حَتَّىUntilمَتَىwhenأَنْتَyouفِيinدُنْيَاكَyour worldly lifeمُشْتَغِلٌpreoccupied
Until when are you preoccupied in your worldly life...
وَعَامِلُand neglectful ofاللَّهِGodبِالرَّحْمَنِwith the Most Mercifulمَشْغُولُbusy
and neglectful of God, while busy with the Merciful?
أَبُوAbuنُوَّاسٍ:Nuwas:
Abu Nuwas:
دَعِLeaveالْحِرْصَgreedعَلَىforالدُّنْيَاthe worldly life
Leave greed for the world...
وَفِيand inالْعَيْشِlivelihoodفَلَاdo notتَطْمَعْcovet
and do not covet sustenance.
وَلَاAnd do notتَجْمَعْaccumulateمِنَfromالْمَالِwealth
And do not accumulate wealth,
فَمَاfor you do notتَدْرِيknowلِمَنْfor whomتَجْمَعْyou accumulate
for you do not know for whom you are accumulating it.
وَلَاAnd you do notتَدْرِيknowأَفِيwhether inأَرْضِland
And you do not know whether in a land
كَof yoursأَمْorفِيinغَيْرِهَاanotherتُصْرَعْyou will be struck down
of yours or in another you will be struck down.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd Al-Asma'iالْأَصْمَعِيُّsaidقَالَAbuأَبُوAmrعَمْرِوibnبْنِAl-Ala':الْعَلَاءِ:While Iبَيْنَاwas wanderingأَنَاin someأَدُورُof the desertفِيlands,بَعْضِsuddenlyالْبَوَادِيI heardإِذَاa voice:أَنَا...بِصَوْتٍ:...
He said: Al-Asma'i said that Abu Amr ibn al-Ala' said: While I was wandering in some of the desert, suddenly I heard a voice:
وَإِنَّAnd indeedامْرَأًa manدُنْيَاهُwhose worldly lifeأَكْثَرُis his greatestهَمِّهِconcern
And indeed, a man whose worldly life is his greatest concern
لَمُمْتَسِكٌholds firmlyمِنْهَاto itبِحَبْلِby a ropeغُرُورٍof delusion.
holds firmly to it by a rope of delusion.
قَالَ:He said:فَنَقَشْتُهُSo I engraved itعَلَىonخَاتَمِي.my ring.
He said: So I engraved it on my ring.
قَالَ:He said:وَسَمِعَAnd YahyaيَحْيَىibnبْنَKhalidخَالِدٍAl-Barmakiالْبَرْمَكِيُّheardبَيْتَthe verseالْعَدَوِيِّof Al-Adawiفِيdescribingصِفَةِthe worldly lifeالدُّنْيَاwhenحَيْثُhe says:يَقُولُ:...
He said: Yahya ibn Khalid al-Barmaki heard the verse of Al-Adawi describing the worldly life when he says:
حُتُوفُهَاIts deathsرَصَدٌare watchfulوَعَيْشُهَاand its livingنَكَدٌis troubled
Its deaths are watchful and its living is troubled,
وَشُرْبُهَاand its drinkرَنِقٌis turbidوَمُلْكُهَاand its kingdomدُوَلٌis shifting.
and its drink is turbid and its kingdom is shifting.
فَقَالَ:He said:لَقَدْIndeedانْتَظَمَhas been wovenفِيinهَذَاthisالْبَيْتِverseصِفَةُthe description ofالدُّنْيَا.the world.
So he said: Indeed, the description of the world has been perfectly captured in this verse.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَسَمِعَAnd Al-Ma'munالْمَأْمُونُheardبَيْتَthe verseأَبِيof Abuنُوَّاسٍ:Nuwas:
It was said: Al-Ma'mun heard the verse of Abu Nuwas:
إِذَاWhenامْتَحَنَtestsالدُّنْيَاthe worldلَبِيبٌa wise personتَكَشَّفَتْit reveals itself
When a wise person tests the world, it reveals itself
لَهُto himعَنْasعَدُوٍّan enemyفِيinثِيَابِthe clothes ofصَدِيقٍa friend.
to him as an enemy in the clothes of a friend.
فَقَالَ:So he said:لَوْIfسُئِلَتِwere askedالدُّنْيَاthe worldعَنْaboutنَفْسِهَاitselfلَمَاit would not haveوَصَفَتْdescribedكَمَاasوَصَفَهَاdescribed itبِهِ...أَبُوAbuنُوَّاسٍ.Nuwas.
