وَحُكِيَAndعَنْitقُبَاذَwas narrated about Qubadh
And it was narrated about Qubadh
أَنَّهُthat heرَكِبَrodeذَاتَoneيَوْمٍday
that he rode one day
وَالْمُوْبِذُwhile the Mobhedيُسَايِرُهُwas traveling alongside him
while the Mobhed was traveling alongside him
إِذْwhenرَاثَbecame slowدَابَّةُthe mount ofالْمُوْبِذِthe Mobhed
when the Mobhed's mount became slow
وَفَطِنَand Qubadhقُبَاذُnoticedلِذَلِكَthat
and Qubadh noticed that
فَغَمَّand that grievedذَلِكَthatالْمُوْبِذَthe Mobhed
and that grieved the Mobhed
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himقُبَاذُQubadhفِيinأَوَّلِthe firstكَلَامٍspeechمَرَّthat passed:
So Qubadh said to him in the first speech that passed:
مَاWhat isأَوَّلُthe firstمَاthing thatيُسْتَدَلُّis deducedبِهِby itعَلَىregardingسُخْفِthe foolishness ofالرَّجُلِ؟a man?
What is the first thing that indicates a man's foolishness?
قَالَ:He said:أَنْThatيَعْلِفَhe feedsدَابَّتَهُhis mountفِيinاللَّيْلَةِthe nightالَّتِيin whichيَرْكَبُridesالْمَلِكُthe Kingفِيinصَبِيحَتِهَا.its morning.
He said: To feed his mount on the night preceding the morning the King rides.
فَضَحِكَSo laughedقُبَاذُQubadhوَقَالَand saidلَهُ:to him:
So Qubadh laughed and said to him:
لِلَّهِBy Godأَنْتَyou areمَاhowأَحْسَنَexcellentمَاis whatضَمَّنْتَyou embedded inكَلَامَكَyour speechبِفِعْلِthrough the action ofدَابَّتِكَ!your mount!
Bravo! How brilliantly you have woven the action of your mount into your speech!
وَبِحَقٍّAnd trulyمَاthatقَدَّمَْتكَadvanced youالْمُلُوكُthe kingsوَجَعَلَتْand placedأَحْكَامَهُمْtheir judgmentsفِيinيَدِكَ!your hand!
It is with good reason that kings have advanced you and placed their judgments in your hands!
وَوَقَفَAnd he stoppedوَدَعَاand calledلَهُfor himبِدَابَّةٍwith a mountمِنْfromخَاصِّspecialمَرَاكِبِهِhis mountsوَقَالَ:and said:
And he stopped, had a mount brought for him from his private stables, and said:
تَحَوَّلْTransferمِنْfromهَذَاthisالْجَانِيoffenderعَلَيْكَagainst youإِلَىtoظَهْرِthe back ofهَذَاthisالطَّائِعِobedient oneلَكَ.to you.
Move from the back of this one, which has offended you, to the back of this one, which is obedient to you.
وَحُكِيَAnd it was narratedعَنْaboutمُعَاوِيَةَMuawiyahبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiسُفْيَانَSufyan
And it was narrated about Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan
أَنَّهُthat heبَيْنَاwhileهُوَheيَسِيرُwas travelingوَشُرَحْبِيلُand Shurahbilبْنُson ofالسَّمْطِAl-Samtيُسَايِرُهُwas traveling alongside him
that while he was traveling and Shurahbil ibn Al-Samt was traveling alongside him
إِذْwhenرَاثَbecame slowدَابَّةُthe mount ofشُرَحْبِيلَShurahbilوَسَاءَهُand that displeasedذَلِكَ.him.
Shurahbil's mount became slow and that displeased him.
