وَعَنْAndالْمَدَائِنِيِّAl-Mada'iniقَالَ:said:
And on the authority of Al-Mada'ini, he said:
حَدَّثَنِيnarrated to meرَضِيعٌa foster brotherكَانَwho wasلِيُوسُفَto Yusufبْنِson ofعُمَرَUmarمِنْfromبَنِيBanuعَبْسٍAbsقَالَ:he said:
Narrated to me a foster brother of Yusuf bin Umar from Banu Abs, who said:
كُنْتُI used toلَاnotأُحْجَبُbe barredعَنْهُfrom himوَعَنْand fromحُرْمَتِهِhis household
I was not barred from him and from his household,
فَدَعَاso he calledذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayبِجَوَارٍfor slave girlsلَهُbelonging to himثَلَاثٍthree
so one day he called for three of his slave girls
وَدَعَاand he calledبِخَصِيٍّfor a eunuchأَسْوَدَblackيُقَالُwho was calledلَهُto himحُدَيْجٌHudayj
and called for a black eunuch called Hudayj,
فَقَرَّبَso he brought nearإِلَيْهِto himوَاحِدَةًone
and he brought one of them near to him
فَقَالَand he saidلَهَا:to her:إِنِّيIndeed Iأُرِيدُwantالشُّخُوصَto set outأَفَأُخْلِفُكِshall I leave you behindأَمْorأُشْخِصُكِtake you outمَعِي؟with me?
and said to her: "I want to set out, so shall I leave you behind or take you with me?"
فَقَالَتْ:She said:صُحْبَةُCompany ofالْأَمِيرِthe Ameerأَحَبُّmore belovedإِلَيَّto meوَلَكِنِّيand but Iأَحْسَبُthinkأَنَّthatمَقَامِيmy stayingوَتَخَلُّفِيand my remaining behindأَعْفَىeasierوَأَخَفُّand lighterعَلَيَّ،upon me,
She said: "The company of the Ameer is more beloved to me, but I think that staying and remaining behind is easier and lighter for me."
قَالَ:He said:أَحْبَبْتِYou lovedالتَّخَلُّفَremaining behindلِلْفُجُورِ!for immorality!
He said: "You loved remaining behind for immorality!"
اضْرِبْBeatيَاOحُدَيْجُ،Hudayj,
"Beat, O Hudayj!"
فَضَرَبَهَاso he beat herحَتَّىuntilأَوْجَعَهَا،he caused her pain,
So he beat her until he caused her pain.
ثُمَّThenأَمَرَهُhe commanded himأَنْthatيَأْتِيَهُhe bring to himبِأُخْرَىanotherقَدْwho hadرَأَتْseenمَاwhatلَقِيَتْencounteredصَاحِبَتُهَا،her companion,
Then he commanded him to bring him another who had seen what her companion encountered.
فَقَالَAnd he saidلَهَا:to her:إِنِّيIndeed Iأُرِيدُwantالشُّخُوصَto set outأَفَأُخْلِفُكِshall I leave you behindأَمْorأُخْرِجُكِ؟take you out?
He said to her: "I want to set out, so shall I leave you behind or take you out?"
قَالَتْ:She said:مَاNothingأَعْدِلُI equateبِصُحْبَةِwith the company ofالْأَمِيرِthe Ameerشَيْئاًanythingبَلْratherيُخْرِجُنِي،he should take me out,
She said: "I do not equate anything with the company of the Ameer, rather he should take me out."
قَالَ:He said:أَحْبَبْتِYou lovedالْجِمَاعَintercourseمَاwhatتُرِيدِينَyou wantأَنْthatيَفُوتَكِ!it misses you!
He said: "You loved intercourse, you do not want it to escape you!"
اضْرِبْBeatيَاOحُدَيْجُ،Hudayj,
"Beat, O Hudayj!"
فَضَرَبَهَاSo he beat herحَتَّىuntilأَوْجَعَهَا،he caused her pain,
So he beat her until he caused her pain.
