فَأَمَرَهَاSo he commanded herأَنْthatتَجْلِسَshe sitخَلْفَbehindالسِّتْرِthe curtain
So he commanded her that she sit behind the curtain.
وَأَرْسَلَAnd he sentإِلَىtoرُوحٍ،Ruh,فَلَمَّاso whenدَخَلَhe enteredعَلَيْهِupon himقَالَ:he said:
And he sent to Ruh, so when he entered upon him, he said:
هِيهِCome onيَاOأَبَاAbuزُرْعَةَZur'ah,وَاللَّهِby Allahلَقَدْindeedوَقَعَfellكَلاَمُكَyour speechمِنِّيwith meمَوْقِعاً!a great place!
"Come on O Abu Zur'ah, by Allah your speech has indeed fallen upon me in a significant place!"
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْYesيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,إِنَّindeedالْأَعْرَابِيَّةَthe Bedouin womanتَنْتَكِثُunravelsكَانْتِكَاثِlike the unraveling ofالْحَبْلِthe ropeثُمَّthenلَاnotتَدْرِيyou knowمَاwhatأَنْتَyouعَلَيْهِare uponمِنْهَا.regarding her.
He said: "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful, indeed the Bedouin woman unravels like the unraveling of the rope, then you do not know what you stand upon with her."
فَعَجَّلَتْSo she hurriedوَرَفَعَتِand raisedالسِّتْرَthe curtainوَقَالَتْ:and said:
So she hurried and raised the curtain and said:
أَنْتَYou!فَلَاMay Allahحَيَّاكَneither greetاللَّهُyouوَلَاnorوَصَلَjoinرَحِمَكَyour womb!
"You! May Allah neither greet you nor join your womb!
قَدْIndeedكَانَit used toيَبْلُغُنِيreach meهَذَاthisعَنْكَabout youفَمَاand I did notكُنْتُuseأُصَدِّقُ!to believe it!
This used to reach me about you, but I would not believe it!"
فَوَثَبَSo leapedرُوحٌRuhوَقَالَ:and said:
So Ruh leaped and said:
يَاOهَذِهِwoman,إِنَّindeedهَذَاthis manأَرْسَلَsentإِلَيَّto meفَأَعْلَمَنِيand informed meأَنَّكِthat youخَلْفَare behindالسِّتْرِthe curtainوَعَزَمَand resolvedعَلَيَّupon meأَنْthatأَتَكَلَّمَI speakبِهَذَاwith thisفَلَمْso I did notأَجِدْfindبُدًّاany wayمِنْfromأَبَرِّfulfillingعَزِيمَتِهِ،his resolve,
"O woman, indeed this man sent to me and informed me that you are behind the curtain and insisted upon me that I speak with this, so I found no way other than to fulfill his resolve,
وَأَمَّاand as forأَنْتِyou,فَلَاmay Allah notيُسُوءُكِharmاللَّهُ!you!"
and as for you, may Allah not harm you!"
قَالَتْ:She said:صَدَقَHe spoke the truthوَاللَّهِby Allahابْنُmy paternalعَمِّيuncle's sonوَأَنْتَand you are the oneالَّذِيwhoحَمَلْتَهُurged himعَلَىto doمَاwhatقَالَ.he said.
She said: "By Allah, my cousin has spoken the truth, and you are the one who urged him to say what he said."
فَقَالَSo saidعَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِ:al-Malik:وَيْحَكَWoe to youيَاOشَقْرَاءُShaqra',أَلَاwill you notتَقْبَلِيacceptمِنْهُ!from him!
So Abd al-Malik said: "Woe to you, O Shaqra', will you not accept from him?"
قَالَتْ:She said:هُوَHeعِنْدِيto meأَصْدَقُis more truthfulمِنْكَ.than you.
She said: "He is more truthful to me than you."
وَجَعَلَAnd Ruh beganرُوحٌtoيَقُولُsayوَهُوَwhileمُوَلٍّ:turning away:هُوَIt isوَاللَّهِby Allahالْحَقُّthe truthكَمَاjust asأَقُولُ.I say.
And Ruh began to say while turning away: "By Allah, it is the truth just as I say."
