وَحَدَّثَنِيAnd narrated to meأَبُوAbuمَالِكٍMalikعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنُMuhammadمُحَمَّدٍsaidقَالَ:When
Abu Malik Abdullah bin Muhammad narrated to me, saying:
لَمَّاWhenتُوُفِّيَdiedأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِAl-AbbasالسَّفَّاحُAl-SaffahدَخَلَenteredأَبُوAbuدُلَامَةَDulamaعَلَىuponأَبِيAbuجَعْفَرٍJa'farالْمَنْصُورِAl-Mansur
When Abu al-Abbas al-Saffah died, Abu Dulama entered upon Abu Ja'far al-Mansur
وَالنَّاسُand the peopleعِنْدَهُwith himيُعَزِّونَهُcondoling himفَقَالَ:so he said
while the people with him were offering condolences, and he said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulكَانَhadأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbasأَمَرَorderedلِيfor meبِعَشَرَةِtenآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
O Commander of the Faithful, Abu al-Abbas had ordered for me ten thousand dirhams
وَخَمْسِينَand fiftyثَوْباًgarmentsوَهُوَwhile heمَرِيضٌwas sickفَلَمْand I didأَقْبِضْهَا.not receive them
and fifty garments while he was sick, but I did not receive them.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَنْصُورُAl-Mansurلِلْخَازِنِ:to the treasurerادْفَعْهَاPay themإِلَيْهِto himوَسَيِّرْهُand send himإِلَىtoهَذَاthisالطَّاغِيَةِ،tyrant
Al-Mansur said to the treasurer: Pay them to him and send him to this tyrant,
يَعْنِيmeaningعَبْدَAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنَAliعَلِيٍّ.Ali
meaning Abdullah bin Ali.
فَقَالَSo saidأَبُوAbuدُلَامَةَ:DulamaيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulأُعِيذُكَI seek refuge for youبِاللَّهِin AllahأَنْthatأُخْرِجَI go outمَعَهُمْwith themفَإِنِّيfor indeed Iوَاللَّهِby Allahمَشْؤُومٌ!am ill-fated
Abu Dulama said: O Commander of the Faithful, I seek refuge with Allah for you that I should go out with them, for by Allah I am ill-fated!
فَقَالَ:He saidلَعَلَّهُPerhapsيَغْلِبُwill overcomeشُؤْمَكَyour ill-fortuneفَاخْرُجْso go outمَعَwithالْعَسْكَرِ.the army
He said: Perhaps your ill-fortune will be overcome, so go out with the army.
فَقَالَ:He saidوَاللَّهِBy AllahمَاI do notأُحِبُّlikeلَكَfor youيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَنْthatتُجَرِّبَyou testذَلِكَthatفَإِنِّيfor indeed Iلَاdo notأَدْرِيknowعَلَىuponأَيِّwhichالْفَرِيقَيْنِof the two groupsيَكُونُ.it will be
He said: By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, I do not like for you to test that, for I do not know upon which of the two groups it will be.
فَقَالَSo saidأَبُوAbuجَعْفَرٍ:Ja'farدَعْنِيLeave meمِنْfromهَذَاthisمَاwe do notنُرِيدُwantغَيْرَother thanالْمَسِيرِ.the march
Abu Ja'far said: Leave me alone with this, we want nothing other than the march.
فَقَالَ:He saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَاللَّهِby Allahلَأُصْدِقَنَّكَ،I will surely tell you the truthإِنِّيverily Iشَهِدْتُwitnessedتِسْعَةَnineعَسَاكِرَarmiesكُلُّهَاall of themهُزِمَتْwere defeatedفَأَنَاso Iأُعِيذُكَseek refuge for youبِاللَّهِin Allahأَنْthatتَكُونَyou beالْعَاشِرَ.the tenth
He said: O Commander of the Faithful, by Allah I will tell you the truth; I have witnessed nine armies, all of which were defeated, so I seek refuge with Allah for you that you should be the tenth.
فَاسْتَفْرَغَSo burst outأَبُوAbuجَعْفَرٍJa'farضَحِكاًlaughingوَأَمَرَهُand ordered himأَنْtoيَتَخَلَّفَ.stay behind
Abu Ja'far burst out laughing and ordered him to stay behind.
قَالَ:He saidوَقِيلَAnd it was saidلِجَبَانٍ:to a cowardانَهَزَمْتَYou fledفَغَضِبَso became angryعَلَيْكَwith youالْأَمِيرُ.the prince
He said: It was said to a coward: You fled and the prince became angry with you.
فَقَالَ:He saidيَغْضَبُLet be angryعَلَيَّwith meالْأَمِيرُthe princeوَأَنَاwhile Iحَيٌّam aliveأَحَبُّis more belovedإِلَيَّto meمِنْthanأَنْthatيَرْضَىbe pleasedعَنِّيwith meوَأَنَاwhile Iمَيِّتٌ.am dead
He said: For the prince to be angry with me while I am alive is more beloved to me than for him to be pleased with me while I am dead.
قَالَ:He saidوَقِيلَAnd it was saidلِبَعْضِto someالْمُجَّانِ:jokersمَاwhatلَكَis with youلَاthat you do notتَغْزُو؟go on raids
He said: It was said to some of the jokers: Why do you not go on raids?
فَقَالَ:He saidوَاللَّهِBy Allahإِنِّيverily Iلَأُبْغِضُdetestالْمَوْتَdeathعَلَىuponفِرَاشِيmy bedفَكَيفَso howأَمُرُّcould I passإِلَيْهِto itرَكْضاً!running!
He said: By Allah, I detest death upon my bed, so how could I gallop toward it!
قَالَ:He saidوَقَالَAnd saidالْحَجَّاجُAl-Hajjajلِحُمَيْدٍto HumaidالْأَرْقَطِAl-Arqatوَقَدْwhenأَنْشَدَهُhe recited to himقَصِيدَةًa poemيَصِفُdescribingفِيهَاin itالْحَرْبَ:war
He said: Al-Hajjaj said to Humaid al-Arqat when he recited to him a poem describing war in it:
يَاOحُمَيْدُHumaidهَلْhaveقَاتَلْتَyou foughtقَطُّ؟ever?
O Humaid, have you ever fought?
قَالَ:He saidلَاNoأَيُّهَاOالْأَمِيرُPrinceإِلَّاexceptفِيinالنَّوْمِ.sleep.
He said: No, O Prince, except in sleep.
قَالَ:He saidوَكَيْفَAnd howكَانَwasوَقْعَتُكَ؟your encounter?
He said: And how was your encounter?
قَالَ:He saidانْتَبَهْتُI woke upوَأَنَاwhile Iمُنْهَزِمٌ.was fleeing.
He said: I woke up while I was fleeing.
وَقَالَAnd saidعَمْرُوAmrبْنُbinبَحْرٍBahrالْجَاحِظُ:Al-JahizسَمِعْتُI heardبِلَالًاBilalيَحْكِيnarratingعَنْfromأَصْحَابِهِhis companionsأَنَّthatرَئِيسَهُمْtheir leaderكَانَwasيُسَمَّىnamedابْرِيقْيَاءَIbriqiyaوَأَنَّهُمْand that theyخَرَجُواwent outفِيonسَفَرٍa journeyفَإِذَاwhen loبِعَشَرَةِtenنَفَرٍindividualsمِنَofاللُّصُوصِthe thievesقَدْhadتَعَرَّضُواconfrontedلَهُمْ،them
And Amr bin Bahr al-Jahiz said: I heard Bilal narrating from his companions that their leader was named Ibriqiya, and that they went out on a journey when lo, ten individuals of the thieves had confronted them,
قَالَ:He saidوَكَانَand wasأَشَدُّthe strongestأَصْحَابِنَاof our companionsوَالْمَنْظُورُand the one lookedإِلَيْهِup toمِنَّاamong usفَتًىa youthيُقَالُwho is calledلَهُfor himدَوْمَنِيٌّDumaniبَطَلٌa championشَدِيدٌstrongلَاdoes notيَهُولُهُfrighten himشَيْءٌanythingمَطَاعِنُexpert in thrustingمُسَابِقٌ،swift
He said: The strongest of our companions and the one looked up to among us was a youth called Dumani, a strong champion whom nothing frightened, an expert thrusting swift,
فَحَمَلَso he chargedعَلَىatرَجُلٍa manمِنْهُمْof themفَعَطَفَand turnedعَلَيْهِupon himالرَّجُلُthe manفَقَطَعَand cut offأَنْفَthe nose ofدَوْمَنِيٍّDumaniوَنَزَعَand pulled outخُصْيَيْهِhis testiclesوَكَسَرَand brokeأَسْنَانَهُhis teethفَرَجَعَso he returnedمُنْهَزِماً،defeated
so he charged at a man of them, but the man turned upon him and cut off Dumani's nose, pulled out his testicles, and broke his teeth, so he returned defeated,
فَغَاظَنِيand that angeredذَلِكَmeفَوَثَبْتُso I leapedوَأَخَذْتُand tookكسَائِيmy cloakوَطَوَيْتُهُand folded itبِطَاقَيْنِin two foldsوَلَفَفْتُهُand wrapped itعَلَىaroundيَدَيَّmy handsوَأَخَذْتُand I tookعَصَايَmy staff
and that angered me, so I leaped and took my cloak, folded it in two folds, wrapped it around my hands, and took my staff,
وَأَخَذَand tookآخَرُanotherمِلْحَفَةَthe sheetوَالِدَتِهِof his motherفَلَفَّهَاand wrapped itعَلَىaroundذِرَاعَيْهِhis forearmsوَأَخَذَand tookآخَرُanotherطَبَقاًa trayكَبِيراًlargeمِنْfromأَطْبَاقِtraysالْفَاكِهَةِof fruitفَسَتَرَand concealedبِهِwith itوَجْهَهُhis faceوَخَرَجْنَاand we went out
and another took his mother's bedsheet and wrapped it around his forearms, and another took a large fruit tray and concealed his face with it, and we went out,
وَتَقَدَّمَand stepped forwardرَئِيسُنَاour leaderابْرِيقْيَاءُIbriqiyaوَقَدْwhile he hadلَفَّwrappedعَلَىonيَدِهِhis handقَطِيفَةًa velvet clothوَهُوَwhile heيَقُولُ:was saying
and our leader Ibriqiya stepped forward having wrapped a velvet cloth on his hand, while he was saying:
إِنْIfتُنْكِرُونِيyou deny meفَأَنَاthen I amابْنُthe son ofكَلْبٍKalb
If you deny me, then I am the son of Kalb
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himبَعْضُsomeاللُّصُوصِ:of the thievesمَاwe do notنُنْكِرُdenyذَلِكَthatعَلَيْكَ.against you
Some of the thieves said to him: We do not deny that against you.
فَشَدَّSo chargedعَلَيْهِat himابْرِيقْيَاءُIbriqiyaبِأَسْفَلِwith the bottom ofدَنٍّa jarكَانَthat wasمَعَهُwith himفَلَمْand it did notيُحِكْmake an effectفِيهِ،on him
Ibriqiya charged at him with the bottom of a jar that was with him, but it made no effect on him,
فَأَخَذَso tookاللِّصُّthe thiefأَسْفَلَthe bottom ofالدَّنِّthe jarفَرَمَىand struckبِهِwith itابْرِيقْيَاءَIbriqiyaفَهَشَّمَand smashedوَجْهَهُhis faceوَكَسَرَand brokeأَسْنَانَهُ،his teeth
so the thief took the bottom of the jar and struck Ibriqiya with it, smashing his face and breaking his teeth,
وَتَنَحَّىand withdrewابْرِيقْيَاءُIbriqiyaوَأَقْبَلَand advancedمِنَّاfrom usآخَرُanotherيُسَمَّىnamedلَقْوَةًLaqwaوَأَنْشَأَand beganيَقُولُ:saying
and Ibriqiya withdrew, and another of us named Laqwa advanced and began saying:
إِنَّVerilyعَصَايَmy staffفَاعْلَمُواso knowمَقَيِّرَهْis pitched......أَضْرِبُI strikeبِهَاwith itوَجْهَthe face ofاللُّصُوصِthe thievesالْكَفَرَهْthe disbelieving
Verily my staff, so know, is pitched... I strike with it the faces of the disbelieving thieves
ثُمَّThenشَدَّhe chargedعَلَىatوَاحِدٍoneمِنْهُمْof themفَضَرَبَand struckمَفْرِقَthe crown ofرَأْسِهِhis headفَلَمْand it did notيُحِكْmake an effectفِيهِon himوَاسْتَلَبَand snatched awayالْعَصَاthe staffمِنْهُfrom himوَطَلَاهُand smeared himبِهَاwith itطَلْياًa smearingفَإِذَاwhen loهُوَheقَدْhadخَلَعَdislocatedمَنْكِبَهُhis shoulderوَكَسَرَand brokeأَضْلَاعَهُhis ribsوَبَقِيَand he remainedلَاneitherيُحَلِّيsweeteningوَلَاnorيُمَرِّ.bittering
Then he charged at one of them and struck the crown of his head, but it made no effect on him; the thief snatched the staff from him and smeared him with it so thoroughly that his shoulder was dislocated and his ribs were broken, and he remained helpless.
ثُمَّThenأَقْبَلَadvancedفَتًىa youthمِنْfromأَصْحَابِنَاour companionsوَفِيand inيَدِهِhis handمِجْرَفَةٌwas a shovelوَهُوَwhile heيَقُولُ:was saying
Then a youth from our companions advanced with a shovel in his hand, and he was saying:
أَنَاI amابْنُthe son ofالْكَهْلِthe middle-aged manفِيinيَدِيmy handمِجْرَفَهْis a shovel......وَاللَّهِby Allahلَوْeven ifكَانَthere wereبِكَفِّيin my palmمِغْرَفَهْa ladle
I am the son of the middle-aged man, in my hand is a shovel... by Allah, even if there were in my palm a ladle
وَهِيَAnd itلِعَمْرِيby my lifeقَدْhasكَسَتْنِيclothed me inمِلْحَفَهْa sheet......وَالِدَتِيmy motherكَرِيمَةٌis nobleمُنَظَّفَهْand clean
And it, by my life, has clothed me in a sheet... my mother is noble and clean
قَتَلْتُكُمْI have killed youفَكَيْفَso howعِنْدِيwith meمِجْرَفَهْis a shovel
I have killed you, so how with me is a shovel
فَضَرَبَSo he struckبِالْمِجْرَفَةِwith the shovelوَاحِداًoneمِنَofاللُّصُوصِthe thievesفَأَخْطَأَهُand missed himوَعَطَفَand turnedعَلَيْهِupon himاللِّصُّthe thiefفَأَخَذَهَاand took itمِنْfromيَدِهِhis handثُمَّthenضَرَبَهُstruck himبِهَاwith itضَرْبَةًa blowفَدَارَso he spunسَبْعَsevenمَرَّاتٍtimesوَسَقَطَand fellوَقَدْwhileغُشِيَhe was faintedعَلَيْهِ.upon
So he struck with the shovel at one of the thieves and missed him, and the thief turned upon him and took it from his hand, then struck him with it a blow so he spun seven times and fell having fainted.
فَلَمَّاSo whenرَأَيْتُI sawذَلِكَthatعُدْتُI returnedإِلَىtoالطِّعَانِthe thrustingوَأَنَاwhile Iأَقُولُ:was saying
When I saw that, I returned to the thrusting while I was saying:
أَنَاI amفُلَانٌso-and-soسَيِّدُthe master ofالْفِتْيَانِthe youths......أَنَاI amابْنُthe son ofحُمْرَانَHumranفَتَىthe youth ofالْمَيْدَانِthe battlefield
I am so-and-so, the master of youths... I am the son of Humran, the youth of the battlefield
أُحْلِفُI swearبِاللَّهِby Allahوَبِالْفُرْقَانِand by the Criterion......لَأَضْرِبَنَّI shall surely strikeالْقَوْمَthe peopleبِالْمِمْيَانِwith the mimyan
I swear by Allah and by the Criterion... I shall surely strike the people with the mimyan
ضَرْبَthe strike ofغُلَامٍa boyمَاجِدٍnobleكَشْحَانِslender-flanked......وَالْعَجْزُand helplessnessمَنْسُوبٌis attributedإِلَىtoالْجَبَانِthe coward
the strike of a noble, slender-flanked boy... and helplessness is attributed to the coward
فَأَشُدُّSo I chargeعَلَىatوَاحِدٍoneمِنْهُمْof themفَأَضْرِبُand strikeكَفَّيْهِ،his two palmsفَوَثَبَso he leapedقَبْلَbeforeأَنْthatتَصِلَarriveإِلَيْهِto himالضَّرْبَةُthe strikeفَضَرَبَنِيand struck meفَهَشَّمَand smashedأَنْفِيmy noseوَكَسَرَand brokeأَسْنَانِيmy teethوَخَرَرْتُand I fellمَغْشِيّاًfaintingعَلَيَّupon me
So I charged at one of them and struck his two palms, but he leaped before the strike reached him and struck me, smashing my nose and breaking my teeth, and I fell fainting.
ثُمَّThenفَتَحْتُI openedعَيْنِيmy eyesفَلَمْand did notأَرَseeمِنْهُمْfrom themأَحَداًanyoneوَلَاand norأَدْرِيdo I knowكَيْفَhowأَخَذُوا،they tookفَالْحَمْدُso praiseلِلَّهِbe to Allahعَلَىuponالظَّفَرِ.1the victory
Then I opened my eyes and did not see anyone of them nor do I know how they took, so praise be to Allah upon the victory.
مَاWhatقِيلَwas saidفِيregardingذَلِكَthatمِنَofالشِّعْرِpoetry
⟦1⟧ What was said regarding that of poetry
مَاHowأَحْسَنَfine isالضَّرْبَةَthe strikeفِيinوَجْهِهِhis face......إِنْifلَمْnotتَكُنْit beرُمْحَةَthe thrust ofبِرْذَوْنٍa packhorse
How fine is the strike in his face... if it be not the thrust of a packhorse
وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:
And for another:
وَيَحْسَبُهَاAnd he reckons itالشُّجَاعُthe brave manقِرَاعَclashing ofسَيْفٍsword......وَيَحْسَبُهَاand he reckons itالْجَبَانُthe cowardقِرَاعَclashing ofثَوْرٍbull
The brave man reckons it the clashing of a sword... and the coward reckons it the clashing of a bull
وَلِآخَرَ:And for another:جَبَانُa coward inاللِّقَاءِmeetingوَعِنْدَand atالْخِوَانِthe dining tableأَمْضَىmore piercingوَأَشْجَعُand braverمِنْthanرُسْتُمَRustum
And for another: A coward in meeting [the enemy] and at the dining table more piercing and braver than Rustum
فَلَوْFor ifكُنْتَyou wereتَفْعَلُdoingذَاthisفِيinالْحُرُوبِwars......أَغَرْتَyou would raidعَلَىuponالتُّرْكِthe Turksوَالدَّيْلَمِand the Daylam
For if you were doing this in wars... you would raid upon the Turks and the Daylam
كَاتِبُThe secretary ofالْحَسَنِAl-Hasanبْنِbinزَيْدٍ:Zayd said:
The secretary of Hasan bin Zayd said:
ظَلْتَYou keptتُشَجِّعُنِيencouraging meضَلًّاastrayبِتَضْلِيلِin misguidance......وَلِلشَّجَاعَةِand for braveryخَطْبٌis a matterغَيْرُother thanمَجْهُولِunknown
You kept encouraging me astray in misguidance... and for bravery is a matter not unknown
هَاتِBringشُجَاعاًa brave manبِغَيْرِwithoutالْقَتْلِkillingمَصْرَعُهُhis slaughter place......أُوجِدْكَI will find for youأَلْفَthousandجَبَانٍcowardsغَيْرِother thanمَقْتُولِkilled
Bring a brave man whose slaughter place is without killing... I will find for you a thousand cowards unkilled
الْحَرْبُWarتُوَسِّعُwidensمَنْwhoeverيَصْلَىis exposed toبِهَاitحَرْباًas a war......يُتْمَthe orphanhood ofالْبَنِينَsonsوَإِثْكَالَand the bereavement ofالْمَثَاكِيلِbereaved mothers
War widens for whoever is exposed to it as a war... the orphanhood of sons and the bereavement of bereaved mothers
وَاسْمُAnd the name ofالْوَغَىbattleاشْتُقَّwas derivedمِنْfromغَوْغَاءَclamorتُبْصِرُهَاyou see it......يَغْدُونَthey set outلِلْمَوْتِfor deathكَالطَّيْرِlike birdsالْأَبَابِيلِflocks
And the name of battle was derived from clamor you see it... they set out for death like flocks of birds
Footnotes
- 1.زيادة من المخطوطة.
An addition from the manuscript.