So he said: If the world were asked about itself, it would not have described itself as Abu Nuwas described it.
وَقَالَAnd AbuأَبُوHazimحَازِمٍ:said:الدُّنْيَاThe worldطَالِبَةٌis a seekerوَمَطْلُوبَةٌand sought after
And Abu Hazim said: The world is a seeker and sought after;
وَطَالِبُthe seeker ofالدُّنْيَاthe worldيَطْلُبُهُis sought byالْمَوْتُdeathحَتَّىuntilيُخْرِجَهُit expels himمِنْهَاfrom it
the seeker of the world is pursued by death until it expels him from it,
وَطَالِبُand the seeker ofالْآخِرَةِthe Hereafterتَطْلُبُهُis pursued byالدُّنْيَاthe worldحَتَّىuntilتُوَفِّيَهُit fulfills for himرِزْقَهُ.his provision.
and the seeker of the Hereafter is pursued by the world until it grants him his full provision.
قَالَ:He said:وَقِيلَAnd it was saidلِلْحَسَنِto Al-Hasanالْبَصْرِيِّ:Al-Basri:مَاWhatتَقُولُdo you sayفِيaboutالدُّنْيَا؟the world?
He said: It was said to Al-Hasan Al-Basri: What do you say about the world?
فَقَالَ:So he said:مَاWhatعَسَىcouldأَنْIأَقُولَ؟say?حَلَالُهَاIts lawful thingsحِسَابٌare a reckoningوَحَرَامُهَاand its unlawful thingsعَذَابٌ.are a punishment.
So he said: What could I say? Its lawful things are a reckoning and its unlawful things are a punishment.
فَقِيلَ:So it was said:مَاWe have notسَمِعْنَاheardكَلَاماًspeechأَوْجَزَmore conciseمِنْthanهَذَا!this!
So it was said: We have not heard any speech more concise than this!
قَالَ:He said:بَلَىIndeed,كَلَامُthe speech ofعُمَرَUmarبْنِibnعَبْدِAbdالْعَزِيزِ،Al-Aziz;
He said: Nay, the speech of Umar ibn Abd Al-Aziz,
كَتَبَwroteإِلَيْهِto himعَدِيُّAdiبْنُibnأَرْطَاةَArtahوَهُوَwhile heعَلَىwas overحِمْصَHomsأَنَّthatمَدِينَةَthe city ofحِمْصَHomsقَدْhasتَهَدَّمَتْbecome ruinedوَاحْتَاجَتْand needsإِلَىrepairingإِصْلَاحِitsحِيطَانِهَا،walls,
Adi ibn Artah wrote to him while he was over Homs that the city of Homs had become ruined and needed its walls to be repaired,
فَكَتَبَso he wroteإِلَيْهِ:to him:حَصِّنْهَاFortify itبِالْعَدْلِwith justiceوَنَقِّand clearطُرُقَهَاits roadsمِنَfromالظُّلْمِ.injustice.
so he wrote back to him: Fortify it with justice and clear its roads from injustice.
[مَحَاسِنِThe virtues ofمَعْرِفَةِknowingالْأَوَّلِينَ]the ancients
[Mahasin Ma'rifat Al-Awwalin]
حَدَّثَنَاNarrated to usزَيْدُZaidبْنُibnأَخْزَمَAkhzamقَالَ:he said:حَدَّثَنَاnarrated to usعَبْدُAbdالصَّمَدِAl-SamadعَنْfromسَعِيدٍSaeedعَنِfromالْمُغِيرَةِAl-Mughirahقَالَ:he said:سَمِعْتُI heardسِمَاكَSimakبْنَibnسَلَمَةَSalamahيَقُولُ:saying:
Zaid ibn Akhzam narrated to us, he said: Abd Al-Samad narrated to us from Saeed from Al-Mughirah, he said: I heard Simak ibn Salamah saying:
أَوَّلُThe firstمَنْwhoخَطَّwroteبِالْقَلَمِwith the penإِدْرِيسُ،was Idris,عَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ.be peace.
The first who wrote with the pen was Idris, upon him be peace.
