قِيلَ:It was said:
It was said:
وَقَالَAnd saidعَبْدُAbdulالْمَلِكِMalikلِلْحَجَّاجِ:to Al-Hajjaj:كَيْفَHowتَسِيرُdo you conductفِيamongالنَّاسِ؟the people?
And Abdul Malik said to Al-Hajjaj: How do you conduct yourself among the people?
قَالَ:He said:أَنْظُرُI lookإِلَىatعَجُوزٍan old womanأَدْرَكَتْwho lived during the time ofزِيَاداًZiyadفَأَسْأَلُهَاand I ask herعَنْaboutسِيرَتِهِhis conductثُمَّthenأَعْمَلُI actبِهَا.accordingly.
He said: I look at an old woman who lived during the time of Ziyad and I ask her about his conduct, then I act accordingly.
قَالَSaidعَوْفٌAwfالْأَعْرَابِيُّ:Al-A'rabi:فَأَخَذَSo he adoptedوَاللَّهِby Allahبِسِيءِthe worstأَخْلَاقِهِof his moralsوَتَرَكَand leftأَحْسَنَهَا.the best of them.
Awf Al-A'rabi said: By Allah, he adopted the worst of his morals and left the best of them.
قَالَ:He said:وَاخْتَصَمَAnd there disputedإِلَىbeforeزِيَادٍZiyadرَجُلَانِtwo menفَقَالَand one of them saidأَحَدُهُمَا:one of them:أَصْلَحَMay Allah reformاللَّهُAllahالْأَمِيرَ!the Prince!هَذَاThis manيَدُلُّclaims rightsعَلَيَّover meبِخَاصَّةٍwith a special claimزَعَمَhe claimsأَنَّهَاthat itلَهُis for himمِنْكَ.from you.
He said: Two men disputed before Ziyad and one of them said: May Allah reform the Prince! This man claims a special right over me which he claims is for him from you.
فَقَالَ:He said:صَدَقَHe spoke the truthوَسَأُخْبِرُكَ،and I will tell you,إِنْifكَانَit wasالْحَقُّthe rightلَكَfor youعَلَيْهِagainst himقَضَيْتُI will judgeعَلَيْهِagainst himوَقَضَيْتُand I will judgeعَنْهُ،on his behalf,وَإِنْand ifكَانَit wasالْحَقُّthe rightلَهُfor himعَلَيْكَagainst youأَخَذْتُكَI will take youبِهِwith itأَخْذاًwith a seizureعَنِيفاً.severe.
He said: He spoke the truth, and I will tell you: if the right is yours against him, I will judge against him and fulfill it for you; and if the right is his against you, I will exact it from you severely.
[مَحَاسِنِ[The Virtues ofالتَّأَنِّي]Deliberation]
[The Virtues of Deliberation]
قَالَSaidبَعْضُsomeالْحُكَمَاءِ:wise men:التَّؤُدَةُDeliberationيُمْنٌis a blessingوَفِيand inالْيَمَنِdeliberationالنَّجْحُ.lies success.
Some wise men said: Deliberation is a blessing, and in deliberation lies success.
وَأَنْشَدَAnd recitedفِيregardingذَلِكَthatالْقُطَامِيُّ:Al-Qutami:
And Al-Qutami recited regarding that:
قَدْSometimesيُدْرِكُattainsالْمُتَأَنِّيthe deliberate personبَعْضَsomeحَاجَتِهِof his need......وَقَدْand sometimesيَكُونُthere isمَعَwithالْمُسْتَعْجِلِthe hasty personالزَّلَلُstumbling.
The deliberate person may attain some of his need... and with the hasty person there is stumbling.
وَقَالَAnd saidالنَّبِيُّ،the Prophet,صَلَّىmay Allah's peaceاللَّهُand blessingsعَلَيْهِbe upon himوَسَلَّمَ:and grant him peace:مَنْWhoeverحُرِمَis deprived ofالرِّفْقَgentlenessفَقَدْthen heحُرِمَis deprived ofالْخَيْرَ.good.