فَخَرَجَSo he went outوَوَقَعَand fellالْكَلاَمُthe talkبَيْنَهُمَا.between them.
So he went out, and the talk settled between them.
وَقَالَAnd saidخَالِدُKhalidبْنُbinصَفْوَانَ:Safwan:دَخَلْتُI enteredعَلَىuponأَبِيAbuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbasوَهُوَwhile he wasخَالِيemptyالْمَجْلِسِof the gatheringفَقُلْتُ:so I said:
And Khalid bin Safwan said: "I entered upon Abu al-Abbas while his gathering was empty, so I said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,إِنْifرَأَيْتَyou see fitأَنْthatتَأْمُرَyou commandبِحِفْظِthe guarding ofالسِّتْرِthe curtainلِأُلْقِيَso that I may castإِلَيْكَto youشَيْئاًsomethingأَنْصَحُكَI advise youبِهِwith itأَوْorقَالَhe saidفِيهِ.in it.
O Commander of the Faithful, if you see fit to order the guarding of the curtain so that I may present to you something in which I advise you—or he said: regarding it—"
فَأَمَرَSo he commandedبِذَلِكَ.that.
So he ordered that.
فَقُلْتُ:Then I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,فَكَّرْتُI reflectedفِيuponهَذَاthisالْأَمْرِmatterالَّذِيwhichسَاقَهُdrove itاللَّهُAllahإِلَيْكَto youوَمَنَّand bestowedبِهِitعَلَيْكَupon you,فَرَأَيْتُكَand I saw youأَبْعَدَthe farthestالنَّاسِof peopleمِنْfromلَذَّاتِهِits pleasuresوَأَتْعَبَand the most tiredالْخَلْقِof creationفِيهِ؟in it?
"O Commander of the Faithful, I reflected upon this matter which Allah has driven to you and bestowed upon you, and I found you to be the farthest of people from its pleasures and the most fatigued of creation in it?"
قَالَ:He said:وَكَيْفَAnd howذَاكَis thatيَاOخَالِدُ؟Khalid?
He said: "And how is that, O Khalid?"
قُلْتُ:I said:بِاقْتِصَارِكَBy your restrictingمِنَfromالدُّنْيَاthe worldعَلَىtoامْرَأَةٍa single womanوَتَرْكِكَand your leavingالْبَيْضَاءَthe white womanالْمُشْتَهَاةَdesiredلِبَيَاضِهَاfor her whitenessوَالْخَضْرَاءَand the dark-complexioned womanالَّتِيwhoتُرَادُis wantedلِخُضْرَتِهَاfor her dark complexionوَالسَّمِينَةَand the plump womanالْمُشْتَهَاةَdesiredلِوِطَائِهَاfor her softnessوَذَكَرْتُand I mentionedالرَّشِيقَةَthe slenderالرَّخِيمَةَand soft-voicedوَالْجَعْدَةَand the curly-hairedالسِّبْطَةَ،and the straight-haired,
I said: "By your restricting yourself in the world to a single woman, and leaving the fair woman desired for her fairness, the dark woman desired for her complexion, the plump woman desired for her softness, and I mentioned the slender, soft-voiced, curly, and straight-haired woman,
فَقَالَ:so he said:يَاOخَالِدُKhalid,هَذَاthis isأَمْرٌa matterمَاthatمَرَّhas passedبِسَمْعِي!by my hearing!"
so he said: "O Khalid, this is a matter that has never crossed my hearing!"
فَاسْتَأْذَنَSo he asked permissionفِيtoِالِانْصِرَافِleaveفَأُذِنَand permission was grantedلَهُ.to him.
So he asked permission to leave, and permission was granted to him.
وَخَرَجْتُAnd I went outإِلَيْهِtoأُمُّUmmسَلَمَةَSalamaوَهُوَwhile he wasيَنْكُتُtappingبِالْقَلَمِwith the penعَلَىonدَوَاةٍan inkwellبَيْنَbetweenيَدَيْهِ،his hands,
And Umm Salama went out to him while he was tapping with the pen on an inkwell between his hands,
فَقَالَتْ:so she said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,أَرَاكَI see youمُفَكِّراً،pensive,أَنْتَقَضَhas revoltedعَلَيْكَagainst youعَدُوٌّ؟an enemy?
so she said: "O Commander of the Faithful, I see you pensive, has an enemy revolted against you?"
