قَالَ:Heوَسَمِعَsaidبَعْضُandالْحُكَمَاءِsomeرَجُلاًof the wise men heard a man sayingيَقُولُ:sayingإِنِّيIndeedغَرِيبٌ.I am a stranger
He said: Some of the wise men heard a man saying, "Indeed, I am a stranger."
فَقَالَ:HeالْغَرِيبُsaidمَنْThe strangerلَاis he who has noأَدَبَmannersلَهُ.for himself
He said: "The stranger is he who has no good manners."
وَكَانَAndيُقَالُ:it used to be saidمَنْWhosoeverقَعَدَhis lineageبِهِcausedحَسَبُهُhim to sitنَهَضَhis good mannersبِهِraisedأَدَبُهُ.him up
And it used to be said: "Whosoever is held back by his lineage, his good manners will raise him up."
وَقَالَAndعَلِيُّAliبْنُsonأَبِيof Abiطَالِبٍ،Talibرَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwith himعَنْهُ:said
And Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, said:
الْعِلْمُKnowledgeخَيْرٌis betterمِنَthanالْمَالِwealth
Knowledge is better than wealth,
لِأَنَّbecauseالْعِلْمَknowledgeيَحْرُسُكَguards youوَأَنْتَwhile youتَحْرُسُguardالْمَالَ،the wealth
because knowledge guards you while you guard wealth,
وَالْمَالَand wealthيُبِيدُهُis diminished byالْإِنْفَاقُ،spending
and wealth is diminished by spending,
وَالْعِلْمُwhile knowledgeيَزْكُوincreasesعَلَىuponالْإِنْفَاقِ،spending
while knowledge increases through spending,
وَالْعِلْمُand knowledgeحَاكِمٌis a rulerوَالْمَالُwhile wealthمَحْكُومٌis ruledعَلَيْهِ.over
and knowledge is a ruler while wealth is ruled over.
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidلِبُزُرْجْمِهْرَ:to Buzurjmihr
And it was said to Buzurjmihr:
الْأَدَبُAre good mannersأَفْضَلُbetterأَمِorالْمَالُ؟wealth?
"Are good manners better or wealth?"
قَالَ:Heبَلِsaidالْأَدَبُ.Rather, good manners.
He said: "Rather, good manners."
قِيلَIt was saidلَهُ:to him
It was said to him:
فَمَاThen whatبَالُis the matter withالْأُدَبَاءِthe men of lettersبَبَابِat the doors ofالْأَغْنِيَاءِthe richوَلَاwhile we do notنَرَىseeالْأَغْنِيَاءَthe richبَبَابِat the doors ofالْأُدَبَاءِ؟the men of letters?
"Then what is the matter that we see the men of letters at the doors of the rich, while we do not see the rich at the doors of the men of letters?"
فَقَالَ:HeلِعِلْمِsaidالْأُدَبَاءِDue to the knowledge ofبِمِقْدَارِthe men of lettersفَضْلِconcerning the measure ofالْمَالِthe virtue of wealthوَجَهْلِand the ignorance ofالْأَغْنِيَاءِthe richبِمِقْدَارِconcerning the measure ofالْأَدَبِ.good manners.
He said: "Due to the men of letters knowing the value of wealth, and the ignorance of the rich regarding the value of good manners."
وَقَالَAndبَعْضُsomeالْحُكَمَاءِ:of the wise men said
And some of the wise men said:
إِنْIfكَانَprovisionالرِّزْقُmustلَاnecessarilyبُدَّbe soughtمَطْلُوباًthroughبِسَبَبٍa causeفَأَفْضَلُthen the best ofأَسْبَابِهِits causesمَاis that whichافْتُتِحَwas openedبِالْأَدَبِ،with good manners.
"If provision must necessarily be sought through a cause, then the best of its causes is that which is initiated with good manners."