And the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Whoever is deprived of gentleness is deprived of good.
وَلِأَمِيرِAnd for the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulعَلِيِّAliبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍ،Talib,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwith himعَنْهُ:and grant him peace:
And by the Commander of the Faithful Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him:
اصْبِرْEndureعَلَىwithمَضَضِthe bitterness ofالْإِدْلَاجِtraveling by nightبِالسَّحَرِat dawn......وَفِيand inالرَّوَاحِtraveling in the afternoonعَلَىforالْحَاجَاتِneedsوَالْبُكَرِand early mornings.
Endure the bitterness of traveling by night at dawn... and traveling in the afternoon for needs and early mornings.
لَاDo notتَضْجَرَنَّgrow impatientوَلَاand do notيَعْجِزْكَlet it defeat youمَطْلَبُهَاpursuing them......فَالنَّجْحُfor successيَتَلَفُis lostبَيْنَbetweenالْعَجْزِhelplessnessوَالضَّجَرِand impatience.
Do not grow impatient and do not let pursuing them defeat you... for success is lost between helplessness and impatience.
إِنِّيIndeed Iوَجَدْتُ،have found,وَفِيand inالْأَيَّامِthe daysتَجْرِبَةٌ،there is experience,......لِلصَّبْرِfor patienceعَاقِبَةًan outcomeمَحْمُودَةَpraisedالْأَثَرِin effect.
Indeed I have found, and in the days there is experience... that patience has an outcome of praised effect.
وَقَلَّAnd rarelyمَنْdoesجَدَّone striveفِيinأَمْرٍa matterيُحَاوِلُهُhe seeks......فَاسْتَصْحَبَand keepsالصَّبْرَpatienceإِلَّاexceptفَازَhe triumphsبِالظَّفَرِwith victory.
And rarely does one strive in a matter he seeks... and keeps patience, except that he triumphs with victory.
وَقَالَAnd saidالنَّبِيُّ،the Prophet,صَلَّىmay Allah's peaceاللَّهُand blessingsعَلَيْهِbe upon himوَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,لِعَائِشَةَ،to Aisha,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwith herعَنْهَا:and grant her peace:عَلَيْكِClingبِالرِّفْقِto gentlenessفَإِنَّfor indeedالرِّفْقَgentlenessلَاdoes notيُخَالِطُmingle withشَيْئاًanythingإِلَّاexceptزَانَهُit adorns itوَلَاand does notيُفَارِقُleaveشَيْئاًanythingإِلَّاexceptشَانَهُ،it blemishes it,
And the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her: Cling to gentleness, for indeed gentleness does not mingle with anything except it adorns it, and does not leave anything except it blemishes it.
وَخَلَقَAnd createdاللَّهُAllahجَلَّthe Majesticوَعَزَّand Exaltedالسَّمَاوَاتِthe heavensوَالْأَرْضَand the earthفِيinسِتَّةِsixأَيَّامٍdaysوَلَوْand hadشَاءَHe willedجَلَّthe Majesticوَعَزَّand ExaltedقَالَHe would have saidلَهَاto itكُونِيBeفَكَانَتْ،and it was.
And Allah, the Majestic and Exalted, created the heavens and the earth in six days, and had He, the Majestic and Exalted, willed, He would have said to it: Be, and it was.
وَفِيAnd inالْمَثَلِ:the proverb:رُبَّManyعَجَلَةٍa hasteتَهُبُّgrantsرَيْثاً،delay,
And in the proverb: Many a haste grants delay,
يَقُولُ:meaning:رُبَّmanyعَجَلَةٍa hasteيُرَادُis intendedبِهَاby itصَلَاحُthe rectifying ofالْأَمْرِthe matterفَتُفْسِدُهُso it ruins itحَتَّىuntilلَاit does notيَصْلُحُbecome rectifiedإِلَّاexceptبَعْدَafterمُدَّةٍa periodطَوِيلَةٍ،long,فَكَأَنَّهَاso it is as if itكَانَتْwasرَيْثاً.a delay.
meaning: many a haste is intended to rectify a matter, but it ruins it until it is not rectified except after a long period, so it is as if it was a delay.
