عَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِson ofسُلَيْمَانَSulaimanالْهَاشِمِيُّAl-Hashimiقَالَ:said:
Ali bin Muhammad bin Sulaiman Al-Hashimi said:
حَدَّثَنِيnarrated to meأَبِيmy fatherعَنْfromسُلَيْمَانَSulaimanبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahقَالَ:he said:
My father narrated to me from Sulaiman bin Abdullah, who said:
وَفَدْتُI arrivedعَلَىatأَبِيAbuالْعَبَّاسِ،Al-Abbas,
I arrived at Abu Al-Abbas,
فَكَانَand he used toيَدْعُونِيinvite meفِيinكُلِّeveryلَيْلَةٍnightمَقَامِيof my stayعِنْدَهُwith him
and he used to invite me every night of my stay with him
وَيُعَقِّبُand he alternatedبَيْنَbetweenأَصْحَابِهِhis companionsوَأَهْلِand the people ofالْأَقْدَارِhigh statusوَالْأَدَبِand literature
and he alternated between his companions, people of high status and literature,
وَمَنْand whoeverيَحْضُرُattendsبَابَهُhis doorفَيُسَامِرُونَهُ،so they conversed with him at night,
and whoever attended his door, so they conversed with him at night.
فَإِذَاand whenكَانَتِit wasاللَّيْلَةُthe nightالَّتِيwhichيَحْضُرُهُattended byفِيهَاin itسَعِيدُSaeedبْنُson ofعَمْرِوAmrبْنِson ofجَعْدَةَJa'dahبْنِson ofهُبَيْرَةَHubayrahالْمَخْزُومِيُّAl-Makhzumi
And when it was the night attended by Saeed bin Amr bin Ja'dah bin Hubayrah Al-Makhzumi,
وَجَدَّتُهُand his grandmotherأُمُّUmmهَانِئٍHaniبِنْتُdaughter ofأَبِيAbuطَالِبٍ،Talib,
whose grandmother was Umm Hani bint Abi Talib,
وَكَانَتْand sheقَدْhadكَبِرَتْgrown old inسِنُّهُageوَشَهِدَتْand she had witnessedعَامَّةَmost ofسُلْطَانِthe rule ofبَنِيBaniأُمَيَّةَ،Umayyah,
and she had grown quite old and witnessed most of the rule of the Umayyads,
وَكَانَتِand oldالسِّنُّageقَدْhadأَرْعَشَتْهُ،made her tremble,
and old age had made her tremble,
فَقَالَso he saidلَهُ:to him:يَاOسَعِيدُSaeed,حَدِّثْnarrateعَنْaboutبَنِيBaniأُمَيَّةَUmayyah
he said to him: O Saeed, narrate about the Umayyads,
فَإِنَّكَfor youلَاdo notتَزَالُcease toتُحَدِّثُnarrateعَنْهُمْabout themوَعَنْand aboutجَوْهَرِهِمْ.their nature.
for you never cease to narrate about them and their nature.
فَقَالَ:He said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,
He said: O Commander of the Faithful,
حَضَرْتُI attendedالْجُمُعَةَFridayوَنَحْنُwhile we wereمَعَwithالْوَلِيدِAl-Walidبْنِson ofيزيدَYazid,
I attended Friday prayer while we were with Al-Walid bin Yazid,
فَمَضَيْنَاand we proceededنُرِيدُintendingالْجُمُعَةَthe Friday prayer
and we set out intending to go to the Friday prayer.
فَإِذَاWhen lo and behold,سُرَادِقُa pavilionقَدْhadضُمَّتْbeen joinedإِلَيْهِto itسُرَادِقَاتٌpavilions
There was a pavilion to which other pavilions had been joined,
وَمُدَّتِand stones were spreadالْحَجَرُthe stoneفِيinجَنْبَيْهِits two sides
and the ground was carpeted along its sides,
وَوُضِعَand was placedالْمِنْبَرُthe pulpitوَأَخَذَand people beganالنَّاسُtoيَتَطَوَّعُونَoffer voluntary prayersوَيَنْتَظِرُونَand wait forالْفَرِيضَةَ،the obligatory prayer,
and the pulpit was placed, and the people began to offer voluntary prayers and wait for the obligatory prayer.
