al mahasin wal masawi al bayhaqi

فَقُلْتُSo I saidفِيtoنَفْسِي:myself:ضُمِمْتُI have been joinedإِلَىtoمَنْthe oneأُرِيدُI wantأَنْtoأَتَعَلَّمَlearnمِنْهُ.from him.

وَكَانَAnd itيُقَالُ:was said:يَنْبَغِيIt behoovesلِلْعَاقِلِthe sensible personأَنْtoيَحْفَظَguardلِسَانَهُhis tongueكَمَاjust asيَحْفَظُhe guardsمَوْضِعَthe placeقَدَمِهِ،of his foot,وَقِيلَ:and it was said:مَنْWhoeverلَمْdoes notيَحْفَظْguardلِسَانَهُhis tongue,فَقَدْtrulyسَلَّطَهُhe has given it powerعَلَىoverهَلَاكِهِ.his destruction.وَقَالَAnd saidالشَّاعِرُ:the poet:

عَلَيْكَUpon youحِفْظَis the guardingاللِّسَانِof the tongueمُجْتَهِداً ...striving...فَإِنَّfor indeedجُلَّmostالْهَلَاكِof destructionفِيis inزَلَلِهِits slip.

وَلِآخَرَ:And to another:

وَجُرْحُAnd the woundالسَّيْفِof the swordتُدْمِلُهُyou heal itفَيَبْرَأُ ...and it heals...وَجُرْحُAnd the woundالدَّهْرِof timeمَاwhatجَرَحَwoundedاللِّسَانُthe tongue

جِرَاحَاتُWoundsالطِّعَانِof piercingلَهَاfor themِالتِئامٌ ...is a healing...وَلَاand notيَلْتَامُhealsمَاwhatجَرَحَwoundedاللِّسَانُthe tongue.

وَلِآخَرَ:And to another:

وَجُرْحُAnd the woundاللِّسَانِof the tongueكَجُرْحِis like the woundالْيَدِof the hand.

وَلِآخَرَ:And to another:

وَجُرْحُAnd the woundالسَّيْفِof the swordيَأْسُوهُtreats itالْمُدَاوِي ...the healer...وَجُرْحُAnd the woundالْقَوْلِof speechطُولَthroughoutالدَّهْرِtimeدَامِيbleeding.

[مَسَاوِئُ[The evilsجِنَايَةِof the crimeاللِّسَانِ]of the tongue]

أَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُson ofإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimالْهَاشِمِيُّAl-Hashimiقَالَ:said:لَمَّاWhenعَفَاpardonedأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِAl-AbbasالسَّفَّاحُAs-SaffahعَنْsuingسُلَيْمَانَSulaymanبْنِson ofهِشَامِHishamبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِAl-Malikوَعَنْand fromابْنَيْهِhis two sonsقَرَّبَهُمْhe brought them nearوَأَدْنَاهُمْand drew them closeوَبَسَطَهُمْand made them at easeحَتَّىuntilكَانُواthey wereيَسْمُرُونَconversingعِنْدَهُwith himبِاللَّيْلِ،at night,وَكَانَand Sulaymanسُلَيْمَانُwasإِذَاwhenدَخَلَhe enteredثُنِيَتْfoldedلَهُfor himوِسَادَةٌa cushionوَكَذَلِكَand likewiseلِابْنَيْهِfor his two sonsوَرُبَّمَاand perhapsطُرِحَتْthrownلَهُمْfor themنَمَارِقُsmall cushionsوَنُصِبَتْand set upلَهُمْfor themكَرَاسِيُّ،chairs,فَبَيْنَمَاthen whileهُمْtheyعِنْدَهُwere with himذَاتَoneلَيْلَةٍnightأَوْorذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayإِذْwhenدَخَلَenteredإِلَيْهِto himأَبُوAbuغَسَّانَGhassanالْحَاجِبُthe chamberlainفَقَالَ:and said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulبِالْبَابِat the doorرَجُلٌis a manمُتَلَثِّمٌveiledأَنَاخَwho made kneelرَاحِلَتَهُhis riding beastوَقَالَ:and said:اسْتَأْذِنْAsk permissionلِيfor meعَلَىto seeأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.فَقُلْتُ:So I said:ضَعْPut downعَنْكَfrom youثِيَابَthe garmentsسَفَرِكَ.of your journey.