وَهُوَAnd heأَوَّلُis the firstمَنْwhoخَاطَsewedالثِّيَابَgarmentsوَلَبِسَهَاand wore them
And he is the first who sewed garments and wore them,
وَكَانُواwhile peopleمِنْbeforeقَبْلِهِhimيَلْبَسُونَused to wearالْجُلُودَ.skins.
whereas before him they used to wear skins.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstقَرْيَةٍvillageبُنِيَتْbuiltفِيinالْأَرْضِthe earthقَرْيَةٌwas a villageتُسَمَّىcalledثَمَانِينَThamanin
And the first village built on earth was a village called Thamanin,
ابْتَنَاهَاbuilt itنُوحٌ،Noah,عَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ.be peace.
built by Noah, upon him be peace.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoعَمِلَmadeالصَّابُونَsoapسُلَيْمَانُwas Solomonبْنُibnدَاوُدَ،David,عَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ.be peace.
And the first who made soap was Solomon ibn David, upon him be peace.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoبَاعَsoldفِيمَنْamong those whoيَزِيدُbidحِلْساًa saddle blanketوَقَدَحاًand a cupرَسُولُwas the Messenger ofاللَّهِ،God,صَلَّىmay God'sاللَّهُblessingsعَلَيْهِbe upon himوَسَلَّمَ.and grant him peace.
And the first who sold to the highest bidder a saddle blanket and a cup was the Messenger of God, may God's blessings and peace be upon him.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoاتَّخَذَtookالْقَرَاطِيسَpapyrus scrolls/paperيُوسُفُ،was Joseph,عَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ.be peace.
And the first who used paper scrolls was Joseph, upon him be peace.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْfor whomخُبِزَwas bakedلَهُ...الرِّقَاقُthin breadنَمْرُودُwas NimrodبْنُibnكَنْعَانَCanaanلَعَنَهُmay God curseاللَّهُhim.
And the first for whom thin bread was baked was Nimrod ibn Canaan, may God curse him.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoحَكَمَruledفِيregardingالْخُنْثَىthe hermaphroditeعَامِرُwas AmirبْنُibnالظَّرِبِAl-Zaribالْعَدْوَانِيُّ.Al-Adwani.
And the first who ruled regarding the hermaphrodite was Amir ibn Al-Zarib Al-Adwani.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoخَضَبَdyedبِالسَّوَادِwith blackعَبْدُwas AbdالْمُطَّلِبِAl-Muttalibبْنُibnهَاشِمٍ.Hashim.
And the first who dyed his hair black was Abd Al-Muttalib ibn Hashim.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoسَنَّinstitutedالدِّيَةَthe blood-moneyمِنَinالْإِبِلِcamelsأَبُوwas AbuسَيَّارَةَSayyarahالْعَدْوَانِيُّAl-Adwani
And the first who instituted blood-money in camels was Abu Sayyarah Al-Adwani,
وَأَقَرَّهُand approved itرَسُولُthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،God,صَلَّىmay God'sاللَّهُblessingsعَلَيْهِbe upon himوَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,فِيinالْإِسْلَامِ.Islam.
and the Messenger of God, may God's blessings and peace be upon him, approved it in Islam.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoخَلَعَtook offنَعْلَهُhis shoeلِدُخُولِfor enteringالْكَعْبَةِthe Kaabaالْوَلِيدُwas Al-WalidبْنُibnالْمُغِيرَةِAl-Mughirah
And the first who took off his shoe for entering the Kaaba was Al-Walid ibn Al-Mughirah,
فَخَلَعَso took offالنَّاسُpeopleنِعَالَهُمْtheir shoesفِيinالْإِسْلَامِ.Islam.
so people took off their shoes in Islam.
وَهُوَAnd heأَوَّلُis the firstمَنْwhoقَضَىruled/judgedبِالْقَسَامَةِby Qasamah (oaths in murder trials)فِيinالْجَاهِلِيَّةِthe pre-Islamic period
And he is the first who ruled by Qasamah in the pre-Islamic period,
فَأَقَرَّهَاand approved itرَسُولُthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،God,صَلَّىmay God'sاللَّهُblessingsعَلَيْهِbe upon himوَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,فِيinالْإِسْلَامِ.Islam.
and the Messenger of God, may God's blessings and peace be upon him, approved it in Islam.
وَهُوَAnd heأَوَّلُis the firstمَنْwhoحَرَّمَprohibitedالْخَمْرَwineعَلَىuponنَفْسِهِhimselfفِيinالْجَاهِلِيَّةِthe pre-Islamic period
And he is the first who prohibited wine upon himself in the pre-Islamic period,
فَأَقَرَّهَاand it was approvedرَسُولُby the Messenger ofاللَّهِ،God,صَلَّىmay God'sاللَّهُblessingsعَلَيْهِbe upon himوَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,فِيinالْإِسْلَامِ.Islam.
and the Messenger of God, may God's blessings and peace be upon him, approved it in Islam.
