen describeلِيto meالْأَطْعِمَةَthe foods
He said, "Then describe foods to me."
قَالَHe saidالْأَطْعِمَةُFoodsكَثِيرَةٌare manyمُخْتَلِفَةٌand diverseوَجُمْلَةُand the sum ofمَاwhatآمُرُكَI command youبِهِwithالْإِمْسَاكُis abstainingعَنْfromغَايَةِthe utmostالْإِكْثَارِexcess
He said, "Foods are many and diverse, and the sum of what I command you with is abstaining from the utmost excess,"
فَإِنَّfor indeedذَلِكَthatمِنْis amongأَفْضَلِthe bestمَاof whatبَلَوْنَاهُwe have testedمِنَofالْأَدْوِيَةِmedicinesوَرَأْسُand the head ofمَاwhatنَأْمُرُwe commandبِهِwithمِنَofالْحِمْيَةِdiet
"for indeed that is among the best of what we have tested of medicines, and the pinnacle of what we command regarding diet."