فَقَالَ:So he said:لَاNo,أَحُطُّI will not put downرَحْلِيmy saddleوَلَاnorأُسْفِرُshall I unveilعِمَّتِيmy turbanحَتَّىuntilأَنْظُرَI lookإِلَىuponوَجْهِthe faceأَمِيرِof the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.فَقَالَSo saidأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِ:Al-Abbas:فَهَلْDidسَأَلْتَهُyou ask himمَنْwhoهُوَ؟he is?قَالَ:He said:قَدْI haveفَعَلْتُdone so,فَذَكَرَand he mentionedأَنَّهُthat he isسَدِيفُSudaifمَوْلَاكَ.your freedman.فَقَالَ:So he said:سَدِيفٌSudaif!سَدِيفٌ!Sudaif!ائْذَنْGive permissionلَهُ.to him.فَدَخَلَSo enteredرَجُلٌa manأَحْمَرُred-complexionedطَوِيلٌtallيَتَثَنَّىswayingعَلَيْهِupon himمِمْطَرُa rain cloakحِرٍّmade of rough woolوَمَعَهُand with himمِحْجَنٌwas a crooked stickيَتَوَكَأُhe was leaningعَلَيْهِ،upon it,فَلَمَّاand whenنَظَرَhe lookedإِلَىatأَبِيAbuالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbasسَفَرَhe uncoveredعَنْfromوَجْهِهِhis faceثُمَّthenسَلَّمَhe greetedوَدَنَاand drew nearوَقَبَّلَand kissedيَدَهُhis handثُمَّthenانْصَرَفَhe turnedإِلَىtoخَلْفِهِ.his rear.فَقَامَSo he stoodمَقَامَin a placeمِثْلِهِsuitable for himوَأَنْشَدَهُ:and recited to him:

أَصْبَحَHas becomeالْمُلْكُthe dominionثَابِتَfirmly establishedالْأَسَاسِ ...in foundation...بِالْبَهَالِيلِthrough the noble youthsمِنْfromبَنِيthe sonsالْعَبَّاسِof Al-Abbas

لَاDo notتُقِيلَنَّspareعَبْدَAbdشَمْسٍShamsعِثَاراً ...a stumble...وَاقْطَعَنَّand cut offكُلَّeveryرَقْلَةٍtall palm treeوَغِرَاسِand sapling

وَلَقَدْAnd trulyسَاءَنِيit displeased meوَسَاءَand displeasedسِوَائِي ...others besides me...قُرْبُهُمْtheir closenessمِنْtoنَمَارِقٍsmall cushionsوَكَرَاسِيand chairs

أَنْزِلُوهُوبحيثPut themأنزلهاwhere put themاللهGodبِدَارِin the abodeالْهَوَانِof humiliationوَالْإِتْعَاسِand wretchedness

وَاذْكُرُواAnd rememberمَصْرَعَthe slaying placeالْحُسَيْنِof Al-Husaynوَزَيْدٍ ...and Zayd...وَقَتِيلاًand a slain oneبِجَانِبِbesideالْمِهْرَاسِAl-Mihras

وَالْقَتِيلَAnd the slain oneالَّذِيwhoبِحَرَّانَin Harranأَمْسَى ...spent the evening...ثَاوِياًresidingبَيْنَbetweenغُرْبَةٍstrangenessوَتَنَاسِيand forgetfulness

نَعَمْYes,شِبْلُthe lion cubالْهِرَاشِof Al-Hirashمَوْلَاكَis your freedmanلَوْلَا ...were it not...آَوْدٌa burdenمِنْfromحَبَائِلِthe snaresالْإِفْلَاسِof bankruptcy

فَقَامَSo stoodسُلَيْمَانُSulaymanبْنُson ofهِشَامٍHishamفَقَالَ:and said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulإِنَّindeedمَوْلَاكَyour freedmanهَذَاthis oneمَثَلَhas stoodبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْكَyour handsيَبْعَثُكَinciting youعَلَىtoقَتْلِيkill meوَقَتْلِand killابْنَيَّmy two sonsوَيَحْدُوكَand driving youعَلَىtoطَلَبِdemandثَأْرِكَyour vengeanceمَنَّا،from us,وَقَدْand indeedبَلَغَنِيit has reached meأَنَّكَthat youتُرِيدُwantاغْتِيَالِي.to assassinate me.فَقَالَSo saidأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِ:Al-Abbas:وَاللَّهِBy Allahمَاit was notكَانَmy intentionعَزْمِيmy resolveأَنْtoأَقْتُلَكَkill youوَلَاnorأَنْtoأُسِيءَmistreatبِكَyouوَلَاnorأُطَالِبَكَto hold you accountableبِشَيْءٍfor anythingمِمَّاof whatطَالَبْتُI heldبِهِaccountableأَهْلَthe familyبَيْتِكَ،of your house,فَأَمَّاbut as forإِذْsinceوَقَعَit has fallenفِيintoخَلَدِكَyour mindأَنِّيthat Iأَغْتَالُكَwill assassinate you,فَيَاthen Oجَاهِلُignorant one,مَنْwhoيَحُولُstands betweenبَيْنِيmeوَبَيْنَكَand youوَبَيْنَand betweenقَتْلِكَkilling youحَتَّىso thatأَغْتَالَكَ؟I must assassinate you?ثُمَّThenأَمَرَhe orderedبِقَتْلِهِhis executionوَقَتْلِand the executionابْنَيْهِ.of his two sons.

فَقَالَSo saidسُلَيْمَانُSulaymanلِقَاتِلِهِto his executionerأَبِيAbuالْجَهْمِ:Al-Jahm:إِنَّكَIndeed youقَدْhaveأُمِرْتَbeen commandedبِأَمْرٍwith a matterلَاnoبُدَّescapingلَكَfor youمِنْfromإِنْفَاذِهِcarrying it out,وَحَاجَتِيand my needإِلَيْكَfrom youأَنْis thatتُقَدِّمَyou put forwardابْنَيَّmy two sonsحَتَّىso thatأَحْتَسِبَهُمَا،I seek their reward with Allah,فَفَعَلَ.and he did so.

وَخَرَجَAnd went outسَدِيفٌSudaifوَقَدْwhileوَصَلَهُrewarded himالْعَبَّاسُAl-Abbasبِخَمْسَةِwith fiveآلَافِthousandدِينَارٍdinarsوَهُوَwhile heيَقُولُ:was saying:قَدْHaveقَرَّتِbeen cooledالْعَيْنَانِthe two eyesوَاشْتَفَتِand been healedالنَّفْسُthe soulفَلِلَّهِso to Allahالْحَمْدُis the praiseوَالشُّكْرُ!and thanks!وَحُكِيَAnd it was narratedعَنْaboutشِيرَوَيْهِShirawayhبْنِson ofأَبْرُويزَAbruwizأَنَّthatرَجُلاًa manمِنَfromالرَّعِيَّةِthe subjectsوَقَفَstoppedلَهُfor himيَوْماًone dayوَقَدْwhileخَرَجَhe came outمِنَfromالْمَيْدَانِthe hippodromeفَقَالَ:and said:الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to AllahالَّذِيwhoقَتَلَkilledأَبْرُويزَAbruwizعَلَىatيَدِكَyour handوَمَلَّكَكَand made you ownمَاwhatكُنْتَyou wereأَحَقَّmore deservingبِهِof itمِنْهُthan himوَأَرَاحَand relievedآلَthe familyسَاسَانَof Sasanمِنْfromجَبَرِيَّتِهِhis tyrannyوَعُتُوِّهِand arroganceوَبُخْلِهِand miserlinessوَنَكَدِهِ،and wretchedness,فَإِنَّهُfor indeed heكَانَused toيَأْخُذُtakeبِالْإِحْنَةِ،out of spite,وَيَقْتُلُand killبِالظَّنِّ،on suspicion,وَيُخِيفُand frightenالْبَرِيَّ،the innocent,وَيَعْمَلُand actبِالْهَوَى.according to whim.