فَلَمَّاWhenزَالَتِdeclinedالشَّمْسُthe sunأَذَّنَcalledالْمُؤَذِّنُthe muezzinفَأَذْنَهُand informed himبِالصَّلَاةِ،of the prayer,
When the sun declined, the muezzin called the adhan and informed him of the prayer.
فَإِذَاSuddenly,أَصْوَاتُthe sounds ofالْمَلَاهِيentertainment instrumentsوَالْمَعَازِفِand stringed instrumentsوَالْمَزَامِيرِand flutesمُقْبِلَةٌcomingمِنْfromمَضْرِبِهِhis tentنَحْوَنَا،towards us,
Suddenly, the sounds of instruments of amusement, stringed instruments, and flutes were coming from his tent towards us.
فَمَاAnd nothingرَاعَنَاstartled usإِلَّاexceptبِهِhimعَلَىuponهَذَاthisالَّذِيwhichيُسَمِّيهِcall itاللَّعَّابُونَacrobatsالدَّارْبَازِيَّthe tightrope walker
And nothing startled us except him doing what acrobats call the tightrope walker's act,
عَلَيْهِupon himغِلَالَةٌa thin garmentوَإِزَارٌand a wrapperمَصْبُوغَانِdyedبِالزَّعْفَرَانِwith saffronلَاnotيُوَارِيَانِconcealingعَوْرَتَهُhis awrah
wearing a thin garment and a wrapper dyed with saffron that did not conceal his awrah,
مُتَشَحّحٌdrapedبِإِزَارٍwith a wrapوَهُوَwhile heمُتَخَلِّقٌputtingفِيinفَمِهِhis mouthمِزْمَارٌa flute
draped in a wrap, with a flute in his mouth,
حَتَّىuntilأَشْرَفَhe loomedعَلَيْنَاupon usوَهُوَwhile heيَقُولُ:was saying:طُوطْTutطُوطْ.tut.
until he loomed over us, saying: Tut tut.
وَحَكَاهُAnd the Sheikh narrated itبِرَعْشَتِهِ،with his trembling,
And the Sheikh narrated it mimicking her trembling,
فَضَحِكَso laughedأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbasحَتَّىuntilاسْتَلْقَىhe lay backعَلَىonفِرَاشِهِhis bedوَضَرَبَand struckمَرَافِقَهُhis elbowsبِرِجْلَيْهِ.with his legs.
so Abu Al-Abbas laughed until he lay back on his bed and struck his elbows with his legs.
[مَحَاسِنِ[The Virtues ofالْإِغْضَاءِ]Overlooking]
[The Virtues of Overlooking]
حُكِيَIt was narratedعَنْaboutبَهْرَامَBahramجُورَGurأَنَّهُthat heخَرَجَwent outيَوْماًone dayلِطَلَبِto seekالصَّيْدِgameفَاحْتَمَلَهُso his horse carried him awayفَرَسُهُhis horseحَتَّىuntilدَفَعَit reachedإِلَىtoرَاعٍa shepherdتَحْتَunderشَجَرَةٍa treeوَهُوَwhile heحَاقِنٌ.was holding urine.
It was narrated that Bahram Gur went out one day to hunt, and his horse carried him away until he reached a shepherd under a tree who was holding his urine.
فَقَالَHe saidلِلرَّاعِي:to the shepherd:احْفَظْGuardعَلَيَّfor meعِنَانَthe reinفَرَسِيof my horseحَتَّىuntilأُريقَI pourمَاءً.water.
He said to the shepherd: Guard my horse's rein for me until I relieve myself.
