al mahasin wal masawi al bayhaqi

فَصْلٌA chapterلِكَاتِبِهِby its authorفِيonمِثْلِهِ:the like of it:

وَلَسْتُAnd I do notأُقَابِلُmatchأَيَادِيكَyour favors

وَلَاnorأَسْتَدِيمُsustainإِحْسَانَكَyour benevolence

إِلَّاexceptبِالشُّكْرِwith gratitudeالَّذِيwhichجَعَلَهُmade itاللَّهُGod

جَلَّmajesticوَعَزَّand mightyلِلنِّعَمِfor blessingsحَارِساًa guardian

وَلِلْحَقِّand for the rightمُؤَدِّياًa fulfillerوَلِلْمَزِيدِand for increaseسَبَباً.a cause.

وَقِيلَAnd it was saidلِرَسُولِto the Messengerاللَّهِ،of God,

صَلَّىpeaceاللَّهُbeعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ:and blessings:

أَلَيْسَIs notقَدْindeedغُفِرَforgivenلَكَfor youمَاwhatتَقَدَّمَprecededمِنْofذَنْبِكَyour sin

وَمَاand whatتَأَخَّرَ؟lagged behind?

قَالَ:He said:أَفَلَاShould I notأَكُونَbeعَبْداًa servantشَكُوراً!grateful!

وَفِيAnd inالْحَدِيثِthe hadithأَنَّthatرَجُلاًa manقَالَsaid

فِيinالصَّلَاةِthe prayerخَلْفَbehindرَسُولِthe Messengerاللَّهِ،of God,

صَلَّىpeaceاللَّهُbeعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ:and blessings:

اللَّهُمَّO Godرَبَّنَاour Lordلَكَto Youالْحَمْدُis the praiseحَمْداًa praiseزَاكِياًpureطَيِّباًgoodمُبَارَكاًblessedفِيهِ.in it.

فَلَمَّاSo whenانْصَرَفَfinishedرَسُولُthe Messengerاللَّهِ،of God,

صَلَّىpeaceاللَّهُbeعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ،and blessings,

قَالَ:he said:أَيُّكُمْWhich of youصَاحِبُis the ownerالْكَلِمَةِ؟of the word?

قَالَsaidأَحَدُهُمْ:one of them:أَنَاI amيَاOرَسُولَMessengerاللَّهِ.of God.

فَقَالَ:So he said:لَقَدْIndeedرَأَيْتُI sawبِضْعَةًa numberوَثَلَاثِينَand thirtyمَلَكاًangelsيَبْتَدِرُونَracingأَيُّهُمْwhich of themيَكْتُبُهَاwrites itأَوَّلاً،first,

وَقِيلَ:And it was said:نِسْيَانُforgettingالنِّعْمَةِthe blessingأَوَّلُis the firstدَرَجَاتِdegreeالْكُفْرِ،of ingratitude,

وَلِابْنِAnd to Ibnالْمُقَفَّعِ:Al-Muqaffa:

مَنَنْتُI conferred a favorعَلَىuponقَوْمِيmy peopleفَأَبْدَوْاso they showedعَدَاوَةًhostility......فَقُلْتُso I saidلَهُمْto themكُفْؤُequalالْعَدَاوَةِto hostilityوَالشُّكْرِis gratitude

وَقَالَAnd saidآخَرُ:another:

أَلَاAhفِيinسَبِيلِthe pathاللَّهِof GodوُدٌّaffectionبَذَلْتُهُI offered it......لِمَنْto one whoلَمْdid notيَكُنْbecomeعِنْدِيwith meلِمِعْشَارِهِto a tenth of itأَهْلَاworthy

وَلَكِنَّButإِذَاwhenفَكَّرْتُI reflectedفِيهِupon itوَجَدْتُنِيI found myself......بِحُسْنِيby my goodnessإِلَيْهِto himقَدْindeedأَفَدْتُI benefitedبِهِtherebyعَقْلَاan intellect

وَقَالَAnd saidأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulعَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍ:Talib:

لَاDo notتَدَعِabandonالْمَعْرُوفَkindnessلِكُفْرِfor the ingratitudeمَنْof one whoكَفَرَهُwas ungrateful for it