فَقَالَSo saidمُعَاوِيَةُ:Muawiyah:يَاOأَبَاAbuيَزِيدَYazid
So Muawiyah said: O Abu Yazid
إِنَّهُitكَانَused toيُقَالُbe saidإِنَّthatالْهَامَةَthe headإِذَاwhenعَظُمَتْit is largeدَلَّتْit indicatesعَلَىabundance ofوُفُورِbrainالدِّمَاغِand soundness ofوَصِحَّةِintellect.الْعَقْلِ.intellect.
it used to be said that when a head is large, it indicates an abundance of brain matter and soundness of intellect.
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْYesيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulإِلَّاexceptهَامَتِيmy headفَإِنَّهَاfor itعَظِيمَةٌis largeوَعَقْلِيand my intellectضَعِيفٌis weakنَاقِصٌ،deficient.
He said: Yes, O Commander of the Faithful, except for my head, for it is large and my intellect is weak and deficient.
فَتَبَسَّمَSo smiledمُعَاوِيَةُMuawiyahوَقَالَ:and said:كَيْفَHow isذَاكَthatلِلَّهِby Godأَنْتَ؟you?
So Muawiyah smiled and said: How is that, may you be spared?
قَالَ:He said:لِإِعْلَافِيDue to my feedingدَابَّتِيmy mountمَكوكَيْنِtwo makkuksمِنْofشَعِيرٍ.barley.
He said: Because I feed my mount two makkuks of barley.
فَتَبَسَّمَSo smiledمُعَاوِيَةُMuawiyahوَحَمَلَهُand had him mountedعَلَىuponدَابَّةٍa mountمِنْfromمَرَاكِبِهِ.his mounts.
So Muawiyah smiled and had him ride one of his own mounts.
وَيُقَالُ:And it is said:إِنَّthatسَعِيدَSaeedبْنَson ofسَلْمٍSalmبَيْنَاwhileهُوَheيُسَايِرُwas traveling alongsideمُوسَىMusaالْهَادِيAl-Hadi
And it is said that while Saeed ibn Salm was traveling alongside Musa Al-Hadi
وَعَبْدُand AbdullahاللَّهِibnبْنُMalikمَالِكٍwasأَمَامَهُahead of himوَالْحَرْبَةُand the spear wasبِيَدِهِin his hand
and Abdullah ibn Malik was ahead of him with a spear in his hand
فَكَانَتِand the windالرِّيحُused toتَسْفِيblowالتُّرَابَthe dustالَّذِيthatتُثِيرُهُwas stirred up byدَابَّةُthe mount ofعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِinفِيthe face ofوَجْهِMusaمُوسَىMusa
and the wind was blowing the dust stirred up by Abdullah's mount into Musa's face
وَعَبْدُwhile Abdullahاللَّهِduringفِيthatخِلَالِtimeذَلِكَwas watchingيَلْحَظُthe place ofمَوْضِعَMusa's travelمَسِيرِand seekingمُوسَىto rideفَيَطْلُبُalongsideأَنْhimيُحَاذِيَهُalongside him
while Abdullah during all that was watching the place where Musa traveled, trying to ride alongside him
فَإِذَاso whenحَاذَاهُhe rode alongside himنَالَهُreached himمِنْfromذَلِكَthatالتُّرَابِdustمَاwhatيُؤْذِيهِharmed him
and whenever he rode alongside him, that dust reached him and caused him discomfort
حَتَّىuntilإِذَاwhenكَثُرَthat became frequentذَلِكَfromمِنْAbdullahعَبْدِMusaاللَّهِsaidقَالَto SaeedمُوسَىMusaلِسَعِيدٍ:to Saeed:
until when that from Abdullah became frequent, Musa said to Saeed:
أَمَاDo you notتَرَىseeمَاwhatلَقَيْنَاwe encounterمِنْfromهَذَاthisالْخَائِنِtraitorفِيinمَسِيرِنَاthis travelهَذَا؟of ours?
Do you not see what we are suffering from this traitor on this journey of ours?
