al mahasin wal masawi al bayhaqi

Page 151

فَوَقَفَSo stoodعَلَيْهِover himرَجُلٌa manمِنْfromأَصْحَابِcompanions ofخَالِدٍKhalid

So a man from the companions of Khalid stood over him

فَضَرَبَand struckعُنُقَهُhis neck

and struck his neck,

وَإِذَاand beholdرَأْسُهُhis headفِيinالْجَفْنَةِthe bowlالَّتِيwhichكَانَhe wasيَشْرَبُdrinkingمِنْهَاfrom it

and behold, his head was in the bowl from which he used to drink,

وَلِذَلِكَand thereforeقِيلَ:it was said:

and therefore it was said:

إِنَّIndeedالْبَلَاءَafflictionمُوَكَّلٌis entrustedبِالْمَنْطِقِwith speech

Indeed, affliction is entrusted with speech

وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd narrated to usالْحُسَيْنُAl-Husaynبْنُson ofالضَّحَّاكِAl-Dahhakقَالَ:who said:

And Al-Husayn ibn Al-Dahhak narrated to us, saying:

شَهِدْتُI witnessedالْوَاثِقَAl-Wathiqوَكَانَand he wasقَاعِدًاsittingفِيinمَجْلِسٍa gatheringكَانَthat wasأَوَّلَthe firstمَجْلِسٍgatheringقَعَدَهُhe sat in

I witnessed Al-Wathiq while he was sitting in a gathering which was the first gathering he held,

فَكَانَand it wasأَوَّلَthe firstمَاwhatتَغَنَّىwas sungمِنَofالْغِنَاءِsingingفِيinذَلِكَthatالْمَجْلِسِgathering

and the first thing sung of music in that gathering

صَوْتَwas the melody ofإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimبْنِson ofالْمَهْدِيِّAl-Mahdi

was the melody of Ibrahim ibn Al-Mahdi,

فَغَنَّتْso sangبِهِitشَارِيَةُShariyaجَارِيَةُthe slave-girl ofإِبْرَاهِيمَ:Ibrahim:

which was sung by Shariya, the slave-girl of Ibrahim:

مَاDidدَرَىknowالْحَامِلُونَthe bearersيَوْمَon the dayاسْتَقَلُّواthey lifted

Did the bearers know on the day they lifted

نَعْشاًa bierلِالثَّوَاءِwhether for remainingأَمْorلِلِقَاءِfor meeting?

a bier, whether for remaining or for meeting?

فَلْتَبْكِSo let weepفِيكَover youبَاكِيَاتٌweeping womenكَمَاasشِئْنَthey wish

So let weeping women weep over you as they wish,

صَبَاحاًin the morningوَعِنْدَand atكُلِّeveryمَسَاءِevening

in the morning and at every evening.

قَالَ:He said:

He said:

فَبَكَىHe weptوَاللَّهِby Allahوَبَكَيْنَاand we weptحَتَّىuntilشَغَلَنَاdistracted usالْبُكَاءُthe weepingعَنْfromجَمِيعِallمَاwhatكُنَّاwe wereفِيهِin it

By Allah, he wept and we wept until weeping distracted us from all that we were in.

ثُمَّThenانْدَفَعَpromptedبَعْضُsomeالْمُغَنِّينَof the singersفَغَنَّى:and sang:

Then some of the singers began and sang:

وَدِّعْBid farewell toهُرَيْرَةَHurayrahإِنَّforالرَّكْبَthe ridersمُرْتَحِلُare departing

Bid farewell to Hurayrah, for the riders are departing,

وَهَلْand canتُطِيقُyou bearوَدَاعاًfarewellأَيُّهَاOالرَّجُلُman?

and can you bear a farewell, O man?

قَالَ:He said:

He said:

فازْدَادَSo he increasedوَاللَّهِby Allahفِيinالْبُكَاءِweeping

By Allah, he increased in weeping,

ثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:

then he said:

أَسْمِعْتَHave you heardكَالْيَوْمِlike todayقَطُّeverتَعْزِيَةًconsolationبِأَبٍfor a fatherوَنَعْيَand announcement of death ofنَفْسٍ؟a soul?

Have you ever heard like today a consolation for a father and an announcement of the death of a soul?

ثُمَّThenارْفَضَّّdispersedذَلِكَthatالْمَجْلِسُgathering

Then that gathering dispersed.

وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd narrated to usابْنُIbnالْمَكِّيِّAl-Makkiعَنْfromأَبِيهِhis fatherقَالَ:who said:

And Ibn Al-Makki narrated to us from his father, who said:

قَالَSaidمُحَمَّدُMuhammadالْأَمِينُAl-Aminفِيinآخِرِthe lastأَيَّامِهِ:of his days:

Muhammad Al-Amin said in his last days:

يَاOمَكِّيُّMakki,وَاللَّهِby AllahأُحِبُّI would loveأَنْthatأَقْعُدَI sitيَوْماًone dayقَبْلَbeforeأَنْthatيُحَالَit is intervenedبَيْنَنَاbetween usوَبَيْنَandمَاwhatنُرِيدُwe desire

"O Makki, by Allah, I would love to sit for a day before it is intervened between us and what we desire."