وَنَظَرْنَاAndفَلَمْwe lookedنَرَهُand did not seeاجْتَمَعَit gatherلِشَيْءٍfor anythingمِنْfromأَصْنَافِthe categories ofالصَّنَاعَاتِcraftsكَمَاas it gatheredاجْتَمَعَforلِلْكَتَبَةِthe scribes
"And we looked and did not see it gather for any of the categories of crafts as it gathered for the scribes,"
لِأَنَّهَاbecauseلَاit doesتَكْمُلُnotلِأَحَدٍbecome complete for anyoneحَتَّىuntilيَبْتَدِئَهَاhe begins itبِرِيَاضَةِby trainingنَفْسِهِhimselfفِيinالْأَدَبِgood manners
"because it does not become complete for anyone until he begins it by training himself in good manners,"
فَيَنْفُذَso that he excelsفِيinالْخَطِّhandwritingوَالْبَلَاغَةِand eloquenceفِيinالْكُتُبِbooksوَالْفَصَاحَةِand clarityفِيinالْمَنْطِقِspeech
"so that he excels in handwriting and eloquence in books, and clarity in speech,"
وَالْبَصَرِand insightبِصَوَابِinto the correctness ofالْكَلَامِspeechمِنْfromخِطَابِهِhis address
"and insight into the correctness of speech from his address,"
وَالْعِلْمِand knowledgeبِالشَّرِيعَةِof the Sacred Lawوَأَحْكَامِهَاand its rulingsوَالْمَعْرِفَةِand acquaintanceبِالسِّيَاسَةِwith politicsوَالتَّدْبِيرِ.and administration."
"and knowledge of the Sacred Law and its rulings, and acquaintance with politics and administration."
[الْمُنَاظَرَاتِ[The debatesفِيinالْأَدَبِ]literature]
[The Debates in Literature]
حَدَّثَنَاNarrated to usأَبُوAbuنَاظِرَةَNazirahالْبَصْرِيُّal-Basriعَنِfromالْمَازِنِيِّal-Maziniقَالَ:who said:
Abu Nazirah al-Basri narrated to us from al-Mazini, who said:
بَيْنَاWhileأَنَاIقَاعِدٌwas sittingفِيinالْمَسْجِدِthe mosqueإِذَاsuddenlyصَاحِبُa postmanبَرِيدٍriderقَدْhadدَخَلَentered
"While I was sitting in the mosque, suddenly a postman rider had entered
وَهُوَand heيَسْأَلُwas askingعَنِّيabout meوَيَقُولُ:and sayingأَيُّكُمُWhich of youالْمَازِنِيُّ؟is al-Mazini?
and he was asking about me, saying, 'Which of you is al-Mazini?'
فَأَشَارَSoالنَّاسُthe peopleإِلَيَّ،pointed to meفَقَالَ:and he saidأَجِبْ،Answer the summons.
So the people pointed to me, and he said, 'Answer the summons.'
قُلْتُ:I saidمَنْWhomوَمَنْand whomأُجِيبُ؟am I to answer?
I said, 'Whom and whom am I to answer?'
قَالَ:Heالْخَلِيفَةُ،said: The Caliph.
He said, 'The Caliph.'
فَذُعِرْتُSo I was terrifiedمِنْهُof himوَكُنْتُand I wasرَجُلاًa manفَاطِمِيّاًof Fatimid leaningsفَظَنَنْتُso I thoughtأَنَّthatاسْمِيmy nameرُفِعَhad been raisedفِيهِمْamong them
So I was terrified of him, and I was a man of Fatimid leanings, so I thought that my name had been raised among them.
فَقُلْتُ:So I saidأَصْلَحَكَMay Allah set you rightاللَّهُ!OتَأْذَنُDo you give permissionلِيto meأَنْthatأَدْخُلَI enterمَنْزِلِيmy houseفَأُودِعَso that I may bid farewell toأَهْلِيmy familyوَأَتَأَهَّبَand prepareلِسَفْرِي؟for my journey?
So I said, 'May Allah set you right! Do you give me permission to enter my house so that I may bid farewell to my family and prepare for my journey?'
فَقَالَ:Heافْعَلْ.said: Do so.
He said, 'Do so.'