قَالَ:He said:كَلَّاNo,وَلَكِنْbut ratherكَلاَمٌspeechأَلْقَاهُcast itإِلَيَّto meخَالِدُKhalidبْنُbinصَفْوَانَSafwanفِيهِin it isنَصِيحَتِي.my advice.
He said: "No, but rather words cast to me by Khalid bin Safwan containing my advice."
وَشَرَحَAnd he explainedذَلِكَthatلَهَا.to her.
And he explained that to her.
قَالَتْ:She said:فَمَاAnd whatقُلْتَdid you sayلِابْنِto the son ofالزَّانِيَةِ؟the adulteress?
She said: "And what did you say to the son of the adulteress?"
قَالَ:He said:يَنْصَحُنِيHe advises meوَتَشْتُمُّينَهُ!and you revile him!
He said: "He advises me and you revile him!"
فَقَامَتْSo she stood upعَنْهُfrom himوَبَعَثَتْand sentإِلَىtoمِائَةٍa hundredمِنْofمَوَالِيهَاher freedmenفَقَالَتْ:and said:
So she stood up from him and sent to a hundred of her freedmen and said:
لِهَذَاFor thisالْيَوْمِdayاتَّخَذْتُكُمْI have taken youوَأَعْدَدْتُكُمْ!and prepared you!
"For this very day I have taken you and prepared you!
امْضُواProceedإِلَىtoخَالِدِKhalidبْنِbinصَفْوَانَSafwan,فَحَيْثُso whereverوَجَدْتُمْyou findخَالِداًKhalid,فَاهْوُواpounceإِلَىuponأَعْضَائِهِhis limbsعُضْواًlimbعُضْواًby limbفَرُضُّوهَا.and break them.
Proceed to Khalid bin Safwan, and wherever you find Khalid, pounce upon his limbs, limb by limb, and break them."
فَطُلِبْتُSo I was soughtوَمَرَرْتُand I passedبِقَوْمٍby a peopleأُحَدِّثُهُمْnarrating to themإِذْwhenأَقْبَلَapproachedالْقَوْمُthe peopleفَدَخَلْتُso I enteredفِيintoجُمْلَتِهِمْtheir groupوَلَجَأْتُand took refugeإِلَىinدَارٍa houseوَوَقَعَتِand they fell uponالْبَغْلَةَthe muleفَرُضُّوهَاand broke itبِالْأَعْمِدَةِwith pillarsوَبَقِيتُand I remainedلَاneitherتُظِلُّنِيshading meسَمَاءٌskyوَلَاnorتُقِلُّنِيbearing meأَرْضٌ.earth.
So I was sought after, and I passed by some people narrating to them when the people approached. I entered into their group and sought refuge in a house, and they fell upon the mule and broke it with pillars, and I remained with neither a sky to shade me nor an earth to bear me.
فَإِنِّيThen whileجَالِسٌI was sittingذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayإِذْwhenهَجَمَsuddenly enteredعَلَيَّupon meقَوْمٌa peopleفَقَالُوا:and said:أَجِبْAnswerأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.
Then while I was sitting one day, suddenly some people rushed upon me and said: "Answer the Commander of the Faithful."
فَقُمْتُSo I stood upوَلَاwhile notأَمْلِكُpossessingمِنْoverنَفْسِيmyselfشَيْئاًanythingحَتَّىuntilدَخَلْتُI enteredعَلَيْهِupon himوَهُوَwhile he wasفِيinذَلِكَthatالْمَجْلِسِgatheringوَأَنَاand Iأَسْمَعُheardحَرَكَةًa movementمِنْfromوَرَاءِbehindالسِّتْرِthe curtainفَقُلْتُso I saidأُمُّUmmسَلَمَةَSalamaوَاللَّهِ.by Allah.
So I stood up, having no control over myself, until I entered upon him while he was in that same gathering, and I heard a movement from behind the curtain, so I said: "Umm Salama, by Allah."
