قَالَ:He said:
He said:
وَخَطَبَAnd proposedمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُson ofالْوَلِيدِAl-Walidبْنِson ofعُتْبَةَUtbah
Muhammad ibn al-Walid ibn Utbah proposed
إِلَىtoعُمَرَUmarبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdالْعَزِيزِal-Azizأُخْتَهُhis sister
to Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz for his sister,
فَزَوَّجَهُand he married her to him
and he married her to him.
وَخَطَبَAnd he delivered a sermonفَقَالَ:and said:
And he delivered a sermon and said:
الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to Allahذِيthe Possessor ofالْعِزَّةِmightوَالْكِبْرِيَاءِ،and grandeur,
Praise be to Allah, the Possessor of might and grandeur,
وَصَلَّىand may Allah bestow blessingsاللَّهُAllahعَلَىuponمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadخَاتَمِthe seal ofالْأَنْبِيَاءِ،the prophets,
and may Allah bestow blessings upon Muhammad, the seal of the prophets,
وَقَدْand indeedزَوَّجْتُكَI have married youعَلَىuponمَاwhatفِيis inكِتَابِthe Book ofاللَّهِAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّ:and Mighty:
and indeed I have married you upon what is in the Book of Allah, Majestic and Mighty:
إِمْسَاكٌretentionبِمَعْرُوفٍwith kindnessأَوْorتَسْرِيحٌreleaseبِإِحْسَانٍ.with goodness.
retention in a reasonable manner or release with goodness.
وَخَطَبَAnd delivered a sermonعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِibnبْنُJa'farجَعْفَرٍand said:فَقَالَ:and said:
And Abdullah ibn Ja'far delivered a sermon and said:
الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to Allahالَّذِيwhoلَيْسَthere is notمِنfromدُونِهِHimاحْتِرَازٌany refuge
Praise be to Allah, besides Whom there is no refuge
وَلَاand norلِذَاهِبٍfor one fleeingعَنْهُfrom Himمَجَازٌ،any escape,
and for one fleeing from Him there is no escape,
السَّمِيعُthe All-Hearingالْمَنِيعُthe Inaccessibleذُوthe Possessor ofالْجَلَالِmajestyالرَّفِيعُ،the exalted,
the All-Hearing, the Inaccessible, the Possessor of exalted majesty,
وَأَشْهَدُand I bear witnessأَنْthatلَاthere is noإِلَهَdeityإِلَّاexceptاللَّهُAllahوَحْدَهُAloneلَاthere is noشَرِيكَpartnerلَهُfor HimفِيinسُلْطَانِهِHis dominion
and I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah alone, with no partner for Him in His dominion,
وَلَاand norسَمِيَّany equalلَهُto Himفِيinبُرْهَانِهِ،His proof,
and no equal to Him in His proof,
وَأَشْهَدُand I bear witnessأَنَّthatمُحَمَّدًاMuhammadعَبْدُهُis His slaveوَرَسُولُهُ،and His messenger,
and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His messenger,
صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ.and grant him peace.
may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُsubsequently,فَإِنَّindeedلِكُلِّfor everyشَيْءٍthingسَبَبًاis a causeمَضَتْby which proceedبِهِitالْأَقْدَارُdecrees
As for what follows, indeed for everything there is a cause through which decrees proceed
وَأُحْصِيَتْand are recordedفِيهِin itالْآثَارُthe effectsعَلَىuponوُقُوعِthe occurrence ofأَقْضِيَتِهِHis decreesوَحُلُولِand the arrival ofمُدَّتِهِ،its term,
and the effects are recorded therein upon the occurrence of His decrees and the arrival of its term,
وَالصِّهْرُand marriage relationنَسَبٌis a lineageشَابِكٌintertwinedيَجْمَعُthat unitesالْمُخْتَلِفَthe diverseوَيُقَرِّبُand brings closeالْمُؤْتَلِفَ،the harmonious,
and the marriage bond is an intertwined lineage that unites the diverse and brings the harmonious close,
وَفُلَانُand so-and-soبْنُson ofفُلَانٍso-and-soقَدْhas indeedبَذَلَofferedلَكُمُto youالْمَوْجُودَwhat is availableوَوَعَدَكُمُand promised youالْوَفَاءَfulfillmentالْمَحْمُودَpraised,
and so-and-so son of so-and-so has offered you what is available and promised you praiseworthy fulfillment,
فَأَجِيبُوهُso answer himإِلَىtoمَاwhatرَغِبَhe desiredفِيهِin itتَحْمَدُواthat you may praiseالْعَاقِبَةَthe outcomeوَتَذْخَرُواand store upالْأَجْرَthe rewardلِلْآخِرَةِ.for the Hereafter.
so respond to what he has desired so that you may praise the outcome and store up the reward for the Hereafter.
وَخَطَبَAnd delivered a sermonأَبُوAbuعُبَيْدَةَUbaidahخُطْبَةَa sermon ofنِكَاحٍmarriageبِالْبَصْرَةِin Basraوَحَضَرَهُand attending him wasأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinفَقَالَ:who said:
And Abu Ubaidah delivered a marriage sermon in Basra, and a Bedouin was present and said:
الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to Allahأَكْثَرَmore thanمِمَّاwhatحَمَدْتُمْ،you praised,
Praise be to Allah more than you have praised,
وَرَبُّنَاand our Lord isأَعْظَمُgreater thanمِمَّاwhatوَصَفْتُمْ،you have described,
and our Lord is greater than what you have described,
نَدَعُwe leaveالْفُصُولَthe superfluitiesوَنَتَبِعُand followالْأُصُولَthe fundamentalsكَفِعْلِlike the action ofذَوِيthose possessingالْعُقُولِ،minds,
we leave superfluous talk and follow the fundamentals like those possessing intellect,
وَقَدْand indeedسَمِعْنَاwe have heardمَقَالَتَكُمْyour speechوَشَفَّعْنَاand accepted the intercession ofخَاطِبَكُمْyour proposerوَقَبِلْنَاand acceptedمَاwhatبَذَلْتُمْ،you offered,
and we have heard your words, accepted the intercession of your proposer, and accepted what you offered,
وَالسَّلَامُand peaceعَلَيْكُمْ.be upon you.
and peace be upon you.
وَخَطَبَAnd proposedأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinإِلَىtoقَوْمٍa peopleفَقَالَ:and said:
And a Bedouin proposed to a people and said:
الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to Allahوَلِيِّthe Patron ofالْأَنْعَامِblessingsوَصَلَّىand may Allah bestow blessingsاللَّهُAllahعَلَىuponمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadخَيْرِthe best ofالْأَنَامِmankindوَعَلَىand uponآلِهِhis familyوَسَلَّمَ.and grant him peace.
Praise be to Allah, the Patron of blessings, and may Allah bless Muhammad, the best of mankind, and his family and grant them peace.
أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُsubsequently,فَإِنِّيindeed Iإِلَيْكُمْto youمَعْشَرَO company ofالْأَكْفَاءِequalsخَاطِبٌ،am a proposer,
As for what follows, indeed I am a proposer to you, O company of equals,
وَفِيand inسَبَبِthe cause ofالْأُلْفَةِharmonyبَيْنَنَاbetween usوَبَيْنَكُمْand between youرَاغِبٌ،am desirous,
and desirous of the cause of harmony between us and you,
وَلَكُمْand upon youعَلَيَّfor meفِيمَنْregarding whomخَطَبْتُI have proposedأَحْسَنُis the best ofمَاwhatيَجِبُis dueلِلصَّاحِبِfrom a companionعَلَىtoالصَّاحِبِ،a companion,
and you have due from me regarding the one I have proposed to, the best of what is due from a companion to a companion,
فَأَجِيبُونِيso answer meجَوَابَwith the answer ofمَنْone whoيَرَىseesنَفْسَهُhimselfلِرَغْبَتِيfor my desireمَحَلًّاa fitting placeوَلِمَاand for whatدَعَتْنِيcalled meالطَّلَبَةُthe requestإِلَيْهِto itأَهْلًا.worthy.
so answer me with the answer of one who deems himself worthy of my desire and fitting for what the request has called me to.
فَأَجَابَهُAnd answered himأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinآخَرُ:other:
Another Bedouin answered him:
أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُsubsequently,فَقَدْyou have indeedتَوَسَّلْتَsought approachبِحُرْمَةٍby sanctityوَذَكَرْتَand mentionedحَقًّاa rightوَأَمَلْتَand hoped forمَرْجُوًّا،something hoped for,
As for what follows, you have sought approach through sanctity, mentioned a right, and hoped for a hopeful prospect,
فَحَبْلُكَso your rope isمَوْصُولٌ،connected,وَعِرْضُكَand your honor isمَقْبُولٌ،accepted,
so your bond is connected, and your honor is accepted,
وَقَدْand we have indeedأَنْكَحْنَاmarriedوَسَلَّمْنَاand submittedوَالْحَمْدُand praiseلِلَّهِbe to Allahعَلَىuponذَلِكَ.that.
and we have indeed given in marriage and submitted, and praise be to Allah for that.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَانَAnd Al-Hasanالْحَسَنُal-Basriالْبَصْرِيُّused toيَقُولُsayفِيinخُطْبَةِthe sermon ofالنِّكَاحِmarriage
He said: Al-Hasan al-Basri used to say in the marriage sermon
بَعْدَafterحَمْدِpraisingاللَّهِAllahوَالثَّنَاءِand extollingعَلَيْهِ:Him:
after praising Allah and extolling Him:
أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُsubsequently,فَإِنَّindeedاللَّهَAllahعَزَّMightyوَجَلَّand Majesticجَمَعَhas joinedبِهَذَاby thisالنِّكَاحِmarriageالْأَرْحَامَthe severedالْمُنْقَطِعَةَwombsوَالْأَنْسَابَand the dispersedالْمُتَفَرِّقَةَlineages
As for what follows, indeed Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has joined through this marriage the severed wombs and dispersed lineages
وَجَعَلَand madeذَلِكَthatفِيinسُنَّةٍa practiceمِنْofدِينِهِHis religionوَمِنْهَاجٍand a clear pathوَاضِحٍofمِنْHisأَمْرِهِ،command,
and made that part of a practice of His religion and a clear path of His command,
وَقَدْand indeedتَزَوَّجَhas marriedفُلَانُso-and-soبْنُson ofفُلَانٍso-and-soبِفُلَانَةَso-and-soابْنَةِdaughter ofفُلَانٍso-and-so
and so-and-so son of so-and-so has married so-and-so daughter of so-and-so
وَبَذَلَand offeredلَهَاto herمِنَofالصَّدَاقِthe dowryكَذَاsuch andوَكَذَا،such,
and offered her of the dowry such and such,
فَاسْتَخِيرُواso seek Allah's guidanceاللَّهَandوَرُدُّواrespond withخَيْرًا.good.
so seek Allah's guidance and respond with good.