فَعَلِمْتُSo I knewأَنَّهُthat had itلَوْbeenكَانَsomethingشَرّاًevilلَمَاhe would notأَذِنَhave permittedلِيme
So I knew that had it been something evil, he would not have permitted me,
فَسَكَنْتُso I calmed downإِلَىatقَوْلِهِhis wordsوَدَخَلْتُand enteredالْمَنْزِلَthe houseفَوَدَّعْتُهُمْand bid them farewellوَخَرَجْتُand went outإِلَيْهِ،to him
so I calmed down at his words and entered the house, bid them farewell, and went out to him.
فَحَمَلَنِيSo he mounted meعَلَىuponدَابَّةٍa mountمِنْfromدَوَابِّthe mounts ofالْبَرِيدِthe postal serviceحَتَّىuntilوَافَىhe broughtبِيmeبَابَto the door ofالْوَاثِقِ،al-Wathiq
So he mounted me upon a mount of the postal service until he brought me to the door of al-Wathiq.
فَمَاSo it wasكَانَnotإِلَّاexceptقَلِيلاًa little whileحَتَّىuntilأُذِنَpermission was givenلِيto meفَدَخَلْتُand I enteredإِلَىintoبَهْوٍa hallوَإِذَاand beholdرَجُلٌa manقَاعِدٌsittingوَعَلَىand uponرَأْسِهِhis headسَبْعُونَwere seventyوَصِيفاً.pages (attendants)
So it was only a little while until permission was given to me, and I entered into a hall, and behold, a man was sitting and upon his head were seventy pages.
فَذَهَبْتُSo I wentأُسَلِّمُto greetعَلَيْهِhimبِالْخِلَافَةِ.with the greeting of the Caliphate.
So I went to greet him with the greeting of the Caliphate.
فَقِيلَSo it was saidلِي:to meهَذَاThis isبُغَا.Bugha.
So it was said to me, 'This is Bugha.'
ثُمَّThenتَقَدَّمْتُI advancedإِلَىtoبَهْوٍanother hallآخَرَand beholdفَإِذَاa manرَجُلٌsittingقَاعِدٌonعَلَىa chairكُرْسِيٍّand betweenوَبَيْنَhis handsيَدَيْهِwere seventyسَبْعُونَpagesوَصِيفاً.(attendants).
Then I advanced to another hall, and behold, a man sitting on a chair and before him were seventy pages.
فَذَهَبْتُSo I wentأُسَلِّمُto greetعَلَيْهِhimبِالْخِلَافَةِwith the greeting of the Caliphateفَقِيلَ:so it was saidهَذَاThis isوَصِيفٌ.Wasif.
So I went to greet him with the greeting of the Caliphate, and it was said, 'This is Wasif.'
حَتَّىUntilدَفَعْتُI was pushed / broughtإِلَىtoالسِّتْرِthe curtain
Until I was brought to the curtain,
فَمَاand heزَالَkeptيَقُولُ:sayingاذْهَبْGo aheadادْنُdraw nearادْنُ،draw near
and he kept saying, 'Go ahead, draw near, draw near,'
حَتَّىuntilحَاذَانِيhe aligned meبِسَرِيرِهِ،with his bed
until he aligned me with his bed,
ثُمَّthenقَالَ:he saidمَاWhatاسْمُكَ؟is your name?
then he said, 'What is your name?'
قُلْتُ:I saidبَكْرُBakrبْنُson ofمُحَمَّدٍ.Muhammad.
I said, 'Bakr bin Muhammad.'
قَالَ:Heمِمَّنْsaid: From whomسَمِعْتَهَا؟did you hear it?
He said, 'From whom did you hear it?'
يَعْنِيmeaningاللُّغَةَ.the language.
meaning the language.
قُلْتُ:I saidمِنْFromمُزَاحِمٍMuzahimالْعُقَيْلِيِّ،al-Uqayli
I said, 'From Muzahim al-Uqayli.'
فَقَالَSoحَدِّثْنِي.he said: Narrate to me.
So he said, 'Narrate to me.'