فَقَالَ:He said:يَاOخَالِدُKhalid,مِنْfromأَيْنَwhereتُرَى؟do you think you were?
He said: "O Khalid, where do you think you were?"
قُلْتُ:I said:كُنْتُI wasفِيatغُلَّةٍan estateلِي.of mine.
I said: "I was at an estate of mine."
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:الْكَلاَمُThe speechالَّذِيwhichكُنْتُyouأَلْقَيْتَهُcastإِلَيَّto meفِيonبَعْضِsomeالْأَيَّامِdaysأَعِدْهُrepeat itعَلَيَّ.to me.
Then he said: "The speech which you cast to me on a certain day, repeat it to me."
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْYesيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,إِنَّindeedالْعَرَبَthe Arabsاشْتَقَّتِderivedاسْمَthe nameالضَّرِّof harm/co-wifeمِنْfromاسْمِthe nameالضَّرَّتَيْنِ،of the two co-wives,
I said: "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful, indeed the Arabs derived the name of harm from the name of the two co-wives,
وَإِنَّand indeedالضَّرَائِرَco-wivesشَرُّare the worstالذَّخَائِرِ،of provisions,وَالْإِمَاءَand slave-girlsآفَةُare the plagueالْمَنَازِلِ،of the homes,وَلَمْand neverيَجْمَعْgathersرَجُلٌa manبَيْنَbetweenامْرَأَتَيْنِtwo womenإِلَّاexceptكَانَhe wasبَيْنَbetweenجَمْرَتَيْنِtwo embersتُحْرِقُهُone burns himوَاحِدَةٌoneبِنَارِهَاwith its fireوَتُلْحِقُهَاand the other joins itأُخْرَىanotherبِشَرَارِهَا.with its sparks.
and co-wives are the worst of provisions, and slave-girls are the plague of homes, and no man gathers between two women except that he is between two embers, one burning him with its fire and another joining it with its sparks."
قَالَ:He said:لَيْسَThis is notهَذَاwhatهُوَ!it is!
He said: "This is not it!"
قُلْتُ:I said:بَلَى.Yes, it is.
I said: "Yes, it is."
قَالَ:He said:فَفَكِّرْ.Then reflect.
He said: "Then reflect."
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْYesيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,وَأَخْبَرْتُكَand I informed youأَنَّthatالثَّلَاثَthe threeإِذَاwhenاجْتَمَعْنَthey gatherكُنَّthey areكَالْأَثافِيlike the cooking stonesالْمُحْرِقَةِ،that burn,
I said: "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful, and I informed you that three when they gather are like the burning cooking stones,
وَأَنَّand thatالْأَرْبَعَthe fourيَتَغَايَرْنَgrow jealous of one anotherفَلَاand do notيَصْبِرْنَendureوَيَتَعَالَيْنَand act haughtyفَلَاand do notيَهْوَيْنَ،descend,وَإِنْand ifأُعْطِينَthey are givenلَمْnotيَرْضَيْنَ.do they become satisfied.
and that the four grow jealous and do not endure, act haughty and do not yield, and if given they are not satisfied.
قَالَ:He said:لَاNo,وَاللَّهِby Allahمَاit isهَذَا.not this.
He said: "No, by Allah, it is not this."
قُلْتُ:I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,وَأَخْبَرْتُكَand I informed youأَنَّthatالْأَرْبَعَthe fourهَمٌّare worryوَنَصَبٌand fatigueوَضَجَرٌand annoyanceوَصَخَبٌand clamorإِنَّمَاindeedصَاحِبُهُنَّtheir companionبَيْنَis betweenحَاجَةٍa needتَطْلُبُhe seeksوَبَلِيَّةٍand a calamityتَتَرَقَّبُ،that awaits,إِنْifخَلَاhe is aloneبِوَاحِدَةٍwith oneمِنْهُنَّof themخَافَhe fearsشَرَّthe evil ofالْبَاقِيَاتِ،the remaining ones,وَإِنْand ifآثَرَهَاhe prefers herكُنَّthey areلَهُto himأَعْدَىmore hostileمِنَthanالْحَيَّاتِ،vipers,وَأَخْبَرْتُكَand I informed youأَنَّthatالْجَوَارِيَslave-girlsرِجَالٌare menلَاwho have noخُصَىtesticlesلَهُنَّthemselvesوَخُرْقٌand foolsلَاthere is noحَيَاةَlifeمَعَهُنَّ.with them.