فَقُلْتُ:So I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithful,افْعَلْdoذَلِكَthat.

So I said, "O Commander of the Faithful, do that."

فَقَالَ:He said:اغْدُCome earlyعَلَيَّto meفِيinغَدٍtomorrow.

He said, "Come to me early tomorrow."

قَالَ:He said:فَانْصَرَفْتُSo I leftوَغَدَاand came earlyعَلَيَّto meرَسُولُهُhis messengerفِيinالسَّحَرِthe dawn

He said: So I departed, and his messenger came to me at dawn,

فَجِئْتُand I cameإِلَيْهِto himوَهُوَwhile he wasفِيinصَحْنِthe courtyard ofدَارِهِhis house

and I came to him while he was in the courtyard of his house,

وَعَلَيْهِand upon him wasجُبَّةُa robe ofوَشْيٍbrocadeمُذَهَّبَةٌgildedتَأْتَلِقُglittering

and upon him was a gilded brocade robe glittering,

وَعِمَامَةٌand a turbanمِثْلُهَاlike itمَاnotرَأَيْتُhave I seenلِأَحَدٍfor anyoneقَطُّeverمِثْلَlikeذَلِكَthat

and a turban like it; I had never seen the like of that for anyone ever,

وَتَحْتَهُand beneath him wasكُرْسِيٌّa chairمِنْofذَهَبٍgoldمُرَصَّعٌstuddedبِالْجَوْهَرِwith jewels

and beneath him was a chair of gold studded with jewels.

فَدَعَاSo he called forبِكُرْسِيٍّa chairفَجَلَسْتُand I satعَلَيْهِupon itعَنْonيَسَارِهِhis left

So he called for a chair and I sat upon it on his left.

ثُمَّThenقَالَhe saidلِخَادِمٍto a servantعَلَىstanding atرَأْسِهِ:his head:

Then he said to a servant standing at his head:

ادْعُCallلِيfor meفُلَانَةَso-and-soوَفُلَانَةَand so-and-so

"Call for me so-and-so and so-and-so,"

حَتَّىuntilعَدَّhe countedأَرْبَعَfourجَوَارٍslave-girlsمَاnotمِنْهُنَّamong themجَارِيَةٌwas a slave-girlإِلَّاexceptوَأَنَاthat Iأَعْرِفُknewحِذْقَهَاher skillوَجَوْدَةَand excellence ofغِنَائِهَاher singing

until he counted four slave-girls, not one of them except that I knew her skill and the excellence of her singing.

فَخَرَجْنَSo they came outوَجَلَسْنَand satعَنْonيَمِينِهِhis right

So they came out and sat on his right.

ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:يَاOغُلَامُboy,عَلَيَّbring meبِرَطْلٍa ratl (measure of wine)

Then he said, "O boy, bring me a ratl."

فَأُتِيَAnd it was broughtبِرَطْلٍa ratlوَقَدَحِand a cup ofبَلُّورٍcrystalمُكَلَّلٍstuddedبِالْجَوْهَرِwith jewels

And a ratl was brought, along with a crystal cup studded with jewels.

فَالْتَفَتَSo he turnedإِلَىtoالَّتِيthe one whoتَلِيهِwas next to himفَقَالَand saidلَهَا:to her:غَنِّSing

So he turned to the one next to him and said to her, "Sing."

فَضَرَبَتْSo she struckضَرْباًa strokeحَسَناًgoodوَتَغَنَّتْand sangبِشِعْرِwith the poetry ofالْوَلِيدِAl-Walidبْنِson ofعُقْبَةَUqbahبْنِson ofأَبِيAbuمُعَيْطٍ:Muayt:

So she played well and sang with the poetry of Al-Walid ibn Uqbah ibn Abi Muayt:

هُمُTheyقَتَلُوهُkilled himكَيْso thatيَكُونُواthey might beمَكَانَهُin his place

They killed him so that they might be in his place,

كَمَاjust asقَتَلَتْkilledكِسْرَىChosroesبِلَيْلٍat nightمَرَازِبَةٌPersian commanders

just as Persian commanders killed Chosroes at night.

بَنِيO sons ofهَاشِمٍHashim,رُدُّواreturnسِلَاحَweapon ofأَخِيكُمْyour brother

O sons of Hashim, return the weapon of your brother,

وَلَاand do notتَنْهَبُوهُplunder itلَاit is notتَحِلُّlawfulمَنَاهِبُهُhis plunder

and do not plunder it, for his plunder is not lawful.

