قَالَSaidبَعْضُهُمْ:some of them:
Some said: Excessive good manners in other than obedience to Allah lead to sins.
كَثْرَةُExcessiveالْأَدَبِmannersفِيinغَيْرِother thanطَاعَةِobedienceاللَّهِto Allahقَائِدَةُleader ofالذُّنُوبِ.sins.
Excessive good manners in other than obedience to Allah lead to sins.
وَقَالَ:And he said:مَاNotأَحَدٌanyoneزِيدَis increasedفِيinعَقْلِهِhis intellectإِلَّاexceptانْتَقَصَit is decreasedمِنْfromرِزْقِهِ.his provision.
And he said: No one's intellect is increased except that his provision is decreased.
وَأَنْشَدَAnd he recitedفِيaboutذَلِكَ:that:
And he recited regarding that:
ثِنْتَانِTwo thingsمِنْfromأَدَوَاتِtools ofالْعِلْمِknowledgeقَدْhaveثَنْتَاbent
Two tools of knowledge have bent the reins of my pursuits away from what I intended of my aspirations.
عِنَانَthe rein ofشَأْوِيmy pursuitعَمَّاfrom whatرَمَتْI aimedمِنْofهِمَمِيmy aspirations
the reins of my pursuits away from what I intended of my aspirations.
أَمَّاAs forالدَّوَاةُthe inkwellفَأَضْنَىit has emaciatedحُبُّهَاits loveبَدَنِيmy body
As for the inkwell, its love has emaciated my body, and the craft of the pen has diminished my wealth.
وَقَلَّمَAnd diminishedالْمَالَthe wealthمَنِّيfrom meحِرْفَةُthe craft ofالْقَلَمِthe pen
and the craft of the pen has diminished my wealth.
وَالْعِلْمُAnd knowledgeيَعْلَمُknowsأَنِّيthat IحِينَwhenأَنْدُبُهُI summon it
And knowledge knows that when I summon it to repel a calamity, I am devoid of protection.
لِدَفْعِto repelنَائِبَةٍa calamityخُلُوٌّdestituteمِنَofالْعِصَمِprotection
to repel a calamity, I am devoid of protection.
وَلِآخَرَ،And to another,وَقِيلَand it was saidإِنَّهُthat itلِلْخَلِيلِis for Al-Khalilبْنِson ofأَحْمَدَ:Ahmad:
And to another, and it was said it is for Al-Khalil bin Ahmad:
مَاNotازْدَدْتُhave I increasedفِيinأَدَبِيmy mannersحَرْفاًa letterأُسَرُّI am gladdenedبِهِby it
I have not increased in my knowledge a letter by which I am gladdened, except that I discovered a letter beneath it bearing misery.
إِلَّاexceptتَبَيَّنْتُI discoveredحَرْفاًa letterتَحْتَهُbeneath itشُومٌmisery
except that I discovered a letter beneath it bearing misery.
إِنَّIndeedالْمُقَدَّمَthe foremostفِيinحِذْقٍskillبِصَنْعَتِهِin his craft
Indeed, the foremost in skill in his craft, however he turns in it, he is deprived.
أَنَّىhoweverتَوَجَّهَhe turnsفِيهَاin itفَهُوَthen heمَحْرُومٌdeprived
however he turns in it, he is deprived.
[مَسَاوِئِ[The evils ofاللَّحْنِ]solecism]
[The Evils of Solecism]
قَالَSaidيُونُسُYunusبْنُson ofحَبِيبٍHabibالنَّحْوِيُّ:the Grammarian:
Yunus bin Habib al-Nahwi said: The first to establish Arabic, open its door, and pave its path was Abu al-Aswad al-Du'ali, whose name is Zalim bin Amr.
أَوَّلُThe firstمَنْwhoأَسَّسَestablishedالْعَرَبِيَّةَArabicوَفَتَحَand openedبَابَهَاits doorوَنَهَجَand pavedسَبِيلَهَاits pathأَبُوwas Abuالْأَسْوَدِal-Aswadالدُّئْلِيُّal-Du'aliوَاسْمُهُand his name isظَالِمُZalimبْنُson ofعَمْرٍو.Amr.
The first to establish Arabic, open its door, and pave its path was Abu al-Aswad al-Du'ali, whose name is Zalim bin Amr.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himالْحَجَّاجُ:Al-Hajjaj:أَتَسْمَعُنِيDo you hear meأَلْحَنُmaking a grammatical errorعَلَىonالْمِنْبَرِ؟the pulpit?
Al-Hajjaj said to him: Do you hear me committing grammatical errors on the pulpit? He said: No, the Emir is the most eloquent of the Arabs.
قَالَ:He said:كَلَّا،No,الْأَمِيرُthe Emirأَفْصَحُis the most eloquentالْعَرَبِ.of the Arabs.
He said: No, the Emir is the most eloquent of the Arabs.
قَالَ:He said:أَقْسَمْتُI adjureعَلَيْكَ!you!
He said: I adjure you! He said: You commit a grammatical error in a single letter.
قَالَ:He said:حَرْفاًA letterوَاحِداًsingleتَلْحَنُyou make a mistakeفِيهِ.in it.
He said: You commit a grammatical error in a single letter.
فَقَالَ:So he said:وَمَاAnd whatهُوَ؟is it?
So he said: And what is it? He said: In the Quran.
قَالَ:He said:فِيInالْقُرْآنِ.the Quran.
He said: In the Quran.
قَالَ:He said:ذَاكَThat isأَشْنَعُmore heinousلَهُ،for him,فَمَاso whatهُوَ؟is it?
He said: That is more heinous for him, so what is it? He said: You say: 'Luw kana aba'ukum wa abna'ukum', until you reach: 'ahabbu ilaykum mina Allahi wa rasulihi', you recite it with dammah.
قَالَ:He said:تَقُولُYou sayلَوْIfكَانَwereآبَاؤُكُمْyour fathersوَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ،and your sons,حَتَّىuntilتَبْلُغَ:you reach:أَحَبُّdearerإِلَيْكُمْto youمِنَthanاللَّهِAllahوَرَسُولِهِ،and His Messenger,تَقْرَأُهَاyou recite itبِالرَّفْعِ.with nominative case.
You say: 'Luw kana aba'ukum wa abna'ukum', until you reach: 'ahabbu ilaykum mina Allahi wa rasulihi', you recite it with dammah.
قَالَHe saidفَقَالَso he saidلَهُ:to him:لَاNoجَرَمَdoubtlesslyلَاnotتَسْمَعُwill you hearلِيfrom meلَحْناًa grammatical errorأَبَداً.ever.
He said: So he said to him: Doubtlessly, you will never hear a grammatical error from me again.
فَنَفَاهُSo he exiled himإِلَىtoخُرَاسَانَKhorasanوَعَلَيْهَاand over it wasيَزِيدُYazidبْنُson ofالْمُهَلَّبِ.Al-Muhallab.
So he exiled him to Khorasan, over which was Yazid bin Al-Muhallab.
فَكَتَبَSo wroteيَزِيدُYazidإِلَىtoالْحَجَّاجِ:Al-Hajjaj:إِنَّاIndeed weلَقِينَاencounteredالْعَدُوَّthe enemyوَفَعَلْنَاand we didوَصَنَعْنَاand performedوَاضْطَرَرْنَاهُمْand we forced themإِلَىtoعَرْعَرَةِthe peak ofالْجَبَلِ،the mountain,
Yazid wrote to Al-Hajjaj: We encountered the enemy and did and performed, and forced them to the peak of the mountain.
فَقَالَSo saidالْحَجَّاجُ:Al-Hajjaj:مَاWhatلِابْنِdoes the son ofالْمُهَلَّبِAl-Muhallabوَلَهَذَاhave to do with thisالْكَلَامِ؟speech?
Al-Hajjaj said: What does the son of Al-Muhallab have to do with this speech?
فَقِيلَ:It was said:ظَالِمُZalimبْنُson ofعَمْرٍوAmrهُنَاكَ.is there.
It was said: Zalim bin Amr is there.
قَالَ:He said:فَذَاكَThen that isإِذاً.so then.
He said: Then that is why.
قَالَHe saidوَقَالَand saidالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munوَقَدْwhile he hadسَمِعَheardمِنْfromبَعْضِsomeوُلْدِهِof his childrenكَلَاماًspeechأَسْرَعَin which hastenedفِيهِin itاللَّحْنُsolecismإِلَىtoلِسَانِهِ:his tongue:
Al-Ma'mun said, having heard from one of his children speech in which solecism quickly reached his tongue: What prevents any of you from learning Arabic to straighten his crookedness thereby...