وَهَذَاAnd thisقَرِيبٌis closeمِنْtoقَوْلِthe saying ofبُزُرْجْمِهْرَ:Buzurjmihr:إِنَّIndeedشَرّاًworseمِنَthanالتَّوانِيprocrastinationالاجْتِهَادُis strivingفِيinغَيْرِother thanحِينِهِ.its proper time.
And this is close to the saying of Buzurjmihr: Indeed, worse than procrastination is striving in other than its proper time.
وَأَنْشَدَنَاAnd recited to usابْنُIbnحَمْزَةَ:Hamza:
And Ibn Hamza recited to us:
الْخَرْقُIncompetenceشُؤْمٌis ominousوَالْأَنَاةُand deliberationسَعَادَةٌis happiness......فَاسْتَأْنِso applyحِلْمَكَyour forbearanceفِيinأُمُورِكَyour affairsتَسْلَمْand you will be safe.
Incompetence is ominous and deliberation is happiness... so apply your forbearance in your affairs and you will be safe.
وَكَانَAnd itيُقَالُ:was said:إِنَّIndeedمِنَfromالْحَزْمِfirmnessالْأَنَاةُis deliberationوَالتَّثْبِيتُand steadfastnessفَإِنَّfor indeedالْعَجَلَةَhasteلَاdoes notتَزَالُcease toتُورِثُbequeathأَهْلَهَاits peopleحَسْرَةًregretوَنَدَامَةً.and remorse.
And it was said: Indeed, among firmness is deliberation and steadfastness, for haste never ceases to bequeath its people regret and remorse.
وَأَنْشَدَ:And he recited:
And he recited:
الرِّفْقُGentlenessيُمْنٌis a blessingوَالْأَنَاةُand deliberationسَعَادَةٌis happiness......فَاسْتَأْنِso deliberateفِيinرِفْقٍgentlenessتُلَاقِyou will meetنَجاحاًsuccess.
Gentleness is a blessing and deliberation is happiness... so deliberate in gentleness and you will meet success.
[مَسَاوِئِ[The Evils ofالْعَجَلَةِHasteوَالْحِدَّةِ]and Impetuosity]
[The Evils of Haste and Impetuosity]
قِيلَ:It was said:سَأَلَaskedالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munأَحْمَدَAhmadبْنَson ofأَبِيAbiخَالِدٍKhalidعَنْaboutأَخْلَاقِthe character ofأَبِيAbuعَبَّادٍAbbadثَابِتٍThabitالْكَاتِبِthe Secretaryفَقَالَ:so he said:
It was said: Al-Ma'mun asked Ahmad bin Abi Khalid about the character of Abu Abbad Thabit the Secretary, and he said:
هُوَHe isيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَحَدُّsharperمِنْthanسَيْفِthe sword ofسَعِيدِSaeedبْنِson ofالْعَاصِAl-Asوَأَنْزَقُand more flightyمِنْthanمَجْنُونِthe madman ofالْبَكَرَاتِ،Al-Bakarat,قَالَ:he said:مَاI do notأَتَبَيَّنُperceiveذَلِكَthatفِيهِ.in him.
He is, O Commander of the Faithful, sharper than the sword of Saeed bin Al-As and more flighty than the madman of Al-Bakarat. He said: I do not perceive that in him.
قَالَ:He said:لِمَوْضِعِdue to the position ofالْخِلَافَةِthe Caliphateوَعَلَىand despiteذَاكَthatفَإِنَّindeedحَرَكَتَهُhis movementتُحَرِّكُ.stirs things up.
He said: Due to the position of the Caliphate, and despite that, his movement stirs things up.