فَأَخَذَSo he tookبِرِكَابِهِits stirrupحَتَّىuntilنَزَلَhe dismountedوَقَبَضَand grippedعَلَىonعِنَانِthe reinالْفَرَسِ،of the horse,
So he took its stirrup until he dismounted and gripped the horse's rein,
وَكَانَand its reinعِنَانُهُwasمُلَبَّساًplatedذَهَباً،with gold,
and its rein was plated with gold.
فَوَجَدَThe shepherd foundالرَّاعِيan opportunityغَفْلَةًof heedlessnessمِنْfromبَهْرَامَBahramفَأَخْرَجَso he took outمِنْfromخُفِّهِhis bootسِكِّيناًa knifeفَقَطَعَand cutبِهِwith itأَطْرَافَthe tips ofاللِّجَامِ،the bridle,
The shepherd found Bahram heedless, so he took a knife from his boot and cut the tips of the bridle with it.
فَرَفَعَSo raisedبَهْرَامُBahramرَأْسَهُhis headفَنَظَرَand lookedإِلَيْهِat himفَاسْتَحْيَاso he felt ashamedوَرَمَىand castبِطَرْفِهِhis gazeإِلَىtoالْأَرْضِthe groundوَأَطَالَand prolongedالِاسْتِبْرَاءَthe waitingلِيَأْخُذَso that might takeالرَّاعِيthe shepherdحَاجَتَهُhis needمِنَfromاللِّجَامِ،the bridle,
Bahram raised his head and looked at him. He felt ashamed, cast his gaze to the ground, and prolonged his relief so the shepherd could take what he needed from the bridle.
وَجَعَلَAnd the shepherdالرَّاعِيkeptيَفْرَحُrejoicingبِإِبْطَائِهِat his delayعَنْهُfrom himحَتَّىuntilإِذَاwhenظَنَّhe thoughtأَنَّهُthat heقَدْhadفَرَغَfinishedوَأَخَذَand takenمِنَfromاللِّجَامِthe bridleحَاجَتَهُhis needقَالَ:he said:
The shepherd rejoiced at his delay. When he thought Bahram had finished and taken what he needed from the bridle, Bahram said:
يَاOرَاعِيshepherd,قَدِّمْbring nearإِلَيَّto meفَرَسِيmy horseفَإِنَّهُfor indeedسَقَطَhas fallenفِيinعَيْنَيَّmy eyesشَيْءٌ.something.
O shepherd, bring my horse near to me, for something has fallen into my eye.
وَغَمَّضَAnd he closedعَيْنَهُhis eyeلِئَلَّاso thatيُوهِمَهُhe would not make him thinkأَنَّهُthat heيَتَفَقَّدُwas inspectingحِلْيَةَthe ornament ofاللِّجَامِ،the bridle,
He closed his eye so as not to make the shepherd think he was inspecting the bridle's ornament.
فَقَرَّبَSo brought nearالرَّاعِيthe shepherdمِنْهُto himفَرَسَهُhis horseفَرَكِبَهُ.and he mounted it.
The shepherd brought his horse near to him, and he mounted it.
فَلَمَّاWhenوَلَّىhe turned awayقَالَsaidلَهُto himالرَّاعِي:the shepherd:أَيُّهَاOالْعَظِيمُgreat man,كَيْفَhowآخُذُdo I takeإِلَىtoمَوْضِعِthe place ofكَذَاsuch andوَكَذَاsuchمَكَاناًa placeبَعِيداً؟far away?
When he turned away, the shepherd said to him: O great man, how do I get to such-and-such a place, which is far away?
قَالَSaidبَهْرَامُ:Bahram:وَمَاAnd what isسُؤَالُكَyour askingعَنْaboutهَذَاthisالْمَوْضِعِ؟place?
Bahram said: Why are you asking about this place?
قَالَ:He said:هُنَاكَThereمَنْزِلِيis my dwellingوَمَاand I have notوَطِئْتُtroddenهَذِهِthisالنَّاحِيَةَregionقَطُّeverغَيْرَother thanيَوْمِيmy dayهَذَاthisوَلَاand norأُرَانِيdo I see myselfأَعُودُreturningإِلَيْهِto itأَبَداً.ever.
