قَالَSaidابْنُIbnالْأَعْرَابِيِّal-A'rabi
Ibn al-A'rabi said:
وَسَأَلَهُAnd asked himحَمَّادٌHammadعَنْaboutقَوْلِهِ:his saying:
Hammad asked him about his saying:
مَاWhatتَعِيفُdo you consider ominousالْقَوْمُthe peopleفِيinالطَّيْرِthe birdsالرُّوحِ؟returning?
What do the people consider ominous in the returning birds?
فَقَالَ:So he said:
So he said:
تَطَيَّرَDrew an evil omenالْأَعْشَىal-A'shaمِنْfromمَرَضِthe illness ofإِيَاسٍIyasإِلَىregardingالزَّجْرِomensوَالْفَأْلِand good omens
Al-A'sha drew an evil omen from the illness of Iyas regarding omens and good omens,
فَقَالَand saidلِنَفْسِهِto himselfمَاwhatتَعِيفُyou find ominousمِنْهُ،from it,
and said to himself, what do you find ominous from it,
أَيْthat isمَاwhatتَكْرَهُyou dislikeمِنْهُ،from it,
meaning what do you dislike from it,
وَهُوَwhileآخِرُthe end ofأَمْرِهِhis matterإِلَىis towardsالسَّلَامَةِ،safety,
while the end of his matter leads to safety.
فَرَجَعَSo returnedقَيْصَرُCaesarوَقَدْhavingاتَّهَمَaccusedشَهْرَبْرَازَShahrbaraz
Caesar returned having accused Shahrbaraz,
فَلَمْand he did notيَزَلْceaseبِهِwith himحَتَّىuntilأَمْكَنَتْهُhe was enabled byالْفُرْصَةُthe opportunityمِنْهُover himفَقَتَلَهُso he killed himوَعَامَّةَand allرِجَالِهِhis menوَأَفْنَاهُمْ.and annihilated them.
and he kept after him until the opportunity presented itself to him, so he killed him and all his men and annihilated them.
قِيلَ:It was said:
It was said:
وَلَمَّاAnd whenتَشَاغَلَbecame busyعَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِal-MalikبْنُbinمَرْوَانَMarwanبِمُقَاتَلَةِwith fightingمُصْعَبِMus'abبْنِbinالزُّبَيْرِal-Zubayr
When Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan became busy fighting Mus'ab bin al-Zubayr,
اجْتَمَعَgatheredوُجُوهُthe notables ofالرُّومِthe Byzantinesإِلَىtoمَلِكِهِمْtheir kingوَقَالُواand saidلَهُ:to him:
the Byzantine notables gathered to their king and said to him:
قَدْHasأَمْكَنَتْكَenabled youالْفُرْصَةُthe opportunityمِنَagainstالْعَرَبِthe Arabs
"The opportunity has enabled you against the Arabs,
فَقَدْfor indeedتَشَاغَلَhas become busyبَعْضُهُمْsome of themبِبَعْضٍwith othersوَوَقَعَand has fallenبَأْسُهُمْtheir mightبَيْنَهُمْamong them
for some of them have become busy with others and their might has fallen among them,
فَالرَّأْيُso the opinionأَنْis thatتَغْزُوَهُمْyou raid themفِيinبِلَادِهِمْtheir landsفَإِنَّكَfor indeed youتُذِلُّهُمْwill humiliate themوَتَنَالُand attainحَاجَتَكَyour needمِنْهُمْ،from them.
so the opinion is that you raid them in their lands, for you will humiliate them and attain your need from them."
فَنَهَاهُمْSo he forbade themعَنْfromذَلِكَthatفَأَبَوْاbut they refusedعَلَيْهِhimإِلَّاexceptأَنْthatيَفْعَلَ،he do it.
He forbade them from that, but they insisted that he do it.
فَلَمَّاSo whenرَأَىhe sawذَلِكَthatدَعَاhe called forبِكَلْبَيْنِtwo dogsفَأَرَّشَand incitedبَيْنَهُمَاbetween themفَاقتَتَلَاso they foughtقِتَالًاa fightشَدِيدًاsevere
When he saw that, he called for two dogs and incited them against each other, and they fought a severe fight.
ثُمَّThenدَعَاhe called forبِثَعْلَبٍa foxفَخَلَّاهُand released itبَيْنَهُمَا،between them.
Then he called for a fox and released it between them.
فَلَمَّاWhenرَأَىsawالْكَلْبَانِthe two dogsالثَّعْلَبَthe foxتَرَكَاthey leftمَاwhatكَانَاthey wereفِيهِin itوَأَقْبَلَاand turnedعَلَىuponالثَّعْلَبِthe foxحَتَّىuntilقَتَلَاهُ،they killed it.
When the two dogs saw the fox, they left what they were engaged in and turned upon the fox until they killed it.
فَقَالَSo saidمَلِكُthe king ofالرُّومِ:the Byzantines:هَكَذَا"Thusالْعَرَبُthe Arabsتَقْتَتِلُfightبَيْنَهَاamong themselves
The King of the Byzantines said, "Thus the Arabs fight among themselves,
فَإِذَاbut ifرَأَوْنَاthey see usوَهُمْwhile they areمُجْتَمِعُونَunitedتَرَكُواthey will leaveذَلِكَthatوَأَقْبَلُواand turnعَلَيْنَا،upon us."
and if they see us while they are united, they will leave that and turn upon us."
فَعَرَفُواSo they recognizedصِدْقَهُhis truthfulnessوَرَجَعُواand returnedعَمَّاfrom whatكَانُواthey wereعَلَيْهِ.upon it.
So they recognized the truth of what he said and desisted from what they were planning.
وَعَنْAnd on the authority ofبَكَّارِBakkarبْنِbinمَاهَوَيْهِMahawayhقَالَ:he said:
On the authority of Bakkar bin Mahawayh, he said:
قَالَSaidكِسْرَىKhosrowأَبْرُويزُParvezلِمُنَجِّمِهِ:to his astrologer:
Khosrow Parvez said to his astrologer:
كَيْفَHowيَكُونُwill beأَجَلِي؟my appointed time of death?
"How will my death come about?"
فَقِيلَSo it was saidلَهُ:to him:تُقْتَلُ."You will be killed."
It was said to him, "You will be killed."
فَقَالَ:So he said:وَاللَّهِ"By AllahلَأَقْتُلَنَّI will surely killقَاتِلِي!my killer!"
He said, "By Allah, I shall surely kill my killer!"
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedبِسُمٍّpoisonفَخُلِطَto be mixedفِيinأَدْوِيَةٍmedicinesوَكَتَبَand wroteعَلَيْهِ:upon it:
So he ordered poison to be mixed into medicines and wrote upon it:
هَذَا"Thisدَوَاءُis the medicine forالْجِمَاعِintercourse;مَنْwhoeverأَخَذَtakesمِنْهُfrom itوَزْنَthe weight ofكَذَاso-and-soجَامَعَmay have intercourseكَذَاso-and-soمَرَّةً،times,"
"This is the medicine for sexual intercourse; whoever takes from it the weight of so-and-so can have intercourse so-and-so many times,"
وَصَيَّرَهُand placed itفِيinخِزَانَةِthe treasury ofالطِّبِّ،medicine.
and placed it in the medical treasury.
فَلَمَّاWhenقَتَلَهُkilled himابْنُهُhis sonشِيرَوَيْهِShiruyehفَتَّشَhe searchedخِزَانَةَthe treasury ofأَبِيهِhis father
When his son Shiruyeh killed him, he searched his father's treasury
فَمَرَّand came acrossبِذَلِكَthatالسُّمِّpoisonفَقَالَand saidفِيtoنَفْسِهِ:himself:
and came across that poison, and said to himself:
بِهَذَا"With thisكَانَused toيَقْوَىstrengthen himselfأَبِيmy fatherعَلَىforالْجِمَاعِintercourseوَعَلَىand forشِيرِينَShirinوَغَيْرِهَا،and others,"
"With this my father used to gain strength for intercourse and for Shirin and others,"
فَأَخَذَso he tookمِنْهُfrom itفَمَاتَand diedمِنْfromسَاعَتِهِ.his hour.
so he took from it and died on the spot.
وَعَنِAnd on the authority ofالْهَيْثَمِal-HaythamعَنِfromابْنِIbnعَيَّاشٍAyyashقَالَ:he said:
And on the authority of al-Haytham from Ibn Ayyash, he said:
كَانَWasالْحَجَّاجُal-Hajjajحَسُودًاenviousلَاnotتَتِمُّbeing completedلَهُfor himصَنِيعَةٌa favorحَتَّىuntilيُفْسِدَهَا،he would ruin it.
Al-Hajjaj was envious; no favor would be completed for him without him ruining it.
فَوَجَّهَSo he dispatchedعُمَارَةَUmarahبْنَbinتَمِيمٍTamimاللَّخْمِيَّal-LakhmiإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdالرَّحْمَنِal-RahmanبْنِbinمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِbinالْأَشْعَثِal-Ash'ath
He dispatched Umarah bin Tamim al-Lakhmi to Abd al-Rahman bin Muhammad bin al-Ash'ath,
فَظَفِرَand he triumphedبِهِover himوَصَنَعَand didبِهِwith himمَاwhatصَنَعَhe did
and he captured him and did with him what he did,
وَرَجَعَand he returnedإِلَىtoالْحَجَّاجِal-Hajjajبِالْفَتْحِwith the victory
and returned to al-Hajjaj with the victory.
فَلَمْYet he did notيَرَseeمِنْهُfrom himمَاwhatأَحَبَّhe lovedوَكَرِهَand he dislikedمُنَافَرَتَهُ،his alienation,
However, he did not receive from him the reception he loved, and he disliked alienating him,
وَكَانَand he wasعَاقِلًاwiseرَفِيقًا،gentle,
and he was wise and gentle.
فَجَعَلَSo he beganيَتَرَفَّقُto be gentleبِهِwith himوَيُدَارِيهِand conciliate himوَيَقُولُ:and say:
So he started treating him gently, conciliating him, and saying:
أَنْتَ"YouأَيُّهَاOالْأَمِيرُAmirأَشْرَفُare the noblest ofالْعَرَبِthe Arabs;
"You, O Amir, are the noblest of the Arabs;
فَمَنْwhoeverشَرَّفْتَهُyou honorشَرُفَis honoredوَمَنْand whoeverوَضَعْتَهُyou lowerاتَّضَعَis lowered,
whoever you honor is honored, and whoever you lower is lowered.
وَمَاAnd is notيُنْكَرُdeniedلَكَfor youذَلِكَthatمَعَalong withرِفْقِكَyour gentlenessوَيُمْنِكَand your blessednessوَمَشُورَتِكَand your counselوَرَأْيِكَ،and your opinion,
Your status is undeniable, given your gentleness, blessedness, counsel, and sound judgment,
وَمَاand wasهَذَاthisكُلُّهُall of itإِلَّاexceptبِصُنْعِby the creation ofاللَّهِAllahعَزَّMightyوَجَلَّand Majesticوَتَدْبِيرِكَ،and your management,
and all of this was only by the decree of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and your management.
وَلَيْسَAnd there is notأَحَدٌanyoneأَشْكَرَmore gratefulلِصَنِيعِكَfor your favorمِنِّي،than me,
There is no one more grateful for your favor than me.
وَمَنْAnd whoابْنُis Ibnالْأَشْعَثِal-Ash'athوَمَاand whatخَطَرُهُ!is his worth!"
Who is Ibn al-Ash'ath, and what is his worth?"
حَتَّىUntilعَزَمَresolvedالْحَجَّاجُal-HajjajعَلَىuponالْمُضِيِّproceedingإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malik
Until al-Hajjaj resolved to proceed to Abd al-Malik,
فَأَخْرَجَand he brought outعُمَارَةَUmarahمَعَهُ،with him,
and he brought Umarah along with him.
فَوَفَدَSo he arrived as a delegateعَلَيْهِupon himوَعُمَارَةُwhile Umarahيَوْمَئِذٍat that timeعَلَىoverأَهْلِthe people ofفِلَسْطِينَPalestineأَمِيرٌ،was governor,
He arrived as a delegate upon him, while Umarah was at that time governor over the people of Palestine.
فَلَمْAnd he did notيَزَلْceaseيَلْطُفُtreating kindlyبِالْحَجَّاجِal-Hajjajفِيinمَسِيرِهِhis journeyوَيُعَظِّمُهُand magnifying himحَتَّىuntilقَدِمُواthey arrivedعَلَىatعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِ،al-Malik's court.
He continued to treat al-Hajjaj kindly during the journey and honor him until they arrived at Abd al-Malik's court.
فَلَمَّاWhenقَامَتِstoodالْخُطَبَاءُthe oratorsبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْهِhimوَأَثْنَتْand praisedعَلَىal-Hajjajالْحَجَّاجِ،al-Hajjaj,
When the orators stood before him and praised al-Hajjaj,
قَامَstood upعُمَارَةُUmarahفَقَالَ:and said:يَا"OأَمِيرَAmirالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Believers,سَلِaskالْحَجَّاجَal-Hajjajعَنْaboutطَاعَتِيmy obedienceوَمُنَاصَحَتِيand my sincere counselوَبَلَائِي.and my trial/efforts."
Umarah stood up and said, "O Amir of the Believers, ask al-Hajjaj about my obedience, my sincere counsel, and my service."
فَقَالَSaidالْحَجَّاجُ:al-Hajjaj:يَا"OأَمِيرَAmirالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Believers,صَنَعَhe didوَصَنَعَ،and did,
Al-Hajjaj said, "O Amir of the Believers, he did this and that,
وَمِنْand ofبَأْسِهِhis mightوَنَجْدَتِهِand his braveryوَعَفَافِهِand his chastityوَمَكِيدَتِهِand his strategyكَذَاis soوَكَذَا،and so,
and regarding his might, bravery, chastity, and strategy, it is such-and-such.
هُوَHeأَيْمَنُis the most blessedالنَّاسِof peopleنَقِيبَةًin intuitionوَأَعْلَمُهُمْand the most knowledgeable of themبِتَدْبِيرٍin managementوَسِياسَةٍ،and politics,
He is the most blessed of people in intuition and the most knowledgeable in management and politics,
وَلَمْand he has not leftيَبْقَunreachedغَايَةٌany extremeفِيinالثَّنَاءِpraisingعَلَيْهِ.him.
and he left no extreme unreached in praising him.
فَقَالَSaidعُمَارَةُ:Umarah:أَرَضِيتَ"Are you satisfiedيَاOأَمِيرَAmirالْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟of the Believers?"
Umarah said, "Are you satisfied, O Amir of the Believers?"
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ،"Yes,فَرَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْكَ،you,"
He said, "Yes, may Allah be pleased with you,"
حَتَّىuntilقَالَهَاhe said itثَلَاثًاthree timesفِيinكُلِّهَاall of themيَقُولُ:saying:قَدْ"I amرَضِيتُ،satisfied."
repeating it three times, each time saying, "I am satisfied."
فَقَالَSo saidعُمَارَةُ:Umarah:فَلَا"Then may Allah notرَضِيَbe pleased withاللَّهُAllahعَنِal-HajjajالْحَجَّاجِO Amirيَاof the Believers,أَمِيرَnor preserve him,الْمُؤْمِنِينَnor grant him well-being!وَلَاHe is by Allahحَفِظَهُthe evil managerوَلَاwho has corruptedعَافَاهُ!for you the people of Iraq
Umarah said, "Then may Allah not be pleased with al-Hajjaj, O Amir of the Believers, nor preserve him, nor grant him well-being! By Allah, he is the evil manager who has corrupted the people of Iraq for you
فَهُوَand incitedوَاللَّهِthe people against you.السَّيِّئُAnd you have notالتَّدْبِيرِbeen attacked exceptالَّذِيfrom his lack of mindقَدْand weakness of judgmentأَفْسَدَand lack of insightعَلَيْكَinto politics.أَهْلَAnd you have by Allahالْعِرَاقِhis likesوَأَلَّبَif you do notعَلَيْكَdismiss him!"النَّاسَ،people,
and incited the people against you. You have only been assailed due to his weak intellect, feeble judgment, and lack of political insight. By Allah, you will find his likes if you do not depose him!"
فَقَالَSaidالْحَجَّاجُ:al-Hajjaj:مَهْ"CeaseيَاOعُمَارَةُ!Umarah!"
Al-Hajjaj said, "Cease, O Umarah!"
فَقَالَ:He said:لَا"NoمَهْceasingوَلَاnorكَرامَةَhonorيَاOأَمِيرَAmirالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Believers;
He said, "No ceasing and no honor, O Amir of the Believers!
كُلُّeveryامْرَأَةٍwomanلَهُof hisطَالِقٌis divorcedوَكُلُّand everyمَمْلُوكٍslaveلَهُof hisحُرٌّis freeإِنْifسَارَhe marchesتَحْتَunderرَايَةِthe banner ofالْحَجَّاجِal-Hajjajأَبَدًا!ever!"
Every wife of his is divorced and every slave of his is free if I ever march under the banner of al-Hajjaj again!"
فَقَالَSaidعَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِ:al-Malik:مَا"Whatعِنْدَنَاwe haveأَوْسَعُis more accommodatingلَكَ.for you."
Abd al-Malik said, "We have what is more accommodating for you."
فَلَمَّاWhenانْصَرَفَdepartedعُمَارَةُUmarahإِلَىtoمَنْزِلِهِhis residenceبَعَثَsentإِلَيْهِto himالْحَجَّاجُal-Hajjajوَقَالَ:and said:
When Umarah departed to his residence, al-Hajjaj sent to him and said:
أَنَا"Iأَعْلَمُknowأَنَّهُthatمَاnotخَرَجَcameهَذَاthisعَنْكَfrom youإِلَّاexceptمَعْتَبَةًout of resentmentوَلَكَand you haveعِنْدِيwith meالْغِنَىwealthوَلَكَand you haveوَلَكَ.such and such."
"I know that this only came from you out of resentment, and you shall have wealth with me, and you shall have this and that."
فَأَرْسَلَSo he sentإِلَيْهِ:to him:مَا"Iكُنْتُwas notأَظُنُّthinkingأَنَّthatعَقْلَكَyour mindعَلَىis likeهَذَا.this.
Umarah sent back to him, "I did not think your mind was like this.
أَرْجِعُShall I returnإِلَيْكَto youبَعْدَafterالَّذِيwhatكَانَwasمِنْfromطَعْنِيmy attackوَقَوْلِيand my sayingعِنْدَin the presence ofأَمِيرِAmirالْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟of the Believers?
Shall I return to you after what happened of my attack and my words before the Amir of the Believers?
لَاNoوَلَاand norكَرامَةَhonorلَكَ.to you."
No, and no honor to you!"