قَالَ:He said:
He said:
فَاسْتَبْشَرَSo he rejoicedبِذَلِكَ،at that,وَسُرَّand was made happyسُرُوراًwith a happinessشَدِيداً،great,ثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:أَنْتَYouوَاللَّهِby Allahأَعْلَمُare the most knowledgeableالنَّاسِof peopleوَقَدْand indeedقُلْتُI saidهَذَاthisلَهؤلاءِto these peopleفَأَبَوْاand they refusedعَلَيَّ.me.
So he rejoiced at that, and was greatly pleased, then said: 'You, by Allah, are the most knowledgeable of people, and I said this to these people, but they refused me.'
فَقَالَSo saidالْقَوْمُ:the people:كَانَwasأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَوْلَىmore deservingبِالصَّوَابِ.of correctness.
The people said: 'The Commander of the Faithful was more deserving of correctness.'
فَقَالَSo saidلِي:to me:يَاOمُفَضَّلُMufaddal,أَسْهَرْتَنِيdid you keep me awakeالْبَارِحَةَlast nightأَبْيَاتُthe verses ofحُسَيْنِHusaynبْنِson ofمُطَيْرٍMutayrالْأَسَدِيِّ.al-Asadi.
He said to me: 'O Mufaddal, the verses of Husayn bin Mutayr al-Asadi kept me awake last night.'
قُلْتُ:I said:وَأَيُّAnd whichأَبْيَاتِهِ؟of his verses?
I said: 'And which of his verses?'
قَالَHe saidقَوْلُهُ:his saying:
He said, his saying:
وَقَدْAnd indeedتَغْدِرُmay betrayالدُّنْيَاthe worldفَيُضْحِيso becomesغَنِيُّهَاits rich person
And the world may betray, so its rich person becomes...
فَقِيراًpoorوَيَغْنَىand becomes richبَعْدَafterبُؤْسٍhardshipفَقِيرُهَاits poor person.
...poor, and after hardship its poor person becomes rich.
وَكَمْAnd how manyقَدْhaveرَأَيْنَاwe seenمِنْofتَغَيُّرِchange ofعَيْشَةٍa livelihood
And how many changes of livelihood have we seen,
وَأُخْرَىand anotherصَفَاgrew clearبَعْدَafterاكْدِرَارِturbidnessغَدِيرُهَاits pool.
and another whose pool grew clear after its turbidity.
قُلْتُ:I said:مِثْلَLikeهَذِهِtheseفَلْيُسْهِرْكَmay it keep you awakeيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,زَادَكَmay He increase youاللَّهُAllahتَوْفِيقاًin successوَتَسْدِيداً!and right guidance!
I said: 'May the likes of these keep you awake, O Commander of the Faithful! May Allah increase you in success and right guidance!'
قَالَ:He said:حَدِّثْنِيNarrate to meيَاOمُفَضَّلُ.Mufaddal.
He said: 'Narrate to me, O Mufaddal.'
قُلْتُ:I said:أَيَّWhichالْأَحَادِيثِnarrativesتُحِبُّ؟do you love?
I said: 'Which narratives do you love?'
قَالَ:He said:أَحَادِيثَThe narratives ofالْأَعْرَابِ.the Bedouins.
He said: 'The narratives of the Bedouins.'
فَمَاSo Iزِلْتُkeptأُحَدِّثُهُnarrating to himحَتَّىuntilبَلَغَتِreachedالشَّمْسُthe sunمِنْهُ،from him,ثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:مَاWhat isلَكَ،with you?
So I kept narrating to him until the sun reached him, then he said: 'What is the matter with you?'
قُلْتُ:I said:يَاOسَيِّدِيmy masterمَاwhatتَسْأَلُdo you askعَنْaboutرَجُلٍa manمَأْخُوذٍtakenبِعَشَرَةِfor tenآلافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsلَيْسَتْthat are notعِنْدَهُ!with him!
I said: 'O my master, what do you ask about a man held for ten thousand dirhams which he does not have?'
قَالَ:He said:عَلَيْكَAre upon youعَشَرَةُtenآلافِthousandدِرْهَمٍ؟dirhams?
He said: 'Are ten thousand dirhams upon you?'
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ.Yes.
I said: 'Yes.'
فَقَالَ:So he said:يَاOرَبِيعُRabi'احْمِلْcarryإِلَيْهِto himعَشَرَةَtenآلافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsلِقَضَاءِfor paying offدَيْنِهِhis debtوَعَشَرَةَand tenآلافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsيَبْنِيhe may buildبِهَاwith themدَارَهُhis houseوَعَشَرَةَand tenآلافٍthousandيُنْفِقُهَاhe may spendعَلَىonعِيَالِهِ،his family,فَرَجَعْتُso I returnedوَمَعِيand with meثَلَاثُونَthirtyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
He said: 'O Rabi', carry to him ten thousand dirhams to pay off his debt, and ten thousand dirhams with which he may build his house, and ten thousand to spend on his family.' So I returned with thirty thousand dirhams.