He said: My home is there, and I have never trodden this region except on this very day of mine, and I do not think I will ever return to it.
فَضَحِكَSo laughedبَهْرَامُBahramوَفَطِنَand understoodلِمَاwhatأَرَادَهُintendedالرَّاعِيthe shepherdوَقَالَ:and said:
So Bahram laughed, understood what the shepherd intended, and said:
أَنَاI amرَجُلٌa manمُسَافِرٌtravelingوَأَنَاand Iأَحَقُّhave more rightبِأَنْthatلَاI do notأَعُودَreturnإِلَىtoمَاwhatهَاisهُنَاhereأَبَداً.ever.
I am a traveler, and I have more right never to return to what is here ever again.
ثُمَّThenمَضَى،he went on,فَلَمَّاand whenنَزَلَhe dismountedعَنْfromفَرَسِهِhis horseقَالَhe saidلِصَاحِبِto the keeper ofمَرَاكِبِهِ:his mounts:
Then he went on. When he dismounted from his horse, he said to the keeper of his mounts:
إِنَّIndeedمَعَالِيقَthe ornaments ofاللِّجَامِthe bridleوَهَبْتُهَاI have gifted themلِسَائِلٍto a beggarمَرَّwho passedبِيby meفَلَاso do notتَتَّهِمْaccuseأَحَداً.anyone.
The ornaments of the bridle, I have gifted them to a beggar who passed by me, so do not accuse anyone.
وَحُكِيَAnd it was narratedعَنْaboutأَنُوشِرْوَانَAnushirwanأَنَّهُthat heقَعَدَsatفِيonيَوْمِthe day ofنَيْرُوزَNowruzأَوْorمِهْرَجَانَMehrganوَوُضِعَتِand the dining tables were setالْمَوَائِدُthe tablesوَدَخَلَand enteredوُجُوهُthe notables ofالنَّاسِthe peopleوَكَسْرَىwhile Khosrowبَيْحَثُsatحَيْثُwhereيَرَاهُمْhe saw themوَلَاand they didيَرَوْنَهُ.not see him.
And it was narrated about Anushirwan that he sat on the day of Nowruz or Mehrgan, the dining tables were set, and the notables of the people entered, while Khosrow was where he could see them and they could not see him.
فَلَمَّاWhenفَرَغَfinishedالنَّاسُthe peopleمِنَfromالطَّعَامِfoodوَجَاؤُواand they broughtبِالشَّرَابِdrinkفِيinآنِيَةِvessels ofالْفِضَّةِsilverوَجَامَاتِand bowls ofالذَّهَبِgoldفَشَرِبَso drankالْأَسَاوِرَةُthe nobilityوَأَهْلُand the people ofالطَّبَقَةِthe classالْعَالِيَةِhighفِيinآنِيَةِvessels ofالذَّهَبِ.gold.
When the people finished eating and drinks were brought in silver vessels and gold bowls, the nobility and the upper class drank from gold vessels.
فَلَمَّاWhenانْصَرَفَdepartedالنَّاسُthe peopleوَرُفِعَتِand were liftedالْمَوَائِدُthe tablesأَخَذَtookبَعْضُone ofأُولَئِكَthoseالْقَوْمِpeopleجَامَa bowl ofذَهَبٍgoldفَأَخْفَاهُand concealed itفِيinقُبَائِهِhis robeوَأَنُوشِرْوَانُwhile Anushirwanيَلْحَظُهُwas watching himفَصَرَفَso he turnedوَجْهَهُhis faceعَنْهُ،away from him.
When the people departed and the tables were lifted, one of those people took a gold bowl and concealed it in his robe while Anushirwan was watching him, so he turned his face away from him.
