al mahasin wal masawi al bayhaqi

قِيلَ:It was said:

وَكَانَAnd there wereرِجَالٌmenمِنْfromأَهْلِthe peopleالْمَدِينَةِof Medina

مِنْamong whom wereفَقِيهٍa juristوَرَاوِيَةٍand a narratorوَشَاعِرٍand a poet

يَأْتُونَwho would comeبَغْدَادَto Baghdadفَيَرْجِعُونَand returnبِحَظْوَةٍwith good fortuneوَحَالٍand a stateحَسَنَةٍ،good,

فَاجْتَمَعَso gatheredعِدَّةٌa numberمِنْهُمْof themيَوْماًone day

فَقَالُواand they saidلِصَدِيقٍto a friendلَهُمْof theirsلَمْwho did notيَكُنْhaveعِنْدَهُwith himشَيْءٌanythingمِنَofالآدَابِ:literature/arts:

لَوْIf onlyأَتَيْتَyou cameالْعِرَاقَto Iraqفَلَعَلَّكَperhaps youكُنْتَwouldتُصِيبُgainشَيْئاً.something.

فَقَالَ:He said:أَنْتُمْYouأَصْحَابُare people ofآدَابٍliteratureتَلْتَمِسُونَby which you seekبِهَا!it!

فَقَالُوا:They said:نَحْنُWeنَحْتَالُwill devise a trickلَكَ،for you,

فَفَهَّزُوهُso they equipped himوَقَدِمَand he arrivedبَغْدَادَin Baghdadوَطَلَبَand soughtالِاتِّصَالَto connectبِعَلِيِّwith Aliبْنِson ofيَقْطِينِYaqtinبْنِson ofمُوسَىMusaوَشَكَاand complainedإِلَيْهِto himالْحَاجَةَ!of need!

فَقَالَ:He said:مَاWhatعِنْدَكَdo you haveمِنَofالْأَدَبِ؟literature/skill?

قَالَ:He said:لَيْسَThere isعِنْدِيwith meمِنَofالْآدَابِskillsشَيْءٌanythingغَيْرَexceptأَنِّيthat Iأَكْذِبُtellالْكَذْبَةَa lieفَأُخَيِّلُand make it seemإِلَىtoمَنْwhoeverسَمِعَهَاhears itأَنِّيthat I amصَادِقٌ.truthful.

وَكَانَAnd he wasظَرِيفاًwittyمَلِيحاً،charming,

فَأُعْجِبَso he was impressedبِهِby himوَعَرَضَand offeredعَلَيْهِto himمَالاًmoneyفَأَبَىbut he refusedأَنْtoيَقْبَلَهُaccept itوَقَالَ:and said:

لَسْتُI am notأُرِيدُwantingمِنْكَfrom youإِلَّاexceptأَنْthatتُسَهِّلَyou easeإِذْنِيmy permission to enterوَتُدْنِيَand bring nearمَجْلِسِي.my seating.

قَالَ:He said:ذَاكَThatلَكَ.is yours.

فَكَانَSo he becameمِنْamongأَقْرَبِthe closestالنَّاسِpeopleإِلَيْهِto himمَجْلِس（اً）in gatheringحَتَّىuntilعُرِفَhe became knownبِذَلِكَ.for that.

وَكَانَAndالْمَهْدِيُّAl-Mahdiغَضِبَwas angryعَلَىatرَجُلٍa manمِنَfromالْقُوَّادِthe commandersحَتَّىto the extent thatاسْتَصْفَىhe confiscatedمَالَهُhis wealth

فَكَانَand he wasيَخْتَلِفُfrequentingإِلَىtoعَلِيِّAliبْنِson ofيَقْطِينٍYaqtinرَجَاءَhopingأَنْthatيُكَلِّمَhe would speakلَهُon his behalfالْمَهْدِيَّ،to Al-Mahdi,

وَكَانَand he sawيَرَىthe closenessقُرْبَof the Madaniالْمَدَنِيِّto himمِنْهُand his status,وَمَكَانَهُ،and his place,

فَأَتَىso cameالْمَدَنِيُّthe Madaniالْقَائِدَto the commanderعِشَاءًat nightوَقَالَand saidلَهُ:to him:مَاWhatالْبُشْرَى؟is the good news?

