قَالَSaidثُمَامَةُ:Thumamah:
Thumamah said:
جَلَسَSatالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munيَوْماًone day
Al-Ma'mun sat one day
وَقَدْwhileحَضَرَhad attendedالنَّاسُthe people
and the people had attended,
فَأَمَرَso he orderedعَلِيَّAliبْنَson ofصَالِحٍSalih
so he ordered Ali ibn Salih
بِإِدْخَالِto admitإِسْمَاعِيلَIsmailبْنِson ofمُوسَىMusa
to admit Ismail ibn Musa,
فَغَلِطَbut he made a mistake
but he made a mistake
وَأَدْخَلَand admittedإِسْمَاعِيلَIsmailبْنَson ofجَعْفَرٍ،Ja'far,
and admitted Ismail ibn Ja'far,
وَكَانَand Al-Ma'mun wasالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munمِنْofأَشَدِّthe most severeالنَّاسِpeopleلَهُin towards himبُغْضاًhatred,
and Al-Ma'mun held the utmost hatred toward him,
فَرَفَعَso he raisedيَدَهُhis handإِلَىtoالسَّمَاءِthe sky
so he raised his hand to the sky
فَقَالَ:and said:اللَّهُمَّO Allah,ابْدِلْنِيreplace for meبِعَلِيِّwith Aliبْنِson ofصَالِحٍSalihمُطِيعاًan obedientنَاصِحاًadvising one,
and said: O Allah, replace Ali ibn Salih for me with an obedient and sincere one,
فَإِنَّهُfor indeed heبِصَدَاقَتِهِby his friendshipلِهَذَاto this oneآثَرَpreferredهَوَاهُhis desireعَلَىoverهَوَايَ،my desire.
for out of his friendship for this person, he preferred his own desire over mine.
فَلَمَّاSo whenدَنَاhe drew nearقَبَّلَhe kissedيَدَهُ،his hand,
When he drew near, he kissed his hand,
فَقَالَ:and he said:هَاتِBring forthحَوَائِجَكَ،your needs,
and he said: State your needs.
فَقَالَ:He said:ضَيْعَتِيMy estateبِالْفِتْنَةِduring the turmoilقُهِرَتْwas subduedوَغُصِبَتْand usurpedعَلَيْهَا،from me.
He said: My estate was seized during the turmoil and usurped from me.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedبِرَدِّهَاits returnعَلَيْهِto him
So he ordered it to be returned to him,
ثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:اذْكُرْMentionحَاجَتَكَ،your need.
then said: Mention your [next] need.
فَقَالَ:He said:دَيْنٌA debtكَثِيرٌheavyقَدْhasلَحِقَنِيbefallen meفِيdue toجَفْوَةِthe estrangement ofأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulإِيَّايَ،toward me.
He said: A heavy debt has accumulated upon me due to the Commander of the Faithful's estrangement from me.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedبِقَضَاءِthe settling ofدَيْنِهِ،his debt,
So he ordered his debt to be paid,
وَقَالَ:and said:حَاجَتُكَ؟Your need?
and said: Your need?
قَالَ:He said:يَأْذَنُDoes permitلِيto meأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulفِيinالْحَجِّ؟performing Hajj?
He said: Does the Commander of the Faithful permit me to perform Hajj?
قَالَ:He said:قَدْWe haveأَذِنَّاpermittedلَكَ،you,
He said: We have permitted you.
وَحَاجَتُكَAnd your needأَيْضاً؟also?
And what is your other need?
قَالَ:He said:وَقْفُThe endowment ofأَبِيmy fatherكَانَwasفِيinيَدِيmy handفَأُخْرِجَand it was taken awayعَنِّي،from me.
He said: My father's endowment was in my possession and was taken away from me.
قَالَ:He said:يُرَدُّIt will be returnedعَلَيْكَto youإِنْifرَضِيَagreesوَرَثَةُthe heirs ofأَبِيكَ،your father.
He said: It will be returned to you if your father's heirs agree.