فَأَرَادَSo Al-Ma'mun wantedالْمَأْمُونُto test himأَنْsoيَمْتَحِنَهُhe enteredفَدَخَلَupon himعَلَيْهِand presentedفَعَرَضَwhat he had with himمَاofمَعَهُpetitionsمِنَso he ordered himالْحَوَائِجِto signفَأَمَرَهُthemأَنْthenيُوقِعَhe wentفِيهَاout.ثُمَّThenخَرَجَ.when he reached
So Al-Ma'mun wanted to test him, and he entered upon him and presented what he had of petitions, and ordered him to sign them, then he went out.
فَلَمَّاWhenصَارَhe becameبِالْبَابِat the doorقَالَ:he said:رُدُّوهُ.Bring him back.
When he reached the door, he said: Bring him back.
فَرَجَعَ.So he returned.فَقَالَ:And he said:افْعَلْDoفِيregardingالْأَهْوَازِيِّينَthe people of AhwazمَاwhatقُلْتُI toldلَكَyouوَلَاand do notتَعْرِضْpresentفِيهِin itرُقْعَةً.a petition.
So he returned. And he said: Do regarding the people of Ahwaz what I told you and do not present a petition regarding it.
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ.Yes.ثُمَّThenخَرَجَ.he went out.
He said: Yes. Then he went out.
فَلَمَّاWhenصَارَhe reachedبِالْبَابِthe doorقَالَ:he said:رُدُّوهُ.Bring him back.
When he reached the door, he said: Bring him back.
فَأَتَاهُSo came to himالرَّسُولُthe messengerفَقَالَ:and said:ارْجِعْ.Return.
So the messenger came to him and said: Return.
فَرَجَعَ.So he returned.فَقَالَ:And he said:قُلْTellلِعَمْرِوAmrبْنِson ofمَسْعَدَةَMasadahأَخِّرْto delayأَمْرَthe matter ofأَبِيAbuدُلَفَDulafحَتَّىuntilآمُرَكَI command youبِمَاwith whatأُرِيدُ.I want.
So he returned. And he said: Tell Amr bin Masadah to delay the matter of Abu Dulaf until I command you with what I want.
ثُمَّThenخَرَجَ.he went out.
Then he went out.
فَلَمَّاWhenصَارَhe reachedبِالْبَابِthe doorقَالَ:he said:رُدُّوهُ.Bring him back.
When he reached the door, he said: Bring him back.
فَأَتَاهُSo came to himالرَّسُولُthe messengerفَقَالَ:and said:ارْجِعْ.Return.
So the messenger came to him and said: Return.
فَتَنَاوَلَSo he grabbedالدَّوَاةَthe inkwellوَقَالَ:and said:السَّاعَةَRight nowوَاللَّهِby AllahأَضْرِبُI will strikeبِهَاwith itوَجْهَكَyour faceالْقَبِيحَuglyيَاOابْنَson ofالْخَبِيثَةِ!the vile woman!
So he grabbed the inkwell and said: Right now, by Allah, I will strike your ugly face with it, O son of the vile woman!
قَالَSaidالْغُلَامُ:the page:مَاWhat isذَنْبِي؟my sin?
The page said: What is my sin?
قَالَ:He said:يَنْبَغِيIt is fittingأَنْthatتَقُولَyou sayقَدْHe hasذَهَبَgoneإِلَىtoالنَّارِ.Hell.
He said: It is fitting that you say he has gone to Hell.
وَرَجَعَAnd he returnedفَقَالَ:and said:ارْفَعْRaiseفِيinغَدٍtomorrowفِيمَاwhatتَعْرِضُyou presentقِصَّةَthe petition ofالْهَاشِمِيِّينَ.the Hashemites.
And he returned and said: Raise in tomorrow's presentations the petition of the Hashemites.
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ.Yes.ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:وَاللَّهِBy AllahلَاI will notأَرْجِعُreturnبَعْدَهَا!after this!
He said: Yes. Then he said: By Allah, I will not return after this!
فَضَحِكَSo laughedالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munحَتَّىuntilأَمْسَكَhe heldبَطْنَهُhis stomachوَقَالَ:and said:انْطَلِقْDepartرَاشِداً.safely.
