قَالَ:He said:
He said:
فَأَعْتَقَso he freedمَاwhatيَمْلِكُhe owns
so he freed what he owns
وَطَلَّقَand he divorcedمَاwhatيَطَأُhe has intercourse with
and divorced whom he has intercourse with
طَلَاقَwith the divorce ofالْحَرَجِdistressوَالسُّنَّةِand the Sunnah
with the divorce of distress and the Sunnah,
وَصَدَّقَand he gave in charityبِمَاwhatحَوَىhe contained
and gave in charity what he possessed,
وَعَلَيْهِand upon him areثَلَاثُونَthirtyحِجَّةًpilgrimages
and upon him are thirty pilgrimages
مَعَalong withثَلَاثِينَthirtyنَذْراًvows
along with thirty vows
يَبْلُغُto reachبِهِwith itالْكَعْبَةَthe Kaaba
by which he reaches the Kaaba,
إِنْifلَمْnotيَكُنْit wasأَبُوهُhis father
if his father had not
عَلَىuponطَلَبِseekingسُكَّرِsugar ofطَبَرْزَدَTabarzd
sought Tabarzd sugar,
فَلَمْand it was notيُوجَدْfoundفِيinخِزَانَتِهِhis treasury
and it was not found in his treasury,
وَلَمْand it was notيَكُنْa timeوَقْتاًwhenيُوجَدُit is foundفِيهِin itسُكَّرٌsugar
and it was not a time when sugar was found,
وَلَاnorيُقْدَرُis it ableعَلَىtoابْتِيَاعِpurchaseشَيْءٍanythingمِنْهُ.of it.
nor was any of it able to be purchased.
فَقَالَ:He said:فِيمَIn whatيَصْلُحُis it fitلِلْخِزَانَةِfor the treasuryالَّتِيwhichلَيْسَis notفِيهَاin itسُكَّرٌ؟sugar?
He said: "What is the use of a treasury that has no sugar in it?"
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to AllahرَبِّLord ofالْعَالَمِينَthe worlds
Then he said: "Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds,
وَلَاand I do notأَقُولُsayإِنَّاIndeed weلِلَّهِbelong to Allahوَإِنَّاand indeed weإِلَيْهِto Himرَاجِعُونَshall return
and I do not say 'Indeed we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return',
وَإِنْeven thoughكَانَتِit wasالْمُصِيبَةُa calamity
even though it is a calamity,
لِأَنَّbecauseذَلِكَthatإِنَّمَاis onlyيُقَالُsaidعِنْدَatالْمَصَائِبِcalamitiesفِيinالْأَنْفُسِpersons
because that is only said upon calamities concerning persons.
وَلَكِنِّيBut rather Iأَحْمَدُهُpraise Himعَلَىforالسَّرَّاءِeaseوَالضَّرَّاءِand hardship
Rather, I praise Him for ease and hardship,
وَالشِّدَّةِand adversityوَالرَّخَاءِand prosperityكَمَاasحَمِدَهُpraised Himالشَّاكِرُونَthe grateful ones
and adversity and prosperity, as the grateful ones praised Him,
وَأَنَاand Iأَرْجُوhopeأَنْtoأَكُونَbeمِنْهُمْ.of them.
and I hope to be of them."
ثُمَّThenأَقْبَلَhe turnedعَلَىtoالْخَازِنِthe treasurerفَقَالَ:and said:ادْعُCallالْوَكِيلَ.the agent.
Then he turned to the treasurer and said: "Call the agent."
فَدَعَاهُ.So he called him.فَقَالَ:He said:مَاWhatمَنَعَكَprevented youإِذْwhenفَنِيَran outالسُّكَّرُthe sugarأَنْthatيُشْتَرَىit be boughtلَنَاfor usسُكَّرٌ؟sugar?
So he called him, and said: "What prevented you, when the sugar ran out, from buying sugar for us?"
قَالَ:He said:لَمْdid notيُعْلِمْنِيinform meالْخَازِنُ.the treasurer.
He said: "The treasurer did not inform me."
فَقَالَSo he saidلِلْخَازِنِ:to the treasurer:لِمَWhyلَمْdid notتُعْلِمْهُ؟you inform him?
So he said to the treasurer: "Why did you not inform him?"
قَالَ:He said:كُنْتُI wasعَلَىaboutأَنْtoأُعْلِمَهُ.inform him.
He said: "I was about to inform him."
قَالَ:He said:مَاThere isهَهُنَاhereشَيْءٌanythingهُوَthat isأَبْلَغُmore effectiveفِيinعُقُوبَتِكُمَاpunishing both of youمِنْthanأَنْthatأَقُومَI standعَلَىonإِحْدَىoneرِجْلَيَّof my legs
He said: "There is nothing more effective in punishing both of you than that I stand on one of my legs
وَأَنْand thatلَاnotأَضَعَI placeالْأُخْرَىthe otherوَلَاnorأُرَاوِحَshiftبَيْنَهُمَاbetween them
and not put down the other, nor shift between them,
حَتَّىuntilتُحْضِرُونِيyou bring meأَلْفَone thousandمَنِّmanns ofسُكَّرِsugar ofطَبَرْزَدَTabarzd
until you bring me a thousand manns of Tabarzd sugar,
لَيْسَnotبِمُضَرَّسٍjaggedوَلَاnorوَسِخٍdirtyوَلَاnorلَيِّنِsoftالْمَكْسَرِin breakage
neither jagged, nor dirty, nor soft in fracture,
وَلَاnorبِمُحْدَثِnewlyالصَّنْعَةِcraftedوَلَاnorمُعَوَجِّcrookedالْقَالَبِ.in mold.
nor newly manufactured, nor crooked in mold."
ثُمَّThenوَثَبَhe leaped upفَقَالَ:and said:يُوفُونَThey fulfillبِالنَّذْرِthe vowوَيَخَافُونَand they fearيَوْماًa dayكَانَwhoseشَرُّهُevilمُسْتَطِيراً،is spreading,
Then he jumped up and said: 'They fulfill the vow and fear a day whose evil is widespread,'
وَاللَّهِand by Allahوَاللَّهِand by AllahلَاI will notأَزَالُceaseقَائِماًstandingحَتَّىuntilأُوفِيَI fulfillبِنَذْرِي.my vow.
and by Allah, and by Allah, I shall not cease standing until I fulfill my vow.
قَالَ:He said:فَتَبَادَرَSo rushedغِلْمَانُهُhis young servantsوَمَوَالِيهِand his freedmenوَبَعْضُand some ofأَوْلَادِهِhis childrenوَعَجَائِزِهِand his elderly womenنَحْوَtowardالسُّوقِthe market
He said: So his young servants, freedmen, some of his children, and his elderly women rushed toward the market,
فَوَاحِدٌand oneيُنَبِّهُis rousingحَارِساًa guardوَآخَرُand anotherيَرْمِيis throwing atكَلْباًa dogوَآخَرُand anotherيَفْتَجُis clearingدَرْباًa pathوَآخَرُand anotherيُوقِظُis wakingنَائِماًa sleeperوَآخَرُand anotherيَدْعُوis callingبَائِعاًa vendor
one rousing a guard, another throwing at a dog, another clearing a path, another waking a sleeper, another calling a vendor,
وَالْغِلْمَانُwhile the young servantsوَالْجَوَارِيand the slave girlsوَالْجِيرَانُand the neighborsوَالسُّوقَةُand the common folkوَالْحُرَّاسُand the guardsفِيinمِثْلِthe likeness ofصَيْحَةِthe cry ofيَوْمِthe Day ofالْقِيَامَةِ،Resurrection,
while the young men, slave girls, neighbors, common folk, and guards were making a noise like the cry of the Day of Resurrection.
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:يَاOقَوْمِpeopleأَمَاis there notلِيfor meمِنْamongأَهْلِيmy familyمُسَاعِدٌ؟a helper?
Then he said: "O people, is there no helper for me from among my family?
أَيْنَWhere areالْبَنَاتُthe daughtersالْعَوَاتِقُthe nubileوَالْأَبْكَارُ؟and the virgins?
Where are the nubile daughters and the virgins?
أَيْنَWhere areاللَّوَاتِيthose whoكُنْتُI used toأَغْذُوهُنَّnourish themبِطَيِّبِwith the best ofالطَّعَامِfoodوَلَيِّنِand the softاللِّبَاسِclothing
Where are those whom I used to nourish with the finest food and softest clothing,
يَسْرَحْنَroaming freelyفِيمَاin whatادَّعَيْنَthey claimedمِنْofخَفْضِease ofالْعَيْشِlivingوَغَضَارَةِand lushness ofالزَّهْرِ؟blossoms?
roaming freely in what they claimed of easy living and the lushness of flowers?
أَيْنَWhere areأُمَّهَاتُthe mothers ofالْأَوْلَادِthe childrenاللَّوَاتِيthose whoاعْتَقَدْنَworeالْعِقْدَthe necklacesالنَّفِيسَةَprecious
Where are the mothers of the children who wore precious necklaces,
وَمَلَكْنَand possessedالرَّغَائِبَdesirable thingsبَعْدَafterالْحَالِthe stateالْخَسِيسَةِ؟humble?
and possessed desirable things after a humble state?
أَيْنَWhere areالْأَوْلَادُthe sonsذُكُورُthe malesالَّذِينَwhoلَهُمْfor themنَسْعَىwe striveوَنَحْفِدُand hastenوَنَقُومُand standوَنَقْعُدُand sitوَلَهُمْand for themنَرُوحُwe go in the afternoonوَنَغْدُو؟and set out in the morning?
Where are the male sons for whom we strive, hasten, stand, and sit, and for whom we go and come?"
فَبَادَرَتْSo rushedإِلَيْهِto himبَنَاتُهُhis daughtersوَأُمَّهَاتُهُنَّ،and their mothers,
So his daughters and their mothers rushed to him,
فَقَامَتْand stoodوَاحِدَةٌoneمِنْهُنَّof themعَلَىonسَاقٍone legفَقَالَ:and he said:أَحْسَنْتُنَّWell doneأَحْسَنَmay rewardاللَّهُAllahجَزَاءَكُنَّ،your reward,
and one of them stood on one leg. He said: "Well done, may Allah reward you well,
لِمِثْلِfor the likes ofهَذَاthisأَرَدْتُكُنَّ.I wanted you.
for the likes of this I wanted you."
وَلَاحَظَAnd he noticedالْكُبْرَىthe eldestمِنْofبَنَاتِهِhis daughtersوَآخَرَand anotherمِنْofبَنِيهِhis sons
And he observed the eldest of his daughters and another of his sons
وَهُمَاwhile they twoيُرَاوِحَانِwere shiftingبَيْنَbetweenأَقْدَامِهِمَا،their feet,
while they were shifting between their feet,
فَقَالَ:and he said:يَاOفُلَانَةُso-and-soتُرَاوِحِينَyou are shiftingوَلَاwhile notأُرَاوِحُ،I shift,
and he said: "O so-and-so, you are shifting while I am not shifting?
صَدَقَSpoke the truthاللَّهُAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyوَبَلَّغَand conveyedرَسُولُهُ،His Messenger,
Allah, Majestic and Mighty, spoke the truth and His Messenger conveyed,
عَلَيْهِupon himوَعَلَىand uponآلِهِhis familyالسَّلَامُ،be peace,
upon him and his family be peace,
حَيْثُwhenيَقُولُ:he says:إِنَّIndeedمِنْamongأَزْوَاجِكُمْyour wivesوَأَوْلَادِكُمْand your childrenعَدُوّاًare enemiesلَكُمْto youفَاحْذَرُوهُمْso beware of them
when he says: 'Indeed, among your wives and your children are enemies to you, so beware of them'.
حَذَّرَنِيwarned meرَبِّيMy LordجَلَّMajesticوَتَعَالَىand Exaltedمِنْكُمْ.from you.
My Lord, Majestic and Exalted, warned me against you."
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:عَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofصَالِحٍSalihلَيْسَis notفِيinخِزَانَتِهِhis treasuryسُكَّرُsugar ofطَبَرْزَدَTabarzd
Then he said: "Ali ibn Salih does not have Tabarzd sugar in his treasury,
وَجَائِزَتُهُwhile his stipendمِنْfromأَمِيرِthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulأَلْفُone thousandأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
and his stipend from the Commander of the Faithful is one million dirhams,
وَضَيْعَتُهُand his estateبِالنَّهْرَوَانِin Nahrawanتُغُلُّyieldsثَلَاثُمِئَةِthree hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
and his estate in Nahrawan yields three hundred thousand dirhams,
وَضَيْعَتُهُand his estateبِالْكُوفَةِin Kufaالْمَعْرُوفَةُknownبِالْمُغِيرَةِas the Mughirahمِنْis amongأَنْبَلِthe noblestضَيْعَةٍestates
and his estate in Kufa known as Al-Mughirah is one of the noblest estates,
مَاnoneمَلَكَhas ownedمِثْلَهَاits likeأَحَدٌanyoneبِسُطُوحِin the plains ofالدَّسْكَرَةِAl-Daskarah
the like of which no one has owned in the plains of Al-Daskarah.
وَلَوْلَاAnd had it not been thatأَنَّSaeedسَعِيداًAl-Saadiالسَّعْدِيَّ،may Allahأَرَاحَrelieve usاللَّهُfrom him,مِنْهُ،cut offقَطَعَits irrigationشِرْبَهَاand ruinedوَعَوَّرَits water channelsمَجَارِيuntilمِيَاهِهَاits riversحَتَّىwere buriedانْدَفَنَتْand its cultivationأَنْهَارُهَاdecreasedوَقَلَّتْharming usعِمَارَتُهَاand transgressingإِضْرَاراًagainst us,بِنَاthere would notوَتَعَدِّياًhave beenعَلَيْنَاfor anyoneمَاits likeكَانَAnd given thatلِأَحَدٍits tenant farmersمِثْلُهَاand cultivatorsوَعَلَىare amongأَنَّthe most wickedأَكَرَتَهَاcreatures ofوَمَزَارِعِيهَاAllahمِنْBy Allahأَخَابِثِby Allahخَلْقِif they were ableاللَّهِ،to cut offوَاللَّهِthe yieldوَاللَّهِand the yield of the yieldلَوْthey would not give usأَمْكَنَهُمْanything of that
And had it not been that Saeed Al-Saadi (may Allah relieve us of him) cut off its irrigation, ruined its water channels until its streams were buried, and its cultivation decreased to harm us and transgress against us, no one would have had the like of it. And given that its tenant farmers and cultivators are among the most wicked creatures of Allah—by Allah, by Allah, if they were able to cut off the yield and the yield of the yield, they would not give us anything of that—
وَمَنْand whoeverأَخْبَرَكَtells youأَنَّthatالضَّيْعَةَthe estateلِرَبِّbelongs to the owner ofالضَّيْعَةِthe estateفَقُلْthen sayلَهُto himكَذَبْتَ"You liedلَاmayأُمَّyour motherلَكَ،"be bereft of you,"
and whoever tells you that the estate belongs to the owner of the estate, then say to him: "You lied, may your mother be bereft of you!"
الضَّيْعَةُThe estateثَلَاثُis threeأَثْلَاثٍ:thirds:فَثُلْثٌa thirdلِلسُّلْطَانِfor the Sultanوَثُلْثٌand a thirdلِلْوَكِيلِfor the agentوَثُلْثٌand a thirdلِلْأَكَّارِ،for the plowman.
The estate is three thirds: a third for the Sultan, a third for the agent, and a third for the plowman.
وَإِنَّمَاAnd onlyيَأْتِيcomes toرَبَّthe owner ofالضَّيْعَةِthe estateصُبَابَةٌdropletsكَصُبَابَةِlike the droplets ofالْإِنَاءِthe vesselوَمُخَّةٌand bone marrowكَمُخَّةِlike the marrow ofعُرْقُوبٍ،a hock.
The owner of the estate only receives droplets like the dregs in a vessel and marrow like the marrow of a hock.
يَجْنِيGathersالْأَكَّارُthe plowmanوَقْتَat the time ofالدِّياسِthreshingفَيَمُرُّand there passesبِهِمُby themالْأَبْرَمَذُthe tax collector
The plowman gathers at the time of threshing, and the tax collector passes by them—
هَذَاthis oneيُذْبَحُis slaughteredلَهُfor himوَهَذَاand this oneيُخْبَزُis bakedلَهُfor himوَهَذَاand this oneيَسْقِيهِpours for himالنَّبِيذَ،wine,
for this one livestock is slaughtered, for that one bread is baked, and another pours wine for him.
وَمَاAnd notنَبِيذُهُمْtheir wineإِلَّاexceptالْعَكَرُthe dregsالْأَسْوَدُblackوَوَضَرُand sediment ofالدَّنَسِfilthوَمَاءُand water ofالْأُكْشُوتِ،dodder.
And their wine is nothing but black dregs, filthy sediment, and dodder water.
قَبَحَMay Allah curseاللَّهُAllahذَلِكَthatشُرْباًas a drinkمَاhowأَنْغَلَهُfoul it isلِلْجَوْفِto the bellyوَأَضَرَّهُand how harmful it isبِالْأَعْلَاقِto the preciousالنَّفِيسَةِ،possessions.
May Allah curse that as a drink! How foul it is to the belly and how harmful to precious possessions.
ثُمَّThenيَأْتِيcomesوَقْتُthe time ofالْكَيْلِmeasuring
Then comes the time of measuring,
فَمِنْso among them isرَقَّامٍ،a marker,رَقَّمَmay markاللَّهُAllahجِلْبَابَهُhis garmentوَأَعَدَّand prepareلَهُfor himالْهَوَانَ،disgrace,
so among them is a marker—may Allah mark his garment and prepare disgrace for him—
وَمِنْand among them isبَيْنِaكَيَّالٍ،measurer,جَعَلَmay makeاللَّهُAllahلَهُfor himالْوَيْلَwoeلِقَوْلِهِdue to His sayingجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّ:and Mighty:وَيْلٌ"Woeلِلْمُطَفِّفِينَto the defrauders"—
and a measurer—may Allah grant him woe due to the saying of the Majestic and Mighty: 'Woe to the defrauders'—
مَاnotيُبَالِيdoes careأَحَدٌanyoneمِنْهُمْof themعَلَىoverمَاwhatيَقْدُمُ،he ventures,
none of them caring what he ventures into.
لَقَدْIndeedسَمِعْتُI heardأَمِيرَthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulيَسْأَلُaskingقُضَاتَهُhis judgesوَكُلُّهُمْwhile all of themبِالْحَضْرَةِ:were present:
Indeed, I heard the Commander of the Faithful asking his judges—while all of them were present—
هَلْ"Haveعَدَلْتُمْyou punishedكَيَّالاًa measurerقَطُّ؟ever?"
"Have you ever disciplined a measurer?"
فَكُلُّهُمْSo all of themيَقُولُونَ:said:لَا،"No."
And all of them said: "No."
فَإِنْSo ifأَطْعَمُواthey fedالْجِدَاءَthe kidsالرُّضَّعَnursingوَنَقِيَّand pureالْخُبْزِbreadمِنْofدَسْتَمَيْسَانَDastamaysan
If they fed the nursing kids and pure bread of Dastamaysan,
وَوُهِبَتْand were giftedلَهُمُto themالدَّرَاهِمُdirhamsظَفِرَattainedالْأَكَّارُthe plowmanبِحَاجَتِهِ،his need,
and dirhams were gifted to them, the plowman attained his need.
فَوَيْلٌSo woeيَوْمَئِذٍthat dayلِقُبَّةِto the dome ofالسُّلْطَانِthe Sultanمَاذَاwhatيُحْمَلُis carriedإِلَيْهَاto itمِنَofالْقَشَبِrubbishوَالْقَصْلِand chaffوَالْمَدَرِand clods of earthوَالزَّوَانِand darnelوَيُحْشَىand is stuffedفِيهَاin itالتِّبْنُ.straw.
So woe on that day to the dome of the Sultan! What rubbish, chaff, clods of earth, and darnel are carried to it, and straw is stuffed inside it!