وَهُوَAnd heأَوَّلُis the firstمَنْwhoقَطَعَcut off the handفِيforالسَّرِقَةِtheftفِيinالْجَاهِلِيَّةِthe pre-Islamic period
And he is the first who cut off a hand for theft in the pre-Islamic period,
فَقَطَعَso cut off the handرَسُولُthe Messenger ofاللَّهِGodفِيinالْإِسْلَامِ.Islam.
so the Messenger of God cut off hands in Islam.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoسُلِّمَwas greetedعَلَيْهِuponبِالْإِمْرَةِwith leadership/amirshipالْمُغِيرَةُwas Al-Mughirahبْنُibnشُعْبَةَ.Shu'bah.
And the first who was greeted with the title of leadership (Amir) was Al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoأَرَّخَdatedالْكُتُبَthe documents/booksوَخَتَمَand sealedعَلَىonالطِّينِclayعُمَرُwas Umarبْنُibnالْخَطَّابِ،Al-Khattab,رَضِيَmay God beاللَّهُpleasedعَنْهُ.with him.
And the first who dated documents and sealed them on clay was Umar ibn Al-Khattab, may God be pleased with him.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoكَتَبَwroteبِالْعَرَبِيَّةِin Arabicمَرَامِرُwas MaramirبْنُibnمُرْوَةَMurwahمِنْfromأَهْلِthe people ofالْأَنْبَارِAl-Anbar,
And the first who wrote in Arabic was Maramir ibn Murwah from the people of Al-Anbar,
فَانْتَشَرَso it spreadمِنَfromالْأَنْبَارِAl-Anbarفِيamongالنَّاسِ.the people.
and it spread from Al-Anbar among the people.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhomمَشَتِwalkedالرِّجَالُmenمَعَهُwith himوَهُوَwhile heرَاكِبٌwas ridingالْأَشْعَثُwas Al-Ash'athبْنُibnقَيْسٍ.Qais.
And the first whom men walked alongside while he was riding was Al-Ash'ath ibn Qais.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoاتَّخَذَadoptedالْمَقْصُورَةَthe enclosure/maqsurahفِيinالْمَسْجِدِthe mosqueمُعَاوِيَةُwas MuawiyahبْنُibnأَبِيAbuسُفْيَانَSufyan,
And the first who adopted a maqsurah (enclosure) in the mosque was Muawiyah ibn Abu Sufyan,
وَذَلِكَand thatأَنَّهُwas because heبَصُرَcaught sight ofكَلْباًa dogعَلَىonمِنْبَرِهِ.his pulpit.
and that was because he caught sight of a dog on his pulpit.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoلَبِسَworeالْخِفَافَleather bootsوَثِيَابَand clothes ofالْكَتَّانِlinenزِيَادُwas ZiyadبْنُibnأَبِيAbuسُفْيَانَ،Sufyan,
And the first who wore leather boots and linen clothes was Ziyad ibn Abu Sufyan,
وَأَوَّلُand the firstمَنْwhoلَبِسَworeالطَّيْلَسَانَthe taylisan (hooded scarf)جُبَيْرُwas Jubayrبْنُibnمُطْعِمٍ.Mut'im.
and the first who wore the taylisan was Jubayr ibn Mut'im.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoلَبِسَworeالْخَزَّthe raw silk/khazzالطَّارُونِيَّTaruniعَبْدُwas Abdullahاللَّهِ...بْنُibnعَامِرٍAmir,
And the first who wore Taruni raw silk was Abdullah ibn Amir,
فَقَالَso saidالنَّاسُ:the people:لَبِسَThe emirالْأَمِيرُhas wornجِلْدَthe skin ofدَبٍّ.a bear.
so the people said: The emir has worn the skin of a bear.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoنَقَشَengravedعَلَىonالدَّرَاهِمِthe dirhamsعَبْدُwas AbdالْمَلِكِAl-MalikبْنُibnمَرْوَانَMarwan
And the first who engraved on the dirhams was Abd Al-Malik ibn Marwan,
وَأَوَّلُand the firstمَنْwhoسُمِّيَwas namedعَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِ.Al-Malik.
and the first who was named Abd Al-Malik.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoابْتَنَىbuiltمَدِينَةًa cityفِيinالْإِسْلَامِIslamالْحَجَّاجُwas Al-Hajjajبْنُibnيُوسُفَ،Yusuf;
And the first who built a city in Islam was Al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf;
بَنَىhe builtمَدِينَةَthe city ofوَاسِطَ،Wasit,
he built the city of Wasit.
