مِنْFromمَنَاقِبِvirtuesالْخِصْيَانِthe eunuchsأَنَّis thatالْخَصِيَّthe eunuchلَاdoes notيَصْلَعُgo bald
Among the virtues of eunuchs is that a eunuch does not go bald.
وَمَتَىAnd wheneverخُصِيَhe is castratedقَبْلَbeforeالْإِنْبَاتِpubic hair growthلَمْhe does notيُنْبِتْgrow hair
And whenever he is castrated before the growth of hair, he does not grow hair.
وَإِذَاAnd ifخُصِيَhe is castratedبَعْدَafterاسْتِحْكَامِthe establishment ofالشَّعْرِhairفِيinمَوَاضِعِthe places ofالشَّعْرِhairتَسَاقَطَit falls outكُلُّهُall of itإِلَّاexceptشَعْرَthe hair ofالرَّأْسِthe headوَالْحَاجِبَيْنِand the two eyebrowsوَأَشْفَارَand the eyelashes ofالْعَيْنَيْنِthe two eyes
And if he is castrated after hair has become established in its places, all of it falls out except the hair of the head, the eyebrows, and the eyelashes.
وَإِنَّمَاAnd it onlyيَعْرِضُhappens toلِمَاthat whichيَتَوَلَّدُis generatedمِنْfromفُضُولِthe humors ofالْبَدَنِthe body
And that only affects what is generated from the superfluities of the body.
وَلَمْAnd neitherيَرَhas seenخَصِيٌّa eunuchقَطُّeverمُخَنَّثاًeffeminateوَلَاnorسَمِعْنَاhave we heardبِهِof it
No one has ever seen an effeminate eunuch, nor have we heard of one.
وَلَاAndنَدْرِيwe do not knowكَيْفَhowذَلِكَthat isوَلَاandنَعْرِفُwe do not knowالْمَانِعَthe preventerمِنْهُfrom itمَاwhatهُوَit is
And we do not know how that is, nor do we know what the preventer of it is.
وَقَدْAndكَانَitيَنْبَغِيoughtأَنْtoيَكُونَbeذَلِكَthatفِيهِمْin themخِلْقَةًby natureوَيَشْمَلَand encompassجَمَاعَتَهُمْtheir groupلِشَبَهِهِمْdue to their likenessبِالنِّسَاءِto womenوَقُرْبِهِمْand their closenessمِنَtoالصِّبْيَانِboys
And that ought to be naturally present in them and encompass their group due to their likeness to women and their closeness to boys.
وَقَدْAndرَأَيْنَاwe have seenغَيْرَmore thanوَاحِدٍoneمِنَofالْأَعْرَابِthe Bedouinsمُخَنَّثاًeffeminate
And we have seen more than one effeminate Bedouin.
وَرَأَيْنَاAnd we have seenعِدَّةَa number ofمَجَانِينَmadmenمُخَنَّثِينَeffeminate
And we have seen a number of effeminate madmen.
وَأَخْبَرَنِيAnd informed meمَنْone whoرَأَىsawكُرْدِيّاًa Kurdish manمُخَنَّثاًeffeminate
And one who saw an effeminate Kurdish man informed me.
وَمِنْAnd fromفَضَائِلِthe virtues ofالْخَصِيِّthe eunuchأَنَّis thatالْمَرْأَةَthe womanتَمِيلُinclinesإِلَيْهِto him
And among the virtues of the eunuch is that a woman inclines toward him.
لِأَنَّBecauseأَمْرَهُhis affairأَسْتَرُis more concealingوَعَاقِبَتَهُand his outcomeأَسْلَمُis safer
Because his affair is more concealing and his outcome is safer.
وَتَحْرِصُAnd she is eagerعَلَيْهِfor himلِأَنَّهُbecause heمَمْنُوعٌis restrictedعَنْهَاfrom herوَتَرْغَبُand she desiresفِيinالسَّلَامَةِsafetyمِنَfromالْوَلَدِchildren
And she is eager for him because he is restricted from her, and she desires safety from children.
وَالْخَصِيُّAnd the eunuchإِذَاwhenتَنَسَّكَhe became asceticغَزَاhe went on military expeditionsوَلَزِمَand stuck toالثُّغُورَthe frontiersوَبَادَرَand hastenedبِمَالِهِwith his wealthإِلَىtoطَرْسُوسَTarsus
And when the eunuch practiced asceticism, he went on military campaigns, guarded the frontiers, and hastened with his wealth to Tarsus.
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidفِيهِمْabout them
And it was said about them:
وَنِسَاءٌAnd womenلِمُطْمَئِنٍّfor one who is settledمُقِيمٍand resident......وَرِجَالٌand menإِنْifكَانَتِareالْأسْفَارُthe travels
And women are for a settled resident, and men if there are travels.
وَقَدْAndيُرَىis seenالْخَصِيُّthe eunuchوَكَأَنَّas ifالسُّيُوفَswordsتَلْمَعُglimmerفِيinلَوْنِهِhis complexion
And sometimes the eunuch is seen as if swords are gleaming in his complexion,
وَكَأَنَّهُand as if he isمِرْآةٌa mirrorصِينِيَّةٌChineseوَجُمَارَةٌand a palm coreأَوْorقَضِيبُa rod ofفِضَّةٍsilverقَدْthatمَسَّهُhas touched itذَهَبٌgold
and as if he were a Chinese mirror, a palm core, or a silver rod touched by gold,
وَكَأَنَّand as ifفِيinوِجْنَتَيْهِhis two cheeksالْوَرْدُis roses
and as if roses were on his two cheeks.
وَيَعْرِضُAnd there befallsلَهُhimصَبْرٌpatienceعَلَىuponطُولِthe length ofالرُّكُوبِridingوَالْقُوَّةُand strengthعَلَىforكَثْرَةِabundance ofالرَّكْضِgalloping
And he displays endurance in long riding and strength in frequent galloping,
حَتَّىuntilيُجَاوِزَhe surpassesفِيinذَلِكَthatرِجَالَthe men ofالْأَتْرَاكِthe Turksوَفُرْسَانَand the horsemen ofالْخَوَارِجِthe Kharijites
to the point that he surpasses in that the men of the Turks and the horsemen of the Kharijites.
وَهُمْAnd theyأَطْوَلُare the longestالنَّاسِof people inأَعْمَاراًlifespans
And they are the people with the longest lifespans.
وَمَاAndذَلِكَthatفِيمَاas far asأَرَىI seeإِلَّاis onlyلِعَدَمِdue to the lack ofالنِّكَاحِintercourseوَقِلَّةِand the scarcity ofاسْتِنْزَاحِdrainingالنُّطَفِof the semen
And that, as far as I see, is only due to the lack of sexual intercourse and the scarcity of draining the semen.
وَلِذَلِكَAnd thereforeيُقَالُit is said
And therefore it is said:
إِنَّIndeedالْبَغْلَthe muleأَطْوَلُhas a longerأَعْمَاراًlifespanمِنْthanسَائِرِthe rest ofالدَّوَابِّbeasts
Indeed, the mule has a longer lifespan than all other beasts,
وَالْعُصْفُورَand the sparrowأَقَلُّهَاhas the shortestأَعْمَاراًlifespan
while the sparrow has the shortest lifespan.
وَمَاAndذَلِكَthatإِلَّاis onlyلِكَثْرَةِdue to the abundance ofسِفَادِmating ofالْعُصْفُورِthe sparrowوَقِلَّةِand the scarcity ofنُزُوِّmounting ofالْبِغَالِmules
And that is only due to the frequency of the sparrow's mating and the scarcity of the mule's mounting.
وَلَوْAnd ifأَنَّthatأَخَوَيْنِtwo brothersأَحَدُهُمَاone of themتَوْأَمُis the twin ofأَخِيهِhis brotherخُصِيَand one of them was castratedأَحَدُهُمَاone of them
And if there were two brothers, one of them the twin of the other, and one of them was castrated,
لَخَرَجَwould turn outالْخَصِيُّthe eunuchمِنْهُمَاof the twoأَجْوَدَbetter inخِدْمَةٍserviceوَأَفْطَنَand sharperلِأَبْوَابِin matters ofالْمُعَاطَاةِtransaction
the eunuch of the two would turn out better in service, sharper in matters of transaction,
وَأَذْكَىand keenerعَقْلاًin mindعِنْدَatالْمُخَاطَبَةِconversationمِنْthanأَخِيهِhis brotherالَّذِيwhoوُلِدَwas bornمَعَهُwith himفِيatوَقْتٍa timeوَاحِدٍsingle
and keener in mind during conversation than his brother who was born with him at the same time.
[مَسَاوِئِThe vices ofالْخِصْيَانِ]the eunuchs
[The Vices of Eunuchs]
قِيلَIt was saidكُلُّEveryذِيpossessor ofرِيحٍodorمُنْتِنَةٍfoul
It was said: Every possessor of a foul odor,
وَكُلُّand everyذِيpossessor ofذُفُرٍstenchوَصُنَانٍand armpit odorكَرِيهِdisgustingالْمَشَمِّto smell
and every possessor of a stench and armpit odor, disgusting to smell,
كَالتَّيْسِlike the billy-goatوَمَاandأَشْبَهَهُwhat resembles it
like the billy-goat and what resembles it,
فَإِنَّهُfor indeed itمَتَىwheneverخُصِيَit is castratedنَقَصَdecreasesنَتْنُهُits foulnessوَذَهَبَand departsصُنَانُهُits armpit odor
whenever it is castrated, its foulness decreases and its armpit odor departs,
غَيْرَexceptالْإِنْسَانِhuman beings
except for human beings.
فَإِنَّFor indeedالْخَصِيَّthe eunuchيَعُودُreturnsأَنْتَنَfoulestمَاwhatكَانَhe wasوَصُنَانُهُand his armpit odorأَحَدُّbecomes sharper
For the eunuch becomes fouler than he ever was, and his armpit odor becomes sharper.
وَيَعْتَرِيAnd afflictsالْخِصْيَانَeunuchsخُبْثُthe foulness ofالْعَرَقِsweatحَتَّىuntilتُوجَدَthere is foundلِأَجْسَادِهِمْfor their bodiesرَائِحَةٌan odorلَاthat is notتَكُونُfoundلِغَيْرِهِمْin others
And the foulness of sweat afflicts eunuchs to the extent that an odor is found in their bodies that is not found in others.
وَكُلُّAnd everyشَيْءٍthingمِنَofالْحَيَوَانِanimalsيُخْصَىis castrated
And every animal that is castrated,
فَإِنَّthenعَظْمَهُits boneيَدِقُّbecomes thinوَيَسْتَرْخِيand relaxesلَحْمُهُits fleshوَيَتَبَرَّأُand separatesمِنْfromعَظْمِهِits bone
its bone becomes thin, its flesh relaxes, and it separates from its bone,
وَيَعُودُand it returnsرَخْصاًtenderرَطْباًand moistبَعْدَafterأَنْhavingكَانَbeenعَضَلاًmuscularصَلْباًand firm
becoming tender and moist after having been muscular and firm.
وَالْإِنْسَانُAnd the human beingإِذَاwhenخُصِيَhe is castratedطَالَlengthensعَظْمُهُhis boneوَعَرُضَand widens
And when a human is castrated, his bone lengthens and widens.
وَيَعْرِضُAnd there befallsلَهُhimطُولُelongation ofالْقَدَمِthe footوَاعْوِجَاجُand crookedness ofالْأَصَابِعِthe fingers
And elongation of the foot and crookedness of the fingers befall him.
وَيَعْرِضُAnd there befallsلَهُhimسُرْعَةُrapidity ofالتَّغَيُّرِchangeوَالتَّبَدُّلِand alterationوَالِانْقِلَابِand overturningمِنْfromحَدِّthe state ofالرُّطُوبَةِmoistureوَالْبَضَاضَةِand plumpness
And he suffers from rapid change, alteration, and shifting from the state of moisture and plumpness,
وَمَلَاسَةِsmoothness ofالْجِلْدِthe skinوَصَفَاءِclarity ofاللَّوْنِcomplexionوَرِقَّتِهِand its thinnessوَالتَّقَبُّضِand the contractionإِلَىintoالْهُزَالِemaciationوَسُوءِand badness ofالْحَالِcondition
smoothness of skin, clarity and thinness of complexion, to contraction into emaciation and a wretched state.
وَيَعْرِضُAnd there befallsلِلْخِصْيَانِeunuchsسُرْعَةُrapidity ofالرِّضَىpleasureوَالْغَضَبِand angerوَحُبُّand love ofالنَّمِيمَةِgossipوَضِيقُand tightness ofالصَّدْرِbreastلِمَاdue to whatأُودِعَwas entrustedمِنْofسِرٍّa secret
And eunuchs experience quick satisfaction and anger, a love of gossip, and narrowness of chest due to what they are entrusted with of secrets.
وَمَاAnd howأَكْثَرَoftenمَاwhatيَعْرِضُbefallsلِلْخِصْيَانِeunuchsالْبَوْلُis urinationفِيinالْفِرَاشِthe bed
And how often eunuchs suffer from bedwetting,
وَلَاespeciallyسِيَّمَاnotإِذَاwhenبَاتَspends the nightأَحَدُهُمْone of themمُمْتَلِئاًfullمِنَofالنَّبِيذِdate wine
especially when one of them spends the night full of date wine.