ثُمَّThenأَمَرَhe commandedبِالثَّالِثَةِconcerning the thirdأَنْthatيَأْتِيَهُhe bring to himبِهَاherوَقَدْand she hadرَأَتْseenمَاwhatلَقِيَتْencounteredالْمُقَدِّمَتَانِ،the preceding two,
Then he commanded concerning the third that she be brought to him, and she had seen what the preceding two encountered.
فَقَالَAnd he saidلَهَا:to her:أُرِيدُI wantالْخُرُوجَto go outأَفَأُخْلِفُكِshall I leave you behindأَمْorأُشْخِصُكِ؟take you with me?
He said to her: "I want to go out, so shall I leave you behind or take you with me?"
قَالَتْ:She said:الْأَمِيرُThe Ameerأَعْرَفُis more knowledgeableأَيُّas to whichالْأَمْرَيْنِof the two mattersأَخَفُّis lighterعَلَيْهِ،upon him,
She said: "The Ameer is more knowledgeable as to which of the two matters is lighter upon him."
قَالَ:He said:اخْتَارِيChooseلِنَفْسِكِ،for yourself,
He said: "Choose for yourself."
قَالَتْ:She said:مَاnotعِنْدِيwith meلِهَذَاfor thisاخْتِيَارٌis any choiceفَلْيَخْتَرِso let chooseالْأَمِيرُ،the Ameer,
She said: "I have no choice for this, so let the Ameer choose."
قَالَ:He said:قَدْI haveفَرَغْتُfinishedأَنَاIالْآنَnowمِنْfromكُلِّeveryشَيْءٍthingوَمِنْand fromكُلِّeveryعَمَلٍworkوَلَمْand there has notيَبْقَremainedعَلَيَّupon meإِلَّاexceptأَنْthatأَخْتَارَI chooseلَكِ!for you!
He said: "I have now finished from everything and from every work, and nothing remains upon me except that I choose for you!"
أَوْجِعْCause painيَاOحُدَيْجُ،Hudayj,
"Cause pain, O Hudayj!"
فَضَرَبَهَاSo he beat herحَتَّىuntilأَوْجَعَهَا.he caused her pain.
So he beat her until he caused her pain.
قَالَSaidالرَّجُلُ:the man:وَكَأَنَّمَاAnd it was as ifيَضْرِبُنِيhe was beating meمِنْout ofشِدَّةِintensity ofغَيْظِيmy rageعَلَيْهِ،against him,
The man said: "And it was as if he was beating me out of the intensity of my rage against him,"
فَوَلَّتِso she turned awayالْجَارِيَةُthe slave girlوَتَبِعَهَاand followed herالْخَادِمُ،the servant,
so the slave girl turned away and the servant followed her.
فَلَمَّاSo whenبَعُدَتْshe went farقَالَتْ:she said:الْخَيْرَةُThe best choiceوَاللَّهِby Allahفِيis inفِرَاقِكَ،parting from you,
When she went far, she said: "The best choice by Allah is in parting from you,
مَاnotتَقَرُّfinds coolnessوَاللَّهِby Allahعَيْنُthe eye ofأَحَدٍanyoneبِصُحْبَتِكَ!in your company!"
by Allah, no one's eye ever finds coolness in your company!"
فَلَمْSo did notيَفْهَمْunderstandيُوسُفُYusufكَلَامَهَا،her speech,
Yusuf did not understand her speech,
فَقَالَ:so he said:مَاWhatتَقُولُis she sayingيَاOحُدَيْجُ؟Hudayj?
so he said: "What is she saying, O Hudayj?"
قَالَ:He said:قَالَتْShe saidكَذَاsuch and suchوَكَذَا،and such,
He said: "She said such and such."
قَالَ:He said:يَاOابْنَson ofالْخَبِيثَةِthe wicked womanمَنْwhoأَمَرَكَcommanded youأَنْthatتُخْبِرَنِي؟you inform me?