وَهُوَAnd heأَوَّلُis the firstمَنْwhoقَعَدَsatعَلَىonسَرِيرٍa throneفِيinحَرْبٍwar
And he is the first who sat on a throne in war,
وَأَوَّلُand the firstمَنْwhoاتَّخَذَadoptedالْمَحَامِلَ،the litters (mahamil),
and the first who adopted litters (mahamil),
فَقَالَabout whichفِيهِsaidحُمَيْدٌHumaydالْأَرْقَطُ:Al-Arqat:
about which Humayd Al-Arqat said:
أَخْزَىMay disgraceالْإِلَهُGodعَاجِلاًearlyوَآجِلَاand late
May God disgrace, sooner and later,
أَوَّلَthe firstعَبْدٍslaveعَمِلَwho madeالْمَحَامِلَاthe litters,
the first slave who made the litters,
عَبْدَthe slave ofثَقِيفٍThaqif,ذَاكَthat oneأَزَلاًalwaysآزِلَاand persistently
the slave of Thaqif, ever and persistently so.
وَهُوَAnd heأَوَّلُis the firstمَنْfor whomعُ»،was hungلِقُcoarse clothاِلْخِيشُ(khish)وَنُقِلَand was broughtلَهُto himالثَّلْجُ.ice.
And he is the first for whom coarse cloth (khish) was hung and ice was brought.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoأَطْعَمَfedعَلَىatأَلْفِa thousandمَائِدَةٍtables
And the first who fed people at a thousand tables,
عَلَىatكُلِّeveryمَائِدَةٍtableعَشَرَةُtenرِجَالٍmen,
with ten men at every table,
وَأَجَازَand bestowed gifts ofبِأَلْفِone thousandأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams,
and bestowed gifts of a million dirhams,
وَلَبِسَand woreالدَّرَارِيعَthe black tunicsالسُّودَ(darari'a)الْمُخْتَارُwas Al-MukhtarبْنُibnأَبِيAbuعُبَيْدٍ.Ubayd.
and wore the black tunics was Al-Mukhtar ibn Abu Ubayd.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoحَذَاfashionedالنِّعَالَsandalsجَذِيمَةُwas Jadhimahالْأَبْرَشُ،Al-Abrash;
And the first who fashioned sandals was Jadhimah Al-Abrash;
وَهُوَand heأَوَّلُis the firstمَنْwhoوَضَعَplaced/inventedالْمَنْجَنِيقَthe catapult
and he is the first who invented the catapult,
وَرُفِعَتْand were raisedلَهُfor himالشُّمُوعُcandlesوَنَادَمَand he kept company in drinking withالْفَرْقَدَيْنِ.the two bright stars Al-Farqadain.
and candles were raised for him, and he kept company in drinking with the two bright stars Al-Farqadain.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْwhoحَدَاchanted camel-driver songs (hada)رَجُلٌwas a manمِنْfromمُضَرَ.Mudar.
And the first who chanted camel-driver songs was a man from Mudar.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstرَأْسٍheadحُمِلَthat was carriedمِنْfromبَلَدٍcityإِلَىtoبَلَدٍcityرَأْسُwas the head ofعَمْرِوAmrبْنِibnالْحَمِقِAl-Hamiqالْخُزَاعِيِّ.Al-Khuza'i.
And the first head that was carried from city to city was the head of Amr ibn Al-Hamiq Al-Khuza'i.
وَأَوَّلُAnd the firstمَنْfor whomعُمِلَwas madeلَهُ...النَّعْشُthe bier/coffinزَيْنَبُwas Zainabبِنْتُdaughter ofجَحْشٍJahsh,زَوْجَةُthe wife ofرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،God,صَلَّىmay God'sاللَّهُblessingsعَلَيْهِbe upon himوَسَلَّمَ.and grant him peace.
And the first for whom a bier was made was Zainab bint Jahsh, the wife of the Messenger of God, may God's blessings and peace be upon him.
فَقَالَSo saidعُمَرُUmarبْنُibnالْخَطَّابِ:Al-Khattab:نِعْمَWhat an excellentخِبَاءُtent/cover ofالظَّعِينَةِ!the traveling woman!
So Umar ibn Al-Khattab said: What an excellent cover for the traveling woman!