فَإِنَّاFor indeed weسَنُشْبِعُwill satisfyأَضْيَافَنَاour guests......وَنَأْتِيand we come toالْمَطِيَّthe riding camelsفَنَعْتَامُهَاso we select them
For indeed we will satisfy our guests... and we come to the riding camels so we select them
قِيلَ:It was said:وَنَزَلَand there alightedعَلَىuponحَاتِمٍHatimضَيْفٌa guestوَلَمْand there was notيَحْضُرْهُpresent with himقِرًىhospitality foodفَنَحَرَso he slaughteredنَاقَةَthe she-camel ofالضَّيْفِthe guestوَعَشَّاهُand gave him supperوَغَدَّاهُand gave him lunchثُمَّthenقَالَhe saidلَهُ:to him:إِنَّكَIndeed youأَقْرَضْتَنِيlent meنَاقَتَكَyour she-camelفَغَدَيْتُكَso I fed you lunchبِهَاwith itفَاحْتَكِمْso demand your judgmentعَلَيَّ،against me,قَالَ:he said:رَاحِلَتَيْنِ،Two riding camels,قَالَ:he said:لَكَfor you areعِشْرُونَtwentyأَرَضِيتَ؟are you satisfied?قَالَ:he said:نَعَمْYesوَفَوْقَand aboveالرِّضَى،satisfaction,قَالَ:he said:فَلَكَthen for you areأَرْبَعُونَ،forty,ثُمَّthenقَالَhe saidلِمَنْto whoeverبِحَضْرَتِهِwas in his presenceمِنْfromقَوْمِهِ:his people:مَنْWhoeverأَتَانَاcomes to us withبِنَاقَةٍa she-camelفَلَهُthen for him isنَاقَتَانِtwo she-camelsبَعْدَafterالْغَارَةِ،the raid,فَأَتَوْهُso they brought himبِأَرْبَعِينَfortyفَدَفَعَهَاand he handed them overإِلَىtoضَيْفِهِ.his guest.
It was said: A guest alighted at Hatim's place and there was no hospitality food present with him, so he slaughtered the guest's she-camel and gave him supper and lunch. Then he said to him: Indeed you lent me your she-camel so I gave you lunch with it, therefore demand your judgment against me. He said: Two riding camels. He said: For you are twenty, are you satisfied? He said: Yes, and above satisfaction. He said: Then for you are forty. Then he said to whoever was present from his people: Whoever comes to us with a she-camel, then for him are two she-camels after the raid. So they brought him forty and he handed them over to his guest.
وَحَكَوْاAnd they relatedعَنْaboutحَاتِمٍHatimأَنَّهُthat heخَرَجَwent outفِيinالشَّهْرِthe monthالْحَرَامِsacredيَطْلُبُseekingحَاجَةً،a need,فَلَمَّاand whenكَانَhe wasبِأَرْضِin the land ofعَنَزَةَAnazahنَادَاهُcalled out to himأَسِيرٌa captiveلَهُمْ:belonging to them:يَاOأَبَاAbuسَفَانَةَSafanahأَكَلَنِيhas consumed meالْإِسَارُ،captivity,قَالَ:he said:وَيْلَكَWoe to youوَاللَّهِby AllahمَاnotأَنَاI amفِيinبِلَادِيmy countryوَمَاand notمَعِيwith me isشَيْءٌanythingوَقَدْand indeedأَسَأْتَyou have done wrongأَنْthatتَوَهَّمْتَyou assumedبِي!about me!فَذَهَبَSo he wentإِلَىtoالْعَنِزِيِّينَthe Anazitesفَسَاوَمَهُمْand bargained with themبِهِfor himوَاشْتَرَاهُand bought himمِنْهُمْfrom themوَقَالَ:and said:خَلُّواReleaseعَنْهُhimوَأَنَاand Iأُقِيمُwill stayمَكَانَهُin his placeفِيinقَيْدِهِhis shacklesحَتَّىuntilأُؤَدِّيَI payفِدَاهُ،his ransom,فَفَعَلُوا،so they did,فَأَتَاهُمْand he brought themبِفِدَائِهِ.his ransom.
And they related about Hatim that he went out in the sacred month seeking a need, and when he was in the land of Anazah, a captive belonging to them called out to him: O Abu Safanah, captivity has consumed me. He said: Woe to you, by Allah, I am not in my country and nothing is with me, and you have done wrong to assume [such things] about me! So he went to the Anazites and bargained with them for him and bought him from them and said: Release him and I will stay in his place in his shackles until I pay his ransom. So they did, and he brought them his ransom.