فَقَالَ:He said:لَكَFor youالْبُشْرَىis the good newsوَحُكْمُكَ،and your judgment/command,

قَالَ:he said:قَدْIndeedأَرْسَلَنِيhas sent meإِلَيْكَto youعَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofيَقْطِينٍYaqtin

وَهُوَand heيُقْرِئُكَgreets you withالسَّلَامَpeaceوَيَقُولُ:and says:

قَدْI haveكَلَّمْتُspokenأَمِيرَto the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulفِيregardingأَمْرِكَyour matterوَرَضِيَand he is pleasedعَنْكَwith you

وَأَمَرَand commandedبَرَدِّthe return ofمَالِكَyour wealthوَضِيَاعِكَand your estates

وَيَأْمُرُكَand he commands youبِالْغُدُوِّto come earlyعَلَيْهِto himلِتَغْدُوَso that you may go earlyمَعَهُwith himإِلَىtoأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulمُتَشَكِّراً،expressing gratitude.

فَدَعَاSo providedلَهُfor himالرَّجُلُthe manبِأَلْفِwith a thousandدِينَارٍdinarsوَثِيَابٍand garmentsوَكُسْوَةٍand clothingوَحُمْلَانٍand mountsوَدَفَعَهَاand handed themإِلَيْهِ،to him,

وَغَدَاand he went earlyعَلَىtoعَلِيٍّAliمَعَwithجَمَاعَةٍa groupمِنْofوُجُوهِthe notablesالْعَسْكَرِof the armyمُتَشَكِّراً.expressing gratitude.

فَقَالَSaidلَهُto himعَلِيٌّ:Ali:وَمَاAnd what isذَاكَ؟that?

فَقَالَ:He said:أَخْبَرَنِيinformed meأَبُوAbuفُلَانٍ،so-and-so,وَهُوَand he wasإِلَىbesideجَنْبِهِ،him,بِكَلَامِكَof your speechلِأَمِيرِto the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulفِيconcerningأَمْرِيmy matterوَرِضَاهُand his satisfactionعَنِّي!with me!

فَالْتَفَتَSo turnedإِلَىtowardالْمَدَنِيِّthe Madaniفَقَالَ:and said:مَاWhatهَذَا؟is this?

فَقَالَ:He said:أَصْلَحَكَMay Allah set rightاللَّهُ!you!هَذَاThis isبَعْضُsome ofذَلِكَthatالْمَتَاعِmerchandiseنَشَرْنَاهُ.which we unfolded.

فَضَحِكَSo laughedعَلِيٌّAliوَقَالَ:and said:عَلَيَّBring meبِدَابَّتِي،my mount,

فَرَكِبَSo he rodeإِلَىtoالْمَهْدِيِّAl-Mahdiوَحَدَّثَهُand narrated to himبِالْحَدِيثِthe story

فَضَحِكَAl-Mahdi laughedالْمَهْدِيُّand saidوَقَالَto Ali:لِعَلِيٍّ:Indeedفَإِنَّاwe haveقَدْbeen pleasedرَضِينَاwith the manعَنِand returnedالرَّجُلِhis wealthوَرَدَدْنَاto him,عَلَيْهِso grantمَالَهُto the Madaniفَأَجِرْa generousعَلَىstipendالْمَدَنِيِّand treat himرِزْقاًwell.وَاسِعاًgenerousوَاسْتَوْصِand take good careبِهِof him.خَيْراً.well.

فَأَجْرَىSo he grantedعَلَيْهِhimوَوَصَلَهُ،and gave him gifts,وَكَانَand he wasيُعْرَفُknownبِكَذَّابِas the liar ofالْخَلِيفَةِ.the Caliph.

قَالَ:He said:وَكَتَبَAnd wroteعَبْدُAbdul-MalikالْمَلِكِibnبْنِMarwanمَرْوَانَto Umarإِلَىibn Muhammadعُمَرَthe governorبْنِof the Balqaمُحَمَّدٍsaying:صَاحِبِproposeالْبَلْقَاءِfor meأَنِto Al-Shaqraaاخْطُبْdaughter ofعَلَيَّShabibالشَّقْرَاءَibn AwanaبِنْتَAl-Ta'i,شَبِيبِwhile heبْنِwas at that timeعَوَانَةَin a desert campالطَّائِيَّةِof hisوَهُوَwith a numberيَوْمَئِذٍof his companions.فِيinبَادِيَةٍa desertلَهُof hisوَمَعَهُand with himعِدَّةٌwere a numberمِنْofأَصْحَابِهِ.his companions.