وَافْتَقَدَAnd missedصَاحِبُthe master ofالشَّرَابِdrinkالْجَامَthe bowlفَصَاحَ:and shouted:لَاDo notيُخْرِجَنَّlet leaveأَحَدٌanyoneمِنَfromالدَّارِthe houseحَتَّىuntilيُفَتَّشَ!he is searched!
The master of drink missed the bowl and shouted: Let no one leave the house until he is searched!
فَقَالَSaidكِسْرَى:Khosrow:لَاDo notيُعْرِضَنَّsubjectلِأَحَدٍ.anyone.وَانْصَرَفَAnd departedالنَّاسُ.the people.
Khosrow said: Do not subject anyone to this. And the people departed.
فَقَالَSaidصَاحِبُthe master ofالشُّرْبِ:drink:إِنَّاIndeed, weقَدْhaveفَقَدْنَاlostبَعْضَsomeآنِيَةِvessels ofالذَّهَبِ.gold.
The master of drink said: We have indeed lost some of the gold vessels.
فَقَالَSaidالْمَلِكُ:the king:صَدَقْتَ،You have spoken the truth;أَخَذَهَاtook itمَنْhe whoلَاwill notيَرُدُّهَاreturn itوَرَآهَاand saw itمَنْhe whoلَاwill notيُخْبِرُكَinformبِهَا.you about it.
The king said: You have spoken the truth; it was taken by one who will not return it, and seen by one who will not inform you about it.
وَحُكِيَAnd it was narratedعَنْaboutمُعَاوِيَةَMuawiyahبْنِson ofأَبِيAbuسُفْيَانَSufyanأَنَّهُthat heقَعَدَsatلِلنَّاسِfor the peopleفِيonيَوْمِthe day ofعِيدٍan Eidوَوُضِعَتِand were setالْمَوَائِدُthe tablesوَبُدِرَand were distributedالدَّرَاهِمُdirhamsلِلْجَوَائِزِfor prizesوَالصَّلَاتِ.and grants.
And it was narrated about Muawiyah bin Abu Sufyan that he sat for the people on an Eid day, the tables were set, and dirhams were distributed for prizes and grants.
فَجَاءَCameرَجُلٌa manمِنَfromالْجَمَاعَةِthe groupفَقَعَدَand satعَلَىonكِيسٍa bagفِيهِin itدَنَانِيرُdinarsوَالنَّاسُwhile the peopleيَأْكُلُونَ.were eating.
A man from the group came and sat on a bag containing dinars while the people were eating.
فَصَاحَShoutedبِهِat himالْخَدَمُ:the servants:تَنَحَّStep asideفَلَيْسَfor this is notلَكَfor youهَذَاthisالْمَوْضِعُ!place!
The servants shouted at him: Step aside, for this place is not for you!
فَسَمِعَSo heardمُعَاوِيَةُMuawiyahوَقَالَ:and said:دَعُواLeaveالرَّجُلَthe manيَقْعُدْto sitحَيْثُwhereأَحَبَّ.he likes.
Muawiyah heard this and said: Leave the man to sit wherever he likes.
وَأَخَذَAnd he tookالْكِيسَthe bagوَقَامَand stood upفَلَمْand did notيَجْسُرْdareأَحَدٌanyoneأَنْtoيَدْنُوَdraw nearمِنْهُ.him.
He took the bag and stood up, and no one dared to draw near him.
فَقَالَSaidالْخَدَمُ:the servants:أَصْلَحَMay Allah rectifyاللَّهُAllahالْأَمِيرَ!the Amir!إِنَّهُIndeedقَدْhasنَقَصَdecreasedمِنَfromالْمَالِthe wealthكِيسٌa bagفِيهِin itدَنَانِيرُ!dinars!
The servants said: May Allah rectify the Amir! A bag containing dinars has decreased from the wealth!
فَقَالَ:He said:أَنَاI amصَاحِبُهُits ownerوَهُوَand itمَحْسُوبٌis accountedعَلَيَّagainst meلَكُمْ.for you.
He said: I am its owner, and it is accounted against me for you.