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:الَّذِيThat whichأَمْكَنَنَاwas possible for usفِيregardingأَمْرِكَyour matterقَدْwe haveجُدْنَاbestowedبِهِwith it
Then he said: What was within our power regarding your affair, we have generously granted,
وَوَقْفُand the endowment ofأَبِيكَyour fatherإِلَىbelongs toوَرَثَتِهِ،his heirs.
and your father's endowment belongs to his heirs.
ثُمَّThenقَالَhe saidلِعَلِيِّto Aliبْنِson ofصَالِحٍ:Salih:يَاOعَبْدَservant ofاللَّهِAllah,مَاwhatلِيis with meوَلَكَ!and you!
Then he said to Ali ibn Salih: O servant of Allah, what is wrong with you and me!
مَتَىWhenرَأَيْتَنِيdid you see meأَنْشَطَmore eagerلِإِسْمَاعِيلَfor Ismailبْنِson ofجَعْفَرٍJa'farوَهُوَwhile heصَاحِبِيwas my companionبِالأَمْسِyesterdayبِالْبَصْرَةِ؟in Basra?
When did you see me eager for Ismail ibn Ja'far, when he was my companion just yesterday in Basra?
قَالَ:He said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,ذَهَبَslippedعَنِّيfrom my mindإِسْمَاعِيلُIsmailبْنُson ofمُوسَى،Musa.
He said: O Commander of the Faithful, Ismail ibn Musa slipped from my mind.
قَالَ:He said:ذَهَبَSlippedعَنْكَfrom youمَاwhatكَانَwasيَجِبُobligatoryعَلَيْكَupon youحِفْظُهُto remember
He said: What was obligatory for you to remember slipped from you,
وَحَفِظْتَand you rememberedمَاwhatكَانَit wasيَجِبُobligatoryأَنْthatلَاnotتَحْفَظَهُ،you remember.
and you remembered what you ought not to have remembered.
فَأَمَّاAs forإِذْsinceأَخْطَأْتَyou made a mistakeفَلَاthen do notتُعْلِمِinformإِسْمَاعِيلَIsmailبْنَson ofجَعْفَرٍJa'farالْقِصَّةَ،of the story.
Now that you have made a mistake, do not tell Ismail ibn Ja'far the story.
فَظَنَّSo he thoughtأَنَّهُthat heعَنَىmeantإِسْمَاعِيلَIsmailبْنَson ofمُوسَىMusa,
He thought that he meant Ismail ibn Musa,
فَأَخْبَرَso he informedإِسْمَاعِيلَIsmailبْنَson ofجَعْفَرٍJa'farحَرْفاًwordحَرْفاًby word,
so he informed Ismail ibn Ja'far word for word,
فَأَذَاعَهَاand he broadcasted itإِسْمَاعِيلُIsmailوَبَلَغَand it reachedالْمَأْمُونَAl-Ma'mun
and Ismail spread it, and it reached Al-Ma'mun,
فَقَالَ:so he said:الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to Allahالَّذِيwhoوَهَبَbestowedلِيupon meهَذِهِtheseالأَخْلَاقَdispositionsالَّتِيwith whichأَحْتَمِلُI endureعَلَيْهَاthem:عَلِيَّAliبْنَson ofصَالِحٍSalih,وَأَبَاand AbuعِمْرَانَImranالطُّوسِيَّal-Tusi,وَحُمَيْدَand Humaydبْنَson ofعَبْدِAbdالْحَمِيدِal-Hamid,وَمَنْصُورَand Mansurبْنَson ofالنُّعْمَانِ.al-Nu'man.
so he said: Praise be to Allah who has endowed me with these character traits by which I endure Ali ibn Salih, Abu Imran al-Tusi, Humayd ibn Abd al-Hamid, and Mansur ibn al-Nu'man.
وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd narrated to usمَسْعُودُMas'udبْنُson ofبِشْرٍBishrعَنِfromابْنِIbnدَاحَةَDahahقَالَ:who said:
And Mas'ud ibn Bishr narrated to us from Ibn Dahah, who said:
خَرَجَCame outإِلَيْنَاto usيَعْقُوبُYa'qubبْنُson ofدَاوُدَDawudمِنْfromعِنْدِatالْمَهْدِيِّal-Mahdi'sوَنَحْنُwhile we wereعَلَىatبَابِهِhis doorفَقَالَ:and said:
Ya'qub ibn Dawud came out to us from al-Mahdi's presence while we were at his door and said:
مَاWhat isصَدْرُthe first hemistich ofهَذَاthisالْبَيْتِ:verse:
What is the first hemistich of this verse:
وَمُحْتَرِسٍAnd a watchful guardمِنْagainstمِثْلِهِhis likeوَهُوَwhile he isحَارِسُa guard
And a watchful guard against his like while he himself is a guard
فَإِنَّFor indeedأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulسَأَلَaskedعَنْهُabout itفَلَمْand there wasيَكُنْnotعِنْدَwithأَحَدٍanyoneمِنْهُمْof themجَوَابٌ.an answer.
for the Commander of the Faithful asked about it, and none of them had an answer.
فَقُلْتُ:I said:أَنَاIأُخْبِرُكَ،will tell you.
I said: I will tell you.
قَالَHe saidالْبَرْدَخْتُal-Bardakhtالشَّاعِرُ،the poet,وَالْبَرْدَخْتُand al-bardakhtالْفَارِغُmeans the empty oneبِالْفَارِسِيَّةِ:in Persian:
He said: Al-Bardakht the poet—and al-bardakht means the empty one in Persian:
أَقِلِّيSpareعَلَيْكِagainst meيَاOاللُّومَblameيَاOأُمَّmother ofمَالِكٍMalik......وَذُمِّيand blameزَمَاناًa timeسَادَin which reignedفِيهِin itالْفَلَافِسُal-Falafis
Spare me your blame, O Umm Malik... And blame a time in which al-Falafis reigned
كَسَاعٍLike one strivingإِلَىtowardالسُّلْطَانِthe rulerلَيْسَwho is notبِنَاصِحٍsincere
Like one striving toward the ruler without being sincere
وَمُحْتَرِسٍAnd a watchful guardمِنْagainstمِثْلِهِhis likeوَهُوَwhile he isحَارِسُa guard
And a watchful guard against his like while he is a guard
الْفَلَافِسُAl-Falafisمِنْare fromبَنِيthe tribe ofنَهْشَلِNahshalبْنِson ofدَارِمٍDarimكُوفِيٌّa Kufanوَكَانَand he wasعَلَىin charge ofشُرْطَةِthe police force ofالْحَارِثِal-Harithبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahبْنِson ofأَبِيAbuرَبِيعَةَRabi'ahالْمَخْزُومِيِّ،al-Makhzumi,
Al-Falafis are from Banu Nahshal ibn Darim, a Kufan who was in charge of the police of al-Harith ibn Abd Allah ibn Abi Rabi'ah al-Makhzumi.
وَقَالَAnd saidالأَشْهَبُal-Ashhabبْنُson ofرُمَيْلَةَRumaylahالنَّهْشَلِيُّ:al-Nahshali:
Al-Ashhab ibn Rumaylah al-Nahshali said:
يَاOحَارِHarithيَاOابْنَson ofأَبِيAbuرَبِيعَةَRabi'ahإِنَّهُverily he......يَزْنِيcommits adulteryإِذَاwhenاخْتَلَطَminglesالظَّلَامُthe darknessوَيَشْرَبُand drinks
O Har, son of Abi Rabi'ah, indeed he... commits adultery when darkness falls and drinks wine
جَعَلَHe madeالْفَلَافِسَal-Falafisحَاجِبَيْنِtwo chamberlainsلِبَابِهِfor his door......سُبْحَانَGlory be toمَنْthe One whoجَعَلَmadeالْفَلَافِسَal-Falafisيَحْجُبُact as chamberlains
He made al-Falafis two chamberlains for his door... Glory be to the One who made al-Falafis act as chamberlains
فَدَعَاSo he summonedبِهِhimالْحَارِثُal-Harithوَقَالَ:and said:قَدْI haveعَلِمْتُknownأَنَّهُthat heكَذَّبَliedعَلَيْكَagainst youوَلَكِنْbutلَاnoحَاجَةَneedلِيdo I haveفِيكَin youفَاخْرُجْso get outعَنِّي،from my presence.