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himسَعِيدٌ:Saeed:وَاللَّهِBy AllahيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
Saeed said to him: By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful
مَاhe has notقَصَّرَfallen shortفِيinالِاجْتِهَادِeffortوَلَكِنَّهُbut ratherحُرِمَhe was deprived ofحَظَّthe share ofالتَّوْفِيقِ.success.
he has not fallen short in effort, but he has been denied the share of divine success.
[مَسَاوِئِ[The Evils ofالْمَسَايَرَةِ]Traveling Together]
[The Evils of Traveling Together]
ذُكِرَIt was mentionedعَنْaboutعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِibnبْنِAl-Hasanالْحَسَنِthat
It was mentioned about Abdullah ibn Al-Hasan
أَنَّهُthat heبَيْنَاwhileهُوَheيُسَايِرُwas traveling alongsideأَبَاAbuالْعَبَّاسِAl-AbbasالسَّفَّاحَAl-Saffah
that while he was traveling alongside Abu Al-Abbas Al-Saffah
بِظَهْرِat the outskirts ofمَدِينَةِthe city ofالْأَنْبَارِAl-Anbar
at the outskirts of the city of Al-Anbar
وَهُوَwhile heيَنْظُرُwas lookingإِلَىatبِنَاءٍa buildingقَدْthatبَنَاهُhe had built
while he was looking at a building he had constructed
إِذْwhenقَالَsaidأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِ:Al-Abbas:هَاتِBringمَاwhatعِنْدَكَyou haveيَاOأَبَاAbuمُحَمَّدٍ.Muhammad.
when Abu Al-Abbas said: Recite what you have, O Abu Muhammad.
وَهُوَAnd heيَسْتَطْعِمُهُwas seeking to drawالْحَدِيثَconversationبِالْأُنْسِthrough familiarityمِنْهُ.with him.
He was coaxing him for conversation out of a desire for his company.
فَأَنْشَدَهُ:So he recited to him:
So he recited to him:
أَلَمْDid you notتَرَseeحَوْشَبًاHawshabأَمْسَىwho spent the eveningيَبْنِيbuilding......بِنَاءًa buildingنَفْعُهُwhose benefit isلِبَنِيfor the sons ofبَقِيلَهْBaqilah
Did you not see Hawshab, who spent the evening building ... A building whose benefit is for the sons of Baqilah
يَرْجِِّيHopingأَنْtoيُعَمَّرَliveعُمْرَthe lifespan ofنُوحٍNoah......وَأَمْرُwhile the command ofاللَّهِAllahيَحْدُثُhappensكُلَّeveryلَيْلَهْnight
Hoping to live the age of Noah ... While the decree of Allah unfolds every single night
فَتَبَسَّمَSo smiledأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbasوَقَالَ:and said:لَوْHadعِلْمِنَاwe knownلَاشْتَرَطْنَاwe would have stipulatedحَقَّthe right ofالْمَسَايَرَةِ.traveling together.
Abu Al-Abbas smiled and said: Had we known, we would have stipulated the proper etiquette of traveling together.
فَقَالَSo saidعَبْدُAbdullah:اللَّهِ:OيَاCommanderأَمِيرَof the Faithfulالْمُؤْمِنِينَspontaneous thoughtsبَوَادِرُand the intellects ofالْخَوَاطِرِthe elders.وَأَعْقَالُandالْمَشَايِخِ.the elders.
Abdullah said: O Commander of the Faithful, these are spontaneous thoughts and the reflections of elders.
قَالَ:He said:صَدَقْتَYou spoke the truthخُذْtake upفِيsomethingغَيْرِother thanهَذَا.this.
He said: You have spoken the truth; speak of something else.
وَذُكِرَAnd it was mentionedعَنِaboutالْمَدَائِنِيِّAl-Mada'iniقَالَ:who said:
And it was mentioned about Al-Mada'ini that he said:
بَيْنَاwhileعِيسَىIsaبْنُson ofمُوسَىMusaيُسَايِرُwas traveling alongsideأَبَاAbuمُسْلِمٍMuslim
While Isa ibn Musa was traveling alongside Abu Muslim
فِيonمَنْصَرِفِهِhis returnعَنْfromأَبِيAbuجَعْفَرٍJa'farفِيonالْيَوْمِthe dayالَّذِيin whichقُتِلَhe was killedفِيهِin it
on his return from Abu Ja'far on the day in which he was killed
إِذْwhenأَنْشَدَ:he recited:
he recited:
سَيَأْتِيكَThere will come to youمَاwhatأَفْنَىannihilatedالْقُرُونَthe generationsالَّتِيthatمَضَتْpassed
There shall come to you that which annihilated the generations of the past
وَمَاAnd whatحَلَّbefellفِيinأَكْنَافِthe territories ofعَادٍAadوَجُرْهُمَand Jurhum
And what befell the territories of Aad and Jurhum
وَمَنْAnd whoeverكَانَwasأَسْنَىhigherمِنْكَthan you inعِزًّاmightوَمَفْخَرًاand glory
And whoever surpassed you in might and glory
وَأَنْهَضَAnd greaterبِالْجَيْشِwith the armyاللُّهَامِthe vastالْعَرَمْرَمِand tumultuous
And mightier with the vast and tumultuous army
فَقَالَSo saidأَبُوAbuمُسْلِمٍ:Muslim:هَذَاthis isمَعَdespiteالْأَمَانِthe safe conductالَّذِيthatأُعْطِيتَ.you were given.
So Abu Muslim said: This, despite the safe conduct you were given!
فَقَالَSo saidعِيسَى:Isa:عِتْقُthe manumission ofمَاwhatيَمْلِكُhe ownsإِنْifكَانَthis wasهَذَاanythingلِشَيْءٍconcerningمِنْyour affairأَمْرِكَand it isوَمَاnothingهُوَmore thanإِلَّاa passingخَاطِرٌ.thought.
Isa said: May all my slaves be free if this was intended for anything regarding your affair; it was merely a passing thought.
قَالَ:He said:فَبِئْسَWhat a wretchedوَاللَّهِby Allahالْخَاطِرُ!thought!
He said: What a wretched thought, by Allah!
[مَحَاسِنِ[The Beauties ofالْمَسَامَرَةِ]Evening Conversation]
[The Beauties of Evening Conversation]
قَالَSaidالْكِسَائِيُّ:Al-Kisa'i:دَخَلْتُI enteredعَلَىuponالرَّشِيدِAl-Rashidذَاتَoneيَوْمٍday
Al-Kisa'i said: I entered upon Al-Rashid one day
وَهُوَwhile heفِيwas inإِيوَانِهِhis porticoوَبَيْنَand beforeيَدَيْهِhimمَالٌwas a great deal ofكَثِيرٌwealth
while he was in his portico and before him was a great deal of wealth
قَدْwhichشُقَّhad been split openعَنْهُfromالْبُدَرُits dirham bagsشَقًّاopenly
whose money bags had been cut open
وَأَمَرَand he had orderedبِتَفْرِيقِهِits distributionفِيamongخَدَمِthe privateالْخَاصَّةِservants
and he had ordered its distribution among the special servants
وَبِيَدِهِand in his handدِرْهَمٌwas a dirhamتَلُوحُwhose inscriptionكِتَابَتُهُwas gleaming
while in his hand was a dirham whose inscription was gleaming
وَهُوَand heيَتَأَمَّلُهُ،was contemplating it.
and he was contemplating it.
وَكَانَAnd he usedكَثِيرًاfrequentlyمَاtoيُحَدِّثُنِي،converse with me,
He used to converse with me frequently,
فَقَالَ:so he said:هَلْDoعَلِمْتَyou knowمَنْwhoأَوَّلُfirstمَنْinstitutedسَنَّthisهَذِهِinscriptionالْكِتَابَةَonفِيgoldالذَّهَبِandوَالْفِضَّةِ؟silver?
and said: Do you know who first instituted this inscription on gold and silver?
