قِيلَ:It was said:
It was said:
وَقَدِمَAnd cameأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinمِصْراًto a cityمِنَofالْأَمْصَارِthe cities
A Bedouin came to one of the cities
فَدَخَلَand enteredسُوقَthe marketالنّخّاسِينَof the slave dealers
and entered the slave market
لِيَبْتَاعَto buyجَارِيَةًa slave girl
to buy a slave girl.
فَصَادَفَSo he encounteredجَارِيَةًa slave girl
So he came across a slave girl
قَدْwhoأُقِيمَتْwas set upلِتُبَاعَto be sold
who had been put up for sale,
يُبْرَأُit being disclaimedفِيهَاregarding herمِنَfromالْإِبَاقِrunning awayوَالسَّرِقَةِand theftوَالسُّكْرِand drunkennessوَالْفُجُورِand immorality
disclaiming in her any tendency to run away, steal, drink, or commit immorality,
وَقَدْandتَحَامَاهَاavoided herالنَّاسُthe people
and the people had avoided her.
فَاشْتَرَاهَاSo he bought herوَأَبْرَأَهُمْand released themمِنْfromعُيُوبِهَاher defects
So he bought her and absolved them of her defects.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himرَجُلٌa man
A man said to him:
يَاOعَبْدَservantاللَّهِof Allah
"O servant of Allah,
لَقَدْverilyاشْتَرَيْتَyou have boughtبِمَالِكَwith your wealthمَاwhatلَمْnotيَكُنْwasغَيْرُكَanyone elseيَأْخُذُهُtaking itبِلَاwithoutثَمَنٍprice
you have bought with your money what no one else would take even for free!"
فَقَالَHe said
He said:
إِنَّاIndeed weلَسْنَاare notنَكْرَهُdislikingمِنْofمِثْلِهَاthe likes of herمَاwhatتَكْرَهُونَyou dislike
"We do not dislike from the likes of her what you dislike.
أَمَّاAs forالْإِبَاقُrunning away
As for running away,
فَوَاللَّهِby Allahإِنَّindeedأَدْنَىthe nearestمَاءٍwater sourceمِنْfromمِيَاهِنَاour watersلَعَلَىis surely atمَسِيرَةِa journey ofخَمْسٍfive days
by Allah, the nearest of our water sources is a five-day journey away,
وَلَرُبَّمَاand perhapsسَرَىtravelsالرَّجُلُthe manالْهَادِيwho knows the wayمِنْfromحَيْثُwhereيَنْزِلُhe dismountsفَيُصْبِحُand he reaches morningبِحَيْثُat a place whereيَرَىhe sees
and sometimes a knowledgeable traveler sets out from where he camps and reaches morning seeing nothing,
فَأَنَّىso howلَهَاfor herبِالْإِبَاقِis running away possible
so how could she run away?
وَأَمَّاAnd as forالسَّرِقُthe theft
And as for theft,
فَمَاthen whatعَسَىmightأَنْtoتَسْرِقَshe stealشَاةًa sheepأَوْorبَعِيراًa camelأَوْorقَتَباًa pack-saddleأَوْorحِلْساًa saddle blanket
what could she possibly steal? A sheep, a camel, a pack-saddle, or a saddle blanket?
وَأَمَّاAnd as forالسُّكْرُdrunkenness
And as for drunkenness,
فَوَاللَّهِby Allahمَاnotنَقْدِرُwe are ableعَلَىtoرَيِّهَاquenching her thirstمِنَwithالْمَاءِwater
by Allah, we are not able to get enough water to quench our own thirst,
فَكَيفَso howتُصِيبُwould she obtainشَرَاباًwine
so how would she find alcohol to drink?
وَأَمَّاAnd as forالْفُجُورُimmorality
And as for immorality,
فَإِنَّindeedلَنَاfor usزُنُوجاًare Zanj slavesيَخْدُمُونَنَاwho serve us
we have Zanj slaves who serve us,
فَمَاsoنَكْرَهُwe do not dislikeأَنْthatيَقَعَfallعَلَيْهَاupon herبَعْضُهُمْsome of themفَنَنْتَفِعَso we benefitبِوَلَدِهَاfrom her child
so we wouldn't mind if some of them had relations with her so we could benefit from her child.
ثُمَّThenعَمَدَhe proceededإِلَىtoثَوْبَيْنِtwo garmentsمَصْبُوغَيْنِdyedكَانَاwhich wereعَلَيْهَاon her
Then he went to two dyed garments she was wearing,
فَانْتَزَعَهُمَاand stripped themمِنْهَاfrom her
stripped them off her,
وَقَالَand said
and said:
مَوْلَاتُكِyour mistressأَحَقُّis more deservingبِهِمَاof them
"Your mistress is more deserving of them."
وَأَلْبَسَهَاAnd he dressed herمِدْرَعَةًin a rough woolen garment
And he dressed her in a coarse woolen tunic.
فَبَكَتِSo weptالْجَارِيَةُthe slave girl
The slave girl wept
وَقَالَتْand said
and said:
قَدْindeedكَانَتْused toمَوْلَاتِيmy mistressتَدْعُوinvokeعَلَيَّagainst me
"My mistress used to invoke evil upon me
وَتَقُولُand say
and say:
بَاعَكِMay Allah sell youاللَّهُAllahفِيtoالْأَعْرَابِthe Bedouins
'May Allah sell you to the Bedouins!'
فَقَالَSo he said
He said:
لَأَنَاVerily Iنُجِيعُmake her starveكَبِدَهُher liverوَنُعَرِّيand make bareجِلْدَهُher skinوَنُطِيلُand prolongكَدَّهُ1her toil
"For indeed we starve her liver, bare her skin, and prolong her toil!"
مَحَاسِنُThe merits ofمُطَالَبَةِrequiringالْمُعَلِّمِينَthe teachersبِالتَّعْلِيمِto teach
⟦1⟧ The merits of demanding teaching from teachers
قَالَHe said
He said:
كَانَwasالرَّشِيدُAl-RashidجَعَفَرُJa'farمُحَمَّدُMuhammadالْأَمِينُAl-Aminفِيinحِجْرِthe care ofالْفَضْلِAl-Fadlبْنِson ofيَحْيَىYahyaوَعَبْدُand AbdullahاللَّهِAllahالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munفِيinحِجْرِthe care ofجَعْفَرِJa'farبْنِson ofيَحْيَىYahya
Al-Rashid placed Ja'far (or rather Muhammad Al-Amin) in the care of Al-Fadl ibn Yahya, and Abdullah Al-Ma'mun in the care of Ja'far ibn Yahya.
فَقَالَSo saidالْفَضْلُAl-Fadlبْنُson ofيَحْيَىYahyaلِهَيْثَمِto Haythamبْنِson ofبَشِيرٍBashirالْوَاسِطِيِّAl-Wasiti
Al-Fadl ibn Yahya said to Haytham ibn Bashir Al-Wasiti:
لِيَكُنْLetأَكْثَرُmostمَاof whatتَأْخُذُyou takeبِهِwithوَلِيَّthe heirالْعَهْدِto the throneتَعْظِيمَbe the reverence ofالدِّمَاءِbloods
"Let the most important thing you train the heir apparent in be the reverence for blood,
فَإِنِّيfor indeed IأُحِبُّloveأَنْthatيُشْرِبَimbueاللَّهُAllahقَلْبَهُhis heartالْهَيْبَةَwith aweلَهَاfor itوَالْعَفَافَand abstinenceعَنْfromسَفْكِهَاshedding it
for I love that Allah should imbue his heart with awe for it and chastity from shedding it."
ثُمَّThenإِنَّindeedالرَّشِيدَAl-RashidأَرْسَلَsentإِلَىtoالْأَحْمَرِAl-Ahmarالنَّحْوِيِّthe Grammarian
Then Al-Rashid sent for Al-Ahmar the Grammarian.
فَلَمَّاSo whenدَخَلَhe enteredعَلَيْهِupon him
When he entered upon him,
قَالَhe said
he said:
يَاOأَحْمَرُAhmar
"O Ahmar,
إِنَّindeedأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulقَدْhasدَفَعَentrustedإِلَيْكَto youمَهْجَةَthe lifebloodنَفْسِهِof his soulوَثَمَرَةَand the fruitقَلْبِهِof his heart
the Commander of the Faithful has entrusted to you the very lifeblood of his soul and the fruit of his heart,
وَصَيَّرَand madeيَدَكَyour handعَلَيْهِover himمَبْسُوطَةًextendedوَمَقَالَكَand your wordفِيهِregarding himمُصَدَّقَةًdeemed truthfulوَطَاعَتَكَand your obedienceعَلَيْهِover himوَاجِبَةًobligatory
and has made your hand extended over him, your word regarding him accepted, and obedience to you over him obligatory.
فَكُنْSo beلَهُfor himبِحَيْثُasوَضَعَكَplaced youأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
So be for him as the Commander of the Faithful has placed you.
أَقْرِئْهُTeach himالْقُرْآنَthe Quranوَعَلِمْهُand teach himالْآثَارَthe traditionsوَالْأَخْبَارَand historiesوَالسُّنَنَand customs
Teach him the Quran, and instruct him in traditions, historical accounts, and precedents.
وَرَوْدْهُAnd train him inالْأَشْعَارَpoetryوَبَصِّرْهُand make him perceptive ofمَوَاقِعَthe placesالْكَلَامِof speech
Acquaint him with poetry, and make him see the nuances of speech.
وَمُرْهُAnd command himبِالرَّزَانَةِto be dignifiedفِيinمَجْلِسِهِhis gatheringوَالِاقْتِصَادِand moderateفِيinنَظَرِهِhis lookوَسَمْعِهِand listening
Command him to have dignity in his assembly and moderation in his gaze and hearing.
فَلَاSo do notتَمُرَّنَّlet passبِكَupon youسَاعَةٌan hourإِلَّاexceptوَأَنْتَthat you areمُغْتَنِمٌseizingفِيهَاin itفَائِدَةًa benefitتُفِيدُهُyou impart to himإِيَّاهَاit
Let not an hour pass you by without you seizing it to impart a benefit to him,
وَكَلِمَةًand a wordنَافِعَةًusefulيَعِيهَاwhich he comprehendsوَيَحْفَظُهَاand memorizes
or a useful word that he comprehends and retains,
مِنْwithoutغَيْرِother thanأَنْthatتُخْرِقَyou overwhelmبِهِhimفَتُمِيتَso you killذِهْنَهُhis intellectوَتُمِلَّهُand bore him
without overburdening him so as to dull his mind and bore him.
وَلَاAnd do notتُمْعِنْgo to extremesفِيinمُسَامَحَتِهِbeing lenient with himفَيَسْتَحْلِيso he finds sweetالْفَرَاغَidlenessوَيَأْلَفَهُand grows accustomed to it
Do not go to extremes in leniency so that he finds idleness sweet and grows accustomed to it,
وَقَوِّمْهُand straighten himبِالتَّقْرِيبِthrough nearnessوَالْمُلَايَنَةِand gentleness
but correct him with closeness and gentleness.
فَإِنْThen ifأَبَىhe refusesفَالشِّدَّةُthen severity
If he refuses, then use severity.
قَالَSaidالْأَحْمَرُAl-Ahmar
Al-Ahmar said:
فَكُنْتُSo I used toكَثِيراًoftenمَاwhatأُشَدِّدُbe harshعَلَيْهِupon himفِيinالتَّأْدِيبِdiscipliningوَأَمْنَعُهُand deny himالسَّاعَاتِthe hoursالَّتِيin whichيَتَفَرَّغُhe has free timeفِيهَاin itلِلَّهْوِfor amusementوَاللَّعِبِand play
"I was often harsh with him in discipline and denied him the hours he had free for amusement and play.
فَشَكَاSo he complainedذَلِكَabout thatإِلَىtoخَالِصَةَKhalisa
So he complained about that to Khalisa,
فَأَتَتْنِيand she came to meبِرِسَالَةٍwith a messageمِنْfromأُمِّMotherجَعْفَرٍof Ja'far
and she came to me with a message from Umm Ja'far
تَعْزِمُcommanding strictlyعَلَيَّupon meبِالْكَفِّto desistعَنْهُfrom himوَأَنْand thatأَجْعَلَI makeلَهُfor himوَقْتاًa timeأُجِمُّهُwherein I let him restفِيهِin itلِتَوْدِيعِto refreshبَدَنِهِhis body
insisting that I desist from him and set aside a time to let him rest and refresh his body.
فَقُلْتُSo I said
I said:
الْأَمِيرُThe princeقَدْhasعَظُمَgrownقَدْرُهُhis standingوَبَعُدَand soaredصَوْتُهُhis renown
"The prince's standing has grown, his renown has soared,
وَمَوْقِعُهُand his positionمِنْfromأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَمَكَانُهُand his placeمِنْinوِلَايَةِthe successionالْعَهْدِto the throne
and his position with the Commander of the Faithful and his place in the succession
لَاdo notيَحْتَمِلَانِallow forالتَّقْصِيرَshortcomingوَلَاnorيَقْبَلُacceptمِنْهُfrom himالْخَطَلُabsurdity
do not allow for shortcomings, nor do they accept absurdity from him,
وَلَاnorيَرْضَىis satisfiedمِنْهُwith himبِالزَّلَلِregarding slipsفِيinالْمَنْطِقِspeechوَالْجَهْلِand ignoranceبِشَرَائِعِof the lawsالدِّينِof religion
nor are slips in speech, ignorance of the laws of religion,
وَالْعَمَىor blindnessعَنِtoالْأُمُورِmattersالَّتِيwhichفِيهَاin themقِوَامُis the foundationالسُّلْطَانِof ruleوَإِحْكَامُand firmnessالسِّيَاسَةِof governance
or blindness to matters upon which the foundation of authority and sound governance rest, tolerated."
قَالَتْShe said
She said:
صَدَقْتَYou have spoken the truthغَيْرَother thanأَنَّهَاthat sheوَالِدَةٌis a motherلَاwho does notتَمْلِكُcontrolنَفْسَهَاherself
"You have spoken the truth, except that she is a mother who cannot control herself
وَلَاand cannotتَقْدِرُmanageعَلَىtoكَفِّrestrainإِشْفَاقِهَاher compassionوَحَذَرِهَاand her caution
nor restrain her compassion and apprehension.
وَمَعَAnd along withحَذَرِهَاher cautionأَمْرٌthere is a matterإِنْifشِئْتَyou wishحَدَّثْتُكَI will tell youبِهِabout it
And along with her caution, there is a matter which, if you wish, I will tell you about."
فَقُلْتُSo I said
I said:
وَمَاAnd whatذَاكَis that
"And what is that?"
قَالَتْShe said
She said:
حَدَّثَتْنِيNarrated to meالسَّيِّدَةُthe Lady
"The lady narrated to me
أَنَّهَاthat sheرَأَتْsawفِيinاللَّيْلَةِthe nightالَّتِيin whichحَمَلَتْshe conceivedفِيهَاin itبِهِwith him
that on the night she conceived him,
كَأَنَّas ifثَلَاثَthreeنِسْوَةٍwomenدَخَلْنَenteredعَلَيْهَاupon her
it was as if three women entered upon her,
فَقَعَدَتْand satمِنْهُنَّfrom among themثِنْتَانِtwoوَاحِدَةٌoneعَنْonيَمِينِهَاher rightوَوَاحِدَةٌand oneعَنْonيَسَارِهَاher left
and two of them sat down, one on her right and one on her left.
فَأَمَرَّتْThen passedإِحْدَىoneالثَّلَاثِof the threeيَدَهَاher handعَلَىoverبَطْنِهَاher stomach
One of the three passed her hand over her stomach
ثُمَّand thenقَالَتْsaid
and said:
مَلِكٌA kingرَبِحٌprofitableعَظِيمُimmenseالْبَذْلِin generosityثَقِيلُheavyالْحَمْلِin burdenسَرِيعُswiftالْأَمْرِin decree
"A profitable king, immense in generosity, heavy in burden, swift in command."
وَقَالَتِAnd saidالثَّانِيَةُthe second
The second said:
مَلِكٌA kingقَصِيرُshortالْعُمْرِin lifeسَلِيمُsoundالصَّدْرِin heartمُتَهَتِّكُexposedالسِّتْرِin cover
"A king of short life, sound of heart, with torn veil [of protection]."
وَقَالَتِAnd saidالثَّالِثَةُthe third
And the third said:
مَلِكٌA kingقَصَّافٌdestructiveعَظِيمُimmenseالْإِتْلَافِin wasteيَسِيرُlittleالْخِلَافِin oppositionقَلِيلُlittleالْإِنْصَافِin justice
"A destructive king, immense in waste, yielding little opposition, scarce in justice."
فَانْتَبَهْتُSo I awokeوَأَنَاwhile I wasفَزِعَةٌterrified
"I woke up terrified
فَلَمْand did notأُحْسِسْperceiveلَهُنَّfor themأَثَراًany trace
and could not perceive any trace of them.
حَتَّىUntilكَانَتِwasاللَّيْلَةُthe nightالَّتِيin whichوَضَعْتُهُI gave birth to himفِيهَاin it
Then, on the night I gave birth to him,
أَتَيْنَنِيthey came to meفِيinالْخَلْقِthe formالَّذِيwhichرَأَيْتُهُنَّI saw them
they came to me in the same form I had seen them in.
فَقَعَدْنَThey satعِنْدَatرَأْسِهِhis headوَاطَّلَعْنَand peeredجَمِيعاًall togetherفِيintoوَجْهِهِhis face
They sat at his head, peered all together into his face,
ثُمَّand thenقَالَتْsaidوَاحِدَةٌoneمِنْهُنَّof them
and one of them said:
شَجَرَةٌA treeنَضِرَةٌfreshوَرَيْحَانَةٌand a sweet basilجَنِيَّةٌnewly pluckedوَرَوْضَةٌand a gardenزَاهِرَةٌbloomingوَعَيْنٌand a springغَدِقَةٌabundant
"A fresh tree, a freshly plucked sweet basil, a blooming garden, an abundant spring,
قَلِيلٌlittleلُبْثُهَاits stayعَجِلٌswiftذَهَابُهَاits departure
short its stay, swift its departure."
وَقَالَتِAnd saidالثَّانِيَةُthe second
The second said:
سَفِيهٌA foolغَارِمٌindebtedوَطَالِبٌand seekerلِلْمَغَارِمِof finesجَسُورٌboldعَلَىinالْمُخَاصِمِadversaries
"A foolish debtor, a seeker of liabilities, bold against adversaries."
وَقَالَتِAnd saidالثَّالِثَةُthe third
And the third said:
احْفِرُواDigقَبْرَهُhis graveوَشُقُّواand splitلَحْدَهُhis nicheوَقَرِّبُواand bring nearأَكْفَانَهُhis shroudsوَأَعِدُّواand prepareجِهَازَهُhis funeral equipment
"Dig his grave, split his niche, bring near his shrouds, and prepare his funeral equipment,
فَإِنَّfor indeedمَوْتَهُhis deathخَيْرٌis betterلَهُfor himمِنْthanحَيَاتِهِhis life
for his death is better for him than his life."
قَالَتْShe said
She said:
فَبَقِيتُSo I remainedمُتَحَيِّرَةًperplexedوَبَعَثْتُand I sentإِلَىtoالْمُنَجِّمِينَastrologersوَالْمُعَبِّرِينَand interpreters of dreamsوَمَنْand whoeverيَزْجُرُdivinesالطَّيْرَby birds
"So I remained perplexed, and sent for astrologers, dream interpreters, and augurs.
فَكُلٌّEvery one of themيُبَشِّرُنِيbrings me glad tidings ofبِطُولِlongعُمْرِهِhis lifeوَيَعِدُنِيand promises meبَقَاءَهُhis survivalوَسَعَادَتَهُand his happiness
Each of them gave me glad tidings of his long life, promising me his survival and happiness,
وَقَلْبِيwhile my heartيَأْبَىrefusesإِلَّاexceptالْحَذَرَcautionعَلَيْهِfor himوَالتُّهْمَةَand suspicionلِمَاof whatرَأَيْتُI sawفِيinمَنَامِيmy sleep
yet my heart insisted on being cautious for him and suspicious because of what I saw in my sleep."
وَبَكَتْAnd weptخَالِصَةُKhalisa
Khalisa wept
وَقَالَتْand said
and said:
يَاOأَحْمَرُAhmarوَهَلْcanيَدْفَعُward offالْإِشْفَاقُcompassionوَالْحَذَرُand cautionوَالِاحْتِرَاقُand anguishوَاقِعَthe reality ofالْقَدَرِdestiny
"O Ahmar, can compassion, caution, and anguish ward off the reality of destiny,
أَوْorيَقْدِرُis ableأَحَدٌanyoneعَلَىtoأَنْthatيَدْفَعَhe push awayعَنْfromأَحِبَّائِهِhis loved onesالْأَجَلَthe appointed term
or can anyone push away the appointed term from his loved ones?"
قُلْتُI said
I said:
صَدَقْتَYou spoke the truthإِنَّindeedالْقَضَاءَthe decreeلَاnotيَدْفَعُهُrepels itشَيْءٌanything
"You spoke the truth; indeed, nothing repels the divine decree."
ثُمَّThenكَانَwasمِنْofأَمْرِهِhis affairمَاwhatكَانَwas
Then came to pass of his affair what came to pass.
Footnotes
- 1.محاسن مطالبة المعلمين بالتعليم
The merits of demanding teaching from teachers.