فَإِنَّهُfor indeedيَشْكُرُكَwill thank youعَلَيْهِfor itأَشْكَرُthe most gratefulالشَّاكِرِينَ،of the grateful,

وَقَدْAndقِيلَit has been saidفِيinذَلِكَ:that:

يَدُThe handالْمَعْرُوفِof kindnessغُنْمٌis a gainحَيْثُwhereverكَانَتْit was......تَحَمَّلَهَاbore itشَكُورٌa grateful personأَمْorكَفُورُan ungrateful person

فَعِنْدَSo withالشَّاكِرِينَthe gratefulلَهَاfor itجَزَاءٌis a reward......وَعِنْدَand withاللَّهِGodمَاis whatكَفَرَdeniedالْكَفُورُthe ungrateful

قَالَSaidبَعْضُهُمْ:some of them:مَاNotأَنْعَمَbestowedاللَّهُGodعَلَىuponعَبْدٍa servantنِعْمَةًa blessingفَشَكَرَso he thankedذَلِكَfor thatإِلَّاexceptلَمْHe did notيُحَاسِبْهُcall him to accountعَلَىforتِلْكَthatالنِّعْمَةِ،blessing.

وَقَالَAnd saidبَعْضُsomeالْحُكَمَاءِ:of the wise:عِنْدَUponالتَّرَاخِيslacknessعَنْinشُكْرِthankingالْمُنْعِمِthe Bestowerتَحُلُّbefallعَظَائِمُthe greatestالنِّقَمِ.punishments.

قِيلَ:It was said:وَكَانَand wasرَسُولُthe Messengerاللَّهِ،of God,

صَلَّىpeaceاللَّهُbeعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ،and blessings,

كَثِيراًfrequentlyمَاwhatيَقُولُhe saysلِعَائِشَةَ،to Aishah,

رَضِيَmay Godاللَّهُbeعَنْهَا:pleased with her:

مَاWhatفَعَلَdidبَيْتُكِyour houseأَوْorبَيْتُthe houseالْيَهُودِيِّ؟of the Jew?

فَتَقُولُ:So she says:

يَجْزِيكَIt rewards youأَوْorيُثْنِيpraisesعَلَيْكَyouوَإِنَّand indeedمَنْwhoever......أَثْنَىpraisedعَلَيْكَyouبِمَاfor whatفَعَلْتَyou didكَمَنْis like one whoجَزَىrewarded

فَيَقُولُ،So he says,عَلَيْهِupon himوَعَلَىand uponآلِهِhis familyالسَّلَامُ:be peace:

قَدْIndeedصَدَقَhas spoken the truthيَاOعَائِشَةُ،Aishah,

إِنَّIndeedاللَّهَGodجَلَّmajesticوَعَزَّand mightyإِذَاwhenأَجْرَىHe causesلِرَجُلٍfor a manعَلَىatيَدَيْthe handsرَجُلٍof a manخَيْراًgood

فَلَمْand he did notيَشْكُرْهُthank himفَلَيْسَthen he is notلِلَّهِto Godبِشَاكِرٍ.grateful.

قِيلَIt was saidوَقِيلَand it was saidلِذِيto Dhuالرُّمَّةِ:Al-Rummah:

لِمَWhyخَصَصْتَdid you single outبِلَالَBilalبْنَson ofأَبِيAbiبُرْدَةَBurdahبِمَدْحِكَ؟for your praise?

فَقَالَ:So he said:لِأَنَّهُBecause heوَطَّأَsmoothedمَضْجَعِيmy resting placeوَأَكْرَمَand honoredمَجْلِسِيmy gathering

فَحَقٌّso it is rightلِكَثِيرِfor the abundantمَعْرُوفِهِkindness of hisعِنْدِيwith meأَنْthatيَسْتَوْلِيَit takes possessionعَلَىofشُكْرِي.my gratitude.

وَمِنْهُمْAnd among themمَنْare those whoيُقَدِّمُprioritizeتَرْكَleavingمُطَالَبَةِdemandingالشُّكْرِgratitude

وَيَنْسِبُهُand attribute itإِلَىtoمَكَارِمِnobleالْأَخْلَاقِ،character,

مِنْfromذَلِكَthatمَاwhatقَالَهُwas said byبُزُرْجْمِهْرَ:Bozorgmehr:

مَنْWhoeverانْتَظَرَwaitsبِمَعْرُوفِهِfor his kindnessشُكْراًgratitudeفَقَدْthen indeedاسْتَدْعَىhe has summonedعَاجِلَimmediateالْمُكَافَأَةِ.recompense.

وَقَالَAnd saidبَعْضُsomeالْحُكَمَاءِ:of the wise:كَمَاJust asأَنَّindeedالْكُفْرَingratitudeيَقْطَعُcuts offمَادَّةَthe materialالْإِنْعَامِof bestowing

فَكَذَلِكَso likewiseالِاسْتِطَالَةُboastingبِالصَّنِيعَةِabout the favorتَمْمَحْقُwipes outالْأَجْرَ.the reward.

وَقَالَAnd saidعَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofعُبَيْدَةَ:Ubaidah:مِنَOfالْمَكَارِمِthe noble traitsالظَّاهِرَةِapparent

وَسُنَنِand habitsالنَّفْسِof the soulالشَّرِيفَةِnobleتَرْكُabandoningطَلَبِthe request forالشُّكْرِgratitudeعَلَىforالْإِحْسَانِbenevolence

وَرَفْعُand raisingالْهِمَّةِthe aspirationعَنْaboveطَلَبِseekingالْمُكَافَأَةِrecompense

وَاسْتِكْثَارُand considering abundantالْقَلِيلِthe small amountمِنَofالشُّكْرِgratitude

وَاسْتِقْلَالُand considering littleالْكَثِيرِthe muchمِمَّاof whatيُبْذَلُis offeredمِنْfromنَفْسِهِ.himself.

[مَسَاوِئُ[Evilsالشُّكْرِ]of Gratitude]

قَالَSaidبَعْضُsomeالْحُكَمَاءِ:of the wise:الْمَعْرُوفُKindnessإِلَىtoالْكِرَامِthe nobleيُعْقِبُresults inخَيْراًgood

وَالْمَعْرُوفُand kindnessإِلَىtoاللِّئَامِthe ignobleيُعْقِبُresults inشَرّاً،evil,

وَمَثَلُand the likenessذَلِكَof thatكَمَثَلِis likeالْمَطَرِrainيَشْرَبُdrinksمِنْهُfrom itالصَّدَافُthe oysterفَيُعْقِبُso it results inلُؤْلُؤاًa pearl

وَتَشْرَبُand drinkمِنْهُfrom itالْأَفَاعِيthe vipersفَيُعْقِبْنَso they result inسَمّاً.venom.

وَقَالَAnd saidسُفْيَانُ:Sufyan:وَجَدْنَاWe foundأَصْلَthe originكُلِّof everyعَدَاوَةٍhostilityاصْطِنَاعَis bestowingالْمَعْرُوفِkindnessإِلَىuponاللِّئَامِ.the ignoble.

قِيلَ:It was said:وَأَثَارَand rousedجَمَاعَةٌa groupمِنَofالْأَعْرَابِthe Bedouinsضَبُعاًa hyenaفَدَخَلَتْso it enteredخِبَاءَthe tentشَيْخٍof an old manمِنْهُمْ.among them.

فَقَالُوا:So they said:أَخْرِجْهَا.Drive her out.

فَقَالَ:He said:مَاI wouldكُنْتُnotلِأَفْعَلَdo soوَقَدْwhileاسْتَجَارَتْshe sought refugeبِي.with me.

فَانْصَرَفُوا،So they left,وَكَانَتْand she wasهَزِيلَةًemaciatedفَأَحْضَرَso he broughtلَهَاfor herلِقَاحاًmilch camelsفَجَعَلَand beganيَسْقِيهَاto give her milkحَتَّىuntilعَاشَتْ،she revived,

فَنَامَThen sleptالشَّيْخُthe old manذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayفَوَثَبَتْso she leapedعَلَيْهِupon himفَقَتَلَتْهُ،and killed him,

فَقَالَSo saidشَاعِرُهُمْtheir poetفِيregardingذَلِكَ:that:

وَمَنْAnd whoeverيَصْنَعِbestowsالْمَعْرُوفَkindnessفِيinغَيْرِother thanأَهْلِهِits people......يُلَاقِwill meetالَّذِيwhatلَاقَىmetمُجِيرُthe protectorأُمِّof MotherعَامِرٍAmir

أَعَدَّHe preparedلَهَاfor herلَمَّاwhenاسْتَجَارَتْshe sought refugeبِقُرْبِهِnear him......غَدَاءًa lunchمِنَofاللَّبَنِmilkاللِّقَاحِof the milch camelsالْغَزَائِرِabundant

وَأَسْمَنَهَاAnd he fattened herحَتَّىuntilإِذَاwhenتَمَلَّأَتْshe became full......فَرَتْهُshe tore himبِأَنْيَابٍwith fangsلَهَاhersوَأَظَافِرِand claws

فَقُلْSo sayلِذَوِيto those ofالْمَعْرُوفِkindnessهَذَاthis isجَزَاءُthe recompense ofمَنْone who......يَجُودُis generousبِمَعْرُوفٍwith kindnessإِلَىtoغَيْرِother thanشَاكِرٍa grateful person

قِيلَ:It was said:وَأَصَابَAnd foundأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinجَرْوَa cubذِئْبٍof a wolfفَاحْتَمَلَهُso he carried itإِلَىtoخِبَائِهِhis tent

وَقَرَّبَand brought closeلَهُto itشَاةًa eweفَلَمْand it did notيَزَلْceaseيَمْتَصُّsucklingمِنْfromلَبَنِهَاher milk

حَتَّىuntilسَمِنَit grew fatوَكَبِرَand bigثُمَّthenشَدَّit attackedعَلَىuponالشَّاةِthe eweفَقَتَلَهَا،and killed it,

فَقَالَSo saidالْأَعْرَابِيُّ:the Bedouin:

غَذَتْكَNourished youشُوَيْهَاتِيmy little eweوَنَشَأْتَand you grewعِنْدِيwith me......فَمَاso howأَدْرَاكَdid you knowأَنَّthatأَبَاكَyour fatherذِئْبُwas a wolf?

فَجَعْتَYou bereavedنُسَيَّةًa weak womanوَصِغَارَand littleقَوْمٍpeople......بِشَاتِهِمْof their eweوَأَنْتَwhile youلَهُمْto themرَبِيبُwere a foster child?

إِذَاIfغَلَبَتْprevailsطِبَاعُthe naturesالشَّرِّof evilفِيهِin him......فَلَيْسَthen there is notلِغَيْرِهَاfor other than itفِيهِin himنَصِيبُany share.

وَيُرْوَى:And it is narrated:نَشَأْتَYou grew upمَعَwithالسِّخَالِthe lambsوَأَنْتَwhile you wereجَرْوٌ.a cub.

وَيُضْرَبُAnd is coinedالْمَثَلُthe proverbبِسِنْمَّارٍ،about Sinmmar,

وَكَانَand he wasبَنَىhaving builtلِلنُّعْمَانِfor Al-Numanبْنِson ofالْمُنْذِرِAl-MundhirالْخَوَرْنَقَAl-Khawarnaqفَأَعْجَبَهُand it pleased him

فَكَرِهَso he hatedأَنْthatيَبْنِيَhe should buildلِغَيْرِهِfor anyone elseمِثْلَهُits like

فَأَمَرَso he orderedبِهِhimفُرُمِيَto be thrownمِنْfromأَعْلَاهُits topحَتَّىuntilمَاتَ،he died,

فَقِيلَSo it was saidفِيهِ:about it:

جَزَتْنَاRewarded usبَنُوBanuسَعْدٍSaadبِحُسْنِfor the goodness ofبَلَائِنَاour trial......جَزَاءَwith the reward ofسِنْمَّارٍSinmmarوَلَمْwhile notيَكُhe wasذَاpossessingذَنْبِany sin

وَيُرْوَى:And it is narrated:وَمَاAnd he was notكَانَbeingذَاpossessingذَنْبٍ،any sin,

وَفِيAnd inالْمَثَلِ:the proverb:سَمِّنْFattenكَلْبَكَyour dogيَأْكُلْكَ.it will eat you.

وَقَالَAnd saidبَعْضُهُمْ:some of them: