قَالَ:He said:
He said:
وَعَاشَAnd livedيَزِيدُYazidبْنُson ofزَبِيبَةَZabibahالشَّيْبَانِيُّal-Shaybaniدَهْراًan ageطَوِيلاًlongحَتَّىuntilلَحِقَhe reachedزَمَنَthe time ofالْحَجَّاجِal-Hajjaj
Yazid ibn Zabibah al-Shaybani lived for a long time until he reached the time of al-Hajjaj,
وَسَعَىand he walkedمَعَwithابْنِthe son ofالْأَشْعَثِ،al-Ash'ath,فَظَفِرَso capturedبِهِhimالْحَجَّاجُal-Hajjaj
and marched with Ibn al-Ash'ath, so al-Hajjaj captured him
وَوَرَدَand arrivedعَلَيْهِto himكِتَابُa letter fromعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malikبْنِson ofمَرْوَانَMarwanيَأْمُرُهُordering himبِقَتْلِهِ.to kill him.
and a letter arrived to him from Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan ordering him to kill him.
فَلَمَّاSo whenدَعَاhe calledبِهِfor himقَالَhe saidلَهُ:to him:
When he summoned him, he said to him:
أَيُّهَاOالْأَمِيرُPrince,اتَّقِfearاللَّهَGodبِسَبْعٍconcerning seventeenعَشْرَةَtenنِسْوَةٍwomen
"O Prince, fear God regarding seventeen women
أَوْorتِسْعٍnineعَشْرَةَtenنِسْوَةٍwomenلَيْسَthere is notلَهُنَّfor themقَيِّمٌa guardianغَيْرِي!other than me!
or nineteen women who have no guardian other than me!"
قَالَ:He said:أَحْضِرْهُنَّ.Bring them.
He said: "Bring them."
فَلَمَّاSo whenأَحْضَرَهُنَّhe brought themسَأَلَهُنَّal-Hajjaj asked themالْحَجَّاجُal-Hajjajعَنْaboutشَأْنِهِنَّtheir affairفَمَاand notمِنْهُنَّof themامْرَأَةٌa womanإِلَّاexceptوَهِيَsheتَقُولُ:says:اقْتُلْنِيKill meوَدَعْهُ.and leave him.
When he brought them, al-Hajjaj asked them about their situation, and every single one of them said: "Kill me and let him go."
فَقَامَتْThen stood upبُنَيَّةٌa little daughterلَهُof hisصَغِيرَةٌsmallفَبَكَتْand she weptبُكَاءًa weepingحَارّاًhotمُوجِعاًpainfulمُحْرِقاًburningوَأَنْشَأَتْand she beganتَقُولُ:reciting:
Then a small young daughter of his stood up and wept a hot, painful, burning weep, and began to recite:
أَحَجَّاجُO Hajjajإِمَّاeitherأَنْthatتَجُودَyou bestowبِنِعْمَةٍwith a favor......عَلَيْنَاupon usوَإِمَّاand eitherأَنْthatتُقَتِّلَنَاyou kill usمَعَاtogether
O Hajjaj, either you bestow a favor upon us, or you kill us all together
أَحَجَّاجُO Hajjajكَمْhow manyتَفْجَعُdo you grieveبِهِby himإِنْifقَتَلْتَهُyou kill him......ثَلَاثاًthreeوَعَشْراًand tenوَاثْنَتَيْنِand twoوَأَرْبَعَاand four
O Hajjaj, how many do you grieve by his death—twenty-five?
فَمَنْSo who isرَجُلٌa manدَانٍnearيَقُومُwho will standمَقَامَهُin his place......عَلَيْنَاfor usفَمَهْلاًso slowlyلَاdo notتَزِدْنَاincrease us inتَضَعْضُعَاweakness
So who is the close man who will take his place for us? So slow down, do not increase our humiliation.
فَرَحِمَهُSo he had mercy on himالْحَجَّاجُal-Hajjajوَكَتَبَand wroteإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malikيَسْأَلُهُasking himالْعَفْوَfor pardonعَنْهُ،for him,فَأَجَابَهُand he answered himإِلَىtoذَلِكَ،that,وَأَطْلَقَهُ.and released him.
So al-Hajjaj had mercy on him and wrote to Abd al-Malik asking him to pardon him, and he granted that and released him.
[مَسَاوِئُ[Evils ofمَنْthose whoكَرِهَhateالْبَنَاتِ]daughters]
[The evils of those who hate daughters]
قِيلَ:It was said:وَبُشِّرَAnd was given glad tidingsالْأَحْنَفُal-Ahnafبِجَارِيَةٍwith a baby girlفَبَكَى.so he wept.
It was said: Al-Ahnaf was given the glad tidings of a baby girl, so he wept.
فَقِيلَSo it was saidلَهُ:to him:مَاWhatيُبْكِيكَ؟makes you weep?قَالَ:He said:لِمَWhyلَاnotأَبْكِيdo I weep
It was said to him: "What makes you weep?" He said: "Why should I not weep
وَهِيَwhile she isعَوْرَةٌ،an exposure (vulnerability),وَبُكَاؤُهَاand her weeping isعَبْرَةٌ،a tear (grief),وَهَدِيَّتُهَاand her gift isسَرِقَةٌ،a theft,وَنُصْرَتُهَاand her support isالْبُكَاءُ،weeping,وَمَهْنَأُهَاand her pleasantness isلِغَيْرِي!for someone else!
when she is a vulnerability, her weeping is grief, her gift is a theft, her support is weeping, and her pleasantness is for someone else!"
وَمِمَّاAnd from whatقِيلَwas saidفِيهَاabout themمِنَofالشِّعْرِ:poetry:
And from what was said about them in poetry:
لَوْلَاWere it not forالْبُنَيَّةِthe little daughterلَمْI would notأَجْزَعْdespairمِنَfromالْعَدَمِpoverty......وَلَمْand I would notأُجِبْanswerفِيinاللَّيَالِيthe nightsحَنْدَسَthe pitch darkness ofالظُّلَمِdarkness
Were it not for the little daughter, I would not despair of poverty, nor would I answer the pitch darkness of the nights.
وَزَادَنِيAnd increased meرَغْبَةًin desireفِيforالْعَيْشِlifeمَعْرِفَتِيmy knowledge of......ذُلَّthe humiliation ofالْيَتِيمَةِthe female orphanيَجْفُوهَاshunned byذَوُوthe possessors ofالرَّحِمِkinship
And my desire for life increased because of my knowledge of the humiliation of the female orphan when relatives shun her.
تَهْوَىShe lovesبَقَائِيmy survivalوَأَهْوَىand I loveمَوْتَهَاher deathشَفَقاًout of pity......وَالْمَوْتُAnd deathأَكْرَمُis the most nobleنُزَّالٍvisitorعَلَىuponالْحَرَمِthe sacred ones (women)
She loves that I live, and I love her death out of pity, and death is the most noble visitor upon women.
مَخَافَةَFearingالْفَقْرِpovertyيَوْماًone dayأَنْthatيُلِمَّit may befallبِهَاher......فَيَكْشِفَso Time revealsالدَّهْرُTimeعَنْoverلَحْمٍfleshعَلَىuponوَضَمِa chopping block
Fearing that poverty might befall her one day, so Time exposes flesh upon a chopping block.
إِذَاWhenتَذَكَّرْتُI rememberبِنْتِيmy daughterحِينَwhenتَنْدُبُنِيshe laments me......فَاضَتْoverflowedلِرَحْمَةِout of mercy forبِنْتِيmy daughterعَبْرَتِيmy tearsبِدَمِwith blood
Whenever I remember my daughter when she laments me, my tears overflow with blood out of mercy for my daughter.
وَلِآخَرَ:And by another:
And by another:
أُحِبُّI loveبُنَيَّتِيmy little daughterوَوَدَدْتُand I wishedأَنِّيthat I......دَفَنْتُhad buriedبُنَيَّتِيmy little daughterفِيinجَوْفِthe hollow ofلَحْدِa grave
I love my little daughter and I wished that I had buried my little daughter in the hollow of a grave,
وَمَاAnd notلِيfor meبِغُضْهَاis out of hatred for herغَرَضاًany purposeوَلَكِنْbut......مَخَافَةَfearingمَيْتَتِيmy deathفَتَضِيعَso she is lostبَعْدِيafter me
And my purpose is not out of hatred for her, but fearing my death so she is lost after me.
مَخَافَةَFearingأَنْthatتَصِيرَshe fallsإِلَىtoلَئِيمٍa mean person......فَيَفْضَحَso he disgracesوَالِدِيmy fatherوَيُشِينَand shamesجَدِّيmy grandfather
Fearing that she might fall to a mean person who would disgrace my father and shame my grandfather.
فَلَيْتَSo I wishاللَّهَGodأَكْرَمَهَاhad honored herبِقَبْرٍwith a grave......وَإِنْeven thoughكَانَتْshe wasأَعَزَّthe dearestالنَّاسِof peopleعِنْدِيto me
So I wish God had honored her with a grave, even though she was the dearest of people to me.
فَتَسْتُرَSo she coversعَوْرَتِيmy vulnerabilityوَتَكُونَand isأَجْراًa reward......إِذَاwhenقَدَّمْتُهَاI sent her aheadوَكَتَمْتُand concealedوَجْدِيmy grief
So she would cover my vulnerability and be a reward when I sent her ahead and concealed my grief.
وَتَتْبَعُAnd followsبَعْدَafterذَاكَthatبِأُمِّwith a mother ofصِدْقٍtruth......فَتُؤْنِسُso she comfortsبِنْتَهَاher daughterوَأَعِيشُand I liveوَحْدِيalone
And she would be followed after that by a truthful mother, so she comforts her daughter and I live alone.
وَلِآخَرَ:And by another:
And by another:
فَكُلُّFor everyأَبِيfather ofبِنْتٍa daughterيُرَجِّيhopesبِبَعْلِهَاthrough her husband......ثَلَاثَةَthreeأَصْهَارٍin-lawsإِذَاwhenعُدِّدَare countedالصَّهْرُthe in-laws
Every father of a daughter hopes through her husband for three in-laws when in-laws are counted:
فَزَوْجٌa husbandيُرَاعِيهَاwho looks after herوَخَدْنٌand a companionيَصُونُهَاwho protects her......وَقَبْرٌand a graveيُوَارِيهَاthat conceals herوَخَيْرُهُمُand the best of themالْقَبْرُis the grave
a husband who looks after her, a companion who protects her, and a grave that conceals her, and the best of them is the grave.
[مَسَاوِئُ[Evils ofالْبَنَاتِ]Daughters]
[Evils of Daughters]
ذَكَرُواThey mentionedأَنَّthatالضَّيْزَنَal-Dayzanالْغَسَّانِيَّthe Ghassaniمَلِكَking ofالْحِيرَةِal-Hirahسَارَmarchedإِلَيْهِagainst himسَابُورُShapurذُوthe possessor ofالْأَكْتَافِ،the Shoulders,فَتَحَصَّنَso fortified himselfالضَّيْزَنُal-Dayzanوَحَاصَرَهُand he besieged himشَهْراً،for a month,
They mentioned that al-Dayzan al-Ghassani, king of al-Hirah, was marched upon by Shapur Dhu al-Aktaf, so al-Dayzan fortified himself and Shapur besieged him for a month,
وَأَنَّand thatمُلَيْكَةَMulaykahبِنْتَdaughter ofالضَّيْزَنِal-Dayzanنَظَرَتْlookedمِنْfromنَاحِيَةِthe direction ofالسُّورِthe wallإِلَىatسَابُورَShapurفَهَوِيَتْهُand fell in love with himوَأَرْسَلَتْand sentإِلَيْهِ:to him:
and that Mulaykah, daughter of al-Dayzan, looked from the direction of the wall at Shapur and fell in love with him, and sent to him:
إِنِّيVerily Iقَدْindeedهَوِيتُكَhave fallen in love with youوَسَأَدُلُّكَand I will guide youعَلَىtoفَتْحِthe conquest ofهَذِهِthisالْمَدِينَةِ.city.
"Verily, I have fallen in love with you and I will guide you to the conquest of this city."
فَقَالَ:He said:افْعَلِيDo itوَأَنَاand I amلَكِyoursوَبَيْنَbetweenيَدَيْكِ.your hands.
He said: "Do so, and I am yours and at your service."
فَأسْكَرَتْSo she made drunkحُفَّاظَthe guards ofالسُّورِthe wallوَفَتَحَتْand openedالْأَبْوَابَ،the gates,فَدَخَلَso enteredسَابُورُShapur
So she made the guards of the wall drunk and opened the gates, and Shapur entered
فَقَتَلَand killedمَنْwhoeverقَدَرَhe was able toعَلَيْهِreachوَأَخَذَand tookأَبَاهَاher fatherأَسِيراً.captive.
and killed whoever he could reach and took her father captive.
فَلَمَّاSo whenأَصْبَحَit became morningسَابُورُShapurأَمَرَorderedفَأُدْخِلَand was brought inإِلَيْهِto himالضَّيْزَنُal-Dayzan
When morning came, Shapur ordered al-Dayzan to be brought in to him
وَهُوَwhile he wasقَاعِدٌseatedعَلَىuponسَرِيرٍa couchمِنْofذَهَبٍgoldوَالْجَارِيَةُand the girlإِلَىbyجَنْبِهِ،his side,
while he was sitting on a golden couch and the girl was by his side.
فَلَمَّاWhenرَآهَاhe saw herضَرَبَhe struckبِيَدِهِwith his handوَرِجْلِهِand his footوَغُشِيَand he faintedعَلَيْهِ،away,
When he saw her, he struck with his hand and foot and fainted,
وَقَالَand he saidلَهَاto herحِينَwhenأَفَاقَ:he regained consciousness:مَاWhat isلَكِwrong with youسَوَّدَmay God blackenاللَّهُGodوَجْهَكِyour faceكَمَاjust asسَوَّدْتِyou blackenedوَجْهِيmy faceوَسَلَّطَهُand empowered himعَلَيْكِ؟over you?
and when he regained consciousness, he said to her: "What is wrong with you—may God blacken your face just as you blackened my face and enabled him over you?"
فَأَمَرَSo orderedبِهِconcerning himسَابُورُShapurفَضُرِبَتْand was struckعُنُقُهُhis neckوَغَنِمَand plunderedهُوَheوَأَصْحَابُهُand his companionsغَنَائِمَspoilsكَثِيرَةًmuch
So Shapur ordered his execution and his neck was struck, and he and his companions plundered many spoils
وَانْصَرَفَand he returnedإِلَىtoدَارِthe house ofمُلْكِهِhis kingdomوَأَمَرَand orderedلِلْجَارِيَةِfor the girlبِمَقْصُورَةٍa private apartmentفَبُنِيَتْso it was builtلَهَاfor herفَأَسْكَنَهَاand he housed herفِيهَاin itوَأُعْجِبَand he was amazedبِهَاwith herإِعْجَاباًan amazementشَدِيداً،intense,
and returned to the seat of his kingdom, and ordered a private apartment to be built for the girl, housing her in it, and he was intensely amazed by her.
فَمَكَثَتْSo she remainedعِنْدَهُwith himحَوْلاًa yearثُمَّthenإِنَّهُindeed heدَعَاهَاinvited herذَاتَoneلَيْلَةٍnightفَبَاتَتْand she spent the nightمَعَهُwith himعَلَىuponفِرَاشٍa mattressحَشْوُهُits stuffingرِيشٌwas feathersفَقَلِقَتْso she became restlessقَلَقاًrestlessnessشَدِيداً.severe.
She remained with him for a year, then one night he invited her and she spent the night with him on a mattress stuffed with feathers, and she became severely restless.
فَقَالَSo he saidلَهَا:to her:مَاWhat isلَكِwrong with youيَاOحَبِيبَتِي؟my beloved?قَالَتْ:She said:إِنَّIndeedفِيinالْفِرَاشِthe bedشَيْئاًsomethingخَشِناًroughقَدْhasأَقْلَقَنِي.made me restless.
So he said to her: "What is wrong with you, O my beloved?" She said: "There is something rough in the bed that has made me restless."
فَفَتَّشَSo he searchedالْفِرَاشَthe bedفَوَجَدَand foundتَحْتَunderالرِّيشِthe feathersوَرَقَةَa leaf ofآسٍmyrtleوَإِذَاand beholdهِيَitقَدْhadأَثَّرَتْleft a markفِيinجَنْبِهَاher sideبِمِقْدَارِto the extent ofالْوَرَقَةِthe leafلِرُطُوبَةِdue to the moisture ofجَسَدِهَاher bodyوَلِينِand the softness ofبَشَرَتِهَا.her skin.
So he searched the bed and found under the feathers a myrtle leaf, and behold, it had left a mark on her side to the extent of the leaf due to the moisture of her body and the softness of her skin.
فَقَالَSo he saidلَهَا:to her:مَاWhatالَّذِيwhichكَانَwasأَبُوكَyour fatherيُغَذُوكَfeeding youبِهِ؟with?قَالَتْ:She said:بِالْمُخِّWith marrowوَلُبَابِand the core ofالدَّرْمَكِ،fine wheat flour,وَهُوَand it isالْحُوَّارَى،al-huwwarah,بِالسُّكَّرِwith sugarالطَّبَرْزَدِ.tabarzad.
He said to her: "What was your father feeding you with?" She said: "With bone marrow and the core of fine wheat flour, which is al-huwwarah, with tabarzad sugar."
فَقَالَ:He said:وَاللَّهِBy Godلَأُكَافِيَنَّكِ!I shall reward you!فَأَمَرَSo he orderedبِهَاconcerning herفَشُدَّتْand were tiedضَفَائِرُهَاher braidsإِلَىtoأَذْنَابِthe tails ofفَرَسَيْنِtwo horsesفَرَكِضَاand they gallopedفَتَقَطَّعَتْ.so she was severed.
He said: "By God, I shall reward you!" So he ordered her braids to be tied to the tails of two horses, and they galloped, so she was torn apart.
[مَحَاسِنُ[Virtues ofالْإِخْوَانِ]the Brethren]
[Virtues of the Brethren]
قَالَSaidبَعْضُsome ofالْحُكَمَاءِ:the wise men:لَيْسَThere is notلِلْعُقَلَاءِfor the wiseتَنَعُّمٌenjoymentإِلَّاexceptبِمَُوَدَّاتِin the affections ofالْإِخْوَانِ.the brethren.
Some of the wise men said: "There is no enjoyment for the wise except in the affections of the brethren."
وَقَالَAnd saidآخَرُ:another:الِازْدِيَادُIncreasingمِنَinالْإِخْوَانِbrethrenزِيَادَةٌis an increaseفِيinالْآجَالِlifespansوَتَوْفِيرٌand an abundanceلِحُسْنِof goodالْحَالِ.condition.
And another said: "Increasing one's brethren is an increase in lifespans and an abundance of good condition."
وَقَالَAnd saidالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:الْإِخْوَانُThe brethrenثَلَاثُare threeطَبَقَاتٍ:classes:
And al-Ma'mun said: "The brethren are three classes:
طَبَقَةٌa classكَالْغِذَاءِlike foodلَاnotيُسْتَغْنَىcan one do withoutعَنْهُ،it,وَطَبَقَةٌand a classكَالدَّوَاءِlike medicineيُحْتَاجُone needsإِلَيْهِitأَحْياناً،sometimes,وَطَبَقَةٌand a classكَالدَّاءِlike the diseaseالَّذِيwhichلَاnotيُحْتَاجُis neededإِلَيْهِ.at all.
a class like food which one cannot do without, a class like medicine which is needed sometimes, and a class like a disease which is not needed at all."
وَقِيلَ:And it was said:أَبْعَدُThe furthestالنَّاسِof people inسَفَراًjourneyمَنْis he whoكَانَwasسَفَرُهُhis journeyفِيinابْتِغَاءِseekingصَالِحٍ.a righteous person.
And it was said: "The person who travels the furthest is the one whose journey is in seeking a righteous person."
وَكَانَAnd it wasيُقَالُ:said:أَعْجَزُThe most incapableالنَّاسِof people isمَنْhe whoفَرَّطَneglectedفِيinطَلَبِseekingالْإِخْوَانِ.brethren.وَأَنْشَدَ:And he recited:
And it used to be said: "The most incapable of people is he who neglects seeking brethren." And he recited:
لَعَمْرُكَBy your lifeمَاis notمَالُthe wealth ofالْفَتَىthe young manبِذَخِيرَةٍa treasure......وَلَكِنَّbutإِخْوَانَthe brethren ofالثِّقَاتِtrustالذَّخَائِرُare the treasures
By your life, a young man's wealth is not a treasure, but trusted brethren are the treasures.