فَلَمَّاAnd whenبَلَغَتِit reachedالنَّجْمَthe starعِزًّاin gloryوَرِفْعَةًand loftiness
And when it reached the star in glory and loftiness...
وَصَارَتْand becameرِقَابُthe necksالْخَلْقِof creationأَجْمَعَallلِيfor meرِقَّاin servitude.
...and the necks of all creation became in servitude to me.
رَمَانِيShot meالرَّدَىDestinyسَهْمًاwith an arrowفَأَخْمَدَso it extinguishedجَمْرَتِيmy burning coal.
Destiny shot me with an arrow and extinguished my burning coal.
فَهَأَنَاSo here I amذَاnowفِيinحُفْرَتِيmy graveمَيِّتًاdeadأُلْقَىcast away.
So here I am in my grave, cast away dead.
وَلَمْAnd did notيُغْنِavailعَنِّيmeمَاwhatجَمَعْتُI gathered
What I gathered did not avail me
وَلَمْand I did notأَجِدْfindلَدَىwithقَابِضِthe Seizer ofالْأَرْوَاحِsoulsفِيinفِعْلِهِHis actionرِفْقًاany gentleness.
and I found no gentleness in the action of the Seizer of souls.
وَلِبَعْضِهِمْAnd for some of themفِيregardingالْقَاسِمِAl-Qasimبْنِson ofعُبَيْدِUbaydاللَّهِAllah:
And about Al-Qasim ibn Ubayd Allah, some poet said:
خَرَجْتَYou departedمِنَfromالدُّنْيَاthe worldذَمِيمًاblameworthyإِلَىtoالْقَبْرِthe grave
You departed from the world blameworthy to the grave
فَلَاso neitherأَحَدٌanyoneيَأْسَىgrievesوَلَاnorعَبْرَةٌa tearتَجْرِيflows.
so neither does anyone grieve nor does a tear flow.
وَتَرْتَYou wrongedرَسُولَthe Messenger ofاللَّهِAllahفِيconcerningأَهْلِthe people ofبَيْتِهِhis house
You wronged the Messenger of Allah concerning the people of his house
فَكَيْفَso howرَأَيْتَdid you findاللَّهَAllahطَالِبًاas a seeker ofبِالْوَتْرِvengeance?
so how did you find Allah as a seeker of vengeance?
الْجَاحِظُAl-Jahizقَالَsaid:مَرَرْتُI passedبِقَبْرَيْنِby two gravesمَكْتُوبٍwrittenعَلَىonأَحَدِهِمَاone of them:
Al-Jahiz said: I passed by two graves, upon one of which was written:
أَنَاI amابْنُthe son ofسَافِكِthe shedder ofالدِّمَاءِblood
"I am the son of the shedder of blood,"
وَعَلَىand onالْآخَرِthe other:أَنَاI amابْنُthe son ofسَاجِنِthe imprisoner ofالرِّيحِthe wind.
and on the other: "I am the son of the imprisoner of the wind."
فَسَأَلْتُSo I askedعَنْهُمَاabout themفَقِيلَand it was said:
So I asked about them and it was said:
كَانَwasأَحَدُهُمَاOne of themحَجَّامًاa cupperوَالْآخَرُand the otherحَدَّادًاa blacksmith.
One of them was a cupper and the other a blacksmith.
قَالَSaidالْكَسْرَوِيُّAl-Kasrawi:مَرَرْتُI passedبِنَاوُوسٍby an ossuary/tombفِيinالرَّيِّRayy
Al-Kasrawi said: I passed by a tomb in Rayy
فَإِذَاand beholdعَلَيْهِupon itمَكْتُوبٌwritten:
and behold, upon it was written:
وَمَاAnd notنَارٌis a fireبِمُحْرِقَةٍburningجَوَادًاa generous person
"And a fire does not burn a generous person,
وَإِنْeven ifكَانَwasالْجَوَادُthe generous personمِنَfromالْمَجُوسِthe Magians.
even if the generous person was from the Magians."
وَرَأَيْتُAnd I sawعَلَىonنَاوُوسٍa tombذُكِرَit was mentionedأَنَّهُthat it wasنَاوُوسُthe tomb ofمِهْيَارِMihyarبْنِson ofمَهْفَيْرُوزَMahfayrouz:
And I saw on a tomb which was mentioned to be the tomb of Mihyar ibn Mahfayrouz:
أَيَاOمَيِّتًاdead person whoقَدْindeedكَانَwasفِيinأَهْلِthe people ofدِينِهِhis religion
"O dead person who among the people of his religion
مَكَانَlike the place ofسِنَانِthe blade ofالرُّمْحِthe spearلَمَّاwhenتَقَدَّمَاit advanced.
was like the blade of the spear when it advanced.
لَقَدْIndeedكُنْتُI wasأَرْجُوhopingالدَّهْرَtimeأَنْthatيُسْعِفَwould grantالنَّوَىdistant separation
I was hoping that time would grant relief from separation
وَأَرْجُوand hopingالْمَنَايَاdestiniesأَنْthatتُوَافِيَكَthey would bring youمُسْلِمًاas a Muslim.
and hoping that destinies would bring you back as a Muslim.
فَإِنْSo ifبَخَسَتْshortchangedآمَالُنَاour hopesفِيكَregarding youضَلَّةًin error
So if our hopes regarding you fell short in error,
سَعَادَةُthe bliss ofجَدٍّgood fortuneمَاhowأَجَلَّmajesticوَأَعْظَمَاand magnificent it is!"
the bliss of good fortune—how majestic and magnificent it is!"
[مَحَاسِنُ[The beauties ofمَاwhatقِيلَwas saidفِيconcerningالشَّيْبِ]gray hair]
[The beauties of what was said concerning gray hair]
قَالَ:He said:دَخَلَEnteredمَنْصُورٌMansurالنُّمَيْرِيُّAl-NumayriعَلَىuponالرَّشِيدِAl-Rashidفَأَنْشَدَهُ:and recited to him:
He said: Mansur al-Numayri entered upon Al-Rashid and recited to him:
مَاNotكُنْتُwas Iأُوفِيgivingشَبَابِيmy youthكُنْهَits fullعِزَّتِهِglory
"I was not giving my youth its full glory
حَتَّىuntilمَضَىit passedفَإِذَاand beholdالدُّنْيَاthe worldلَهُto itتَبَعُis subservient.
until it passed, and behold, the world is subservient to it."
فَبَكَىSo weptالرَّشِيدُAl-Rashidوَقَالَ:and said:يَاOنُمَيْرِيُّNumayri,لَاthere is noخَيْرَgoodفِيinدُنْيَاa worldلَاdoes notيَخْطُرُcrossفِيهَاin itبِحَلَاوَةِwith the sweetness ofالشَّبَابِyouthوَيُسْتَمْتَعُand enjoyment is takenبِأَيَّامِهِ،of its days,وَأَنْشَدَ:and he recited:
Al-Rashid wept and said: "O Numayri, there is no good in a world where one does not recall the sweetness of youth and enjoy its days," and he recited:
وَلَوْAnd ifأَنَّthatالشَّيْبَgray hairرُزْءٌa calamityحَلَّbefallingبِيme
"And if gray hair were a calamity befalling me
وَقْتَat the timeمَاwhenاسْتَحْقَقْتُI deservedشَيْبًاgray hairلَمْI would notأُبْلِcare.
at the time when I deserved gray hair, I would not care.
بَلْRatherأَتَانِيit came to meوَالصِّبَاwhile childhood/youthيَرْمُقُنِيwas gazing at me
Rather it came to me while youth was gazing at me
مِثْلَlikeمَاwhatيَأْتِيcomes toالْكَبِيرُan old manالْمُكْتَهِلُor middle-aged man."
like what comes to an old and middle-aged man."
وَأَنْشَدَ:And he recited:
And he recited:
حَسَرَتْUnveiledعَنِّيfrom meالْقِنَاعَthe veilظَلُومُZalum
"Zalum unveiled her veil from me
وَتَوَلَّتْand turned awayوَدَمْعُهَاwhile her tearمَسْجُومُwas flowing.
and turned away while her tear was flowing.
أَنْكَرَتْShe disapproved ofمَاwhatرَأَتْshe sawبِرَأْسِيupon my headفَقَالَتْ:so she said:
She disapproved of what she saw upon my head and said:
أَمَشِيبٌ"Is it gray hairأَمْorلُؤْلُؤٌpearlsمَنْظُومُstrung together?"
"Is it gray hair or pearls strung together?"
قُلْتُI said,شَيْبٌ"It is gray hairوَلَيْسَand it is notعَيْبًا،a defect,"فَأَنَّتْso she groaned
I said, "It is gray hair and not a defect," so she groaned
أَنَّةًa groanيَسْتَثِيرُهَاprovoked byالْمَهْمُومُone full of sorrow.
a groan provoked by one full of sorrow.
وَاقْتَسَتْAnd she matchedلَوْنَthe color ofمِرْطُهَاher wrapperثُمَّthenقَالَتْ:she said:
And she matched the color of her wrapper then said:
هَكَذَا"Thusمَنْis he whomتَوَسَّدَتْهُcares have taken as a pillowالْهُمُومُthe sorrows."
"Thus is he whom sorrows have taken as a pillow."
إِنَّIndeedأَمْرًاa matterجَنَىthat broughtعَلَيْكَupon youمَشِيبَthe greyness ofالرَّأْسِthe head
"Indeed, a matter that brought upon you the greyness of the head
فِيinجَمْعِهِaccumulating itلِأَمْرٍis for a matterعَظِيمِmighty.
in accumulating it is for a mighty matter.
شَدَّHow intenselyمَاwhatأَنْكَرْتُI disapproved ofتَصَرُّفَthe turning ofدَهْرٍtime
How intensely I disapproved of the turning of time
لَمْthat does notيُدَاوِمْremain constantوَأَيُّand whatشَيْءٍthingيَدُومُremains constant?"
that does not remain constant, and what thing remains constant?"
لِابْنِBy Ibnالْمُعْتَزِّ:Al-Mu'tazz:
By Ibn Al-Mu'tazz:
لَمَّاWhenرَأَتْshe sawشَيْبًاgray hairيَلُوحُgleamingبِعَارِضِيon my cheek
"When she saw gray hair gleaming on my cheek
صَدَّتْshe turned awayصُدُودَwith the turning away ofمُغَاضِبٍan angry personمُتَحَمِّلِwho is departing.
she turned away with the turning away of an angry person who is departing.
نَظَرَتْShe lookedإِلَيَّat meبِعَيْنِwith the eye ofمَنْone whoلَمْdid notيَعْدِلْact justly
She looked at me with the eye of one who did not act justly
لَمَّاwhenتَمَكَّنَwas ableطَرْفُهَاher glanceمِنْofمَقْتَلِيmy fatal spot.
when her glance gained power over my fatal spot.
مَاI stillزِلْتُkeptأَطْلُبُseekingوَصْلَهَاher unionبِتَذَلُّلٍwith humility
I kept seeking her union with humility
وَالشَّيْبُwhile gray hairيَغْمِزُهَاwas winking at herبِأَنْtoلَاnotتَفْعَلِيdo so."
while gray hair was winking at her to not do so."
وَلِابْنِAnd by IbnالْمُعْتَزِّAl-Mu'tazzأَيْضًاalsoفِيconcerningالشَّيْبِ:gray hair:
And by Ibn Al-Mu'tazz also concerning gray hair:
قَالَتْShe saidوَقَدْwhileرَاعَهَاit frightened herمَشِيبِي:my gray hair:
"She said, while my gray hair frightened her:
كُنْتَYou wereابْنَthe son ofعَمٍّan uncleفَصِرْتَso you becameعَمًّاan uncle [i.e. elderly]."
"You were a cousin, so you became an uncle [i.e. old]."
وَاسْتَهْزَأَتْAnd she mockedبِيmeفَقُلْتُso I saidأَيْضًا:also:
And she mocked me, so I said also:
قَدْ"Youكُنْتِwereبِنْتًاa daughterفَصِرْتِand you becameأُمًّاa mother."
"You were a daughter, and you became a mother."
كُفِّيCeaseوَلَاand do notتُكْثِرِيincreaseمَلَامِيmy blame
"Cease and do not increase my blame
وَلَاand do notتُزِيدِيaddالْعَلِيلَto the sick personسُقْمًاsickness.
and do not add sickness to the sick person.
مَنْWhoeverشَابَّgrows oldأَبْصَرَseesالْغَوَانِيthe young women
Whoever grows old sees the young women
بِعَيْنِwith the eye ofمَنْone whoقَدْhasعَمِيَgone blindوَصَمَّاand deaf.
with the eye of one who has gone blind and deaf.
لَوْIfقِيلَit were saidلِيto meاخْتَرْ"Chooseعَمًىblindnessوَشَيْبًاand gray hair
If it were said to me, 'Choose blindness and gray hair,
أَيُّهُمَاwhich of themشِئْتَyou wish?''قُلْتُI would sayأَعْمَىblind."
which of them you wish?' I would say, 'Blind.'"
وَلِآخَرَ:And to another:
And by another:
رَأَتْShe sawطَالِعًاa dawningلِلشَّيْبِof gray hairأَغْفَلْتُwhich I neglectedأَمْرَهُits matter
"She saw a dawning of gray hair whose matter I neglected
وَلَمْand did notتَتَعَهَّدْهُtend to itأَكُفُّthe hands ofالْخَوَاضِبِthose who dye hair.
and the hands of those who dye hair did not tend to it.
فَقَالَتْ:So she said,أَشَيْبًا"Is it gray hairمَاwhatأَرَى؟I see?"قُلْتُ:I said,شَامَةٌ"A mole."
So she said, "Is it gray hair what I see?" I said, "A mole."
فَقَالَتْ:Then she said,لَقَدْ"Indeedشَامَتْكَit has branded youبَيْنَamongالْحَبَائِبِthe loved ones."
Then she said, "Indeed it has branded you among the loved ones."
وَلِآخَرَ:And to another:
And by another:
شَكَوْتُI complainedمِنَofالشَّيْبِgray hairحَتَّىuntilضَجِرْتُI grew weary
"I complained of gray hair until I grew weary
فَدَبَّso it creptإِلَىtoعَارِضِيmy cheekوَاشْتَعَلْand blazed.
so it crept to my cheek and blazed.
وَسَوَّدَAnd it blackenedوَجْهِيmy faceفَسَوَّدْتُهُso I blackened it [back]
And it blackened my face, so I blackened it [back]
فَعَلْتُI didبِهِto itمِثْلَlikeمَاwhatقَدْindeedفَعَلْit did."
I did to it just like it did."
وَلِآخَرَ:And to another:
And by another:
إِذَاWhenرَاقَهُنَّpleased themخِدْنُthe companion ofالشَّبَابِyouth
"When the companion of youth pleased them
عَطَفْنَthey turnedكَمَاas turnsتَعْطِفُthe affectionateالْوَالِدَةْmother.
they turned as the affectionate mother turns.
وَإِنْAnd ifهُنَّtheyعَايَنَّاcaught sight ofذَاone withشَيْبَةٍgray hair
And if they caught sight of one with gray hair
فَيَاthen ohلَكَto youمِنْfromمُقَلٍeyesزَاهِدَةْthat are averse.
then oh for eyes that are averse to him!
فَوَيْحَSo woe toالشَّبَابِyouthوَوَيْحَand woe toالْمَشِيبِgray hair,
So woe to youth and woe to gray hair,
عَدُوَّانِtwo enemiesدَارُهُمَاwhose houseوَاحِدَةْis one."
two enemies whose house is one."
لِابْنِBy Ibnالْمُعْتَزِّ:Al-Mu'tazz:
By Ibn Al-Mu'tazz:
صَرَّحْتُI declaredبِالْجَفَاءِcrueltyأُمُّUmحَبَابِHubab
"Um Hubab declared cruelty
حِينَwhenبَاشَرْتُهَاI approached herبِبَعْضِwith someالْخِطَابِspeech.
when I approached her with some speech.
قُلْتُ:I said,لِمَ"WhyذَاthisوَقَدْwhileرَأَيْتُكِI have seen youحِينًاfor a time
I said, "Why is this, while I have seen you for a time
لَاnotتَمَلِّينَtiring ofعِشْرَتِيmy companyوَعِتَابِي؟and my reproach?"
not tiring of my company and my reproach?"
قَالَتِShe said,الشَّيْبُ"Gray hairقَدْhas indeedأَتَاكَcome to youفَأَقْصِرْso stop
She said, "Gray hair has indeed come to you, so stop
عَنْfromعِتَابِيmy reproachفَلَسْتَfor you are notمِنْofأَصْحَابِيmy companions."
reproaching me, for you are not of my companions."
فَتَعَلَّلْتُSo I resortedبِالْخِضَابِto hair dyeلِأَحْظَىto attainعِنْدَهَاwith herسَاعَةًfor an hourبِلَوْنِby the color ofالْخِضَابِdye.
So I resorted to hair dye to attain with her for an hour the color of dye.
فَرَأَتْهُThen she saw itفَأَعْرَضَتْand turned awayثُمَّthenقَالَتْ:she said:
Then she saw it and turned away, then said:
سِتْرُ"A covering ofسُوءٍevilعَلَىuponخَرَابٍa ruinيَبَابِdesolate."
"A covering of evil upon a desolate ruin."
وَلِابْنِAnd by IbnالْمُعْتَزِّAl-Mu'tazzأَيْضًا:also:
And by Ibn Al-Mu'tazz also:
رَفَعَتْShe raisedطَرْفَهَاher glanceإِلَيَّtoward meعَبُوسًاfrowning
"She raised her glance toward me frowning
وَاسْتَثَارَتْand stirred upمِنَfromالْمَآقِيthe tear ductsالرَّسِيمَاa rapid flow."
and stirred up from the tear ducts a rapid flow."