He said: "O son of the wicked woman, who commanded you to inform me?"
يَاOغُلَامُboyخُذِtakeالسَّوْطَthe whipمِنْfromيَدِهِhis handوَأَوْجِعْand cause painبِهِwith itرَأْسَهُ!to his head!
"O boy, take the whip from his hand and cause pain with it to his head!"
فَمَاSo stillزَالَhe continuedيُضْرَبُbeing beatenحَتَّىuntilاشْتَفَيْتُ.1I was satisfied.
So he kept being beaten until I was satisfied.
مَحَاسِنُThe beauties ofالسَّخَاءِgenerosity
The Beauties of Generosity
رُوِيَIt has been narratedعَنْfromنَافِعٍNafiقَالَ:who said:
It has been narrated from Nafi who said:
لَقِيَMetيَحْيَىYahyaبْنَson ofزَكَرِيَّاءَ،Zakariya,عَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ،be peace,إِبْلِيسَIblis
Yahya bin Zakariya, peace be upon him, met Iblis
فَقَالَand saidلَهُ:to him:أَخْبِرْنِيInform meبِأَحَبِّabout the most belovedالنَّاسِof peopleإِلَيْكَto youوَأَبْغَضِand the most hatedالنَّاسِof peopleإِلَيْكَ،to you,
and said to him: "Inform me about the most beloved of people to you and the most hated of people to you."
قَالَ:He said:أَحَبُّThe most belovedالنَّاسِof peopleإِلَيَّto meكُلُّis everyمُؤْمِنٍbelieverبَخِيلٍstingyوَأَبْغَضُand the most hatedالنَّاسِof peopleإِلَيَّto meكُلُّis everyمُنَافِقٍhypocriteسَخِيٍّ،generous,
He said: "The most beloved of people to me is every stingy believer, and the most hated of people to me is every generous hypocrite."
قَالَ:He said:وَلِمَAnd whyذَاكَ؟is that?
He said: "And why is that?"
قَالَ:He said:لِأَنَّBecauseالسَّخَاءَgenerosityخُلُقُis the character ofاللَّهِAllahالْأَعْظَمُthe Greatestفَأَخْشَىso I fearأَنْthatيَطَّلِعَHe looksعَلَيْهِupon himفِيinبَعْضِsomeسَخَائِهِof his generosityفَيَغْفِرَand forgivesلَهُ.him.
He said: "Because generosity is the greatest character of Allah, so I fear that He may look upon him in some of his generosity and forgive him."
وَقَالَ،And he said,صَلَّىmay Allah send blessingsاللَّهُAllahعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ:and grant him peace:السَّخِيُّThe generous personقَرِيبٌis closeمِنَtoاللَّهِAllahقَرِيبٌcloseمِنَtoالنَّاسِpeopleقَرِيبٌcloseمِنَtoالْجَنَّةِParadiseبَعِيدٌfarمِنَfromالنَّارِ،the Fire,
And he, may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him, said: "The generous person is close to Allah, close to people, close to Paradise, far from the Fire,
وَالْبَخِيلُand the stingy personبَعِيدٌis farمِنَfromاللَّهِAllahبَعِيدٌfarمِنَfromالنَّاسِpeopleبَعِيدٌfarمِنَfromالْجَنَّةِParadiseقَرِيبٌcloseمِنَtoالنَّارِ،the Fire,
and the stingy person is far from Allah, far from people, far from Paradise, close to the Fire.
وَلَجَاهِلٌAnd an ignorant personسَخِيٌّgenerousأَحَبُّmore belovedإِلَىtoاللَّهِAllahتَعَالَىthe Most Highمِنْthanعَابِدٍa worshipperبَخِيلٍ،stingy,
And a generous ignorant person is more beloved to Allah the Most High than a stingy worshipper,
وَأَدْوَىand the most diseasedالدَّاءِdiseaseالْبُخْلُ.is stinginess.
and the most diseased of diseases is stinginess.