قُلْتُ:I said:يَاOسَيِّدِيmy masterهَذَاthis isعَبْدُAbdul MalikالْمَلِكِibnبْنِMarwan.مَرْوَانَ.Marwan.
I said: O my master, this is Abdul Malik ibn Marwan.
قَالَ:He said:فَمَاSo whatكَانَwasالسَّبَبُthe reasonفِيforذَلِكَ؟that?
He said: What was the reason for that?
قُلْتُ:I said:لَاnoعِلْمَknowledgeلِيto meغَيْرَother thanأَنَّهُthatأَوَّلُhe was the firstمَنْwhoأَحْدَثَintroducedهَذِهِthisالْكِتَابَةَ.inscription.
I said: I have no knowledge other than that he was the first to introduce this inscription.
فَقَالَ:So he said:سَأُخْبِرُكَ،I will inform you:كَانَتِthe papyriالْقَرَاطِيسُbelonged toلِلرُّومِthe Byzantines
So he said: I will inform you. Papyri used to belong to the Byzantines
وَكَانَand mostأَكْثَرُof thoseمَنْwho were inبِمِصْرَEgyptنَصْرَانِيًّاwere Christiansعَلَىfollowingدِينِthe religion ofالْمَلِكِthe king ofمَلِكِthe Byzantinesالرُّومِ،the Byzantines.
and most of those in Egypt were Christians following the religion of the Byzantine king.
وَكَانَتْAnd they used to beتُطَرَّزُembossedبِالرُّومِيَّةِin Byzantine
They used to be embossed in the Byzantine language
وَكَانَand theirطِرَازُهَاembossingأَبَاwasوَبَنَاFather,وَرُوحًاSon,قَدِيشًا.and Holy Spirit.
and their text was: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
فَلَمْAnd itيَزَلْremainedكَذَلِكَlike thatصَدْرَthroughout the earlyالْإِسْلَامِperiod of Islamكُلِّهِall of it
This continued throughout the entire early period of Islam
يَمْضِيproceedingعَلَىuponمَاwhatكَانَit hadعَلَيْهِbeen upon
proceeding as it had been
إِلَىuntilأَنْthatمَلَكَruledعَبْدُAbdul Malikالْمَلِكِso he wasفَتَنَبَّهَalerted to itعَلَيْهِand he wasوَكَانَshrewdفَطِنًا،shrewd.
until Abdul Malik reigned and became aware of it, for he was shrewd.
فَبَيْنَاSo whileهُوَhe wasذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayإِذْwhenمَرَّpassed byبِهِhimقِرْطَاسٌa papyrus sheet
So while he was there one day, a papyrus sheet passed by him
فَنَظَرَand he lookedإِلَىatطِرَازِهِits inscription
and he looked at its inscription
فَأَمَرَand he orderedأَنْthatيُتَرْجَمَit be translatedبِالْعَرَبِيَّةِinto Arabicفَفُعِلَand that wasذَلِكَdone
and ordered that it be translated into Arabic, which was done.