وَقَالَAnd saidالنَّضْرُAn-Nadrبْنُson ofشُمَيْلٍ:Shumayl:دَخَلْتُI enteredعَلَىuponالْمَأْمُونِAl-Ma'munبِمَرْوَin Mervوَهُوَwhile heفِيwas inبَهْوٍa hallلَهُof hisفِيonيَوْمٍa dayصَائِفٍhotوَعَلَيَّand upon meقَمِيصٌwas a shirtمَرْقُوعٌpatchedفَقَالَ:so he said:يَاOنَضْرُNadr,تَدْخُلُdo you enterعَلَىuponأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulفِيinخِلْقَانِworn-outثِيَابِكَ؟garments of yours?
And An-Nadr bin Shumayl said: 'I entered upon Al-Ma'mun in Merv while he was in a hall of his on a hot day, and upon me was a patched shirt. He said: "O Nadr, do you enter upon the Commander of the Faithful in your worn-out garments?"'
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,حَرُّthe heat ofمَرْوَMervوَأَنَاand Iشَيْخٌam an old manكَبِيرٌelderlyلَاI do notأَحْتَمِلُbearالْحَرَّthe heatوَلَاnorالْبَرْدَ.the cold.
I said: 'O Commander of the Faithful, the heat of Merv and I am an elderly old man who cannot bear the heat nor the cold.'
ثُمَّThenأَنْشَدْتُهُ:I recited to him:
Then I recited to him:
لَوْIfيُشْتَرَىwere boughtالشَّبَابُyouthلَاشْتَرَيْتُهُI would have bought it
If youth could be bought, I would have bought it,
شَبَابِيmy youthالنَّضْرَfreshالَّذِيwhichأَبْلَيْتُهُI wore out
my fresh youth which I wore out
بِكُلِّwith allمَالِيmy wealthثُمَّthenمَاnotاسْتَغْلَيْتُهُdid I find it expensive.
with all my wealth, and then I would not have found it expensive.
ثُمَّThenأَجْرَيْنَاwe ranالْحَدِيثَthe conversationفَقَالَ:so he said:يَاOنَضْرُNadr,أَيُّwhichالنِّسَاءِwomenأَحَبُّis most belovedإِلَيْكَ؟to you?
Then we carried on the conversation, and he said: 'O Nadr, which women are most beloved to you?'
قُلْتُ:I said:الْبَيْضَاءُThe fair-skinnedالْفَرْعَاءُabundant-hairedالْمَدِيدَةُ،tall,
I said: 'The fair-skinned, abundant-haired, tall one.'
فَقَالَ:So he said:حَدَّثَنِيNarrated to meحُشَيْمُHushaymبْنُson ofبَشِيرٍBashirعَنْfromمُجَالِدٍMujalidعَنْfromالشَّعْبِيِّAl-Sha'biعَنْfromابْنِIbnعَبَّاسٍAbbasقَالَ:who said:قَالَSaidرَسُولُthe Messengerاللَّهِ،of Allah,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِand grant Himوَسَلَّمَ:peace:إِذَاWhenتَزَوَّجَmarriesالرَّجُلُthe manالْمَرْأَةَthe womanلِدِينِهَاfor her religionوَجَمَالِهَاand her beautyكَانَthere wasلَهُfor himفِيهَاin itسِدَادٌprotectionمِنْfromعُوَزٍ.poverty.
He said: 'Hushaym bin Bashir narrated to me from Mujalid from Al-Sha'bi from Ibn Abbas, who said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "When a man marries a woman for her religion and her beauty, there is for him in her a protection from poverty."'
قُلْتُ:I said:صَدَقَSpoke the truthحُشَيْمٌ.Hushaym.
I said: 'Hushaym spoke the truth.'
حَدَّثَنِيNarrated to meعَوْفٌ'AwfعَنِfromالْحَسَنِAl-Hasanعَنْfromعَلِيِّ'Aliبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍ،Talib,كَرَّمَmay Allah honorاللَّهُHisوَجْهَهُ،face,قَالَ:who said:قَالَSaidرَسُولُthe Messengerاللَّهِ،of Allah,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِand grant Himوَسَلَّمَ:peace:إِذَاWhenتَزَوَّجَmarriesالرَّجُلُthe manالْمَرْأَةَthe womanلِدِينِهَاfor her religionكَانَthere wasلَهُfor himفِيهَاin itسِدَادٌprotectionمِنْfromعُوَزٍ.poverty.
'Awf narrated to me from Al-Hasan from 'Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah honor his face, who said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: "When a man marries a woman for her religion, there is for him in her a protection from poverty."
قَالَ:He said:يَاOنَضْرُNadr,وَالسِّدَادُand is 'sidad'خَطَأٌ؟a mistake?
He said: 'O Nadr, and is *sidad* a mistake?'
قُلْتُ:I said:خَطَأٌA mistakeيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ!of the Faithful!
I said: 'A mistake, O Commander of the Faithful!'
قَالَ:He said:وَمَاAnd whatيُدْرِيكَ؟makes you know?
He said: 'And what makes you know that?'
قُلْتُ:I said:السَّدَادُAs-Sadaadبِالْفَتْحِwith a fathaالْقَصْدُis moderationفِيinالدِّينِreligionوَفِيand inالسَّبِيلِ،the path,وَالسِّدَادُand As-Sidaadالْبُلْغَةُ،is sufficiency,وَكُلُّand everythingشَيْءٍwith whichسَدَدْتَyou blockبِهِsomethingشَيْئاًthen itفَهُوَisسِدَادٌ.a *sidaad*.
I said: 'As-sadaad with a fatha is moderation in religion and in the path, and as-sidaad is sufficiency, and everything with which you block something, it is a *sidaad*.'
قَالَ:He said:أَتَعْرِفُDo you knowالْعَرَبُthe Arabsذَلِكَ؟that?
He said: 'Do the Arabs know that?'
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْYes,هَذَاthis isالْعَرْجِيُّAl-'Arjiمِنْfromوَلَدِthe offspring ofعُثْمَانَ'Uthmanبْنِson ofعَفَّانَ،'Affan,رَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercyاللَّهُ،upon him,حَيْثُwhenيَقُولُ:he says:
I said: 'Yes, this is Al-'Arji from the descendants of 'Uthman bin 'Affan, may Allah have mercy on him, as he says:'
أَضَاعُونِيThey lost meوَأَيَّand what aفَتًىyouthأَضَاعُواthey lost
They lost me, and what a youth they lost,
لِيَوْمِfor the day ofكَرِيهَةٍadversityوَسِدَادِand pluggingثَغْرِa breach.
for a day of adversity and plugging a breach.
فَاسْتَوَىSo he sat straightجَالِساًupوَقَالَ:and said:قَبَحَMay Allah curseاللَّهُAllahمَنْwhoeverلَاhas noأَدَبَcultureلَهُ!for him!
So he sat up straight and said: 'May Allah curse whoever has no culture!'
ثُمَّThenأَقْبَلَhe turnedعَلَيَّto meفَقَالَ:and said:أَخْبِرْنِيInform meبِأَخْلَبِabout the most captivatingبَيْتٍverseقَالَتْهُuttered byالْعَرَبُ،the Arabs.
Then he turned to me and said: 'Inform me about the most captivating verse uttered by the Arabs.'
قُلْتُ:I said:قَوْلُThe saying ofابْنِIbnبَيْضٍBaydفِيregardingالْحَكَمِAl-Hakamبْنِson ofمَرْوَانَ:Marwan:
I said: 'The saying of Ibn Bayd regarding Al-Hakam bin Marwan:'
تَقُولُShe saysلِيto meوَالْعُيُونُwhile the eyesهَاجِعَةٌare sleeping
She says to me while the eyes are sleeping:
أَقِمْ"Stayعَلَيْنَاwith usيَوْماًfor a day"فَلَمْand I did notأَقُمْstay.
'Stay with us for a day', and I did not stay.
مَتَىWhenيَقُلْsaysصَاحِبُthe master ofالسُّرَادِقِthe pavilionهَذَاthis
When the master of the pavilion says:
ابْنُ"IbnبَيْضٍBaydبِالْبَابِat the door"يَبْتَسِمُhe smiles.
"Ibn Bayd is at the door," he smiles.
قَدْIndeedكُنْتُI wasأَسْلَمْتُdevotedفِيكَto youمُقْتَبِلاًfrom the beginning
I was devoted to you from the beginning,
فَهَاتِso bringأُدْخَلْlet me enterوَأَعْطِنِيand give meسَلَمِيmy safety/payment.
so bring it, let me enter, and give me my due.
قَالَ:He said:لَقَدْIndeedأَحْسَنَhe did wellوَأَجَادَ،and excelled,فَأَخْبِرْنِيso inform meبِأَنْصَفِabout the most fairبَيْتٍverseقَالَتْهُuttered byالْعَرَبُ،the Arabs.
He said: 'Indeed he did well and excelled. So inform me about the most fair verse uttered by the Arabs.'
قَالَ:He said:قَوْلُThe saying ofأَبِيAbuعُرُوبَةَ:‘Uruba:
He said: 'The saying of Abu ‘Uruba:'
إِنِّيIndeed Iوَإِنْeven ifكَانَwasابْنُthe son ofعَمِّيmy paternal uncleوَاجِداًaggrieved/contemptible
Indeed I, even if my paternal uncle's son is contemptible,
لَمُدَاهِنٌam still lenientمِنْonخَلْفِهِhis backوَوَرَائِهِand behind him.
am still protective of him behind his back and from behind him.
وَمُفِيدُهُAnd providing himنَصْرِيwith my victoryوَإِنْeven ifكَانَhe isامْرَأًa manمُتَبَاعِداًdistantمِنْfromأَرْضِهِhis landوَسَمَائِهِand his sky.
And providing him with my support even if he is a man distant in his land and sky.
فَأَكُونُSo I amوَالِيَthe guardian ofسِرِّهِhis secretوَأَصُونُهُand I protect itحَتَّىuntilيَحِينَarrivesعَلَيَّupon meوَقْتُthe timeأَدَائِهِof fulfilling it.
So I am the guardian of his secret and protect it until the time comes for me to fulfill it.
وَإِذَاAnd whenالْحَوَادِثُcalamitiesأَجْحَفَتْimpoverishبِسَوَامِهِhis livestockقَرَّبْتُI bring closeجِلَّتَنَاour best camelsإِلَىtoجَرْبَائِهِhis mangy ones.
And when calamities impoverish his livestock, I bring our best camels close to his mangy ones.
وَإِذَاAnd whenدَعَاhe callsبِاسْمِيby my nameلِيَرْكَبَto rideمَرْكَباًa mountصَعْباًdifficultرَكِبْتُI rideلَهُfor himعَلَىuponسِيسَائِهِits spine.
And when he calls my name to ride a difficult mount, I ride upon its spine for his sake.
وَإِذَاAnd whenرَأَيْتُI seeعَلَيْهِupon himبَرْداًa cloakنَاضِراًvibrantلَمْnotيُلْفِنِيdoes he find meمُتَمَنِّياًwishingلِرِدَائِهِfor his cloak.
And when I see upon him a vibrant cloak, he does not find me wishing for his garment.
فَقَالَ:He said:لَقَدْIndeedأَحْسَنَhe did wellوَأَجَادَ،and excelled,فَأَخْبِرْنِيso inform meعَنْaboutأَعَزِّthe mightiestبَيْتٍverseقَالَتْهُuttered byالْعَرَبُ.the Arabs.
He said: 'Indeed he did well and excelled. So inform me about the mightiest verse uttered by the Arabs.'
قُلْتُ:I said:قَوْلُThe saying ofرَاعِيRa'iالْإِبِلِ:al-Ibil:
I said: 'The saying of Ra'i al-Ibil:'
أَطْلُبُI seekمَاwhatيَطْلُبُseeksالْكَرِيمُthe generous personمِنَofالرِّزْقِsustenanceلِنَفْسِيfor myselfوَأُجْمِلُand I pursue with dignityالطَّلَبَاthe pursuit.
I seek what the generous person seeks of sustenance for myself, and I pursue the quest with dignity.
وَأَحْلُبُAnd I milkالثَّرَّةَthe abundant-milkingالصَّفِيَّchosen camelوَلَاand I do notأَطْلُبُseekفِيinغَيْرِother thanخَلْفِهَاits udderحَلَبَاmilk.
And I milk the abundant, chosen camel, and I do not seek milk from other than its udder.
إِنِّيIndeed Iرَأَيْتُhave seenالْفَتَىthat the youth/manالْكَرِيمَgenerousإِذَاwhenرَغَّبْتَهُyou make him desireفِيinصَنِيعِهِa good deedرَغِبَاhe desires it.
Indeed, I have seen that the generous man, when you encourage him in a good deed, he desires it.
وَالنَّذْلُAnd the base personلَاdoes notيَطْلُبُseekالْعَلَاءَnobilityوَلَاnorيُعْطِيكَdoes he give youشَيْئاًanythingإِلَّاexceptإِذَاwhenرَهِبَاhe fears.
And the base person does not seek nobility, nor does he give you anything except when he fears.
مِثْلُLikeالْحِمَارِthe donkeyالْمُوَقَّعِbranded withالسُّوءِevilلَاit does notيُحْسِنُdo wellمَشْياًwalkingإِلَّاexceptإِذَاwhenضُرِبَاit is beaten.
Like the badly branded donkey, it does not walk well except when it is beaten.