وَعَنِAnd fromالنَّبِيِّ،the Prophet,صَلَّىmay Allah send blessingsاللَّهُAllahعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,قَالَ:he said:
And from the Prophet, may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him, who said:
مَاNotأَشْرَقَتْrisesشَمْسٌa sunإِلَّاexceptوَبِجَنْبَتَيْهَاand at its two sidesمَلَكَانِtwo angelsيُنَادِيَانِcalling
No sun rises except that at its two sides are two angels calling out,
وَإِنَّهُمَاand theyلَيُعَرِّفَانِmake knownالْخَلَائِقَto the creationإِلَّاexceptالثَّقَلَيْنِthe two heavy weightsالْجِنَّthe jinnوَالْإِنْسَ:and mankind:
and they make it known to the creation except the two heavy weights, the jinn and mankind:
اللَّهُمَّO Allahعَجِّلْhastenلِمُنْفِقٍfor one who spendsخَلَفاً،a replacement,
"O Allah, hasten a replacement for one who spends,
اللَّهُمَّO Allahعَجِّلْhastenلِمُمْسِكٍfor one who withholdsتَلَفاً،ruin,
O Allah, hasten ruin for one who withholds."
وَمَلَكَانِAnd two angelsيُنَادِيَانِ:call out:يَاOأَيُّهَاyouالنَّاسُpeopleهَلُمُّواcomeإِلَىtoرَبِّكُمْyour Lord
And two angels call out: "O people, come to your Lord,
فَإِنَّfor indeedمَاwhatقَلَّis littleوَكَفَىand sufficesخَيْرٌis betterمِمَّاthan whatكَثُرَis plentifulوَأَلْهَى.and distracts."
for indeed what is little and suffices is better than what is plentiful and distracts."
وَعَنِAnd fromالشَّعْبِيِّAl-Sha'biقَالَ:he said:
And from Al-Sha'bi who said:
قَالَتْSaidأُمُّUmmالْبَنِينَAl-Baninبِنْتُdaughter ofعَبْدِAbdulالْعَزِيزِAzizأُخْتُsister ofعُمَرَUmarبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdulالْعَزِيزِ:Aziz:
Umm Al-Banin bint Abdul Aziz, sister of Umar bin Abdul Aziz, said:
لَوْIfكَانَit wereالْبُخْلُstinginessقَمِيصاًa shirtمَاnotلَبِسْتُهُwould I have worn itوَلَوْand ifكَانَit wereطَرِيقاًa pathمَاnotسَلَكْتُهُ،would I have walked it,
"If stinginess were a shirt I would not have worn it, and if it were a path I would not have walked it."
وَكَانَتْAnd she used toتُعْتِقُfreeكُلَّeveryيَوْمٍdayرَقَبَةًa slaveوَتَحْمِلُand provide mountsعَلَىonفَرَسٍa horseفِيinسَبِيلِthe way ofاللَّهِ،Allah,
And she used to free a slave every day and provide mounts for horses in the way of Allah,
وَكَانَتْand she used toتَقُولُ:say:الْبُخْلُStinginessكُلُّis allالْبُخْلِstinginessمَنْof one whoبَخِلَwithholdsعَلَىagainstنَفْسِهِhimselfبِالْجَنَّةِ.regarding Paradise.
and she used to say: "Stinginess, all of stinginess, is of one who withholds Paradise from his own self."
قِيلَ:It was said:وَأَعْتَقَتْAnd freedهِنْدُHindبِنْتُdaughter ofالْمُهَلَّبِAl-Muhallabفِيinيَوْمٍoneوَاحِدٍdayأَرْبَعِينَfortyرَقَبَةً.slaves.
It was said: Hind bint Al-Muhallab freed forty slaves in one day.