وَأَحْسَنُAnd betterمِنْthanهَذَاthisمَاis whatفَعَلَهُdidجَعْفَرُJa'farبْنُson ofسُلَيْمَانَSulaimanبْنِson ofعَلِيٍّAli
And better than this is what Ja'far bin Sulaiman bin Ali did
وَقَدْwhenعَثَرَhe stumbled uponرَجُلٍa manأَخَذَwho tookدُرَّةًa pearlرَائِعَةًmagnificentثَمِينَةًpreciousمِنْfromبَيْنِbetweenيَدَيْهِhis hands
when he stumbled upon a man who had taken a magnificent, precious pearl from before him.
فَطُلِبَSo it was soughtبَعْدَafterأَيَّامٍdaysفَلَمْand was notيُوجَدْfoundفَبَاعَهَاso he sold itالرَّجُلُthe manبِبَغْدَادَ،in Baghdad,
It was sought after days and was not found, so the man sold it in Baghdad.
وَقَدْAnd itكَانَتْhadوُصِفَتْbeen describedلِأَصْحَابِto the dealers ofالْجَوْهَرِgemsفَأُخِذَso he was seizedوَحُمِلَand carriedإِلَىtoجَعْفَرٍ،Ja'far,
It had been described to gem dealers, so the man was seized and brought to Ja'far.
فَلَمَّاWhenرَآهُhe saw himوَبَصَرَand caught sightبِهِof himاسْتَحْيَاhe felt ashamedمِنْهُof himوَقَالَ:and said:
When he saw him and caught sight of him, he felt ashamed of him and said:
أَلَمْDid notتَكُنْyouطَلَبْتَask forهَذِهِthisالدُّرَّةَpearlمَنِّيfrom meفَوَهَبْتُهَا؟so I gifted it to you?
Did you not ask me for this pearl, and I gifted it to you?
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ.Yes.فَقَالَ:He said:لَاDo notتَعْرِضُواharmلَهُ.him.
He said: Yes. He said: Do not harm him.
فَبَاعَهَاSo he sold itالرَّجُلُthe manبِأُلُوفِfor thousands ofالدَّنَانِيرِ.dinars.
So the man sold it for thousands of dinars.
[مَسَاوِئِ[The Evils ofالْإِغْضَاءِ]Overlooking]
[The Evils of Overlooking]
قَالَ:He said:بَعَثَsentزِيَادٌZiyadإِلَىtoرِجَالٍmenمِنْfromبَنِيBaniتَمِيمٍTamimوَجَمَعَand gatheredالْعُرَفَاءَthe clan leadersفَقَالَ:and said:
He said: Ziyad sent for men from Bani Tamim and gathered the clan leaders, and said:
أَخْبِرُونِيInform meبِصُلَحَاءِabout the righteous ofكُلِّeveryنَاحِيَةٍ.region.
Inform me about the righteous people of every region.
فَأَخْبَرُوهُ.So they informed him.فَاخْتَارَSo he choseمِنْهُمْfrom themرِجَالاًmenفَضَمَّنَهُمْand made them responsible forالطَّرِيقَthe roadوَحَدَّand setلِكُلِّfor eachوَاحِدٍoneمِنْهُمْof themحَدّاً،a limit,
So they informed him. He chose men from them, made them responsible for the road, and set a limit for each of them.
فَكَانَAnd he used toيَقُولُ:say:لَوْIfضَاعَwere lostبَيْنِيbetween meوَبَيْنَandخُرَاسَانَKhorasanشَيْءٌsomethingلَعَلِمْتُI would have knownمَنْwhoأَخَذَهُ.took it.
And he used to say: If something were lost between me and Khorasan, I would have known who took it.
وَكَانَAnd he used toيَدْفِنُburyالنَّبَّاشَthe grave-robberحَيّاًaliveوَيَنْزِعُand pull outأَضْلَاعَthe ribs ofاللُّصُوصِ.the thieves.
And he used to bury the grave-robber alive and pull out the ribs of thieves.