Al-Harith summoned him and said: I know he lied about you, but I have no need for you, so get out of my presence.
وَقَالَAnd saidالشَّاعِرُthe poetفِيregardingمِثْلِهِ:his like:
The poet said regarding the like of him:
سَأَتْرُكُI will leaveهَذَاthisالْبَابَdoorمَاas long asدَامَlastsإِذْنُهُits permission
I will abandon this door as long as its permission
عَلَىin the stateمَاthatأَرَىI seeحَتَّىuntilتَلِينَsoftensقَلِيلًاa little
is as I see, until it softens a little
إِذَاIfلَمْnotنَجِدْwe findلِلْإِذْنِfor permissionعِنْدَكَwith youمَوْضِعاًa place
If we find no place for permission with you
وَجَدْنَاWe foundإِلَىtoتَرْكِabandoningالْمَجِيءِcomingسَبِيلًاa way
We found a way to stop coming
وَقَالَAnd saidآخَرُ:another:
And another said:
سَأَتْرُكُI will leaveبَاباًa doorأَنْتَyouتَمْلِكُpossessإِذْنَهُits permission
I will abandon a door whose permission you control
وَإِنْeven ifكُنْتُI wereأَعْمَىblindعَنْtoجَمِيعِallالْمَسَالِكِpaths
Even if I were blind to all paths
فَلَوْلَاHad it not been thatكُنْتَyou areبَوَّابَthe gatekeeper ofالْجِنَانِParadiseتَرَكْتُهَاI would have left it
Had you not been the gatekeeper of Paradise, I would have left it
وَحَوَّلْتُand turnedرِجْلِيmy footمُسْرِعاًhurriedlyنَحْوَtowardمَالِكٍMalik
And hurried my foot toward Malik
وَكَتَبَAnd wroteأَبُوAbuالْعَتَاهِيَةِal-AtahiyahإِلَىtoأَحْمَدَAhmadبْنِson ofيُوسُفَ:Yusuf:
Abu al-Atahiyah wrote to Ahmad ibn Yusuf:
لَئِنْIfعُدْتُI returnبَعْدَafterالْيَوْمِtodayإِنِّيverily Iلَظَالِمٌam indeed unjust
If I return after today, then indeed I am unjust
سَأَصْرِفُI will turnوَجْهِيmy faceحَيْثُwhereverتَبْغِيseekالْمَكَارِمُnoble traits
I will turn my face wherever noble deeds are sought
مَتَىWhenيَنْجَحُsucceedsالْغَادِيthe visitorلَدَيْكَat your placeبِحَاجَةٍwith a need
When does a visitor succeed with a need at your place
وَنِصْفُكَWhile half of youمَحْجُوبٌis veiledوَنِصْفُكَand half of youنَائِمُis asleep
While half of you is veiled and half of you is asleep
وَكَتَبَAnd wroteرَجُلٌa manإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِibnبْنِTahirطَاهِرٍ:(note: Abdullah ibn Tahir):
And a man wrote to Abdullah ibn Tahir:
إِذَاIfكَانَisالْجَوَادُthe generous manلَهُfor himحِجَابٌa chamberlain
If the generous man has a chamberlain
فَمَاthen whatفَضْلُis the virtue ofالْجَوَادِthe generous manعَلَىoverالْبَخِيلِthe miser
Then what is the virtue of the generous man over the miser?
فَأَجَابَهُ:So he answered him:
So he answered him:
إِذَاIfكَانَisالْجَوَادُthe generous manقَلِيلَof littleمَالٍwealth
If the generous man is of little wealth
وَلَمْand he is notيَقْدِرْableتَعَلَّلَhe makes excusesبِالْحِجَابِby means of the chamberlain
And is unable [to give], he makes excuses through the chamberlain
وَكَتَبَAnd wroteعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِson ofمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِson ofأَبِيAbuعُيَيْنَةَUyaynahإِلَىtoصَدِيقٍa friendلَهُ:of his:
And Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Uyaynah wrote to a friend of his:
أَتَيْتُكَI came to youزَائِراًvisitingلِقَضَاءِto fulfillحَقٍّa right
I came to you visiting to fulfill a right
فَحَالَso came betweenالسِّتْرُthe curtainدُونَكَyouوَالْحِجَابُand the chamberlain
So the curtain and the chamberlain came between you and me
وَلَسْتُAnd I am notبِسَاقِطٍfallenفِيinقَدْرِthe esteem ofقَوْمٍpeople
And I am not one to fall in the esteem of people
وَإِنْeven ifكَرِهُواthey dislikedكَمَاjust asيَقَعُfallsالذُّبَابُthe fly
Even if they disliked it, just as a fly falls [uninvited]
وَقَالَAnd saidآخَرُ:another:
And another said:
وَأَحْضُرُAnd I attendبَابَthe door ofإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimجَهْلاًout of ignorance
And I frequent the door of Ibrahim out of ignorance
بِمَاof whatفِيهِis in itوَأَرْشُوand I bribeالْحَاجِبَيْنِthe two chamberlains
Of what it contains, and I bribe the two chamberlains
فَأُخْرِجُSo I am driven outإِنْifخَرَجْتُI went outبِغَيْرِwithoutشَيْءٍanything
So I am driven out if I leave without anything
وَأُدْخَلُAnd I am admittedإِنْifدَخَلْتُI enteredبِدِرْهَمَيْنِwith two dirhams
And I am admitted if I enter with two dirhams
وَقَالَAnd saidآخَرُ:another:
And another said:
يَدُلُّIt indicatesعَلَىthatأَنَّهُhe isكَاتِبٌa scribe
It indicates that he is a scribe
سَوَادٌblacknessبِأَظْفَارِهِon his fingernailsرَاتِبٌconstant
A constant blackness on his fingernails
فَإِنْIfكَانَisهَذَاthisدَلِيلاًproofلَهُfor him
If this is proof for him
فَإِسْكَافُنَاthen our cobblerكَاتِبٌis a scribeحَاسِبٌand an accountant
Then our cobbler is a scribe and an accountant
حِجَابٌA chamberlainشَدِيدٌstrictلِأَبْوَابِهِat his doorsوَلَيْسَand there is notلِبَابِfor the door ofاسْتِهِhis buttocksحَاجِبٌa chamberlain
A strict chamberlain at his doors, while there is no chamberlain for the door of his rear
وَقَالَAnd saidآخَرُ:another:
And another said:
لِقَلْعِPulling outضِرْسٍa molarوَضَنْكِand the distress ofحَبْسٍimprisonment
Pulling out a molar, the distress of imprisonment
وَنَزْعِand the stripping away ofنَفْسٍa soulوَرَدِّand the return ofأَمْسِyesterday
The snatching of a soul, the return of yesterday
وَأَكْلِAnd the eating ofكَفٍّa palmوَضِيقِand the tightness ofخُفٍّa shoe
Eating one's hand, the tightness of a shoe
وَفَقْدِAnd the loss ofإِلْفٍa loved oneوَإِلْفِand the familiarity ofفَلْسٍa coin
The loss of a loved one, the loss of a coin
وَقَوْدِAnd leadingقِرْدٍa monkeyوَنَسْجِand weavingبُرْدٍa cloak
Leading a monkey, weaving a cloak
وَدَبْغِAnd tanningجِلْدٍa hideبِغَيْرِwithoutشَمْسِsunlight
Tanning a hide without sunlight
وَشُرْبِAnd drinkingسَمٍّpoisonوَقَتْلِand killingعَمٍّa paternal uncle
Drinking poison, killing an uncle
وَكُلِّAnd everyغَمٍّgriefوَيَوْمِand day ofنَحْسِmisfortune
Every grief, every day of misfortune
وَنَفْخِAnd blowing intoنَارٍa fireوَحَمْلِand carryingعَارٍdisgrace
Blowing into a fire, carrying disgrace
وَبَيْعِAnd sellingجَارٍa neighborبِرُبُعِfor a quarter ofفَلْسٍa coin
Selling a neighbor for a quarter of a coin