قَالَ:He said:

He said:

فَرَمَىSo he threwبِالْقَدَحِthe cupفِيinوَسَطِthe middle ofالدَّارِthe house

So he threw the cup into the middle of the house

ثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:لَعَنَكَMay curse youاللَّهُ!Allah!مَاWhatهَذَا؟is this?

and said, "May Allah curse you! What is this?"

قَالَتْ:She said:لَاNoوَاللَّهِby AllahيَاOسَيِّدِيmy masterمَاdid notجَاءَcomeعَلَىuponلِسَانِيmy tongueغَيْرُother thanهَذَاthis

She said, "No, by Allah, O my master, nothing else came upon my tongue."

ثُمَّThenالْتَفَتَhe turnedإِلَىtoالْغُلَامِthe boyفَقَالَ:and said:اسْقِنِيGive me to drink

Then he turned to the boy and said, "Give me to drink."

فَأَتَاهُSo he brought himبِقَدَحٍa cupمِثْلِlikeالْأَوَّلِthe first

So he brought him a cup like the first.

وَقَالَAnd he saidلِلْأُخْرَى:to the second:غَنِّSing

And he said to the second, "Sing."

فَغَنَّتْSo she sangمَاwhatقِيلَwas saidفِيaboutكُلَيْبِKulaybوَائِلٍ:Wail:

So she sang what was said about Kulayb of Wail:

كُلَيْبٌKulaybلَعَمْرِيby my lifeكَانَwasأَكْثَرَmore abundant inنَاصِراًhelpers

Kulayb, by my life, was more abundant in helpers,

وَأَيْسَرَand lighter inذَنْباًsinمِنْكَthan youضُرِّجَstainedبِالدَّمِwith blood

and lighter in sin than you, stained with blood.

فَرَمَىSo he threwبِالْقَدَحِthe cupفِيinصَحْنِthe courtyard ofالدَّارِthe houseوَكَسَرَهُand broke it

So he threw the cup in the courtyard of the house and broke it,

ثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:يَاOغُلَامُboy,عَلَيَّbring meبِرَطْلٍa ratl

then he said, "O boy, bring me a ratl."

وَقَالَAnd he saidلِلثَّالِثَةِ:to the third:غَنِّSing

And he said to the third, "Sing."

فَغَنَّتْ:So she sang:

So she sang:

أَتَقْتُلُDo you killعَمْراًAmrلَاnoأَبَاfatherلَكَto youشَارِداًwhile wandering

Do you kill Amr—may you have no father—while wandering,

وَتَزْعُمُand claimبَعْدَafterالْقَتْلِthe killingأَنَّكَthat youهَارِبُare a fugitive?

and claim after the killing that you are a fugitive?

فَلَوْFor hadكُنْتَyou beenبِالْأَقْطَارِin the regionsمَاnotفَاتَwould have escapedضَرْبَتِيmy blow

Had you been in the regions, my blow would not have missed you,

وَكَيْفَand howتَفُوتُcan you escapeالْحِينَdestinyوَالدَّمُand the bloodطَالِبُis demanding?

and how can you escape destiny when the blood is demanding?

قَالَ:He said:

He said:

فَرَمَاهَاSo he threw itبِالْقَدَحِat her with the cupوَقَالَ:and said:يَاOغُلَامُboy,عَلَيَّbring meبِرَطْلٍa ratl

So he threw the cup at her and said, "O boy, bring me a ratl."

وَقَالَAnd he saidلِلرَّابِعَةِ:to the fourth:غَنِّSing

And he said to the fourth, "Sing."

فَغَنَّتْ:So she sang:

So she sang:

كَأَنْAs ifلَمْnotيَكُنْthere wasبَيْنَbetweenالْحَجُونِAl-HajunإِلَىandالصَّفَاAl-Safa

As if there were not between Al-Hajun and Al-Safa

أَنِيسٌan intimate companionوَلَمْand neither conversedيَسْمُرْat nightبِمَكَّةَin Meccaسَامِرُa night-converser

an intimate companion, nor did any night-converser converse in Mecca.

بَلَىYesنَحْنُweكُنَّاwereأَهْلَهَاits peopleفَأَبَادَنَاso annihilated us

Yes, we were its people, but annihilated us

صُرُوفُvicissitudes ofاللَّيَالِيnightsوَالْجُدُودُand fortunesالْعَوَائِرُadversities

the vicissitudes of nights and adverse fortunes.

قَالَ:He said:

He said:

فَالْتَفَتَSo he turnedإِلَيَّto meوَقَالَ:and said:قَدْIndeedسَمِعْتَyou have heardهَذَاthisأَمْرٌa matterيُرِيدُهُwills itاللَّهُAllahجَلَّmajesticوَعَزَّand mighty

So he turned to me and said, "You have heard this; it is a matter which Allah, majestic and mighty, wills."