مَاWhatعَلَىis uponأَحَدِكُمْany of youأَنْthatيَتَعَلَّمَhe learnsالْعَرَبِيَّةَArabicفَيُقِيمَso he straightensبِهَاwith itأَوْدَهُhis crookednessوَيُزَيِّنَand adornsمَشْهَدَهُhis presenceوَيَتَمَلَّكَand mastersمَجْلِسَthe gathering ofسُلْطَانِهِhis authorityبِظَاهِرِwith the manifest ofبَيَانِهِhis eloquenceوَيُقِلَّand diminishesحُجَجَthe arguments ofخَصْمِهِhis opponentبِسَكَنَاتِwith the pauses ofحِكْمَتِهِ،his wisdom,أَوْيَسُرُّor does it pleaseأَحَدَكُمْany of youأَنْthatيَكُونَhis tongueلِسَانُهُbeكَلِسَانِlike the tongue ofعَبْدِهِhis slaveوَأَمَتِهِand his maidservantوَلَاand he remains notيَزَالُceasingأَسِيرَcaptive toكَلِمَتِهِ؟his word?
What prevents any of you from learning Arabic to straighten his crookedness thereby, adorn his presence, master his authority's gathering with his manifest eloquence, and diminish his opponent's arguments with the pauses of his wisdom? Or does it please any of you that his tongue be like the tongue of his slave and maidservant, remaining a captive to his word?
قَاتَلَMay Allah fightاللَّهُAllahالْقَائِلَthe speakerحَيْثُwhenيَقُولُ:he says:
May Allah fight the speaker when he says:
أَلَمْDid notتَرَyou seeمِفْتَاحَthe key ofالْفُؤَادِthe heartلِسَانُهُis its tongue
Did you not see that the key of the heart is its tongue, whenever he displays what he speaks from the mouth?
إِذَاwhenهُوَheأَبْدَىdisplaysمَاwhatيَقُولُhe speaksمِنَfromالْفَمِthe mouth
whenever he displays what he speaks from the mouth?
وَكَأَيِّنْAnd how manyتَرَىdo you seeمِنْofصَامِتٍsilent personلَكَto youمُعْجِبٍadmirable
And how many a silent person do you see who is admirable to you, whose increase or decrease lies in speech.
زِيَادَتُهُHis increaseأَوْorنَقْصُهُhis decreaseفِيis inالتَّكَلُّمِspeaking
whose increase or decrease lies in speech.
لِسَانُThe tongue ofالْفَتَىthe youthنِصْفٌis halfوَنِصْفٌand halfفُؤَادُهُis his heart
The tongue of a youth is half and half is his heart, and nothing remains except the form of flesh and blood.
وَلَمْAnd has notيَبْقَremainedإِلَّاexceptصُورَةُthe form ofاللَّحْمِfleshوَالدَّمِand blood.
and nothing remains except the form of flesh and blood.
وَفِيAnd inالْحَدِيثِthe Marfu' hadithالْمَرْفُوعِ:is:رَحِمَMay have mercyاللَّهُAllahعَبْداًon a servantأَصْلَحَwho straightenedلِسَانَهُ.his tongue.
And in the Marfu' hadith: May Allah have mercy on a servant who straightened his tongue.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَكَتَبَAnd wroteغَسَّانُGhassanبْنُson ofرَفِيعٍRafi'إِلَىtoأَبِيAbuعُثْمَانَUthmanبَكْرِBakrبْنِson ofمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadالْمَازِنِيِّal-Maziniالنَّحْوِيِّ:the grammarian:
It was said: Ghassan bin Rafi' wrote to Abu Uthman Bakr bin Muhammad al-Mazini al-Nahwi:
تَفَكَّرْتُI ponderedفِيinالنَّحْوِgrammarحَتَّىuntilمَلِلْتُI grew weary
I pondered over grammar until I grew weary, and I fatigued my soul and body with it.
وَأَتْعَبْتُAnd I fatiguedنَفْسِيmy soulبِهِwith itوَالْبَدَنَand body.
and I fatigued my soul and body with it.
وَأَتْعَبْتُAnd I fatiguedبَكْراًBakrوَأَصْحَابَهُand his companions
And I fatigued Bakr and his companions by prolonging questions in every art.
بِطُولِwith the length ofالْمَسَائِلِquestionsفِيinكُلِّeveryفَنٍّart.
by prolonging questions in every art.
فَكُنْتُSo I wasبِظَاهِرِهِwith its exteriorعَالِماًknowledgeable
So I was knowledgeable of its exterior, and I was perceptive of its interior.
وَكُنْتُAnd I wasبِبَاطِنِهِwith its interiorذَاpossessor ofفِطَنِperception.
And I was perceptive of its interior.
خَلَاExceptأَنَّthatبَاباًa chapterعَلَيْهِupon itالْعَفَاءُbe ruin
Except that a chapter—may ruin be upon it for the letter fa'—I wish it had not existed.
لِلْفَاءِfor the fa'يَاOلَيْتَهُwould that itلَمْnotيَكُنْhad been
I wish it had not existed.
وَلِلْوَاوِAnd for the wawبَابٌis a chapterإِلَىtoجَنْبِهِits side
And for the waw is a chapter next to it, of hatred, I suppose it has been cursed.
مِنَofالْمَقْتِhatredأَحْسَبُهُI suppose itقَدْhasلُعِنْbeen cursed.
of hatred, I suppose it has been cursed.
إِذَاWhenقُلْتُI saidهَاتُواbringلِمَاذَاwhyيُقَالُit is said
When I said, bring forth: why is it said 'lastu bi'atik' or 'ta'tin'?
لَسْتُI am notبِآتِيكَcoming to youأَوْorتَأْتِينِyou come
'lastu bi'atik' or 'ta'tin'?
أَجِيبُواThey answeredلِمَاto whatقِيلَwas saidهَذَاthis isكَذَاthus
They answered to what was said: This is thus upon the nasb, they said: due to the concealment of an.
عَلَىuponالنَّصْبِthe nasbقَالُواthey saidلِإِضْمَارِfor the concealment ofأَنْan.
upon the nasb, they said: due to the concealment of an.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَانَAnd Al-Walidالْوَلِيدُbin Abdبْنُal-Malikعَبْدِwas proneالْمَلِكِto manyلَحَّانَةًsolecisms.
He said: Al-Walid bin Abd al-Malik was prone to many solecisms, so a bedouin entered upon him and said: Who circumcised you?
فَدَخَلَSo enteredعَلَيْهِupon himأَعْرَابِيٌّa bedouinفَقَالَ:and said:مَنْWhoخَتَنَكَ؟circumcised you?
so a bedouin entered upon him and said: Who circumcised you?
قَالَ:He said:رَجُلٌA manمِنَfromالْحَيِّthe tribeلَاI do notأَعْرِفُknowاسْمَهُ.his name.
He said: A man from the tribe whose name I do not know.
فَقَالَSo saidعُمَرُUmarبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdالْعَزِيزِ:al-Aziz:إِنَّIndeedأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulيَقُولُ:says:مَنْWhoخَتَنُكَ؟is your circumciser?
Umar bin Abd al-Aziz said: The Commander of the Faithful says: 'Min khatunuk?'
فَقَالَ:He said:هَاBeholdهُوَذَاhe isبِالْبَابِ.at the door.
He said: Behold, he is at the door.
فَقَالَSo saidالْوَلِيدُAl-Walidلِعُمَرَ:to Umar:مَاWhatهَذَا؟is this?
Al-Walid said to Umar: What is this?
فَقَالَ:So he said:النَّحْوُThe grammarالَّذِيthatكُنْتُI wasأُخْبِرُكَtelling youعَنْهُ.about.
So he said: The grammar that I was telling you about.
فَقَالَ:He said:لَاNoجَرَمَdoubtlesslyلَاnotأُصَلِّيwill I prayبِالنَّاسِwith the peopleحَتَّىuntilأَتَعَلَّمَهُ.I learn it.
He said: Doubtlessly, I will not lead the people in prayer until I learn it.
وَسَمِعَAnd heardأَعْرَابِيٌّa bedouinرَجُلاًa manيَقُولُ:saying:أَشْهَدُI bear witnessأَنَّthatمُحَمَّداًMuhammadرَسُولُis the Messenger ofاللَّهِ.Allah.
A bedouin heard a man saying: I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
فَقَالَ:So he said:يَفْعَلُHe doesمَاذَا؟what?
So he said: He does what?
قَالَAnd saidوَقَالَand saidمَوْلًىa mawlaلِزِيَادٍ:to Ziyad:أَيُّهَاOالْأَمِيرُEmirأَخَذُواthey seizedلَنَاfor usهَمَارَhamarوَهْشٍ.of Wahsh.
A mawla of Ziyad said: O Emir, they seized for us the donkey of Wahsh.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُ:to him:مَاWhatتَقُولُdo you sayوَيْحَكَ؟woe to you?
So he said to him: What do you say, woe to you?
فَقَالَ:So he said:أَخَذُواThey seizedلَنَاfor usأَيْراًan ass"يُرِيدُ"meaningعَيْراً".a caravan/donkey."
So he said: They seized for us an ass "meaning a young male donkey".
فَقَالَSo saidزِيَادٌ:Ziyad:الْأَوَّلُThe firstخَيْرٌ.is better.
Ziyad said: The first was better.
قَالَ:He said:وَجَاءَAnd cameرَجُلٌa manإِلَىtoزِيَادٍZiyadفَقَالَ:and said:
He said: A man came to Ziyad and said: Indeed, our father perished, and indeed our brother wronged us regarding our inheritance from our father.
إِنَّIndeedأَبِينَاour fatherهَلَكَperishedوَإِنَّand indeedأَخِينَاour brotherغَصَبَنَاwronged usعَلَىregardingمِيرَاثِنَاour inheritanceمِنْfromأَبَانَا.our father.
Indeed, our father perished, and indeed our brother wronged us regarding our inheritance from our father.
فَقَالَSo saidزِيَادٌ:Ziyad:مَاWhatضَيَّعْتَyou wastedمِنْofنَفْسِكَyourselfأَكْثَرُis more thanمِمَّاwhatضَيَّعْتَyou wastedمِنْofمِيرَاثِكَ،your inheritance,
Ziyad said: What you wasted of yourself is more than what you wasted of your inheritance, so may Allah not have mercy on a father who left a son like you.
فَلَاso may notرَحِمَhave mercyاللَّهُAllahأَبَاكَon your fatherحَيْثُsinceتَرَكَhe leftوَلَداًa childمِثْلَكَ.like you.
so may Allah not have mercy on a father who left a son like you.
قَالَ:He said:وَعَزَمَAnd resolvedرَجُلٌa manمِنْfromأَهْلِthe people ofالشَّامِShamعَلَىuponلِقَاءِmeetingالْمَأْمُونِAl-Ma'munفَاسْتَشَارَso he consultedرَجُلاًa manمِنْfromأَصْحَابِهِhis companionsفَقَالَ:and said:
He said: A man from the people of Sham resolved to meet Al-Ma'mun, so he consulted a man among his companions and said:
عَلَىUponأَيُّwhatجِهَةٍmannerأَصْلَحُis it bestأَنْthatأَلْقَىI meetأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟of the Faithful?
In what manner is it best that I meet the Commander of the Faithful?
قَالَ:He said:عَلَىUponالْفَصَاحَةِ،eloquence,قَالَ:he said:لَيْسَthere is notعِنْدِيwith meمِنْهَاof itشَيْءٌanythingوَإِنِّيand indeed Iلَأَلْحَنُcommit grammatical errorsفِيinكَلَامِيmy speechكَثِيراً.frequently.
He said: Upon eloquence. He said: I have nothing of it, and indeed I commit grammatical errors in my speech frequently.
قَالَ:He said:فَعَلَيْكَthen upon you isبِالرَّفْعِthe nominative caseفَإِنَّهُfor itأَكْثَرُis moreمَاwhatيُسْتَعْمَلُ.is used.
He said: Then use the nominative case, for it is what is most commonly used.
فَدَخَلَSo he enteredعَلَىuponالْمَأْمُونِAl-Ma'munفَقَالَ:and said:
So he entered upon Al-Ma'mun and said: Peace be upon you, O Commander of the Faithful, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
السَّلَامُPeaceعَلَيْكَbe upon youيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَرَحْمَةُand the mercy ofاللَّهِAllahوَبَرَكَاتُهُ،and His blessings,
Peace be upon you, O Commander of the Faithful, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
فَقَالَ:So he said:يَاOغُلَامُboyاصْفَعْ،slap him,فَصُفِعَ.so he was slapped.
So he said: O boy, slap him, so he was slapped.
قَالَ:He said:بِسْمِIn the name ofاللَّهُُ،Allah,
He said: In the name of Allah! So he said: Woe to you, who poured you into the nominative?
فَقَالَ:So he said:وَيْلَكَWoe to youمَنْwhoصَبَّكَpoured youعَلَىintoالرَّفْعِ؟the nominative?
So he said: Woe to you, who poured you into the nominative?
قَالَ:He said:وَكَيْفَAnd howلَاnotأَرْفَعُdo I put in the nominativeمَنْwhomرَفَعَraisedاللَّهُ!Allah!
He said: And how can I not put in the nominative whom Allah has raised! So he laughed and fulfilled his need.
فَضَحِكَSo he laughedوَقَضَىand fulfilledحَاجَتَهُ.his need.
So he laughed and fulfilled his need.