فَأَرْسَلَSo sentإِلَيْهِto himعُمَرُ:Umar:إِنَّIndeedأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulكَتَبَhas writtenإِلَيَّto meأَنْthatأَخْطُبَI proposeعَلَيْهِon his behalfالشَّقْرَاءَto Al-Shaqraaابْنَتَكَyour daughterفَاحْضُرْso attendفَأَرْسَلَand he sentإِلَيْهِ.to him.

فَقَالَ:He said:مَاWe haveلَنَاnoإِلَيْكُمْneedحَاجَةٌ،of you,فَإِنْand ifكَانَتْthere isلِأَمِيرِfor the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulإِلَيْنَاto usحَاجَةٌa needفَلْيَأْتِlet him comeأَوْorيُرْسِلْsendرَسُولاً.a messenger.

فَقَالَSo saidعُمَرُ:Umar:سِيرُواLet us travelبِنَاto himإِلَيْهِ.together.

فَسَارَSo he traveledفِيinجَمَاعَةٍa groupمِنْofوُجُوهِnotablesالْبَلْقَاءِ.of the Balqa.

قَالَ:He said:فَدَفَعْنَاSo we reachedإِلَىan Arabأَعْرَابِيٍّat the courtyardبِفِنَاءِof his tentخَيْمَتِهِso we greeted himفَسَلَمْنَاand he returnedفَرَدَّthe greeting,السَّلَامَ،and Umarوَتَكَلَّمَspokeعُمَرُso saidفَقَالَthe Arab:الْأَعْرَابِيُّ:Are youأَرَسُولَthe messengerأَمِيرِof the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful?أَنْتَ؟Are you?

قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ،Yes,قَالَ:he said:فَإِنَّاthen indeed weقَدْhaveزَوَّجْنَاهُmarried her to himعَلَىfor a dowerصَدَاقِlike the dower ofنِسَائِنَاour women:مِائَةٍone hundredمِنَcamelsالْإِبِلِand whateverوَمَاfollows thatيَتْبَعُهَاof garmentsمِنَand servants.الثِّيَابِgarmentsوَالْخَدَمِ.and servants.

فَقُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ.Yes.

ثُمَّThenجَاءَنَاhe brought usبِثَلَاثِthreeجِفَانٍbowlsمِنْofكُسُورِbroken piecesخُبْزٍof breadوَلَبَنٍand milkفَأَكَلْنَاso we ateثُمَّthenانْصَرَفْنَا.we departed.

فَكَتَبْتُSo I wroteإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdul-MalikالْمَلِكِibnبْنِMarwanمَرْوَانَso he sentفَأَرْسَلَto himإِلَيْهِone hundredبِمِائَةٍcamelsمِنَand ten thousandالْإِبِلِdirhamsوَعَشَرَةِand whateverآلَافِfollows thatدِرْهَمٍof perfumeوَمَاservantsيَتْبَعُand furnishings.ذَلِكَthatمِنَofالطِّيِّبِperfumeوَالْخَدَمِand servantsوَالْأَثَاثِ.and furnishings.

فَفَهَّزَهَاSo he prepared themثُمَّthenحَمَلَهَاcarried themإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdul-Malikالْمَلِكِand there wasوَمَاwith herمَعَهَاof thatمِنْnothingذَلِكَexceptشَيْءٌthe camelإِلَّاupon which she rodeالْبَعِيرَand with herالَّذِيwere womenرَكِبَتْهُfrom the daughtersوَمَعَهَاof her paternal uncle.نِسْوَةٌwomenمِنْfromبَنَاتِdaughters ofعَمِّهَا.her paternal uncle.

فَلَمَّاWhenوَافَتْshe arrived atعَبْدَAbdul-Malikالْمَلِكِhe orderedأَمَرَand she was enteredفَأُدْخِلَتْinto a houseإِلَىwhere she stayedدَارٍfor days,فَأَقَامَتْthenأَيَّاماًAbdul-Malikثُمَّconsummated marriageإِنَّwith herعَبْدَand he usedالْمَلِكِto sayبَنَىfrequently:بِهَاI have not seenفَكَانَthe like of this Arab womanكَثِيراًin witمَاand characterيَقُولُ:and speech.مَاWhatرَأَيْتُI sawمِثْلَlikeهَذِهِthisالْأَعْرَابِيَّةِBedouin womanظَرْفاًin witوَخُلُقاًand characterوَمَنْطِقاً.and speech.