قَالَ:He said:وَحَضَرَAnd attendedالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munإِمْلَاكًاa marriage contract ceremonyفَسَأَلَهُand asked himبَعْضُsome ofمَنْthose whoحَضَرَattendedأَنْtoيَخْطُبَdeliver a sermonفَقَالَ:so he said:
He said: Al-Ma'mun attended a marriage contract ceremony and some of those present asked him to deliver a sermon, so he said:
الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to Allahوَالْمُصْطَفَىand the Chosen Oneرَسُولُis the Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,
Praise be to Allah, and the Chosen One is the Messenger of Allah,
عَلَيْهِupon himوَعَلَىand uponآلِهِhis familyالسَّلَامُ،be peace,
upon him and his family be peace,
وَخَيْرُand the bestمَاof whatعُمِلَis acted uponبِهِby itكِتَابُis the Book ofاللَّهِ،Allah,
and the best of what is acted upon is the Book of Allah,
قَالَsaidاللَّهُAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّ:and Mighty:
Allah, Majestic and Mighty, said:
وَأَنْكِحُواAnd marryالْأَيَامَىthe unmarriedمِنْكُمْamong youوَالصَّالِحِينَand the righteousمِنْfromعِبَادِكُمْyour slavesوَإِمَائِكُمْand your slave-girls
"And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male and female slaves.
إِنْIfيَكُونُواthey areفُقَرَاءَpoorيُغْنِهِمُwill enrich themاللَّهُAllahمِنْfromفَضْلِهِHis bountyوَاللَّهُand Allah isوَاسِعٌAll-EncompassingعَلِيمٌAll-Knowing
If they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty, and Allah is All-Encompassing and All-Knowing."
وَلَوْAnd ifلَمْnotيَكُنِthere wereالنِّكَاحُmarriageآيَةًa signمُنْزَلَةًrevealedوَسُنَّةًand a practiceمُتَّبَعَةًfollowed
And had marriage not been a revealed sign and a followed practice
إِلَّاexceptلِمَاfor whatجَعَلَplacedاللَّهُAllahجَلَّMajesticاسْمُهُis His nameفِيinذَلِكَthatمِنْofتَأْلِيفِbringing togetherالْبَعِيدِthe distantوَإِدْنَاءِand bringing closeالْغَرِيبِthe stranger
save for what Allah, Majestic is His name, placed therein of bringing together the distant and bringing close the stranger,
لَسَارَعَwould have rushedإِلَيْهِto itالْعَاقِلُthe sensibleالْمُصِيبُcorrect oneوَبَادَرَand hastenedإِلَيْهِto itالْمُخْتَارُthe chosenاللَّبِيبُ،wise one,
the sensible and correct person would have rushed to it, and the chosen wise person would have hastened to it.
وَفُلَانٌAnd so-and-soمَنْwhomعَرَفْتُمُوهُyou have known himفِيinنَسَبٍlineageلَمْnotتَجْهَلُوهُyou were ignorant of it
And so-and-so, whom you have known in lineage and were not ignorant of,
يَخْطُبُproposesإِلَيْكُمْto youفَتَاتَكُمْfor your young womanفُلَانَةَso-and-soوَيَبْذُلُand offersلَهَاto herمِنَofالصَّدَاقِthe dowryكَذَا،such and such,
proposes to you for your young woman so-and-so and offers her of the dowry such and such,
فَشَفِّعُواso accept the intercession ofشَافِعَنَاour intercessorوَأَنْكِحُواand give in marriageخَاطِبَكُمْto your proposerوَقُولُواand speakخَيْرًاgoodتَحْمَدُواthat you may be praisedعَلَيْهِfor itوَتُؤْجَرُوا،and rewarded,
so accept our intercessor, give in marriage to your proposer, and speak well so that you may be praised for it and rewarded,
أَقُولُI sayقَوْلِيmy sayingهَذَاthisوَأَسْتَغْفِرُand I ask forgivenessاللَّهَof Allahلِيfor meوَلَكُمْ.and for you.
I say this statement of mine and ask forgiveness of Allah for me and for you.
[مَسَاوِئُThe Vices ofالْخُطَبِ]Sermons
[The Vices of Sermons]
قِيلَ:It was said:وَاسْتَعْمَلَAnd appointedالْوَلِيدُAl-Walidبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malikأَعْرَابِيًّاa Bedouinعَلَىoverبَعْضِsome ofمُدُنِthe cities ofالشَّامِ،the Levant,
It was said: Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik appointed a Bedouin as governor over some of the cities of the Levant,
فَلَمَّاand whenصَعِدَhe ascendedالْمِنْبَرَthe pulpitقَالَ:he said:
and when he ascended the pulpit, he said:
الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِ،be to Allah,أَحْمَدُهُI praise Himوَأَسْتَعِينُهُ،and seek His help,
Praise be to Allah, I praise Him and seek His help,
مَنْwhoeverيَهْدِguidesاللَّهُAllahفَلَيْسَthen there is notبِضَالٍany strayingوَمَنْand whoeverيُضْلِلْHe lets strayفَأَبْعَدَهُthen He has distanced himاللَّهُ.Allah.
whomever Allah guides is not astray, and whomever He lets stray, Allah has distanced him.
أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُsubsequently,فَوَاللَّهِthen by Allahلَقَدْit has indeedذُكِرَbeen mentionedلِيto meأَنَّكُمْthat youتَأْتُونَgo toالْأَنْدَرِينَthe threshing floorsفَتَشْرَبُونَand drinkمِنْfromخُمُورِهَا،its wines,
As for what follows, by Allah, it has indeed been mentioned to me that you go to the threshing floors and drink from their wines,
وَمَاand whatالَّذِيis that whichعَرَّضَكُمْexposed youأَخْزَاكُمُmay Allah disgrace youاللَّهُAllahلِمَاto whatيَشِينُblemishesأَعْرَاضَكُمْ؟your honors?
and what is it—may Allah disgrace you—that has exposed you to what blemishes your honors?
فَإِنْSo ifكُنْتُمْyou areلَاnotبُدَّavoidingفَاعِلِينَdoing itفَلْيَشْرَبِthen let drinkالرَّجُلُthe manقَعْبًاa bowlأَوْorقَعْبَيْنِtwo bowlsأَوْorثَلَاثَةًthreeإِنْifكَانَit wasطَيِّبًا.good.
So if you must do it, then let a man drink a bowl or two or three if it is good.
وَلَقَدْAnd it has indeedبَلَغَنِيreached meأَنَّكُمْthat youتَأْتُونَgoبِاللَّيْلِat nightالنِّسَاءَto the womenاللَّوَاتِيwhoقَدْhaveغَابَbeen absentأَزْوَاجُهُنَّ،their husbands,
And it has indeed reached me that you go at night to the women whose husbands are absent,
وَإِنِّيand indeed Iأُعْطِيgiveاللَّهَto Allahعَهْدًاa covenantأَنِّيthat Iلَاwill notأَجِدُfindرَجُلًاa manيَأْتِيcoming toامْرَأَةًa womanلَيْلًاat nightإِلَّاexcept thatقَطَعْتُI will cutظَهْرَهُhis backبِالسِّيَاطِ،with whips,
and I give a covenant to Allah that I will not find a man coming to a woman at night except that I will lash his back with whips,
فَإِذَاso whenقَدِمَarriveعَلَيْهِنَّto themأَزْوَاجُهُنَّtheir husbandsفَأْتُوهُنَّthen come to themحَلَالًا،lawfully,
so when their husbands arrive, come to them lawfully,
وَأَيِّمَاand whicheverرَجُلٍmanأَصَابَfindsفِيinبَيْتِهِhis houseرَجُلًاa manفَلْيَأْخُذْthen let him takeسَلَبَهُ.his spoils.
and any man who finds a man in his house, let him take his spoils.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himكَاتِبُهُ:his scribe:أَيِّهِمَاWhich of the twoيَأْخُذُtakesسَلَبَthe spoils ofصَاحِبِهِhis companionأَيُّهَاOالْأَمِيرُ؟Prince?
So his scribe said to him: Which of the two takes the spoils of his companion, O Prince?
فَقَالَ:He said:أَيِّهِمَاWhichever of the twoغَلَبَ.overcomes.
He said: Whichever of the two overcomes.
