al mahasin wal masawi al bayhaqi

قَالَHeوَقَالَAnd saidعَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِal-MalikبْنُbinمَرْوَانَMarwanلِسَلَمَةَto SalamaبْنِbinزَيْدٍZaydالْفَهْمِيِّal-Fahmi:أَيُّ"Whichالزَّمَانِtimeأَدْرَكْتَdid you experienceأَفْضَلَas bestوَأَيُّand whichالْمُلُوكِ؟kings?"

فَقَالَ:He said:أَمَّا"As forالْمُلُوكُthe kings,فَلَمْI have not seenأَرَإِلَّاexceptذَامّاًone who blamesأَوْorحَامِداً،one who praises.

وَأَمَّاAnd as forالزَّمَانُtime,فَيَضَعُit lowersقَوْماًsome peopleوَيَرْفَعُand raisesآخَرِينَothers,وَكُلُّهُمْand all of themيَذُمُّblameزَمَانَهُtheir time

لِأَنَّهُBecause itيُبْلِيmakes oldجَدِيدَهُمْtheir new things,وَيَطْوِيand rolls upأَعْمَارَهُمْtheir lives,وَيُهْرِمُand agesصَغِيرَهُمْtheir young ones,وَكُلُّand everythingمَاthatفِيهِis in itمُنْقَطِعٌis cut offإِلَّاexceptالْأَمَلَ.hope.

قَالَ:He said:فَأَخْبِرْنِي"Then tell meعَنْaboutفَهْمٍ.Fahm."

قَالَ:He said:هُمْ"They areكَمَاasقَالَthe poetالشَّاعِرُ:said:

دَرَجَPassed awayاللَّيْلُthe nightوَالنَّهَارُand the dayعَلَىoverفَهْمِFahmبْنِbinعَمْرٍوAmr,فَأَصْبَحُواso they becameكَالرَّمِيمِlike decayed bones

وَخَلَتْAnd emptiedدَارُهُمْtheir abodeفَأَحْمَتْand it becameيَبَاباًa wastelandبَعْدَafterعِزٍّgloryوَثَرْوَةٍand wealthوَنَعِيمِand bliss

وَكَذَاكَAnd likewiseالزَّمَانُtimeيَذْهَبُtakes awayبِالنَّاسِthe peopleوَتَبْقَىand remainدِيَارُهُمْtheir homesكَالرُّسُومِlike traces

قَالَ:He said:فَمَنْ"So whoيَقُولُrecitesمِنْكُمْ:among you:"

رَأَيْتُI sawالنَّاسَpeopleمُذْsinceخُلِقُواthey were createdوَكَانُواand existed,يُحِبُّونَthey loveالْغَنِيَّthe rich manمِنَamongالرِّجَالِmen

وَإِنْEven ifكَانَthe rich manالْغَنِيُّisأَقَلَّlesserخَيْراًin goodnessبَخِيلاًand stingyبِالْقَلِيلِwith littleمِنَofالنَّوَالِgiving.

فَمَاSo I do notأَدْرِيknowعَلَامَfor whatوَفِيمَand about whatهَذَاis this,وَمَاذَاand whatيَرْتَجُونَdo they hope forمِنَfromالْبَخَالِthe miser?

أَلِلْدُّنْيَاIs it for the world?فَلَيْسَFor there isهُنَاكَnoدُنْيَاworld there,وَلَاnorيُرْجَىis hope placedلِحَادِثَةِin the misfortuneاللَّيَالِيof nights.

قَالَ:He said:أَنَا"I do,وَقَدْand indeedكَتَمْتُهَا.I have kept it secret."

قَالَ:He said:وَلَمَّاAnd whenدَخَلَenteredعَلِيُّAliبْنُbinأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍ،Talib,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwith him,عَنْهُ،enteredالْمَدَائِنَAl-Mada'in,نَظَرَhe lookedإِلَىatإِيوَانِthe Archكِسْرَىof Chosroesفَأَنْشَدَهُand there recited to himبَعْضُsomeمَنْof those whoحَضَرَهُwere presentقَوْلَthe verse ofالْأَسْوَدِal-Aswadبْنِbinيَعْفُرَ:Ya'fur:

مَاذَا"Whatأُؤَمِّلُdo I hope forبَعْدَafterآلِthe family ofمُحَرِّقٍMuharriq,تَرَكُواwho leftمَنَازِلَهُمْtheir homesوَبَعْدَand afterإِيَادِIyad?"

أَهْلِ"The people ofالْخَوَرْنَقِAl-Khawarnaq,وَالسَّدِيرِAl-Sudayr,وَبَارِقٍ،and Bariq,وَالْقَصْرِand the palaceذِيpossessingالشُّرُفَاتِturretsمِنْfromسِنْدَادَSindad.

نَزَلُواThey settledبِأَنْقَرَةٍin Anqaraيَسِيلُwhere flowsعَلَيْهِمْupon themمَاءُthe waterالْفُرَاتِof the Euphratesيَسِيلُflowingمِنْfromأَطْوَادِmountains.

أَرْضٌ"An earthتَخَيَّرَهَاchosenلِطِيبِfor the pleasantness ofمَقِيلِهَاits resting placeكَعْبُby Ka'bبْنُbinمَامَةَMamaوَابْنُand the son ofأُمِّUmmدُؤَادِDuo'ad.

جَرَتِBlewالرِّيَاحُthe windsعَلَىoverمَحَلِّthe site ofدِيَارِهِمْtheir homesفَكَأَنَّمَاso it is as ifكَانُواthey wereعَلَىuponمِعَادِan appointment.

فَأَرَىSo I seeالنَّعِيمَblissوَكُلُّand everythingمَاthatيُلْهَىone is amusedبِهِbyيَوْماًwill one dayيَصِيرُbecomeإِلَىtoبِلًىruinوَنَفَادِand exhaustion.

فَقَالَSo saidعَلِيٌّ،Ali,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwith him:عَنْهُ:And more eloquentأَبْلَغُthan thatمِنْisذَلِكَthe sayingقَوْلُof Allahاللَّهِthe Majesticجَلَّand Exalted:وَعَزَّ:"How manyكَمْgardensتَرَكُواdid they leaveمِنْbehindجَنَّاتٍand springsوَعُيُونٍand cropsوَزُرُوعٍand a nobleوَمَقَامٍstationكَرِيمٍand bountyوَنِعْمَةٍwhereinكَانُواthey wereفِيهَاrejoicing.فَاكِهِينَThusكَذَلِكَand We causedوَأَوْرَثْنَاهَاanother peopleقَوْماًto inheritآخَرِينَthem."

وَقَالَAnd saidعَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malikبْنُbinالْمُعْتَزِّ:al-Mu'tazz:أَهْلُ"The people ofالدُّنْيَاthe worldكَصُورَةٍare like an imageفِيinصَحِيفَةٍa page;كُلَّمَاwheneverنُشِرَsome of itبَعْضُهَاis unrolled,طُوِيَsome of itبَعْضُهَا.is rolled up."

وَقَالَ:And he said:أَهْلُ"The people ofالدُّنْيَاthe worldكَرَكْبٍare like a caravanيُسَارُbeing traveledبِهِمْwithوَهُمْwhile theyنِيَامٌ.are asleep."

وَقَالَAnd saidبَعْضُهُمْ:someone:طَلَاقُ"Divorcingالدُّنْيَاthe worldمَهْرُis the dowerالْجَنَّةِ.of Paradise."

وَذَكَرَAnd mentionedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinالدُّنْيَاthe worldفَقَالَ:and said:هِيَ"It isجَمَّةُfull ofالْمَصَائِبِcalamities,رَنِقَةُturbidالْمَشَارِبِ،in its drinking places,لَاit does notتُمَتِّعُكَlet you enjoyالدَّهْرَfor longبِصَاحِبٍ.with a companion."

وَقَالَAnd saidأَبُوAbuالدَّرْدَاءِ:al-Darda':مِنْ"Fromهَوَانِthe insignificanceالدُّنْيَاof the worldعَلَىtoاللَّهِAllahجَلَّthe Majesticوَعَزَّand Exaltedأَنَّهُis thatلَاHe is notيُعْصَىdisobeyedإِلَّاexceptفِيهَاin it,وَلَاand whatيُنَالُis with Himمَاis notعِنْدَهُattainedإِلَّاexceptبِتَرْكِهَا.by leaving it."

وَقِيلَ:And it was said:إِذَا"Whenأَقْبَلَتِturnsالدُّنْيَاthe worldعَلَىtowardامْرِئٍa man,أَعَارَتْهُit lends himمَحَاسِنَthe good traitsغَيْرِهِ،of someone else,وَإِذَاand whenأَدْبَرَتْit turns awayعَنْهُfrom him,سَلَبَتْهُit strips him ofمَحَاسِنَthe good traitsنَفْسِهِ.of his own self."

[مَا[Whatقِيلَwas saidفِيهِabout itمِنَofالشِّعْرِ]poetry]

قَالَSaidالْأَصْمَعِيُّ:al-Asma'i:وَوُجِدَ"And it was foundفِيinقُبَّةٍa domeلِسُلَيْمَانَof Solomonبْنِbinدَاوُدَ،David,عَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ،be peace,مَكْتُوبٌ:written:"

وَمَنْ"And whoeverيَحْمَدِpraisesالدُّنْيَاthe worldلِشَيْءٍfor somethingيَنَالُهُhe attains,فَسَوْفَthen soonلَعَمْرِيby my lifeعَنْafterقَلِيلٍa little whileيَلُومُهَاhe will blame it.

إِذَاWhenأَدْبَرَتْit turns awayكَانَتْit isعَلَىuponالنَّاسِpeopleحَسْرَةًa regret,وَإِنْand whenأَقْبَلَتْit turns toward themكَانَتْit isكَثِيراًmuchهُمُومُهَاits worries.

وَكَانَAnd usedإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimبْنُbinأَدْهَمَAdhamيُنْشِدُ:to recite:

نُرَقِّعُ"We patchدُنْيَانَاour worldly lifeبِتَمْزِيقِby tearingدِينِنَاour religion,فَلَاso neitherدِينُنَاour religion remainsيَبْقَىnorوَلَاwhatمَاweنُرَقِّعُpatch."

وَقَالَAnd saidأَبُوAbuالْعَتَاهِيَةِ:al-Atahiyah:

يَا"Oمَنْyou whoتَرَفَّعَexalts himselfبِالدُّنْيَاwith the worldوَزِينَتِهَاand its adornment,لَيْسَexaltationالتَّرَفُّعُis notرَفْعَraisingالطِّينِclayبِالطِّينِwith clay.

إِذَاIfأَرَدْتَyou wantشَرِيفَthe noble oneالْقَوْمِof the peopleكُلِّهِمْall of them,فَانْظُرْthen lookإِلَىatمَلِكٍa kingفِيinزِيِّthe garbمِسْكِينٍof a poor person.

وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:

هَبِ"Supposeالدُّنْيَاthe worldتُسَاقُis drivenإِلَيْكَtoward youعَفْواً،easily,أَلَيْسَis notمَصِيرُthe destinationذَاكَof thatالزَّوَالَdecline?

فَمَاSo whatتَرْجُوdo you hope forبِشَيْءٍin somethingلَيْسَthat does notيَبْقَى،remain,وَشِيكاًsoonمَاwhatتُغَيِّرُهُchanges itاللَّيَالِيthe nights?

مَحْمُودٌMahmudالْوَرَّاقُ:al-Warraq:

هِيَ"It isالدُّنْيَاthe world,فَلَاso let notيُغَرَّنَكَdeceive youمِنْهَاfrom itمَخَايِلُphantomsتَسْتَفِزُّthat provokeذَوِيpossessors ofالْعُقُولِintellects.

أَقَلُّThe leastقَلِيلِهَاof its littleيَكْفِيكَis enough for youمِنْهَا،from it,وَلَكِنْbutلَيْسَyou areتَقْنَعُnot contentبِالْقَلِيلِwith the little.

تُشِيدُYou buildوَتَبْتَنِيand constructفِيinكُلِّeveryيَوْمٍ،day,وَأَنْتَwhile youعَلَىare uponالتَّجَهُّزِpreparingوَالرَّحِيلِand departing.

وَمَنْAnd whoهَذَاis thisالَّذِيwhoيُبْقِيkeepsعَلَيْهَاit enduring,مُضَارِبُهُits striversبِمَدْرَجَةِon the pathway ofالسُّيُولِfloods?

وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:

أَيَا"Oدُنْيَاworld,حَسَرْتِyou have removedلَنَاfor usقِنَاعاً،a veil,وَكَانَand wasجَمَالُthe beautyوَجْهِكِof your faceفِيinالنِّقَابِthe veil.

دِيَارٌAbodesطَالَfor longمَاthatحُجِبَتْwere veiledوَعَزَّتْ،and inaccessible,فَأَصْبَحَso becameإِذْنُهَاpermission to enter themسَهْلَeasyالْحِجَابِof access.

وَقَدْAnd indeedكَانَتْwereلَهَاto itالْأَيَّامُthe daysذَلَّتْ،subservient,فَقَدْso nowقُرِنَتْit is pairedبِأَيَّامٍwith daysصِعَابِdifficult.

كَأَنَّAs ifالْعَيْشَlifeفِيهَاin itكَانَwasظِلّاًa shadeيُقَلِّبُهُturning itالزَّمَانُtimeإِلَىtowardذَهَابِdeparture.

وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:

دُنْيَا"A worldتَدَاوَلَهَاpassed aroundالْعِبَادُby servants,ذَمِيمَةٌ،blameworthy,شِيبَتْmixedبِأَكْرَهَwith more hatefulمِنْthanنَقِيعِthe infusion ofالْحَنْظَلِcolocynth.

وَثَبَاتُAnd constancy ofدُنْيَاa worldلَاthat does notتَزَالُceaseمُلِمَّةًbringing afflictionsمِنْهَاfrom it,فَجَائِعُtragediesمِثْلُlikeوَقْعِthe striking ofالْجَنْدَلِboulders.

وَلِآخَرَAnd for anotherبَيْتٌ:verse: