قَالَ:He said:
He said:
وَقَالَAnd saidالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munلِوَلَدِهِ:to his son:
And al-Ma'mun said to his son:
يَاOبُنَيَّmy son,نَزّهُواkeep pureأَقْدَارَكُمْyour worth
O my son, keep your worth pure
وَطَهّرُواand cleanseأَحْسَابَكُمْyour lineagesعَنْfromدَنَسِthe filth ofالْوُشَاةِslanderers
and cleanse your lineages from the filth of slanderers
وَتَمْوِهِand the falsification ofسِعَايَتِهِمْtheir instigation,
and the falsification of their instigation,
فَكُلّfor everyجَانٍoffenderيَدُهُhis handفِيis inفِيهِhis mouth,
for every offender's hand is in his mouth,
وَلَيْسَand noneيَشِيslandersإِلَيْكُمْto youإِلَّاexceptأَحَدُone ofالرَّجُلَيْنِtwo men:
and none slanders to you except one of two men:
ثِقَةٌa trusted oneأَوْorظَنِينٌ،a suspected one.
a trusted one or a suspected one.
أَمَّاAs forالثّقَةُthe trusted one,فَقَدْit hasقِيلَbeen saidإِنّهُthat heلَاdoes notيُبْلِغُconveyوَلَاnorيَشِينُblemishبِالْوِشَايَةِby slanderقَدْرَهُ،his worth,
As for the trusted one, it has been said that he neither conveys nor blemishes his worth by slander,
وَأَمَّاand as forالظَّنِينُthe suspected one,فَأَهْلٌhe is worthyأَنْthatيُتَّهَمَbe doubtedصِدْقُهُhis truthfulness,
and as for the suspected one, he is worthy that his truthfulness be doubted,
وَيُكَذَّبَand be called a liarظَنُّهُhis supposition,وَيُرَدَّand be rejectedبَاطِلُهُ،his falsehood,
his supposition be called a liar, and his falsehood be rejected,
وَمَاand neverسَعَىinstigatedرَجُلٌa manبِرَجُلٍagainst a manإِلَيَّto meقَطُّeverإِلَّاexceptانْحَطَّthere declinedمِنْfromقَدْرِهِhis worthعِنْدِيin my viewمَاthat whichلَاnotيَتَلَافَاهُhe can make up forأَبَداً،ever.
and never did a man instigate against another to me ever, except that his worth declined in my view in a way he can never make up for,
فَلَاso do notتُعْطُواgrantالْوُشَاةَthe slanderersأَمَانِيّهمْtheir wishesفِيمَنْregarding those whomيَشُونَthey slanderبِهِمْ،against.
so do not grant the slanderers their wishes regarding those whom they slander.
فَقَدْFor indeedقَالَsaidبَعْضُsomeالْمُلُوكِkingلِرَجُلٍto a manسَعَىwho instigatedبِآخَرَ:against another:
For indeed some king said to a man who instigated against another:
لَوْIfكُنْتَyou wereأَنْتَyouأَنَاI,مَاwhatكُنْتَwould you haveصَانِعاًbeen doingبِهِ؟with him?
"If you were me, what would you have done with him?"
قَالَ:He said:كُنْتُI would haveأَقْتُلُهُ.killed him.
He said: "I would have killed him."
فَقَالَ:He said:أَمَّاAs forإِذْsinceلَمْnotتَكُنْyou areأَنْتَyouأَنَاme,فَإِنّيthen I amغَيْرُnotقَاتِلِهِkilling him,
He said: "As since you are not me, I am not killing him,
وَمَعَand alongذَلِكَwith that,فَلَاdo notتَدَعُواabandonالْفَحْصَinvestigationعَمَّاconcerning whatيُلْقَىis castإِلَيْكُمْto youمِمَّاfrom whatتَحْذَرُونَyou fearرُجُوعَthe return ofضَرَرِهِits harmعَلَيْكُمْ.upon you.
and along with that, do not abandon the investigation concerning what is cast to you of what you fear the return of its harm upon you."
عَوَانَةُAwanahقَالَ:said:
Awanah said:
قَامَStoodرَجُلٌa manإِلَىbeforeسُلَيْمَانَSulaymanبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malik
A man stood before Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik
فَقَالَ:and said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,عِنْدِيI haveنَصِيحَةٌ.advice.
and said: "O Commander of the Faithful, I have advice."
قَالَ:He said:وَمَاAnd what isنَصِيحَتُكَyour adviceهَذِهِ؟this?
He said: "And what is this advice of yours?"
قَالَ:He said:كَانَwasفُلَانٌso-and-soعَامِلاًan agentلِيَزِيدَfor Yazidوَالْوَلِيدِand al-Walidوَعَبْدِand Abdالْمَلِكِal-Malik,
He said: "So-and-so was an agent for Yazid, al-Walid, and Abd al-Malik,
فَخَانَهُمْand he betrayed themفِيمَاin whatتَوَلَّاهُhe was entrusted with,
and he betrayed them in what he was entrusted with,
وَاقْتَطَعَand appropriatedأَمْوَالاًwealthجَلِيلَةًvast,فَمُرْso commandبِاسْتِخْرَاجِهَاits extractionمِنْهُ.from him.
and appropriated vast wealth, so command its extraction from him."
فَقَالَ:He said:أَنْتَYou areشَرٌّworseمِنْهُthan himوَأَخْوَنُand more treacherous
He said: "You are worse than him and more treacherous
حَيْثُsinceاطَّلَعْتَyou became awareعَلَىofأَمْرِهِhis matterوَأَظْهَرْتَهُand exposed it,
since you became aware of his matter and exposed it,
وَلَوْلَاand had it not been thatأَنِّيIأُنَفِّرُalienateأَصْحَابَthe people ofالنَّصَائِحِadvice,لَعَاقَبْتُكُمْI would have punished you,
and had it not been that I would alienate the people of advice, I would have punished you,
وَلَكِنْbutاخْتَرْchooseمِنِّيfrom meخَصْلَةًa traitمِنْout ofثَلَاثٍ.three.
but choose from me one of three traits."
قَالَ:He said:اعْرِضْهُنَّPresent themيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.
He said: "Present them, O Commander of the Faithful."
قَالَ:He said:إِنْIfشِئْتَyou wishفَتَّشْتُI will investigateعَمَّاwhatذَكَرْتَyou mentioned,
He said: "If you wish, I will investigate what you mentioned,
فَإِنْand ifكُنْتَyou areصَادِقاًtruthfulمَقَتْنَاكَ،we will detest you,
and if you are truthful we will detest you,
وَإِنْand ifكُنْتَyou areكَاذِباًa liarعَاقَبْنَاكَ،we will punish you,
and if you are a liar we will punish you,
وَإِنْand ifشِئْتَyou wishأَقَلْنَاكَ.we will dismiss you [without punishment].
and if you wish we will dismiss you."
قَالَ:He said:بَلْRatherتُقِيلُنِيdismiss meيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful.
He said: "Rather, dismiss me, O Commander of the Faithful."
قَالَ:He said:قَدْI haveفَعَلْتُdone so,فَلَاso do notتَعُودَنَّreturn everبَعْدَهَاafter itإِلَىtoأَنْthatتُظْهِرَyou exposeمِنْofذِيa person ofمُرُوءَةٍchivalryمَاwhatكَتَمَهُconcealed itاللَّهُGodوَسَتَرَهُ.and covered it.
He said: "I have done so, so do not return ever after it to exposing of a person of chivalry what God has concealed and covered."
[مَحَاسِنُ[The Virtues ofالشُّكْرِ]Gratitude]
[The Virtues of Gratitude]
قَالَSaidبَعْضُsomeالْحُكَمَاءِ:wise men:صُنْGuardشُكْرَكَyour gratitudeعَمَّنْfrom whoeverلَاdoes notيَسْتَحِقُّهُdeserve itوَاسْتُرْand concealمَاءَthe water ofوَجْهِكَyour faceبِالْقَنَاعَةِ.with contentment.
Some wise men said: "Guard your gratitude from whoever does not deserve it and conceal the water of your face with contentment."
وَقَالَAnd saidالْفَضْلُal-Fadlبْنُson ofسَهْلٍ:Sahl:مَنْWhoeverأَحَبَّlovedالِازْدِيَادَincreaseمِنْinالنِّعَمِblessingsفَلْيَشْكُرْ،let him give thanks,
And al-Fadl ibn Sahl said: "Whoever loved an increase in blessings let him give thanks,
وَمَنْand whoeverأَحَبَّlovedالْمَنْزِلَةَthe statusعِنْدَwithسُلْطَانِهِhis rulerفَلْيَكُفَّهُ،let him restrain himself,
and whoever loved status with his ruler let him restrain himself,
وَمَنْand whoeverأَحَبَّlovedبَقَاءَthe persistence ofعِزِّهِhis mightفَلَيْسُقِطْlet him dropدَالَّتَهُhis presumptuousnessوَمَكْرَهُ.and his cunning.
and whoever loved the persistence of his might let him drop his presumptuousness and his cunning.
وَمِنْAnd fromذَلِكَthatقَوْلُis the saying ofرَجُلٍa manلِرَجُلٍto a manشَكَرَهُwho thanked himفِيforمَعْرُوفٍ:a favor:
And from that is the saying of a man to a man who thanked him for a favor:
لَقَدْIndeedثَبَتَتْhas firmly rootedفِيinالْقَلْبِthe heartمِنْكَfrom youمَحَبَّةٌlove......كَمَاjust asثَبَتَتْare firmly rootedفِيinالرَّاحَتَيْنِthe palmsالْأَصَابِعُthe fingers
Love for you has firmly rooted in the heart ... just as the fingers are firmly rooted in the palms
قَالَ:He said:وَاصْطَنَعَAnd befriendedرَجُلٌa manرَجُلاًa manفَسَأَلَهُand he asked himيَوْماً:one day:أَتُحِبُّنِي"Do you love meيَاOفُلَانُ؟so-and-so?"
He said: And a man befriended another and asked him one day: "Do you love me, O so-and-so?"
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ"Yes,أُحِبُّكَI love youحُبّاًwith a loveلَوْthat ifكَانَit wereفَوْقَكَabove youلَأَظَلَّكَit would shade you,وَلَوْand ifكَانَit wereتَحْتَكَbeneath youلَأَقَلَّكَ.it would carry you."
He said: "Yes, I love you with a love that if it were above you it would shade you, and if it were beneath you it would carry you."
وَقَالَAnd saidكِسْرَىKhosrowأُنُوشِرْوَانَ:Anushirwan:الْمُنْعِمُThe bestower of favorأَفْضَلُis betterمِنْthanالشَّاكِرِthe grateful oneلِأَنَّهُbecause heجَعَلَmadeلَهُfor himالسَّبِيلَthe pathإِلَىtoالشُّكْرِ.gratitude.
And Khosrow Anushirwan said: "The bestower of favor is better than the grateful one because he made for him the path to gratitude."
وَاخْتَصَرَAnd summarizedحَبِيبُHabibبْنُson ofأَوْسٍAwsمِنْfromهَذَاthisشَيْئاًsomethingفِيinمِصْرَاعٍa single hemistichوَاحِدٍoneفَقَالَ:so he said:
And Habib ibn Aws summarized something from this in a single hemistich, so he said:
لَهَانَHow easy it would beعَلَيْنَاfor usأَنْthatنَقُولَwe speakوَتَفْعَلَاand you do
How easy it would be for us that we speak and you do
وَقَالَAnd saidبَشَّارٌ:Bashshar:
And Bashshar said:
أُثْنِيI praiseعَلَيْكَyouوَلِيwhile I haveحَالٌa stateتُكَذِّبُنِيthat gives me the lie......فِيمَاinأَقُولُwhat I sayوَأَسْتَحْيِيand I am ashamedمِنَbeforeالنَّاسِthe people
I praise you while I have a state that gives me the lie ... in what I say and I am ashamed before the people
قَدْIndeedقُلْتُI saidإِنَّthatأَبَاAbuحَفْصٍHafsلَأَكْرَمُis most nobleمَنْof whoيَمْشِيwalks......فَفَخَامَنِيso opposed meفِيinذَاكَthatإِفْلَاسِيmy bankruptcy
Indeed I said that Abu Hafs is the most noble of who walks ... so my bankruptcy opposed me in that
وَلِأَبِيAnd for Abuالْهَوْلِal-Hawlفِيinمِثْلِهِ:something similar:
And for Abu al-Hawl in something similar:
فَإِنِّيFor indeedإِذْwhenمَدَحْتُكَI praised youيَاOابْنَson ofمَعْنٍMa'n......رَآنِيsaw meالنَّاسُthe peopleفِيinرَمَضَانَRamadanأَزْنِيcommitting adultery
For indeed when I praised you, O son of Ma'n ... the people saw me in Ramadan committing adultery
فَإِنْSo ifأَكُI amأُبْتُreturnedعَنْكَfrom youبِغَيْرِwithoutشَيْءٍanything......فَلَاdo notتَفْرَحْrejoiceكَذَلِكَthusكَانَwasظَنِّيmy suspicion
So if I returned from you without anything ... do not rejoice, such was my suspicion
وَلِآخَرَAnd for anotherفِيinمِثْلِهِ:something similar:
And for another in something similar:
لَحَىMay God curseاللَّهُGodقَوْماًa peopleأَعْجَبَتْهُمْwere pleased byمَدَائِحِيmy praises......فَقَالُواso they saidخَفَاتاًsecretlyفِيinمَلَامٍblameوَفِيand inعَتْبٍ:reproach:
May God curse a people who were pleased by my praises ... so they said secretly in blame and in reproach:
أَبَاO AbuحَازِمٍHazimتَمْدَحُ،do you praise,فَقُلْتُso I saidمُعَذِّراً:making excuses:......هَبُونِيconsider meامْرَأًa manجَرَّبْتُI have testedسَيْفِيmy swordعَلَىuponكَلْبٍa dog
"O Abu Hazim, do you praise?" so I said making excuses: ... "Consider me a man who tested my sword upon a dog"
وَلِبَعْضِAnd for someالْمُحْدِثِينَ:later poets:
And for some later poets:
عُثْمَانُUthmanيَعْلَمُknowsأَنَّthatالْحَمْدَpraiseذُوpossessesثَمَنٍa price......لَكِنَّهُbut heيَشْتَهِيdesiresحَمْداًpraiseبِمَجَّانِfor free
Uthman knows that praise possesses a price ... but he desires praise for free
وَالنَّاسُAnd the peopleأَكْيَسُare shrewderمِنْthanأَنْthatيَحْمَدُواthey praiseأَحَداًanyone......حَتَّىuntilيَرَوْاthey seeقَبْلَهُbefore itآثَارَtraces ofإِحْسَانِkindness
And the people are shrewder than that they praise anyone ... until they see before it traces of kindness
وَقَالَAnd saidآخَرُ:another:
And another said:
فَلَوْAnd ifكَانَwereيَسْتَغْنِيto be independentعَنِofالشُّكْرِgratitudeسَيِّدٌa master......لِعِزَّةِdue to the might ofمُلْكٍdominionأَوْorعُلُوِّloftiness ofمَكَانٍstatus
And if a master were to be independent of gratitude ... due to the might of dominion or loftiness of status
لَمَاNot would haveأَمَرَorderedاللَّهُGodالْعِبَادَthe servantsبِشُكْرِهِwith His gratitude......فَقَالَso He saidاشْكُرُونِي"Give thanks to MeأَيُّهَاO youالثَّقَلَانِtwo realms [mankind and jinn]"
God would not have ordered the servants with His gratitude ... so He said: "Give thanks to Me, O you two realms"
الْبَاهِلِيُّAl-Bahiliعَنْon the authority ofأَبِيAbuفَرْوَةَFarwahقَالَ:said:
Al-Bahili on the authority of Abu Farwah said:
أَخْبَرَنِيInformed meالْحَلَبِيُّal-Halabiقَالَ:saying:
Al-Halabi informed me, saying:
مَكْتُوبٌIt is writtenفِيinالتَّوْرَاةِ:the Torah:اشْكُرْ"Give thanksلِمَنْto whoeverأَنْعَمَbestowed favorعَلَيْكَupon youوَأَنْعِمْand bestow favorعَلَىuponمَنْwhoeverشَكَرَكَ،thanked you,
"It is written in the Torah: Give thanks to whoever bestowed favor upon you and bestow favor upon whoever thanked you,
فَإِنَّهُfor indeedلَاnoزَوَالَcessationلِلنِّعَمِfor blessingsإِذَاwhenشُكِرَتْthey are thankedوَلَاand noإِقَامَةَpersistenceلَهَاfor themإِذَاwhenكُفِرَتْthey are denied,
for indeed there is no cessation for blessings when they are thanked and no persistence for them when they are denied,
وَالشُّكْرُand gratitudeزِيَادَةٌis an increaseفِيinالنِّعَمِblessingsوَأَمَانٌand a securityمِنَfromالْغِيَرِ.vicissitudes."y
and gratitude is an increase in blessings and a security from vicissitudes."
قِيلَIt was saidوَقَالَand saidرَسُولُthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،God,صَلَّىmay God's peaceاللَّهُand blessingsعَلَيْهِbe upon himوَسَلَّمَ:and grant him security:
It was said: And the Messenger of God, may God's peace and blessings be upon him, said:
خَمْسٌ"Fiveيُعَاجَلُare hastenedصَاحِبُهُنَّtheir doerبِالْعُقُوبَةِ:with punishment:الْبَغْيُtransgression,وَالْغَدْرُtreachery,وَعُقُوقُdisobedience toالْوَالِدَيْنِparents,وَقَطِيعَةُsevering ofالرَّحِمِkinship ties,وَمَعْرُوفٌand a favorلَاthat is notيُشْكَرُ.thanked."
"Five [sins] whose doer is hastened with punishment: transgression, treachery, disobedience to parents, severing of kinship ties, and a favor that is not thanked."
وَفِيAnd inحَدِيثٍa narrationمَرْفُوعٍ:attributed [to the Prophet]:دُعَاءُ"The supplication ofالْمُنْعِمِthe bestower of favorعَلَىforالْمُنْعَمِthe recipient of favorعَلَيْهِupon himمُسْتَجَابٌ.is answered."
And in a narration attributed [to the Prophet]: "The supplication of the bestower of favor for the recipient of favor is answered."
وَقِيلَ:And it was said:أَنْشَدَrecitedعُمَرُUmarبْنُson ofالْخَطَّابِ،al-Khattab,رَضِيَmay God beاللَّهُpleasedعَنْهُ،with him,الْحُطَيْئَةَal-Hutay'ahهَذَاthisالْبَيْتَverseوَعِنْدَهُwhile with him wasكَعْبُKa'bالْأَحْبَارِ:al-Ahbar:
And it was said: Umar ibn al-Khattab, may God be pleased with him, recited to al-Hutay'ah this verse while Ka'b al-Ahbar was with him:
مَنْWhoeverيَفْعَلِdoesالْخَيْرَgoodلَاwill notيَعْدَمْmissجَوَازِيَهُits reward......لَاnotيَذْهَبُvanishesالْعُرْفُkindnessبَيْنَbetweenاللَّهِGodوَالنَّاسِand the people
Whoever does good will not miss its reward ... kindness does not vanish between God and the people
فَقَالَSo saidكَعْبٌ:Ka'b:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,هَذَاthisالْبَيْتُverseالَّذِيthatقَالَwas saidمَكْتُوبٌis writtenفِيinالتَّوْرَاةِ!the Torah!
So Ka'b said: "O Commander of the Faithful, this verse that was said is written in the Torah!"
قَالَSaidعُمَرُ:Umar:وَكَيْفَAnd howذَاكَ؟is that?
Umar said: "And how is that?"
قَالَ:He said:فِيInالتَّوْرَاةِthe Torahمَكْتُوبٌ:it is written:مَنْ"Whoeverيَصْنَعِdoesالْمَعْرُوفَgoodلَاdoes notيَضِيعُgo to wasteعِنْدِي،with Me,
He said: "In the Torah it is written: 'Whoever does good does not go to waste with Me,
لَاdoes notيَذْهَبُvanishالْعُرْفُkindnessبَيْنِيbetween Meوَبَيْنَandعَبْدِي.My servant.'"
kindness does not vanish between Me and My servant.'"
قِيلَ:It was said:وَدَخَلَAnd enteredأَبُوAbuمُسْلِمٍMuslimصَاحِبُthe master ofالدَّوْلَةِthe stateعَلَىuponأَبِيAbuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbasوَأَبُوwhile AbuجَعْفَرٍJa'farالْمَنْصُورُal-Mansurعِنْدَهُ،was with him,
It was said: Abu Muslim, the master of the state, entered upon Abu al-Abbas while Abu Ja'far al-Mansur was with him,
فَقَالَso saidأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbasلِأَبِيto Abuمُسْلِمٍ:Muslim:يَاOعَبْدَAbdالرَّحْمَنِal-Rahman,هَذَاthisأَبُوis AbuجَعْفَرٍJa'farعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِibnبْنِMuhammadمُحَمَّدٍyourمَوْلَاكَ!client!
so Abu al-Abbas said to Abu Muslim: "O Abd al-Rahman, this is Abu Ja'far Abdullah ibn Muhammad, your client!"
قَالَ:He said:قَدْI haveرَأَيْتُseenمَجْلِسَهُhis sittingيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,وَلَكِنَّbutهَذَاthisمَجْلِسٌis a gatheringلَاnotيُقْضَىis fulfilledفِيهِin itحَقٌّthe rightغَيْرِكَ.of other than you.
He said: "I have seen his sitting, O Commander of the Faithful, but this is a gathering in which the right of other than you is not fulfilled."