قَالَ:He said:فَمَاSo notمَضَتْpassedأَيَّامٌdaysحَتَّىuntilرَأَيْتُI sawرَأْسَهُhis headبَيْنَbetweenشُرْفَتَيْنِtwo battlementsمِنْofشُرَفِbattlements ofقَصْرِهِhis palace

He said: Not many days passed until I saw his head between two battlements of his palace.

[مَحَاسِنُThe beauties ofتَرْكِabandoningالتَّطَيُّرِ]superstition

[The Beauties of Abandoning Superstition]

رُوِيَIt was narratedعَنْfromعِكْرِمَةَIkrimahقَالَ:who said:

It was narrated from Ikrimah, who said:

كُنَّاWe wereجُلُوساًsittingعِنْدَwithابْنِIbnالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbasوَابْنِand IbnعُمَرَUmar

We were sitting with Ibn Al-Abbas and Ibn Umar,

فَمَرَّwhen passed byطَائِرٌa birdيَصِيحُ،crying out,فَقَالَand saidرَجُلٌa manمِنَfromالْقَوْمِ:the people:خَيْرٌ!Good!

when a bird flew by crying out. A man from the people said, "Good!"

فَقَالَSo saidابْنُIbnالْعَبَّاسِ:Al-Abbas:لَاNeitherخَيْرَgoodوَلَاnorشَرَّ،evil,وَأَنْشَدَand he recitedفِيinمِثْلِهِ:its likeness:

So Ibn Al-Abbas said, "Neither good nor evil," and he recited regarding its like:

مَاDid notفَرَّقَseparateالْأَحْبَابَthe loved onesبَعْدَafterاللَّهِAllahإِلَّاexceptالْإِبِلْthe camels

Nothing separated loved ones after Allah except the camels,

وَالنَّاسُand peopleيَلْحُونَblameغُرَابَthe crow ofالْبَيْنِdepartureلَمَّاwhenجَهِلُواthey were ignorant

and people blame the crow of departure because they were ignorant.

وَمَاAnd notعَلَىuponظَهْرِthe back ofغُرَابِthe crow ofالْبَيْنِdepartureتُطْوَىare foldedالرِّحَلْthe saddles

And upon the back of the crow of departure are saddles not folded,

وَلَاnorإِذَاwhenصَاحَcries outغُرَابٌa crowفِيinالدِّيَارِthe abodesاحْتَمَلُواdo they pack up

nor when a crow cries in the abodes do they pack up.

وَمَاAnd is notغُرَابُthe crow ofالْبَيْنِdepartureإِلَّاexceptنَاقَةٌa she-camelأَوْorجَمَلْa camel

And the crow of departure is nothing but a she-camel or a camel.

وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:

And for another:

أَتَرْحَلُDo you depart fromعَمَّنْone whomأَنْتَyou areصَبٌّpassionately in loveبِمِثْلِهِwith his like

Do you depart from one whom you are passionately in love with,

وَتَلْحَىand blameغُرَابَthe crow ofالْبَيْنِdepartureإِنَّكَwhile you areذُوpossessor ofظُلْمِinjustice?

and blame the crow of departure while you are unjust?

أَقِمْStayفَفُرَابُfor the crow ofالْبَيْنِdepartureغَيْرُis notمُفَرِّقٍa separator

Stay, for the crow of departure is not a separator,

وَلَاnorنَازِلٍdescendingإِلَّاexceptعَلَىuponأَفْضَلِthe best ofالْحُكْمِdecrees

nor does it alight except upon the best of decrees.

وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:

And for another:

غَلِطَMistaken areالَّذِينَthose whoرَأَيْتُهُمْI saw themبِجَهَالَةٍin ignorance

Mistaken are those whom I saw in ignorance,

يَلْحُونَblamingكُلَّهُمُall of themغُرَاباًa crowيَنْعِقُcawing

all of them blaming a cawing crow.

مَاThere isالذَّنْبُno blameإِلَّاexceptلِلْجِمَالِupon the camelsفَإِنَّهَاfor indeed they

There is no blame except upon the camels, for indeed they

مِمَّاare whatيُشَتِّتُscattersجَمْعَهُمْtheir gatheringوَيُفَرِّقُand separates

are what scatters their gathering and separates them.

إِنَّIndeedالْغُرَابَthe crowبِيُمْنِهِwith its rightnessيُدْنِيbrings nearالنَّوَىthe distant separation

Indeed, the crow with its rightness brings near the distant separation,

وَتُشَتِّتُand scattersالشَّمْلَthe united companyالْجَمِيعَall togetherالْأَيْنِقُthe she-camels

while the she-camels scatter the united company altogether.

مَحَاسِنُThe beauties ofالْمَوَاعِظِadmonitions

The Beauties of Admonitions