فَكَانَتِAnd usedالْمَرْأَةُthe womanتَقُولُto sayلِزَوْجِهَا:to her husband:قَدْhas indeedأَحَلَّmade lawfulلَنَاfor usالْأَمِيرُthe Princeالزِّنَاءَ.adultery.
And the woman would say to her husband: The Prince has indeed made adultery lawful for us.
وَحُكِيَAnd it was narratedعَنْaboutجُحَاJuhaأَنَّthatأَبَاهُhis fatherقَالَsaidلَهُ:to him:دَعْLeaveمَاwhatأَنْتَyouعَلَيْهِare uponمِنَofالْجُنُونِmadnessوَالْمُجُونِand levityوَالْخَلَاعَةِand shamelessnessوَتَرَّزَنْand act with dignityحَتَّىuntilأَخْطُبَI proposeلَكَfor youبَعْضَsomeبَنَاتِof the daughters ofأَهْلِthe people ofالثَّرْوَةِwealthوَالشَّرَفِ.and nobility.
And it was narrated about Juha that his father said to him: Leave what you are upon of madness, levity, and shamelessness, and act with dignity until I propose for you to some of the daughters of the people of wealth and nobility.
فَقَالَ:So he said:نَعَمْYesيَاOأَبَتَاهُ،my father,فَتَزَيَّنَso he adorned himselfوَتَبَخَّرَand perfumed with incenseوَصَارَand wentإِلَىtoمَجْمَعِthe gathering ofالنَّاسِpeopleفَقَعَدَand satوَهُوَwhile he wasصَامِتٌsilentوَقَدْand there hadحَضَرَattendedأَشْرَافُthe nobles ofالنَّاسِpeopleوَعُظَمَاؤُهُمْ،and their prominent ones,
So he said: Yes, O my father. He adorned himself, perfumed with incense, and went to the gathering of people, sitting silently while the nobles and prominent people had attended.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himأَبُوهُ:his father:تَكَلَّمْSpeakيَاOبُنَيَّ،my son,فَقَالَ:so he said:
So his father said to him: Speak, O my son. He said:
الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِ،be to Allah,أَحْمَدُهُI praise Himوَأَسْتَعِينُهُand seek His helpوَأُشْرِكُand associate partnersبِهِwith HimحَيَّCome toعَلَىtheالصَّلَاةِprayerحَيَّcome toعَلَىtheفَلَاحِ.success.
Praise be to Allah, I praise Him, seek His help, and associate partners with Him, come to the prayer, come to success.
فَقَالَSo saidأَبُوهُ:his father:يَاOبُنَيَّmy sonلَاdo notتُقِمِestablishالصَّلَاةَthe prayerفَإِنِّيfor indeed Iعَلَىuponغَيْرِother thanوُضُوءٍ.ablution.
So his father said: O my son, do not establish the prayer, for indeed I am without ablution.
[مَحَاسِنُThe Beauties ofالْأَمْثَالِ]Proverbs
[The Beauties of Proverbs]
آتِيهِI come to himفِيinالْبَرْدَيْنِ،the two coolness periods,
I come to him in the two cooler parts of the day,
يَعْنِيmeaningقَبْلَbeforeأَنْthatيَشْتَدَّbecomes intenseالْحَرُّthe heatوَبَعْدَمَاand afterيَسْكُنُ،it subsides,
meaning before the heat becomes intense and after it subsides,
وَالْمَعْنَىand the meaningفِيهِin itأَيْضًا:also:بِالْغَدَاةِat dawnوَالْعَشِيِّ،and in the evening,
and the meaning in it also is: at dawn and in the evening.
قَالَSaidالشَّاعِرُ:the poet:
The poet said:
يَسِرْنَThey journeyedاللَّيْلَthe nightوَالْبَرْدَيْنِand the two cooler partsحَتَّىuntilإِذَاwhenأَظْهَرْنَthey traveled at middayرَفَّعْنَthey raisedالظِّلَالَاthe shades
They journeyed by night and in the two cooler parts until when they traveled at midday they raised the shades