وَيَعْرِضُAnd there befallsلَهُمْthemحُبُّthe love ofالشَّرَابِdrinkوَالْإِفْرَاطُand excessفِيinشَهْوَتِهِits craving
And they are afflicted with a love of drink and excess in its craving.
وَيَعْرِضُAnd there befallsلَهُمْthemسُرْعَةُrapidity ofالدَّمْعَةِtearsوَالْعَبَثُand triflingوَاللَّعِبُand playingبِالطَّيْرِwith birdsوَالْفَخِّand trapsوَمَاandأَشْبَهَwhat resemblesذَلِكَthat
And they suffer from readiness to weep, trifling, playing with birds, traps, and the like,
وَجَاءَand it comesمِنْfromأَخْلَاقِthe morals ofالصِّبْيَانِboys
which stems from the behavior of boys.
وَيَعْرِضُAnd there befallsلَهُمْthemالشَّرَهُgluttonyعِنْدَatالطَّعَامِfoodوَالْبُخْلُand stinginessعَلَيْهِover it
And gluttony at the time of food and stinginess over it befall them.
وَالْخَصِيُّAnd the eunuch'sتَسْخُنُgrows hotمَعِدَتُهُstomachوَتَلِينُand softensجِلْدَتُهُhis skinوَتَنْحَدِرُand falls offشَعْرَتُهُhis hairوَيَتَسَّعُand widensدُبُرُهُhis anus
And the eunuch's stomach becomes hot, his skin softens, his hair falls off, and his anus widens.
وَالْخَاصِيُّAnd the castratorرُبَّمَاperhapsعَمَدَintendsإِلَىtowardsالصَّبِيِّa boyليُخْصِيَهُto castrate him
And the castrator sometimes intends to castrate a boy,
فَتَتَقَلَّصُso shrinksإِحْدَىone ofخُصْيَتَيْهِhis two testiclesوَتَصِيرُand becomesالْبَيْضَةُthe testicleفِيinمَوْضِعٍa placeلَاwhereيُمْكِنُهُhe is ableرَدُّهَاto return itإِلَىtoمَكَانِهَاits place
so one of his testicles shrinks and the testicle goes to a place where he cannot return it to its place,
فَيَقْطَعُso he cuts offمَاwhatظَهَرَappearedلَهُto himوَيَبْقَىand he remainsذَاpossessor ofبَيْضَةٍtesticleوَاحِدَةٍone
so he cuts off what appeared to him, and he remains with only one testicle.
فَهُوَThen heحِينَئِذٍat that timeلَاis neitherامْرَأَةٌa womanوَلَاnorرَجُلٌa manوَلَاnorخَصِيٌّa eunuch
At that time, he is neither a woman, nor a man, nor a eunuch.
وَتَخْرُجُAnd growsلِحْيَتُهُhis beardفَلَاso neitherيَدَعُهُdo leave himالنَّاسُthe peopleفِيinدُورِهِمْtheir houses
And his beard grows, so people do not keep him in their houses.
فَلَاSo he is neitherيَكُونُmadeمَعَwithالْخِصْيَانِthe eunuchsمُقَرَّباًcloseوَلَاnorمَعَwithالْفُحُولِthe stallionsمُسْتَخْدَماًemployed
So he is neither brought close with the eunuchs nor employed with the whole men.
وَقَدْAndفَاتَهُhas escaped himغِشْيَانُapproachingالنِّسَاءِwomenوَلَذَّةُand the pleasure ofالنَّسْلِprogenyوَالتَّمَتُّعُand enjoyingبِشَمِّsmellingالْأَوْلَادِchildren
And he has missed out on approaching women, the pleasure of progeny, and the enjoyment of smelling children.
عَلَىYetأَنَّthatفِيinالْخِصْيَانِeunuchsشَرَهاًis a severe gluttonyشَدِيداًand intenseوَمَيْلاًand inclinationعَجِيباًstrangeإِلَىtowardsالنِّسَاءِwomen
Yet, among eunuchs there is a severe gluttony and a strange inclination towards women.
مِنْFromذَلِكَthatمَاis whatحُكِيَwas narratedعَنْaboutأَبِيAbuالْمُبَارَكِAl-Mubarakالْخَصِيِّthe eunuchوَمُسَامَحَتِهِand his leniencyفِيinحِفْظِguardingالنِّسَاءِwomen
Among that is what was narrated about Abu al-Mubarak the eunuch and his leniency in guarding women.
فَقَالَHe saidوَاللَّهِBy Allahإِنِّيindeed Iرُبَّمَاperhapsأَسْمَعُhearنَغْمَةَthe tone ofالْمَرْأَةِa womanفَأَظُنُّand I thinkأَنَّthatكَبِدِيmy liverقَدْhasذَابَتْmelted
He said: By Allah, I sometimes hear the tone of a woman's voice and I think my liver has melted
وَأَنَّand thatعَقْلِيmy intellectقَدْhasاخْتُلِسَbeen snatched away
and my intellect has been snatched away.
وَرُبَّمَاAnd perhapsنَزَاleapedفُؤَادِيmy heartعِنْدَatضَحِكِthe laughter ofإِحْدَاهُنَّone of themحَتَّىuntilأَظُنَّI thinkأَنَّهُthat itقَدْhasخَرَجَcome outمِنْfromفَمِيmy mouth
And my heart leaps at the laughter of one of them until I think it has come out of my mouth.
فَكَيْفَSo howأَلُومُcan I blameعَلَيْهِfor itغَيْرِيanyone else
So how can I blame anyone else for it?
قَالَHe saidوَكَانَAnd Al-Jammazالْجَمَّازُusedيَتَعَشَّقُto be in love withجَارِيَةًa slave girlلِآلِbelonging to the family ofجَعْفَرٍJa'farيُقَالُcalledلَهَاto herطُغْيَانُTughyan
He said: Al-Jammaz used to be in love with a slave girl belonging to the family of Ja'far called Tughyan.
وَكَانَAnd there wasلَهُمْfor themخَصِيٌّa eunuchيُسَمَىnamedسِنَاناًSinanيَحْفَظُهَاwho guarded herوَكَانَand heيَتَعَشَّقُwas in love withالْجَارِيَةَthe slave girlأَيْضاًalso
And they had a eunuch named Sinan who guarded her, and he was also in love with the slave girl.
وَحَالَAnd he stoodبَيْنَهَاbetween herوَبَيْنَandالْجَمَّازِAl-Jammazوَمَنَعَهَاand prevented herمِنَfromالدُّنُوِّapproachingمِنْهُhim
And he stood between her and Al-Jammaz and prevented her from approaching him.
فَقَالَSo Al-Jammazالْجَمَّازُsaid
So Al-Jammaz said:
مَاWhatلِلْمَقِيتِdoes the hatefulسِنَانٍSinan......وَلِلظِّبَاءِand the gazellesالْمِلَاحِlovely
What does the hateful Sinan have to do with the lovely gazelles?
أَلَيْسَIs he notزَانٍan adultererخَصِيٌّa eunuch......غَازٍa raiderبِغَيْرِwithoutسِلَاحِa weapon
Is he not an adulterous eunuch, a raider without a weapon?
قِيلَIt was saidوَدَخَلَand enteredمُعَاوِيَةُMuawiyahبْنُson ofأَبِيAbiسُفْيَانَSufyanعَلَىuponامْرَأَتِهِhis wifeمَيْسُونَMaysunبِنْتِdaughter ofبَحْدَلٍBahdal
It was said: Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan entered upon his wife Maysun bint Bahdal,
وَهِيَand sheأُمُّwas the mother ofابْنِهِhis sonيَزِيدَYazidوَمَعَهُand with him wasخَصِيٌّa eunuchفَاسْتَتَرَتْso she veiled herselfمِنْهُfrom him
and she was the mother of his son Yazid, and with him was a eunuch, so she veiled herself from him.
فَقَالَSo he saidلِمَWhyتَتَسَرَِّينَdo you veil yourselfعَنْهُfrom himوَإِنَّمَاwhereas he isهُوَheبِمَنْزِلَةِin the position ofالْمَرْأَةِa woman
He said: Why do you veil yourself from him when he is in the position of a woman?
فَقَالَتْShe saidكَأَنَّكَIt is as ifتَرَىyou thinkأَنَّthatمَثْلَتَكَyour mutilation ofبِهِhimتُحِلُّmakes lawfulلَهُfor himمَاwhatحَرَّمَhas forbiddenاللَّهُAllahعَلَيْهِupon himمِنِّيconcerning me
She said: It is as if you think that your mutilation of him makes lawful for him what Allah has forbidden him concerning me.