فَقَالَSo saidشِيرَوَيْهِShirawayhلِبَعْضِto someحُجَّابِهِ:of his chamberlains:احْمِلْهُBring himإِلَيَّ.to me.فَحُمِلَ.So he was brought.فَقَالَAnd he saidلَهُ:to him:كَمْHow muchكَانَتْwereأَرْزَاقُكَyour provisionsفِيduringحَيَاةِthe lifeأَبْرُويزَ؟of Abruwiz?قَالَ:He said:كُنْتُI wasفِيinكِفَايَةِsufficiencyالْعَيْشِ.of living.قَالَ:He said:فَكَمْThen how muchرِزْقُكَis your provisionبِمَاfor whatسَمِعْتَyou heardالْيَوْمَ؟today?قَالَ:He said:مَاNothingزِيدَhas been addedفِيtoرِزْقِيmy provisionشَيْءٌ.anything.قَالَ:He said:فَهَلْDidوَتَرَكَharm youأَبْرُويزُAbruwizفَانْتَصَرْتَso you took revengeمِنْهُfrom himبِمَاthrough whatسَمِعْتَyou heardمِنْofكَلَامِكَ؟your speech?قَالَ:He said:لَا.No.قَالَ:He said:فَمَاThen whatدَعَاكَprompted youإِلَىtoالْوُقُوعِspeak illفِيهِof himوَلَمْwhile he did notيَقْطَعْcut offعَنْكَfrom youمَادَّةَthe sourceرِزْقِكَof your provisionوَلَاnorوَتَرَكَharmedفِيinنَفْسِكَ،yourself,وَمَاand what haveلِلْعَامَّةِthe common peopleوَالْوُقُوعِto do with speaking illفِيofالْمُلُوكِkingsوَهُمْwhile they areرَعِيَّةٌ؟subjects?وَأَمَرَAnd he orderedأَنْthatيُنْزَعَbe pulled outلِسَانُهُhis tongueمِنْfromقَفَاهُ،the back of his neck,وَقَالَ:and said:حَقٌّTrueمَاis whatيُقَالُ:is said:الْخَرْسُMutenessخَيْرٌis betterمِنَthanالْبَيَانِeloquenceبِمَاregarding whatلَاis notيَجِبُ.obligatory.وَقَالَAnd saidبَعْضُsomeالشُّعَرَاءِpoetsفِيregardingمِثْلِهِ:the like of this:

يَاOلَيْتَwould thatأَنِّيthat Iلَاdo notأَمُوتُdieبِغُصَّتِي ...in my choking...حَتَّىuntilأَرَىI seeرَجُلاًa manيَقُولُwho speaksفَيَصْدُقُand tells the truth.

احْفَظْGuardلِسَانَكَyour tongueلَاlestتَقُولَyou speakفَتُبْتَلَى ...and be tested...إِنَّfor indeedالْبَلَاءَafflictionمُوَكَّلٌis entrustedبِالْمَنْطِقِwith speech.

وَلِآخَرَ:And to another:

لَعَمْرُكَBy your lifeمَاthere is nothingشَيْءٌanythingعَلِمْتَyou knowمَكَانَهُ ...its place...أَحَقُّmore deservingبِسِجْنٍof prisonمِنْthanلِسَانٍa tongueمُذَلَّلِunrestrained.

عَلَىUponفِيكَyour mouthمِمَّاregarding whatلَيْسَis notيَعْنِيكَyour concernقَوْلُهُ ...its utterance...بِقُفْلٍwith a lockشَدِيدٍfirmحَيْثُwhereverمَاeverكُنْتَyou areفَاقْفِلِso lock it.

وَلِآخَرَ:And to another:

إِذَاWhenالْأَمْرُthe matterأَعْيَاbecomes difficultالْيَوْمَtodayفَانْظُرْthen lookبِهِat itغَداً ...tomorrow...لَعَلَّperhapsعَسِيراًa difficultyفِيinغَدٍtomorrowيَتَيَسَّرُwill become easy.

وَلَاAnd do notتَعُدَّcountقَوْلاًa speechمِنْfromلِسَانِكَyour tongueلَمْthat did notيَرْضَpleaseمَوَاقِعَهُits placementمِنْbeforeقَبْلُthatذَاكَsuchالتَّفَكُّرِreflection.