وُرُوِيَAnd it was narratedعَنْfromأُمِّUmmذَرٍّDharrقَالَتْ:who said:
And it was narrated from Umm Dharr who said:
أَرْسَلَSentابْنُIbnالزُّبَيْرِAl-ZubayrإِلَىtoعَائِشَةَAishaبِثَمَانِينَeightyوَمِائَةِand one hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
Ibn Al-Zubayr sent to Aisha one hundred and eighty thousand dirhams,
فَدَعَتْso she calledبِطَبَقٍfor a platterوَهِيَwhile sheيَوْمَئِذٍon that dayصَائِمَةٌwas fastingفَقَسَمَتْهُand she distributed itبَيْنَamongالنَّاسِthe peopleحَتَّىuntilأَمْسَتْevening cameوَمَاand notعِنْدَهَاwith herمِنْofجَمِيعِallذَلِكَthatدِرْهَمٌa dirhamوَاحِدٌ،single,
so she called for a platter while she was fasting on that day, and she distributed it among the people until evening came and there was not a single dirham left with her from all of that.
فَقَالَتْ:She said:يَاOجَارِيَةُslave girlهَلُمِّيbringفَطِّرِينِي،my breaking of the fast,
She said: "O slave girl, bring me something to break my fast with."
فَجَاءَتْهَاSo she brought herبِخُبْزٍbreadوَزَيْتٍ،and oil,
So she brought her bread and oil.
فَقَالَتْShe saidلَهَا:to her:يَاOعَائِشَةُAishaأَمَاcould you notاسْتَطَعْتِhaveمِمَّاfrom whatقَسَمْتِyou distributedأَنْthatتَشْتَرِيَyou boughtلَحْماًmeatبِدِرْهَمٍ؟for a dirham?
She said to her: "O Aisha, could you not have bought meat for a dirham from what you distributed?"
فَقَالَتْ:She said:لَاDo notتَغْضَبِيbe angryفَلَوْfor hadذَكَرْتِنِيyou reminded meلَفَعَلْتُ،I would have done it,
She said: "Do not be angry, for had you reminded me I would have done it."
وَقِيلَ:And it was said:إِنَّهَاthat sheتَصَدَّقَتْgave in charityبِسَبْعِينَseventyأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsوَإِنَّand indeedدِرْعَهَاher garmentلَمُرَقَّعٌ.was patched.
And it was said that she gave seventy thousand dirhams in charity while her garment was patched.
وَقَالَAnd saidبَعْضُsomeالْحُكَمَاءِ:of the wise men:ثَوَابُThe reward ofالْجُودِgenerosityخَلَفٌis replacementوَمَحَبَّةٌand loveوَمُكَافَأَةٌ،and reward,
Some of the wise men said: "The reward of generosity is replacement, love, and reward,
وَثَوَابُand the reward ofالْبُخْلِstinginessحِرْمَانٌis deprivationوَإِتْلَافٌand destructionوَمَذَمَّةٌ.and blame."
and the reward of stinginess is deprivation, destruction, and blame."
وَقَالَAnd saidعَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍ،Talib,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُAllahعَنْهُ:with him:قَالَsaidرَسُولُMessenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,صَلَّىmay Allah send blessingsاللَّهُAllahعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ:and grant him peace:
And Ali bin Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him, said:
يَاOعَلِيُّAliكُنْbeشُجَاعاًbraveفَإِنَّfor indeedاللَّهَAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyيُحِبُّlovesالشُّجَاعَ،the brave person,
"O Ali, be brave, for indeed Allah, Majestic and Mighty, loves the brave person.
يَاOعَلِيُّAliكُنْbeسَخِيّاًgenerousفَإِنَّfor indeedاللَّهَAllahعَزَّMightyوَجَلَّand Majesticيُحِبُّlovesالسَّخَاءَ،generosity,
O Ali, be generous, for indeed Allah, Mighty and Majestic, loves generosity.
يَاOعَلِيُّAliكُنْbeغَيُوراًprotectiveفَإِنَّfor indeedاللَّهَAllahعَزَّMightyوَجَلَّand Majesticيُحِبُّlovesالْغَيُورَ،the protective person,
O Ali, be protective, for indeed Allah, Mighty and Majestic, loves the protective person.
