وَرُوِيَAnd it was narratedعَنْfromرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,
And it was narrated from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, that he said:
صَلَّىmay Allahاللَّهُblessعَلَيْهِhimوَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,
may Allah bless him and grant him peace,
أَنَّهُthat heقَالَ:said:
that he said:
مَاThere isمِنْnoneأَحَدٍfromأُمَّتِيmy nation
There is no one from my nation
وُلِدَتْwho is bornلَهُfor himجَارِيَةٌa female child
who has a female child born to him,
فَلَمْand he does notيَتَسَخَّطْbecome displeased withمَاwhatخَلَقَcreatedاللَّهُAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mighty
and he does not resent what Allah, Majestic and Mighty, has created,
إِلَّاexcept thatهَبَطَdescendsمَلَكٌan angelمِنَfromالسَّمَاءِthe sky
except that an angel descends from the sky
بِجَنَاحَيْنِwith two wingsأَخْضَرَيْنِgreenمَوْشَحَيْنِadornedبِالدُّرِّwith pearlsوَالْيَاقُوتِand rubies
with two green wings adorned with pearls and rubies,
فِيuponسُلَّمٍa ladderمِنْofدُرٍّpearls
upon a ladder of pearls,
وَيَزُفُّand he ascendsمِنْfromدَرَجَةٍdegreeإِلَىtoدَرَجَةٍdegree
ascending from degree to degree
حَتَّىuntilيَاتِيَهُhe comes to himبِالْبَرَكَةِwith the blessing
until he brings him the blessing,
فَيَضَعَand he placesيَدَهُhis handعَلَىuponرَأْسِهَاher head
and places his hand upon her head
وَجَنَاحَهُand his wingعَلَىuponجَسَدِهَاher body
and his wing upon her body,
ثُمَّthenيَقُولُ:he says:
then says:
بِسْمِIn the name ofاللَّهِAllahوَبِاللَّهِand by AllahمُحَمَّدٌMuhammad isرَسُولُthe Messenger ofاللَّهِAllah
In the name of Allah and by Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,
رَبِّيmy Lordوَرَبُّكِand your Lordاللَّهُis Allah
my Lord and your Lord is Allah,
نِعْمَexcellent isالْخَالِقُthe CreatorاللَّهُAllah
excellent is the Creator, Allah.
ضَعِيفَةٌA weak oneخَرَجَتْhas emergedمِنْfromضَعِيفٍa weak one
A weak one has emerged from a weak one,
الْمُنْفَقُthe one provided forعَلَيْهَاupon herمُعَانٌis assistedإِلَىuntilيَوْمِthe Day ofالْقِيَامَةِResurrection.
the one provided for is assisted until the Day of Resurrection.
وَقَالَAnd saidابْنُIbnالْمُقَفَّعِal-Muqaffaلِرَجُلٍto a man
And Ibn al-Muqaffa said to a man
وُلِدَتْwas bornلَهُto himجَارِيَةٌ:a daughter:
who had a daughter born to him:
بَارَكَMay Allah blessاللَّهُAllahلَكَfor youفِيinالْابْنَةِthe daughterالْمُسْتَفَادَةِacquired
"May Allah bless for you the acquired daughter
وَجَعَلَهَاand make herلَكُمْfor youزِينَةًan adornmentوَأَجْرَىand cause to flowلَكُمْfor youعَلَيْهَاthrough herخَيْراً،good.
and make her an adornment for you, and grant you through her much good.
فَلَاDo notتَكْرَهَنَّهُنَّdislike themفَإِنَّهُنَّfor indeed they areالْأُمَّهَاتُthe mothersوَالْأَخَوَاتُand the sistersوَالْعَمَّاتُand the paternal auntsوَالْخَالَاتُand the maternal aunts
Do not dislike them, for indeed they are the mothers, sisters, paternal aunts, and maternal aunts,
وَمِنْهُنَّand among them areالْبَاقِيَاتُthe remainingالصَّالِحَاتُ،righteous ones.
and among them are the remaining righteous ones.
وَرُبَّAnd how many aغُلَامٍboyسَاءَgrievedأَهْلَهُhis familyبَعْدَafterمَسَرَّتِهِمْ،their joy,
And how many a boy has grieved his family after their joy,
وَرُبَّand how many aجَارِيَةٍgirlفَرَّحَتْhas rejoicedأَهْلَهَاher familyبَعْدَafterمَسَاءَتِهِمْ،their grief,
and how many a girl has rejoiced her family after their grief,
وَأَنْشَدَand he recitedفِيinذَلِكَ:that regard:
and he recited in that regard:
سَخِطْتَYou resentedبُنَيَّةًa little daughterعَمَّاshortlyقَلِيلٍafter......تُسَرُّwill be gladdenedبِهَاby herعُيُونُthe eyes ofالنَّاظِرَاتِthose who look
You resented a little daughter, whom shortly the eyes of onlookers will be gladdened by
فَبَارَكَSo may blessفِيinفُطَيْمَةَFatimahرَبُّthe Lord ofمُوسَىMoses......وَأَنْبَتَهَاand cause her to growنَبَاتَthe growth ofالصَّالِحَاتِthe righteous ones
So may the Lord of Moses bless Fatimah, and cause her to grow the growth of the righteous
وَزَادَكَAnd He has given youعَاجِلاًpromptlyأُخْرَىanotherسِوَاهَاbesides her......لِسَخْطِكَfor your displeasureإِذْwhenسَخِطْتَyou were displeasedعَلَىwithالْبَنَاتِthe daughters
And He granted you promptly another besides her, for your resentment when you resented the daughters
قَالَ:He said:وَكَانَAnd there wasلِرَجُلٍfor a manامْرَأَتَانِtwo wivesفِيinدَارٍa houseوَاحِدَةٍone
He said: A man had two wives in one house,
فَوَلَدَتْand one of them gave birth toإِحْدَاهُمَاone of themغُلَاماًa boyوَالْأُخْرَىand the otherجَارِيَةًa girl
and one of them gave birth to a boy and the other to a girl.
فَكَانَتْAnd the mother ofأُمُّthe mother ofالْغُلَامِthe boyتَقُولُ:used to say:
The mother of the boy used to say:
عَافَانِيHas spared meالْيَوْمَtodayمِنَfromالْجَوَارِيthe female children
Today Allah has spared me from the girls,
مِنْfromكُلِّeveryسَوْدَاءَdark-skinnedكَشْنٍwrinkledبَالِيworn-out
From every dark, wrinkled, worn-out one
لَاWho does notتَدْفَعُrepelالضَّيْمَoppressionعَنِfromالْعِيَالِthe dependents
Who does not repel oppression from the dependents
وَقَالَتْAnd saidأُمُّthe mother ofالْجَارِيَةِ:the girl:
And the mother of the girl said:
وَمَاAnd what isعَلَيَّagainst meأَنْthatتَكُونَthere beجَارِيَهْa female child
What is against me if there is a girl
تَحْفَظُShe protectsبَيْتِيmy houseوَتَرُدُّand returnsالْعَارِيَهْthe borrowed thing
Who protects my house and returns the borrowed item
تَمْشِطُShe combsرَأْسِيmy headوَتَكُونُand isالْفَالِيَهْthe deluser
She combs my head and picks out lice
وَتَحْمِلُAnd she bearsالْفَاضِلَthe excessمِنْfromخِمَارِيَهْmy head-covering
And carries the excess of my head-cover
حَتَّىUntilإِذَاwhenبَلَغَتْshe reachesثَمَانِيَهْeight (years)
Until when she reaches eight years
وَزُيِّنَتْand is adornedبِنُقْبَةٍwith a garmentيَمَانِيَهْYemeni
And is adorned with a Yemeni garment
زَوَّجْتُهَاI marry herمَرْوَانَto MarwanأَوْorمُعَاوِيَهْMuawiyah
I marry her to Marwan or Muawiyah
أَزْوَاجَhusbands ofصِدْقٍtruthبِمُهُورٍwith dowriesغَالِيَهْhigh
Truthful husbands with high dowries.
مَحَاسِنُThe virtues ofبِرِّdutifulness toالْبَنَاتِdaughters
The Virtues of Dutifulness to Daughters
عَوَانَةُAwanahقَالَ:said:بَلَغَنَاIt reached usأَنَّthatشَيْخاًan old manمِنْfromأَصْحَابِthe companions ofمُعَاوِيَةَMuawiyah
Awanah said: It reached us that an old man from the companions of Muawiyah
كَانَused toيُكَاتِبُcorrespond withعَلِيَّAliبْنَson ofأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍ،Talib,
used to correspond with Ali ibn Abi Talib,
رِضْوَانُmay the pleasure ofاللَّهِAllahعَلَيْهِ،be upon him,
may the pleasure of Allah be upon him,
وَقَدْand heكَانَhadطَعَنَadvancedفِيinالسِّنِّ،age,
and he had advanced in age.
فَبَلَغَSo reachedمُعَاوِيَةَMuawiyahخَبَرُهُ،his news,
The news reached Muawiyah,
فَدَعَاهُso he summoned himفَقَالَ:and said:
so he summoned him and said:
أَيُّهَاOالشَّيْخُold man,إِنَّكَindeed youلَتُكَاتِبُcorrespond withعَلِيّاً،Ali,
"O old man, you correspond with Ali,
رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُ،him,
may Allah be pleased with him,
وَلَوْلَاand were it not forسِنُّكَyour ageلَقَتَلْتُكَI would have killed you
and were it not for your age I would have killed you.
فَلَاSo do notتَفْعَلْdoوَلَاand do notتَعُدْ.return to it.
So do not do it and do not return to it."
فَوَقَعَThen fellكِتَابٌa letterلَهُof hisبَعْدَafterذَلِكَthatإِلَىtoعَلِيٍّ،Ali,
Then a letter from him fell after that into the hands of Ali,
رَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercyاللَّهُ،upon him,
may Allah have mercy on him,
فِيinيَدَيْthe hands ofمُعَاوِيَةَMuawiyahفَدَعَاهُso he summoned himوَقَالَ:and said:
while in Muawiyah's possession, so he summoned him and said:
أَتَعْرِفُDo you recognizeهَذَاthisالْكِتَابَ؟letter?
"Do you recognize this letter?"
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ،"Yes,كَتَبَhe wroteفَأَجَبْتُهُ،and I answered him,"
He said: "Yes, he wrote and I answered him,"
فَأَمَرَso orderedمُعَاوِيَةُMuawiyahبِقَتْلِهِ.his execution.
so Muawiyah ordered his execution.
فَانْتَهَىSo reachedالْخَبَرُthe newsإِلَىtoابْنَةٍa daughterلَهُof hisصَغِيرَةٍ،young,
The news reached a young daughter of his,
فَجَاءَتْso she cameحَتَّىuntilقَامَتْshe stoodبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْthe hands ofمُعَاوِيَةَMuawiyah
so she came and stood before Muawiyah
وَأَنْشَأَتْand beganتَقُولُ:saying:
and began saying:
مُعَاوِيَO Muawiyah,لَاdo notتَقْتُلْkillأَبَاًa fatherكَانَwho wasمُشْفِقاًaffectionate
"O Muawiyah, do not kill a father who was affectionate
عَلَيْنَاto usفَنَبْقَىso we remainإِنْifفَقَدْنَاهُwe lose himشُرَّداscattered
To us, lest we remain scattered if we lose him
وَتُوتَمُAnd are orphanedأَوْلَادٌchildrenصِغَارٌyoungبِقَتْلِهِby his killing
And young children be orphaned by his execution
وَإِنْand ifتَعْفُyou pardonعَنْهُhimكُنْتَyou will beبِالْعَفْوِin pardoningأَسْعَدَاhappier
And if you pardon him, you will be happier in pardoning
مُعَاوِيَO Muawiyah,هَبْهُgrant himالْيَوْمَtodayلِلَّهِto Allahوَحْدَهُalone
O Muawiyah, grant him today to Allah alone
وَلِلْبَاكِيَاتِand for the weepingالصَّارِخَاتِscreamingتَلَدُّداwailing
And for the weeping, screaming, wailing ones
مُعَاوِيَO Muawiyah,مِنْكَfrom youالْعِلْمُis knowledgeوَالْحِلْمُand forbearanceوَالتُّقَىand piety
O Muawiyah, from you come knowledge, forbearance, and piety
وَكُنْتَand you have beenقَدِيماًalwaysيَاOابْنَson ofحَرْبٍHarbمَسَدَّداguided"
And you have always been, O son of Harb, guided."
فَعَجِبَSo was amazedمُعَاوِيَةُMuawiyahوَأَصْحَابُهُand his companionsمِنْهَاby her
Muawiyah and his companions were amazed by her,
وَدَمَعَتْand teared upعَيْنَاهُhis eyesوَوَهَبَهُand he granted himلَهَا.to her.
and his eyes filled with tears, and he granted his life to her.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَكَانَAnd there wasالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munوَجَدَangryعَلَىwithقَائِدٍa commanderمِنْfromقُوَّادِهِhis commanders
It was said: Al-Ma'mun was angry with a commander from his commanders,
فَاسْتَصْفَىso he confiscatedضِيَاعَهُhis estatesوَدَارَهُand his houseوَأَنْهَبَand plunderedدوَابَّهُhis beasts of burdenوَمَالَهُ،and his wealth,
so he confiscated his estates and house, and plundered his beasts and wealth.
وَكَانَAnd he wasشَيْخاًan old manفَانِياًagedوَلَمْand he had notيَكُنْbeenلَهُfor himمِنَfromالْوَلَدِchildrenإِلَّاexceptبُنَيَّةًa little daughterصَغِيرَةً،young.
He was an aged man with no children except a young daughter.
فَأَجْمَعَSo he resolvedأَنْthatيَضْرِبَhe would journeyفِيinالْأَرْضِthe earthوَيَطْلُبَand seekمِنْfromفَضْلِthe bounty ofاللَّهِAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyوَيُخَلِّفَand leave behindبُنَيَّتَهُ.his little daughter.
He resolved to travel through the land and seek the bounty of Allah, Majestic and Mighty, leaving his little daughter behind.
فَبَكَتِSo weptالْابْنَةُthe daughterوَقَبَضَتْand grippedعَلَىuponأَبِيهَاher fatherوَقَالَتْ:and said:
The daughter wept, gripped her father, and said:
اقْنَعْ"Be contentبِمَاwith whatآتَاكَhas given youاللَّهُAllahوَاصْبِرْand be patientعَلَىwithمِحَنِtrials ofالزَّمَانِtime
"Be content with what Allah has given you, and be patient with the trials of time
وَنَوَائِبِand misfortunes ofالدَّهْرِfateوَالْزَمِand cling toالْوَطَنَthe homelandوَارْحَمْand have mercy onوَحْدَتِيmy solitude
and the misfortunes of fate, and remain in the homeland, and have mercy on my solitude
وَضَعْفِيand my weaknessوَقِلَّةَand scarcity ofحِيلَتِيmy resourcefulnessأَوْorاذْبَحْنِيslaughter meفَلَاso I will notأُبْتَلَىbe testedبِفِرَاقِكَ.with your separation."
and weakness and lack of resourcefulness, or slaughter me so I may not be tested with your separation."
فَبَكَىSo weptالشَّيْخُthe old manوَقَالَ:and said:
The old man wept and said:
تَقُولُSaysابْنَتِيmy daughterلَمَّاwhenأَرَدْتُI intendedوَدَاعَهَاbidding her farewell
My daughter says when I intended to bid her farewell
وَقَدْand whenحَضَرَتْنِيhas come upon meنِيَّةٌan intentionوَرَحِيلُ:and departure:
And when the intention and departure have come upon me:
لَعَلَّPerhapsالْمَنَايَاdestiniesفِيinرِحَالِكَyour travelsتَنْبَرِيwill confront
"Perhaps death in your travels will confront
لِنَفْسِكَyour soulخَتْلاًstealthilyأَوْorتَغُولُكَit will destroy youغُولُa monster
Your soul stealthily, or a destroyer will destroy you
فَتْتْرُكُنِيThen leave meأُدْعَىto be calledالْيَتِيمَةَthe orphanبَعْدَمَاafterتَبَيَّنَwas manifestوَعِزِّيand my mightبَعْدَafterذَاكَthatذَلِيلُhumble
Then leave me to be called an orphan after my manifest might was after that humbled
أَفِيIs it inطَلَبِseekingالدُّنْيَاthe worldوَرَبُّكَwhile your Lordبِالَّذِيis the One who
Is it in seeking worldly life, while your Lord is the One
تَسِيرُyou travelلَهُfor Himرَاعٍis a Guardianعَلَيْكَover youكَفِيلُand Protector
You journey toward, having a Guardian and Protector over you?
أَلَيْسَIs notضَعِيفُthe weakالْقَوْمِof the peopleيَاتِيهِcome to himرِزْقُهُhis provision
Does not the weakest of people receive his provision
يُسَاقُDrivenإِلَيْهِto himوَالْبِلَادُwhile the landsمَحُولُare barren
Driven to him while the lands are barren?
وَيَحْرِمُAnd is deprived ofجَمْعَgatheringالْمَالِwealthمَنْhe whoقَدْindeedيَرُومُهُseeks it
And he who seeks to gather wealth is deprived of it
يَكُدُّwhile toilingعَلَيْهِat itرَحْلُهُhis journeyوَحُلُولُand settlement
Toiling in his journeys and settlements for it
فَلَوْFor ifكُنْتَyou wereفِيinطَوْدٍa mountainعَلَىuponرَأْسِthe peak ofهَضْبَةٍa plateau
Had you been on a mountain at the peak of a high plateau
لَهَاwhich hasنَجَفٌheightsفِيهِin itالْوُعُولُmountain goatsتَقِيلُtake rest
Where heights exist and mountain goats take rest
مُصَعَّدَةٍelevatedلَاnotيُسْتَطَاعُit is possibleارْتِقَاؤُهَاto ascend it
Elevated, impossible to ascend
وَلَاand neitherلِنُزُولٍfor descentيُسْتَطَاعُis it possibleسَبِيلُany way
And neither is any way for descent possible
إِذاًThenلَأَتَاكَwould have come to youالرِّزْقُprovisionيَحْدُوهُdriven byسَائِقٌa driver
Provision would still have come to you, driven by a swift driver
حَثِيثٌswiftوَيَهْدِيهِand guidedإِلَيْكَto youدَلِيلُby a guide
And guided to you by a guide."
قَالَ:He said:فَنَمَىSo reachedالْخَبَرُthe newsإِلَىtoالْمَأْمُونِ،al-Ma'mun,
He said: The news reached al-Ma'mun,
فَدَعَاso he summonedبِالشَّيْخِthe old manفَاسْتَنْشَدَهُand asked him to reciteشِعْرَهُhis poetryفَأَنْشَدَهُ،so he recited it,
so he summoned the old man and asked him to recite his poetry, and he recited it.
فَرَقَّSo he felt softلَهُfor himوَأَمَرَand orderedبِرَدِّthe return ofجَمِيعِallمَاwhatأُخِذَwas takenمِنْهُfrom him
He felt pity for him and ordered the return of everything that had been taken from him,
وَأَعَادَهُand restored himإِلَىtoمَرْتَبَتِهِhis rankوَزَادَهُand increased himمِنْfromعِنَايَتِهِ.his care.
and restored him to his rank and increased him in his favor and care.