فَاشْتَدَّSo that weighed heavilyذَلِكَuponعَلَىAtikaعَاتِكَةَdaughter ofبِنْتِYazidيَزِيدَibnبْنِMuawiyahمُعَاوِيَةَso she sentفَأَرْسَلَتْto Rouhإِلَىibn Zinba,رُوحِand he wasبْنِone of the peopleزِنْبَاعٍ،most specialوَكَانَto Abdul-Malik,مِنْso she said:أَخَصِّO AbuالنَّاسِZurahبِعَبْدِyou have knownالْمَلِكِ،the opinionفَقَالَتْ:of the Commanderيَاof the FaithfulأَبَاMuawiyahزُرْعَةَconcerning youقَدْand the opinionعَلِمْتَof Yazidرَأْيَafter him,أَمِيرِand that the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulمُعَاوِيَةَhas been captivatedكَانَby the matterفِيكَof thisوَرَأْيَArab womanيَزِيدَand she has dominatedمِنْhis heartبَعْدِهِso it is up to youوَأَنَّto spoil thatأَمِيرَwith him.الْمُؤْمِنِينَThe Commanderقَدْof the Faithfulأَعْجَبَهُhas been captivatedأَمْرُby the matterهَذِهِof thisالْأَعْرَابِيَّةِArab womanوَغَلَبَتْand she has dominatedعَلَىhis heartقَلْبِهِso it is up to youفَشَأْنُكَto spoil thatفِيwith him.إِفْسَادِto spoilذَلِكَthatعِنْدَهُ.with him.

قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْYesوَنِعْمَةُand with pleasure.عَيْنٍ.and with pleasure.

ثُمَّThenخَلَاhe was aloneبِعَبْدِwith Abdul-Malikالْمَلِكِand said:فَقَالَ:O Commanderيَاof the Faithfulأَمِيرَhow do youالْمُؤْمِنِينَviewكَيْفَthe Arab woman?تَرَىHe said:الْأَعْرَابِيَّةَ؟She has gatheredقَالَ:what the womenقَدْof the citiesجَمَعَتْand the desertمَاhave gathered.جَمَعَHe said:النِّسَاءُO Commanderالْحَاضِرَةُof the Faithfulوَالْبَادِيَةُ.you are regardingقَالَ:the Arab womanيَاas the poetأَمِيرَsaid:الْمُؤْمِنِينَIf a traitإِنَّكَfrom Tamimمِنَpleases you...الْأَعْرَابِيَّةِThen whatكَمَاdispleases youقَالَfrom Tamimالْأَوَّلُ:is more.

فَقَالَSo saidلَهُ:to himلَاDo notتَقُلْsayذَلِكَ،that,قَالَ:he said:كَأَنَّكَIt is as ifبِهَاyou will findقَدْshe has changedحَالَتْto other thanإِلَىwhat sheغَيْرِcurrentlyمَاis.هِيَis.عَلَيْهِ.is.

فَكَثُرَSo that became frequentذَلِكَfrom him.مِنْهُ.from him.

ثُمَّThenإِنَّindeedعَبْدَAbdul-Malikالْمَلِكِenteredدَخَلَupon herعَلَيْهَاand said:فَقَالَ:O Shaqraaيَاdid you knowشَقْرَاءُthat Rouhأَعْلَمْتِsaid to meأَنَّsuch and such?رُوحاًShe said:قَالَAnd whyلِيwould that beكَذَاwhen the stateوَكَذَا؟of my tribeفَقَالَتْ:and his tribeوَلِمَis as youذَاكَknow?وَحَالُHe said:عَشِيرَتِيIt is as Iوَعَشِيرَتِهِtold youكَمَاand if you likeتَعْلَمُ؟I will let youفَقَالَ:hear thatهُوَfrom him!عَلَىShe said:مَاI wouldقُلْتُlike that.لَكِlike that.وَإِنْlike that.أَحْبَبْتِlike that.أَسْمَعْتُكِlike that.ذَلِكَlike that.مِنْهُ!like that.فَقَالَتْ:like that.قَدْlike that.أَحْبَبْتُ.like that.