فَأَنْكَرَهُSo he disapproved of itوَقَالَ:and said:
He disapproved of it and said:
مَاHowأَغْلَظَgraveهَذَاis thisفِيinأَمْرِthe matter ofالدِّينِreligionوَالْإِسْلَامِand Islam
How grave this is in the matter of religion and Islam
أَنْthatيَكُونَthere should beطِرَازُthe inscription ofالْقَرَاطِيسِpapyriوَهِيَwhile theyتُحْمَلُare carriedفِيinالْأَوَانِيvesselsوَالثِّيَابِand garments
that the inscriptions on papyri—while they are carried in vessels and garments
وَهُمَاwhile bothتُعْمَلَانِare manufacturedبِمِصْرَin Egyptوَغَيْرِand elsewhereذَلِكَfromمِمَّاwhatيُطَرَّزُis embossedمِنْofسُتُورٍcurtainsوَغَيْرِهَاand other things
both being manufactured in Egypt and elsewhere from things that are embossed, such as curtains and others
مِنْfromعَمَلِthe work ofهَذَاthisالْبَلَدِcountryعَلَىdespiteسَعَتِهِits vastnessوَكَثْرَةِand the abundance ofمَالِهِits wealthوَأَهْلِهِand its people
from the work of this country, despite its vastness, the abundance of its wealth, and its people
تَخْرُجُthere emergesمِنْهُfrom itهَذِهِtheseالْقَرَاطِيسُpapyriفَتَدُورُcirculatingفِيinالْآفَاقِthe horizonsوَالْبِلَادِand lands
there emerge from it these papyri, circulating across horizons and lands
وَقَدْwhile they haveطُرِّزَتْbeen embossed withبِشِرْكٍpolytheismمُثْبَتٍaffixedعَلَيْهَا!upon them!
while they have been embossed with fixed polytheism upon them!
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedبِالْكِتَابِa letter writtenإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdul AzizالْعَزِيزِibnبْنِMarwanمَرْوَانَ،Marwan
So he ordered a letter to be written to Abdul Aziz ibn Marwan
وَكَانَwho wasعَامِلَهُhis governorبِمِصْرَ،in Egypt
who was his governor in Egypt
بِإِبْطَالِcancelingذَلِكَthatالطِّرَازِembossingعَلَىonمَاwhatكَانَit usedيُطَرَّزُto be embossed withبِهِofمِنْgarmentثَوْبٍand papyrusوَقِرْطَاسٍand curtainوَسِتْرٍand curtainوَغَيْرِand otherذَلِكَthings
to abolish that inscription on whatever it was embossed with, from garments, papyri, curtains, and other things
وَأَنْand requiringيَأْخُذَthe papyrusصُنَّاعَmakersالْقَرَاطِيسِto embossبِتَطْرِيزِهَاthem withبِصُورَةِthe depiction ofالتَّوْحِيدِ:monotheism:وَشَهِدَAnd Allahاللَّهُhas borne witnessأَنَّهُthatلَاthere is noإِلَهَgodإِلَّاexceptهُوَ.Him.
and requiring papyrus makers to emboss them with the declaration of oneness: 'And Allah bears witness that there is no god except Him.'
وَهَذَاAnd thisطِرَازُis the inscriptionالْقَرَاطِيسِof papyriخَاصَّةًspecificallyإِلَىuntilهَذَاthisالْوَقْتِtimeلَمْit has notيَنْقُصْdecreasedوَلَمْnorيَزِدْincreasedوَلَمْnorيَتَغَيَّرْ.changed.
And this remains the inscription of papyri specifically until this very time, neither decreasing, increasing, nor changing.
وَكَتَبَAnd he wroteإِلَىtoعُمَّالِthe governorsالْآفَاقِof all regionsجَمِيعًاaltogetherبِإِبْطَالِabolishingمَاwhateverفِيwas inأَعْمَالِهِمْtheir jurisdictionsمِنَofالْقَرَاطِيسِpapyriالْمُطَرَّزَةِembossedبِطِرَازِwith the inscription ofالرُّومِthe Byzantines
And he wrote to all regional governors to abolish whatever papyri in their jurisdictions were embossed with the Byzantine inscription
وَمُعَاقَبَةِand punishingمَنْanyoneوُجِدَfoundعِنْدَهُwith himبَعْدَafterهَذَاthisالنَّهْيِprohibitionشَيْءٌanythingمِنْهَاof itبِالصَّرْبِwith severeالْوَجِيعِbeatingوَالْحَبْسِand prolongedالطَّوِيلِ.imprisonment.
and punishing anyone found with any of it after this prohibition with severe beating and prolonged imprisonment.