يَاOعَلِيُّAliوَإِنْand ifسَائِلٌa beggarسَأَلَكَasks youحَاجَةًfor a needلَيْسَhe is notلَهَاfor itبِأَهْلٍworthyفَكُنْthen beأَنْتَyouلَهَاfor itأَهْلاً.worthy."
O Ali, and if a beggar asks you for a need and he is not worthy of it, then be you worthy of it."
وَقَالَ،And he said,صَلَّىmay Allah send blessingsاللَّهُAllahعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ:and grant him peace:السَّخَاءُGenerosityشَجَرَةٌis a treeفِيinالْجَنَّةِ،Paradise,
And he, may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him, said: "Generosity is a tree in Paradise,
أَغْصَانُهَاits branchesفِيare inالدُّنْيَاthe worldمَنْwhoeverأَخَذَtakesمِنْهَاfrom itبِغُصْنٍby a branchقَادَهُit leads himذَلِكَthatالْغُصْنُbranchإِلَىtoالْجَنَّةِ.Paradise.
its branches are in the world, whoever takes from it by a branch, that branch leads him to Paradise."
قِيلَ:It was said:وَقَالَAnd saidعَبْدُAbdulالْعَزِيزِAzizبْنُson ofمَرْوَانَ:Marwan:لَوْIfلَمْnotيَدْخُلْenteredعَلَىuponالْبُخَلَاءِthe stingy peopleفِيinبُخْلِهِمْtheir stinginessإِلَّاexceptسُوءُevilظَنِّهِمْtheir assumptionبِاللَّهِabout AllahعَزَّMightyوَجَلَّand Majesticلَكَانَit would have beenعَظِيماً.great.
It was said: Abdul Aziz bin Marwan said: "If there entered not upon the stingy people in their stinginess anything except their evil assumption about Allah, Mighty and Majestic, it would have been great."
وَقَالَ،And he said,صَلَّىmay Allah send blessingsاللَّهُAllahعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ:and grant him peace:تَجَافَوْاOverlookعَنْfromذَنْبِthe sin ofالسَّخِيِّthe generous personفَإِنَّfor indeedاللَّهَAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyيَأْخُذُtakesبِيَدِهِby his handكُلَّمَاwheneverعَثَرَ.he stumbles.
And he, may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him, said: "Overlook the sin of the generous person, for indeed Allah, Majestic and Mighty, takes his hand whenever he stumbles."
وَقَالَAnd saidبَهْرَامُBahramجُورَ:Gur:مَنْWhoeverأَحَبَّlikesأَنْthatيَعْرِفَhe knowsفَضْلَthe virtue ofالْجُودِgenerosityعَلَىoverسَائِرِallالْأَشْيَاءِthingsفَلْيَنْظُرْthen let him lookإِلَىatمَاwhatجَادَbestowed generouslyاللَّهُAllahعَزَّMightyوَجَلَّand Majesticبِهِwith itمِنَofالْمَوَاهِبِgiftsالْجَلِيلَةِmajesticالنَّفِيسَةِpreciousوَالنَّسِيمِand the breezeوَالرِّيحِand the windوَمَاand whatوَعَدَهُمْHe promised themفِيinالْجِنَانِthe Gardensفَإِنَّهُfor indeedلَوْلَاwere it not forرِضَاهُHis pleasure withالْجُودَgenerosityلَمْnotيَصْطَنِعْهُHe would have practiced itلِنَفْسِهِ.for Himself.
And Bahram Gur said: "Whoever likes to know the virtue of generosity over all things, then let him look at what Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has bestowed of majestic, precious gifts, the breeze, the wind, and what He promised them in the Gardens; for indeed, were it not for His pleasure with generosity, He would not have practiced it for Himself."
Footnotes
- 1.مَحَاسِنُ السَّخَاءِ
The Beauties of Generosity