فَلَمْSo I didأَدْرِnot knowبِمَwhatأُحَدِّثُهُto narrate to himوَقُلْتُ:and I saidلَعَلَّperhapsحَدِيثِيmy narrationعَلَىuponالْبَدِيهَةِthe spur of the momentيُعْجِبُهُ،will please him
So I did not know what to narrate to him, and I said, 'Perhaps my narration off the cuff will please him.'
قُلْتُ:I saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulقَالَsaidرُؤْبَةُRu'bahبْنُson ofالْعَجَّاجِ:al-Ajraj
I said, 'O Commander of the Faithful, Ru'bah bin al-Ajraj said:'
لَاDo notتَعْلُوهَاmount itوَادْلُوهَاand lower itدَلْواًlike a bucket......إِنَّIndeedمَعَwithالْيَوْمِtodayأَخَاهُis its brotherغَدواًtomorrow
Do not mount it and lower it like a bucket ... Indeed with today is its brother tomorrow.
فَكَأَنَّهُSo it was as ifفَطِنَhe perceivedلِمَاwhatأَرَدْتُI intendedفَقَالَ:so he saidأَجَلْYesأَتَدْرِيdo you knowلِمَwhyدَعَوْنَاكَ؟we called you?
So it was as if he perceived what I intended, and said, 'Yes. Do you know why we called you?'
قُلْتُ:I saidلَا.No.
I said, 'No.'
قَالَ:Heوَقَعَsaid: There occurredبَيْنِيbetween meوَبَيْنَandجَارِيَةٍa slave girlلِيof mineشِجَارٌa disputeفِيconcerningبَيْتٍa verseأَرَدْتُI wantedلَهَاfor itإِعْرَابَهُits correct grammatical declension
He said, 'There occurred a dispute between me and a slave girl of mine concerning a verse, for which I wanted its correct grammatical declension,
فَامْتَنَعَتْso she refusedعَلَيَّmeوَقَالَتْ:and saidسَلِAskالْمَازِنِيَّ.al-Mazini.'
so she refused me and said, 'Ask al-Mazini.'
قُلْتُ:I saidفَأَسْمِعْنِيSo let me hearيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.
I said, 'So let me hear it, O Commander of the Faithful.'
قَالَ:Heنَعَمْ.said: Yes.
He said, 'Yes.'
وَأَوْمَأَAnd he gesturedإِلَىtoخَادِمٍa servantبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْهِhimفَضَرَبَso he struckسِتَارَةًa curtainكَادَتْthat almostعَيْنِيmy eyesتَلْتَمِعُwere dazzledمِنْfromكَثْرَةِthe abundance ofذَهَبِهَاits gold
And he gestured to a servant before him, so he struck a curtain whose abundance of gold almost dazzled my eyes.
ثُمَّThenسَمِعْتُI heardوَرَاءَهَاbehind itنَقْراًa tappingلَوْلَاhad it not been forجَلَالَةُthe majesty ofأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulلَرَقَصْتُI would have dancedعَلَيْهِ،to it
Then I heard behind it a tapping; had it not been for the majesty of the Commander of the Faithful, I would have danced to it.
ثُمَّThenغَنَّتْ:she sang:
Then she sang:
أَظُلَيْمُO Zulaymإِنَّindeedمُصَابَكُمْyour afflictingرَجُلاًa man......أَهْدَىwho offeredالسَّلَامَsalutationsتَحِيَّةًas a greetingظُلْمٌis an injustice
O Zulaym, indeed your afflicting a man who offered salutations as a greeting is an injustice.
فَقَالَ:Heكَيْفَsaid: Howمَاwhatسَمِعْتَ؟you heard?
He said, 'How is what you heard?'
قُلْتُ:Iصَوَابٌ.said: Correct.
I said, 'Correct.'
قَالَ:Heفَقَدْsaid: Then indeedأَخْطَأْنَاwe erredإِذاً،then.
He said, 'Then indeed we erred then.'
قُلْتُ:Iوَكَيْفَ؟said: And how?
I said, 'And how?'
قَالَThe Commanderأَمِيرُof the Faithfulالْمُؤْمِنِينَsaidقُلْتُ:I said
The Commander of the Faithful said, 'I said:
أَظُلَيْمُO Zulaymإِنَّindeedمُصَابَكُمْyour afflictingرَجُلاًa man......أَهْدَىwho offeredالسَّلَامَsalutationsتَحِيَّةًas a greetingظُلْمٌis an injustice'
O Zulaym, indeed your afflicting a man who offered salutations as a greeting is an injustice.'
فَقُلْتُ:SoوَأَصَابَI said: Andأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful was correct.
So I said, 'And the Commander of the Faithful was correct.'
قَالَ:Heفَكَادَsaid: So he almostيَقُومُroseإِلَيَّto meفَرَحاً،out of joy.
He said: So he almost rose to me out of joy,
ثُمَّthenأَدْخَلَhe drewرَأْسَهُhis headفِيintoالسِّتَارَةِthe curtainفَأَوْمَأَand gesturedإِلَيَّto meالْخَادِمُthe servantفِيconcerningالْخُرُوجِleaving
then he drew his head into the curtain, and the servant gestured to me regarding leaving.
فَخَرَجْتُSo I went outفَفَاوَلَنِيand he handedصُرَّةًme a purseفِيهَاin itخَمْسُمِائَةِwere five hundredدِينَارٍdinars
So I went out, and he handed me a purse in which were five hundred dinars.
وَحُمِلْتُAnd I was carriedعَلَىuponالْبَرِيدِthe postal serviceحَتَّىuntilرُدِدْتُI was returnedإِلَىtoمَنْزِلِيmy houseبِالْبَصْرَةِ.in Basra.
And I was carried upon the postal service until I was returned to my house in Basra.
وَالشِّعْرُAnd the poetryلِأَبِيis by AbuدُهْبُلٍDuhbulالْجُمَحِيِّal-Jumahiيَقُولُhe saysفِيهِ:in it:
And the poetry is by Abu Duhbul al-Jumahi, who says in it:
عُقْمُSterile areالنِّسَاءِthe womenفَلَاso they do notيَلِدْنَgive birth toشَبِيهَهُhis like......إِنَّindeedالنِّسَاءَwomenبِمِثْلِهِto his likeعُقْمُare sterile
Sterile are the women, so they do not give birth to his like ... Indeed, women are sterile regarding the likes of him.
فَلَاSo they doيَلِدْنَnot bearشَبِيهَهُhis likeأَجْوَدَ.more generous.
So they do not bear his like, more generous.
وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd narrated to usعَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofيَزِيدَYazidعَنْfromإِسْحَاقَIshaqبْنِson ofالْمُسَيَّبِal-Musayyabبْنِson ofزُهَيْرٍZuhayrقَالَ:who said:
And Ali bin Yazid narrated to us from Ishaq bin al-Musayyab bin Zuhayr, who said:
حَدَّثَنِيNarrated to meالْمُفَضَّلُal-Mufaddalقَالَ:who said:
al-Mufaddal narrated to me, saying:
كُنْتُI wasيَوْماًone dayعِنْدَatالصَّرَاةِal-Saratبِبَغْدَادَin Baghdadوَكُنْتُand I wasفِيamongالصَّحَابَةِthe company
"I was one day at al-Sarat in Baghdad, and I was in the company,
فَأَتَانِيso there came to meرَسُولُthe messenger ofالْمَهْدِيِّal-Mahdiفَقَالَand he saidلِي:to meأَجِبْ.Answer.
so the messenger of al-Mahdi came to me and said to me, 'Answer.'
فَخِفْتُSo I fearedأَنْthatيَكُونَthere might beسَاعٍa denouncerسَعَىwho informedبِي،against me
So I feared that there might be a denouncer who informed against me.
فَدَخَلْتُSo I enteredمَنْزِلِيmy houseوَلَبِسْتُand put onثِيَابِيmy clothesوَهَمَمْتُand intendedأَنْthatأُخْبِرَI informأَهْلِيmy family
So I entered my house and put on my clothes, and intended to inform my family,
ثُمَّthenقُلْتُ:I saidلَمْwhy shouldأُعَجِّلُI hastenلَهُمُfor themالْهَمَّ؟the worry?
then I said, 'Why should I hasten worry for them?'
إِنْIfكَانَit isخَيْراًgoodسَيَأْتِيهِمْit will come to themوَإِنْand ifكَانَit isغَيْرَother thanذَلِكَthatفَلَاthen I willأَكُونُnotعَجَّلْتُهُhave hastened itلَهُمْ.for them.
'If it is good, it will come to them, and if it is other than that, then I will not have hastened it for them.'
فَمَضَيْتُSo I proceededحَتَّىuntilدَخَلْتُI enteredعَلَيْهِupon himوَأَنَاwhile I wasمَرْعُوبٌterrifiedفَسَلَّمْتُso I greetedعَلَيْهِhimفَرَدَّand he returnedالسَّلَامَ،the greeting
So I proceeded until I entered upon him while I was terrified, and I greeted him, and he returned the greeting.
وَإِذَاAnd beholdعِنْدَهُwith him wereالْفَضْلُal-Fadlبْنُson ofالرَّبِيعِal-Rabiوَعَلِيُّand Aliبْنُson ofيَقْطِينٍYaqtinوَغَيْرُهُمَا،and others besides them
And behold, with him were al-Fadl bin al-Rabi, Ali bin Yaqtin, and others besides them.
فَقَالَ:So heإِنَّsaid: Indeedهَؤُلَاءِthese peopleزَعَمُواclaimأَنَّكَthat you areأَعْلَمُthe most knowledgeableالنَّاسِof peopleبِالشِّعْرِconcerning poetryفَأَخْبِرْنِيso inform meمَاwhatأَشْعَرُis the most poeticبَيْتٍverseقَالَتْهُspoken byالْعَرَبُ؟the Arabs?
So he said, 'Indeed, these people claim that you are the most knowledgeable of people concerning poetry, so inform me: What is the most poetic verse spoken by the Arabs?'
فَوَقَعْتُSo I fellفِيintoشَيْءٍa situationلَمْI didأَدْرِnot knowكَيْفَhowهُوَit was
So I fell into a situation where I did not know how it was,
فَجَهَدْتُso I stroveوَاللَّهِby AllahأَنْthatأُنْشِدَهُI recite to himبَيْتاًa verseمِنْfromشِعْرٍpoetryفَمَاand I wasقَدَرْتُnot ableعَلَيْهِ.to do so.
so I strove, by Allah, to recite to him a verse of poetry and I was not able to do so.
فَقَالَSoلِي:he said to meمَاWhatلَكَis with youلَاthat you doتَتَكَلَّمُ؟not speak?
So he said to me, 'What is the matter with you that you do not speak?'
فَجَرَىSo there ranعَلَىuponلسَانِيmy tongueذِكْرُthe mention ofالْخَنْسَاءِAl-Khansaفَقُلْتُ:so I said
So the mention of Al-Khansa ran upon my tongue, and I said:
لَقَدْIndeedأَحْسَنَتِexcelledالْخَنْسَاءُAl-Khansaفِيinقَوْلِهَا:her saying:
Al-Khansa excelled in her saying:
وَإِنَّAnd indeedصَخْراًSakhrلَمَوْلَانَاis truly our masterوَسَيِّدُنَاand our leader......وَإِنَّand indeedصَخْراًSakhrإِذَاwhenنَشَتُواthey face hardshipلَنَحَّارُis a frequent slaughterer (of camels)
And indeed Sakhr is truly our master and our leader ... And indeed Sakhr, when they face hardship, is a frequent slaughterer.
وَإِنَّAnd indeedصَخْراًSakhrلَتَأْتَمُّis followedالْهُدَاةُby the guidesبِهِin guidance......كَأَنَّهُas if he wereعَلَمٌa landmarkفِيuponرَأْسِهِits peakنَارُis a fire
And indeed Sakhr is followed by the guides ... As if he were a landmark upon whose peak is a fire.