So Al-Ma'mun laughed until he held his stomach and said: Depart safely.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَعَدَAnd satالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayوَأَبُوwhile AbuعَبَّادٍAbbadيَكْتُبُwas writingبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْهِhimإِذْwhenدَخَلَتْenteredشَعَرَةٌa hairبَيْنَbetweenسِنِّيthe nibs ofالْقَلَمِthe penفَأَهْوَىso he reachedلِإِخْرَاجِهَاto pull it outبِأَسْنَانِهِwith his teethثُمَّthenكَتَبَhe wroteفَإِذَاand beholdهِيَit wasعَلَىinحَالِهَا،its state,
He said: Al-Ma'mun sat one day while Abu Abbad was writing before him when a hair entered between the nibs of the pen, so he reached to pull it out with his teeth, then he wrote, and behold, it was in its state,
فَأَهْوَىso he reachedإِلَيْهَاfor itثَانِيَةًa second timeفَقَطَعَand cutطَرَفَهَاits tipوَبَقِيَand remainedأَصْلُهَاits baseثُمَّthenكَتَبَhe wroteفَإِذَاand beholdهِيَitقَدْhadأَعَمَّتْobscuredحُرُوفَهُ،his letters,
so he reached for it a second time and cut its tip and its base remained, then he wrote, and behold, it had obscured his letters,
فَأَخَذَso he tookالْقَلَمَthe penفَاتَّكَأَand leanedعَلَيْهِon itبِأَسْنَانِهِwith his teethوَكَسَرَهُand broke itوَقَالَ:and said:لَعَنَكَMay Allah curseاللَّهُyouوَلَعَنَand curseمَنْwhoeverيَرَاكَsees youوَلَعَنَand curseمَنْwhoeverأَنْتَyouلَهُ!belong to!
so he took the pen and leaned on it with his teeth and broke it, and said: May Allah curse you and curse whoever sees you and curse whoever you belong to!
فَضَحِكَSo laughedالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munوَقَالَ:and said:بِحَقٍّTrulyقِيلَit was saidفِيكَabout youمَاwhatقِيلَ.was said.
So Al-Ma'mun laughed and said: Truly it was said about you what was said.
[مَحَاسِنِ[The Virtues ofالْمُكَافَأَةِ]Recompense]
[The Virtues of Recompense]
قَالَSaidبَعْضُsomeالْحُكَمَاءِ:wise men:لَاLet notيَكُونَنَّbeسِلَاحُكَyour weaponعَلَىagainstعَدُوِّكَyour enemyأَنْthatتُكْثِرَyou increaseسَبَّهُcursing himوَشَتْمَهُand reviling himفَإِنَّكَfor indeed youإِنَّمَاonlyتُخْبِرُinformعَنْaboutخَبَرِهِhis conditionفِيكَregarding youوَعَجْزِكَand your incapacityعَنْهُ،against him,
Some wise men said: Let not your weapon against your enemy be that you frequently curse and revile him, for indeed you are only informing about his power over you and your incapacity against him,
وَلَكِنْbutعَامِلْهُtreat himبِالْكَظْمِwith suppression of angerوَسَاتِرْهُand conceal himبِالْحِيلَةِ،with cunning,فَإِنَّكَfor ifأَقْدَمْتَyou advanceأَقْدَمْتَyou advanceمَعَwithالْفُرْصَةِopportunityوَإِنْand ifغُلِبْتَyou are overcomeعَلَىregardingالظَّفَرِvictoryلَمْyou are notتُغْلَبْovercomeعَلَىinسَتْرِconcealingالْعَجْزِ.incapacity.
but treat him with suppression of anger and conceal your intentions with cunning, for if you advance, you advance with opportunity, and if you are overcome regarding victory, you are not overcome in concealing your incapacity.
وَقِيلَ:And it was said:الْأَدَبُGood manners isالصَّبْرُpatienceعَلَىwithكَظْمِsuppressingالْغَيْظِangerحَتَّىuntilتَمْلِكَyou possessالْفُرْصَةَ.the opportunity.
And it was said: Good manners is patience in suppressing anger until you possess the opportunity.