al mahasin wal masawi al bayhaqi

Page 35

لِلَّهِFor Godدَرُّis the praise ofعِصَابَةٍa groupنَادَمْتُهُمْI kept company with them

How excellent is a group I kept company with...

يَوْماًone dayبِجِلِّقَin Damascusفِيinالزَّمَانِthe timeالْأَوَّلِfirst

One day in Damascus in the early times

أَوْلَادُSons ofجَفْنَةَJafnahحَوْلَaroundقَبْرِgrave ofأَبِيهِمْtheir father

The sons of Jafnah around the grave of their father

قَبْرِThe grave ofابْنِthe son ofمَارِيَةَMariahالْكَرِيمِthe generousالْمِفْضَلِthe bountiful

The grave of the son of Mariah, the generous and bountiful

يَسْقُونَThey pour drink forمَنْwhoeverهَبَطَdescended toالْبَرِيصَAl-Barisعَلَيْهِمْthem

They give drink to whoever descended to Al-Baris by them

بَرَدَىBarada riverيُصَفِّقُsplashesبِالرَّحِيقِwith pure wineالسَّلسَلِthe cascading

Barada splashing with pure cascading wine

يُغْشُونَThey receive guestsحَتَّىuntilمَاnotتَهُرُّbarkكِلَابُهُمْtheir dogs

They welcome guests so much that their dogs do not even bark

لَاNotيَسْأَلُونَdo they askعَنِaboutالسَّوَادِthe dark figureالْمُقْبِلِapproaching

They do not ask about the approaching dark figure

بِيضُWhiteالْوُجُوهِfacesكَرِيمَةٌhonorableأَحْسَابُهُمْtheir lineages

White-faced with honorable lineages

شُمُّLoftyالْأُنُوفِnosesمِنَofالطِّرَازِthe classالْأَوَّلِfirst

Lofty-nosed of the first class

ثُمَّThenقَالَhe saidلِيto meمَاwhatفَعَلَdidابْنُson ofالْفَرِيعَةِ؟Al-Fari'ah?

Then he said to me: What did the son of Al-Fari'ah do?

يَعْنِيMeaningحَسَّانَHassanبْنَson ofثَابِتٍ.Thabit.

Meaning Hassan bin Thabit.

قُلْتُI saidحَيٌّHe is aliveإِلَّاexceptأَنَّهُthatكُفَّwas taken awayبَصَرُهُ.his sight.

I said: He is alive except that his sight has left him.

فَوَجَدَSo he feltمِنْfromذَلِكَthatوُجْداًgriefشَدِيداًsevere

So he felt severe grief over that

وَبَكَىand weptوَقَالَand saidلِخَادِمٍto a servantلَهُof his

And wept and said to a servant of his

انْطَلِقْSet outفَأْتِنِيand bring meبِأَرْبَعِ مِائَةِfour hundredدِينَارٍdinars

Go and bring me four hundred dinars

فَأَتَاهُSo he brought themبِهَاto himفَنَاوَلَنِيهَاand he handed them to meوَقَالَand said

So he brought them to him, and he handed them to me and said

أَوْصِلْهَاDeliver themإِلَىtoحَسَّانَ.Hassan.

Deliver them to Hassan.

ثُمَّThenوَدَّعْتُهُI bade him farewellوَخَرَجْتُand went outحَتَّىuntilأَتَيْتُI came toمُعَاوِيَةَMuawiyah

Then I bade him farewell and went out until I came to Muawiyah

فَأَخْبَرْتُهُand I informed himبِجَوَابِof the replyرِسَالَةِto the messageقَيْصَرَof Caesar

And I informed him of the reply to Caesar's message

ثُمَّThenسِرْتُI travelledمِنَfromالشَّامِAl-ShamحَتَّىuntilأَتَيْتُI came toالْمَدِينَةَAl-Madinah

Then I travelled from Al-Sham until I came to Al-Madinah

وَلَقِيتُand metحَسَّانَHassanوَدَفَعْتُand handed overإِلَيْهِto himالدَّنَانِيرَ،the dinars

And met Hassan and handed over the dinars to him

فَقَالَ:so he said:إِنَّIndeedابْنَson ofجَفْنَةَJafnahمِنْis fromبَقِيَّةِthe remnant ofمَعْشَرٍa people

So he said: Indeed the son of Jafnah is from the remnant of a people

لَمْdid notيُغْذُهُمْnourish themآبَاؤُهُمْtheir fathersبِاللُّومِwith baseness

Whose fathers did not nourish them with baseness

لَمْHe did notيَنْسَنِيforget meبِالشَّأْمِin Al-Shamإِذْwhenهُوَheرَبُّهَاwas its master

He did not forget me in Al-Sham when he was its master

يَوْماًfor a dayوَلَاnorمُتَنَصِّراًwhile Christianبِالرُّومِamong the Romans

Neither for a day nor while being a Christian among the Romans

يُعْطِيHe givesالْجَزِيلَabundantlyفَمَاand does notيَرَاهُsee itعِنْدَهُwith him

He gives abundantly and does not view it

إِلَّاexceptكَبَعْضِlike someعَطِيَّةِgift ofالْمَذْمُومِthe blamed one

Except like some small gift of a miser

مَاI didجِئْتُهُnot come to himإِلَّاexcept thatوَقَرَّبَhe brought nearمَجْلِسِيmy gathering

I never came to him except that he brought my seat near

وَدَعَاand called forبِأَفْضَلِthe best ofزَادِهِhis provisionالْمَطْعُومِfood

And called for the best of his food

[مَحَاسِنِ[Mahasinالْمَفَاخَرَةِ]Al-Mafakhirah]

[Mahasin Al-Mafakhirah]

قَالَSaidرَسُولُMessenger ofاللَّهِ،Godصَلَّىpeace beاللَّهُupon himعَلَيْهِandوَسَلَّمَ:blessing:

The Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

أَنَاI amسَيِّدُmaster ofوُلْدِchildren ofآدَمَAdamوَلَاand noفَخْرَ.boast.

I am the master of the children of Adam and there is no boast.

وَقَالَAnd saidيُوسُفُ،Josephعَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ:peace:

And Joseph, peace be upon him, said:

اجْعَلْنِيAppoint meعَلَىoverخَزَائِنِstorehouses ofالْأَرْضِthe land

Appoint me over the storehouses of the land

إِنِّيindeed I amحَفِيظٌa guardianعَلِيمٌ.knowing.

Indeed I am a knowing guardian.

قِيلَ:It was said:وَسَمِعَAnd heardرَسُولُMessenger ofاللَّهِ،Godصَلَّىpeace beاللَّهُupon himعَلَيْهِandوَسَلَّمَ،blessing

It was said: The Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, heard

رَجُلاًa manيُنْشِدُ:chanting poetry:

A man chanting poetry:

إِنِّيIndeed I amامْرُؤٌa manحِمْيَرِيٌّfrom Himyarحِينَwhenتَنْسُبُنِيyou trace my lineage

Indeed I am a Himyarite when you trace my lineage

لَاNotمِنْfromرَبِيعَةَRabi'ahآبَائِيare my fathersوَلَاnorمُضَرِMudar

Neither Rabi'ah nor Mudar are my fathers

فَقَالَ:So he said:ذَلِكَThatأَلْأَمُis more baseلَكَfor youوَأَبْعَدُand fartherمِنَfromاللَّهِGodوَرَسُولِهِ،and His Messenger

So he said: That is more base for you and farther from God and His Messenger

وَقَالَ:And he said:صَلَّىpeace beاللَّهُupon himعَلَيْهِandوَسَلَّمَ:blessing:إِذَاWhenاخْتَلَفَdisagreeالنَّاسُpeopleفَالْحَقُّthen the truthمَعَis withمُضَرَ،Mudar

And he said, peace and blessings be upon him: When people disagree, the truth is with Mudar

وَقَالَ:And he said:

And he said:

إِذَاWhenمُضَرُMudarالْحَمْرَاءُthe redكَانَتْwasأُرُومَتِيmy origin

When the red Mudar was my origin

وَقَامَand stoodبِنَصْرِيto support meخَازِمٌKhazimوَابْنُand son ofخَازِمٍKhazim

And Khazim and the son of Khazim stood to support me

عَطَسْتُI sneezedبِأَنْفِيwith my noseشَامِخاًproudlyوَتَنَاوَلَتْand reached

I sneezed proudly with my nose and reached

يَدَايَmy handsالثُّرَيَّاthe Pleiadesقَاعِداًwhile sittingغَيْرَnotقَائِمٍstanding

My hands to the Pleiades while sitting, not standing

شُعَيْبُShu'aybبْنُson ofإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimقَالَ:said:

Shu'ayb bin Ibrahim said:

حَدَّثَنِيNarrated to meسَيْفُSaifبْنُson ofعُمَرَUmarعَنْfromعَلِيِّAliبْنِson ofيَزِيدَYazid

Saif bin Umar narrated to me from Ali bin Yazid

عَنْfromعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنِAl-HarithالْحَارِثِfromعَنِAl-MuttalibالْمُطَّلِبِbinبْنِRabi'ahرَبِيعَةَsaid:قَالَ:said:

From Abdullah bin Al-Harith from Al-Muttalib bin Rabi'ah, who said:

مَرَّPassedالْعَبَّاسُAl-Abbasبِنَفَرٍby a groupمِنْofقُرَيْشٍQuraysh

Al-Abbas passed by a group of Quraysh

وَهُمْwhile theyيَقُولُونَ:were saying:إِنَّمَاIndeedمَثَلُthe likeness ofمُحَمَّدٍ،Muhammadصَلَّىpeace beاللَّهُupon himعَلَيْهِandوَسَلَّمَ،blessing

While they were saying: The likeness of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him

فِيamongأَهْلِهِhis familyكَمَثَلِis likeنَخْلَةٍa palm treeنَبَتَتْthat grewفِيinكِبَا،refuse/dung

Among his family is like a palm tree that grew in a dunghill

فَبَلَغَSo that reachedذَلِكَthatرَسُولَMessenger ofاللَّهِ،Godصَلَّىpeace beاللَّهُupon himعَلَيْهِandوَسَلَّمَ،blessing

So that reached the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him

فَوَجَدَso he felt grievedمِنْهُby itوَخَرَجَand went outحَتَّىuntilقَامَhe stoodفِيهِمْamong themخَطِيباًdelivering a speech

So he felt grieved by it and went out until he stood among them delivering a speech

فَقَالَ:And said:أَيُّهَاOالنَّاسُpeopleمَنْwhoأَنَا؟am I?

And said: O people, who am I?

قَالُوا:They said:أَنْتَYou areرَسُولُMessenger ofاللَّهِ.God.

They said: You are the Messenger of God.

قَالَ:He said:فَأَنَاthen I amمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنِAbdulعَبْدِMuttalibالْمُطَّلِبِbin

He said: Then I am Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Abdul Muttalib

إِنَّIndeedاللَّهَGodعَزَّAlmightyوَجَلَّand MajesticخَلَقَcreatedخَلْقَهُHis creation

Indeed God, Almighty and Majestic, created His creation

فَجَعَلَنِيand placed meمِنْfromخَيْرِthe best ofخَلْقِهِHis creation

And placed me among the best of His creation

ثُمَّThenجَعَلَHe madeالْخَلْقَthe creationالَّذِينَwhoأَنَاIمِنْهُمْam from themفِرْقَتَيْنِtwo groups

Then He made the creation of which I am a part into two groups

فَجَعَلَنِيand placed meمِنْinخَيْرِthe best ofالْفِرْقَتَيْنِthe two groups

And placed me in the best of the two groups

ثُمَّThenجَعَلَهُمْHe made themشُعُوباًtribesفَجَعَلَنِيand placed meمِنْinخَيْرِهِمْthe best of themشَعْباًas a tribe

Then He made them into tribes and placed me in the best of them as a tribe

ثُمَّThenجَعَلَهُمْHe made themبُيُوتاًclansفَجَعَلَنِيand placed meمِنْinخَيْرِهِمْthe best of themبَيْتاً،as a clan

Then He made them into clans and placed me in the best of them as a clan

فَأَنَاSo I amخَيْرُكُمْthe best of youبَيْتاًin clanوَخَيْرُكُمْand the best of youوَالِداً،in parentage

So I am the best of you in clan and the best of you in parentage

وَإِنِّيAnd indeed I amمُبَاهٍ،boastingقُمْstandيَاOعَبَّاسُ،Abbas

And indeed I am boasting, stand O Abbas

فَقَامَso he stoodعَنْatيَمِينِهِ،his right

So he stood at his right

ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:قُمْstandيَاOسَعْدُ،Sa'd

Then he said: Stand O Sa'd

فَقَامَso he stoodعَنْatيَسَارِهِ،his left

So he stood at his left

ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:يُقَرِّبُCan bring nearامْرُؤٌa manمِنَamongالنَّاسِpeopleعَمّاًan uncleمِثْلَlikeهَذَاthisأَوْorخَالاًan maternal uncleمِثْلَlikeهَذَا.this.

Then he said: Can any man among people bring an uncle like this or a maternal uncle like this?

حَدَّثَنَاNarrated to usسِنَانُSinanبْنُson ofالْحَسَنِAl-HasanالتُّسْتَرِيُّAl-Tustariقَالَ:said:

Sinan bin Al-Hasan Al-Tustari narrated to us, saying:

حَدَّثَنَاNarrated to usإِسْمَاعِيلُIsmailبْنُson ofمِهْرَانَMehranالْيَشْكُرِيُّAl-Yashkuriقَالَ:said:

Ismail bin Mehran Al-Yashkuri narrated to us, saying:

حَدَّثَنَاNarrated to usأَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُson ofمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadعَنْfromأَبَانَAbanبْنِson ofعُثْمَانَUthman

Ahmad bin Muhammad narrated to us from Aban bin Uthman

عَنْfromعِكْرِمَةَIkrimahعَنِfromابْنِson ofعَبَّاسٍAbbasعَنْfromعَلِيِّAliبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍ،Talibرَضِيَmay God beاللَّهُpleasedعَنْهُ،with himقَالَ:said:

From Ikrimah from Ibn Abbas from Ali bin Abi Talib, may God be pleased with him, who said:

لَمَّاWhenأُمِرَwas commandedرَسُولُMessenger ofاللَّهِ،Godصَلَّىpeace beاللَّهُupon himعَلَيْهِandوَسَلَّمَ،blessing

When the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him, was commanded

أَنْtoيَعْرِضَpresentنَفْسَهُhimselfعَلَىtoالْقَبَائِلِthe tribes

To present himself to the tribes

خَرَجَHe went outوَأَنَاwhile Iمَعَهُwas with himوَمَعَهُand with him wasأَبُوAbuبَكْرٍ،Bakr

He went out while I was with him and Abu Bakr was with him

وَكَانَAnd Abu Bakrأَبُوwasبَكْرٍknowledgeableعَالِماًconcerning lineagesبِأَنْسَابِof the Arabsالْعَرَبِ،Arabs

And Abu Bakr was knowledgeable of the lineages of the Arabs

فَدَفَعْنَاSo we arrivedإِلَىatمَجْلِسٍa gatheringمِنْofمَجَالِسِgatherings ofالْعَرَبِthe Arabs

So we arrived at a gathering of the gatherings of the Arabs

عَلَيْهِمْupon themالْوَقَارُwas dignityوَالسَّكِينَةُ،and tranquility

Upon them was dignity and tranquility

فَتَقَدَّمَSo stepped forwardأَبُوAbuبَكْرٍBakrوَسَلَّمَand greetedعَلَيْهِمْthem

So Abu Bakr stepped forward and greeted them

فَرَدُّواand they returnedعَلَيْهِto himالسَّلَامَ،the greeting

And they returned the greeting to him

فَقَالَ:So he said:مِمَّنِFrom whoالْقَوْمُ؟is the people?

So he said: From whom is the people?

فَقَالُوا:They said:مِنْFromرَبِيعَةَ.Rabi'ah.

They said: From Rabi'ah.

فَقَالَ:He said:أَمِنْAre you fromهَامَتِهَاits chief branchأَمْorمِنْfromلَهَازِمِهَا؟its lower branches?

He said: Are you from its chief branch or its lower branches?

قَالُوا:They said:بَلْRatherمِنْfromهَامَتِهَاits chief branchالْعُظْمَى.the greatest.

They said: Rather from its greatest chief branch.

قَالَ:He said:وَأَيُّAnd whichهَامَاتِهَا؟of its chief branches?

He said: And which of its chief branches?

قَالُوا:They said:ذُهْلٌ.Dhuhl.

They said: Dhuhl.

قَالَ:He said:أَذُهْلُIs it Dhuhlالْأَكْبَرُthe greaterأَمْorذُهْلُDhuhlالْأَصْغَرُ؟the lesser?

He said: Is it Dhuhl the greater or Dhuhl the lesser?

قَالُوا:They said:بَلْRatherذُهْلٌDhuhlالْأَكْبَرُ.the greater.

They said: Rather Dhuhl the greater.

قَالَ:He said:أَمِنْكُمْAre among youعَوْفٌAwfالَّذِيwhoكَانَwasيَقُولُsayingلَاnoحُرَّfree manبِوَادِيin valley ofعَوْفٍ؟Awf?

He said: Is Awf among you who used to say: No free man in the valley of Awf?

قَالُوا:They said:لَا.No.

They said: No.

قَالَ:He said:أَفَمِنْكُمْOr is among youبِسْطَامُBistamبْنُson ofقَيْسٍQaisصَاحِبُbearer ofاللِّوَاءِthe bannerوَمُنْتَهَىand limit ofالْأَحْيَاءِ؟tribes?

He said: Or is Bistam bin Qais among you, the bearer of the banner and utmost of tribes?

قَالُوا:They said:لَا.No.

They said: No.

قَالَ:He said:أَفَمِنْكُمْOr is among youجَسَّاسُJassasبْنُson ofمُرَّةَMurrahحَامِيdefender ofالذِّمَارِwhat is sacredوَمَانِعُand preventer ofالْجَارِ؟the neighbor?

He said: Or is Jassas bin Murrah among you, the defender of the sacred and protector of the neighbor?

قَالُوا:They said:لَا.No.

They said: No.

قَالَ:He said:أَفَمِنْكُمْOr is among youالْمُزْدَلِفُAl-Muzdalifصَاحِبُpossessor ofالْعِمَامَةِthe turbanالْفَرْدَةِ؟the unique?

He said: Or is Al-Muzdalif among you, the possessor of the unique turban?

قَالُوا:They said:لَا.No.

They said: No.

قَالَ:He said:فَأَنْتُمْThen are youأَخْوَالُmaternal uncles ofالْمُلُوكِthe kingsمِنْfromكِنْدَةَ؟Kindah?

He said: Then are you the maternal uncles of the kings from Kindah?

قَالُوا:They said:لَا.No.

They said: No.

قَالَ:He said:أَصْهَارُOr fathers-in-law ofالْمُلُوكِthe kingsمِنْfromلَخْمٍ؟Lakhm?

He said: Or fathers-in-law of the kings from Lakhm?

قَالُوا:They said:لَا.No.

They said: No.

قَالَ:He said:فَلَسْتُمْthen you are notذُهْلَDhuhlالْأَكْبَرَthe greaterإِذاًthenأَنْتُمْyou areذُهْلُDhuhlالْأَصْغَرُ،the lesser

He said: Then you are not Dhuhl the greater, rather you are Dhuhl the lesser

فَقَامَSo stoodإِلَيْهِto himغُلَامٌa youthأَعْرَابِيٌّBedouinحَسَنٌhandsomeبَقَلَwhose facial hair sproutedوَجْهُهُhis face

So a handsome Bedouin youth whose facial hair had just sprouted stood up to him

فَأَخَذَand tookبِزِمَامِby the halter ofنَاقَتِهِhis she-camel

And took hold of the halter of his she-camel

وَرَسُولُwhile Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Godصَلَّىpeace beاللَّهُupon himعَلَيْهِandوَسَلَّمَ،blessing

While the Messenger of God, peace and blessings be upon him

عَلَىwas uponنَاقَتِهِhis she-camelيَسْمَعُlistening toمُخَاطَبَتَهُ،his dialogue

Was upon his she-camel listening to his dialogue

فَقَالَ:so he said:

So he said:

لَنَاUpon usعَلَىagainstمَنْwhoeverسَأَلَنَاasked usأَنْthatنَسْأَلَهُwe ask him

Upon us, against whoever asks us, is that we question him

وَالْعِبْءُand the burdenلَنْwill notنَعْرِفَهُwe know itأَوْorتَحْمِلَهُyou carry it

And the burden we shall not know, or you carry it