I said: "O Commander of the Faithful, and I informed you that the four are worry, fatigue, annoyance, and clamor; their companion is merely between a need he seeks and a calamity that awaits. If he is alone with one of them, he fears the evil of the rest, and if he prefers her, they are more hostile to him than vipers. And I informed you that slave-girls are men without testicles, and fools with whom there is no life."
قَالَ:He said:لَاNo,وَاللَّهِby Allahمَاit isهَذَا!not this!
He said: "No, by Allah, it is not this!"
قُلْتُ:I said:بَلَىYesإِنَّindeedبَنِيBanuمَخْزُومٍMakhzumرَيْحَانَةُare the sweet basilالْعَرَبِof the Arabsوَكِنَانَةُand the quiverبَيْتِof the houseقُرَيْشٍ،of Quraysh,وَعِنْدَكَand you haveرَيْحَانَةُthe sweet basilالرَّيَاحِينِof sweet basilsوَسَيِّدَةُand the mistressنِسَاءِof the womenالْعَالَمِينَ،of the worlds,وَحَدَّثْتَنِيand you told meأَنَّكَthat youتَهُمُّwere intendingبِالتَّزَوُّجِto marryفَقُلْتُso I saidلَكَto youهَيْهَاتَfar from it!تَضْرِبُYou are strikingفِيinحَدِيدٍironبَارِدٍcoldلَيْسَthat is notذَلِكَhappeningبِكَائِنٍat allآخِرَin the endالزَّمَانِof timeالْمُعَايَنِ!witnessed!
I said: "Yes, indeed Banu Makhzum are the sweet basil of the Arabs and the quiver of the house of Quraysh, and you have the finest of sweet basils and the mistress of the women of the worlds. You told me that you were intending to marry, so I said to you: Far from it! You are striking in cold iron, that is not going to happen in the latter witnessed times!"
قَالَ:He said:وَيْحَكَWoe to youأَتَسْتَعْمِلُdo you employالْكَذِبَ؟lying?
He said: "Woe to you, do you employ lying?"
قُلْتُ:I said:فَمَعَThen withالسِّيُوفِswordsلَعِبٌ!is there play!
I said: "Then is there play with swords!"
قَالَ:He said:فَاذْهَبْSo goفَإِنَّكَfor indeed you areأَكْذَبُthe greatest liarالْعَرَبِ،among the Arabs.
He said: "So go, for indeed you are the greatest liar among the Arabs."
قُلْتُ:I said:فَأَيُّهُمَاThen which of the twoأَصْلَحُ،is better:أَكَذِبٌthat I lieأَمْorتَقْتُلُنِيUmm Salamaأُمُّkillsسَلَمَةَ؟me?
I said: "Then which of the two is better, that I lie or that Umm Salama kills me?"
فَاسْتَلْقَىSo he leaned backضَاحِكاًlaughingوَقَالَ:and said:اخْرُجْGet outقَبَحَكَmay Allah disgraceاللَّهُ!you!
So he leaned back laughing and said: "Get out, may Allah disgrace you!"
وَارْتَفَعَAnd roseالضَّحِكُthe laughterمِنْfromوَرَاءِbehindالسِّتْرِthe curtainوَانْصَرَفْتُand I departedإِلَىtoمَنْزِلِيmy homeفَإِذَاwhereuponخَادِمٌa servantلِأُمِّof UmmسَلَمَةَSalamaوَمَعَهُwith him wereخَمْسُfiveبِدَرٍpurses of moneyوَخَمْسَةُand fiveتُخُوتٍtrays of garmentsوَقَالَ:and he said:الْزَمْStick toمَاwhatسَمِعْنَاهُwe heardمِنْكَ.from you.
And the laughter rose from behind the curtain, and I departed to my home, whereupon a servant of Umm Salama was there with five purses of money and five trays of garments, and he said: "Stick to what we heard from you."