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidفِيinالْمَثَلِ:the proverb:هُوَHe isأَجْوَدُmore generousمِنْthanكَعْبِKa'bبْنِson ofمَامَةَ،Mamah,وَكَانَand he wasمِنْfromإِيَادٍ،Iyad,وَبَلَغَand it reachedمِنْfromجُودِهِhis generosityأَنَّهُthat heخَرَجَwent outفِيinرَكْبٍa caravanوَفِيهِمْand among them wasرَجُلٌa manمِنْfromأَهْلِthe people ofالنَّمِرِAn-Namirبْنِson ofقَاسِطٍQasitفِيinشَهْرِthe month ofنَاجِرٍ،Najir,وَالنَّجْرُand an-najr isالْعَطَشُ،thirst,فَضَلُّواso they got lostوَتَصَافَنُواand divided equallyمَاءَهُمْtheir waterفَجَعَلَso beganالنَّمْرِيُّthe Namiriteيَشْرَبُdrinkingنَصِيبَهُhis shareفَإِذَاand wheneverأَصَابَreachedكَعْباًKa'bنَصِيبُهُhis shareقَالَ:he said:اعْطِGiveأَخَاكَyour brotherيَصْطَبِحْ،to have his morning drink,فَيُؤْثِرُهُso he would prefer himعَلَىoverنَفْسِهِ،himself,حَتَّىuntilأَضَرَّharmedبِهِhimالْعَطَشُ،thirst,فَلَمَّاand whenرَأَىhe sawذَلِكَthatاسْتَحَثَّhe urged onرَاحِلَتَهُhis riding camelوَبَادَرَand hastenedحَتَّىuntilرَفَعَتْroseلَهُfor himأَعْلَامُlandmarks ofالْمَاءِwaterوَقِيلَand it was saidلَهُ:to him:رُدَّSend backكَعْباًKa'bفَإِنَّكَfor indeed youوَارِدٌ،are arriving at water,فَغَلَبَهُso overcame himالْعَطَشُthirstفَمَاتَand he diedوَنَجَاand survivedرَفِيقُهُ.his companion.
And it was said in the proverb: He is more generous than Ka'b ibn Mamah, and he was from Iyad, and his generosity reached such a point that he went out in a caravan among whom was a man from the people of An-Namir ibn Qasit in the month of Najir—and an-najr is thirst—so they got lost and divided their water equally. The Namirite would drink his share, and whenever Ka'b's share was due to him, he would say: Give your brother to have his morning drink, preferring him over himself, until thirst harmed him. When he saw that, he urged on his riding camel and hastened until the landmarks of water appeared to him and it was said to him: Send back Ka'b for indeed you are arriving at water, but thirst overcame him and he died while his companion survived.
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidفِيinالْمَثَلِ:the proverb:هُوَHe isأَسْمَحُmore bountifulمِنْthanلَافِظَةٍ،lafizah,وَهِيَand she isالْعَنْزُthe she-goatتُسْتَدْعَىthat is calledلِلْحَلْبِfor milkingفَتَجِيءُand she comesإِلَيْهِto himوَهِيَwhile sheتَلْفِظُis regurgitatingبِجَرَّتِهَاher cudفَرَحاًout of joyبِالْحَلْبِ،at milking,وَقَالَand saidالشَّاعِرُ:the poet:
And it was said in the proverb: He is more bountiful than lafizah, and she is the she-goat that is called for milking and she comes to him while she is regurgitating her cud out of joy at milking, and the poet said:
يَدَاكَYour two handsيَدٌone handخَيْرُهَاwhose goodيُرْتَجَىis hoped for......وَأُخْرَىand anotherلِأَعْدَائِهَاfor her enemiesغَائِظَهْis enraging
Your two hands: one hand whose good is hoped for... and another enraging to her enemies
فَأَمَّاAs forالَّتِيthe oneخَيْرُهَاwhose goodيُرْتَجَىis hoped for......فَأَجْوَدُis more generousجُوداًin generosityمِنَthanاللَّافِظَهْthe lafizah
As for the one whose good is hoped for... it is more generous in generosity than the lafizah
وَأَمَّاAnd as forالَّتِيthe oneشَرُّهَاwhose evilيُتَّقَىis guarded against......فَنَفْسُthen the soul ofالْعَدُوِّthe enemyبِهَاwith itفَائِظَهْis triumphant
And as for the one whose evil is guarded against... then the soul of the enemy is triumphant with it
قِيلَ:It was said:وَخَرَجَand went outمُعَاوِيَةُMuawiyahبْنُson ofأَبِيAbuسُفْيَانَSufyanذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayفَقَامَand stoodإِلَيْهِbefore himرَجُلٌa manفَقَالَ:and said:قَدْIndeedأَمَّلْتُكَI have hoped in youلِمُهِمٍّfor an important matterفَمَاso what isعِوَضِيmy compensationمِنْfromذَلِكَ؟that?قَالَ:He said:إِبْلَاغُكَFulfilling for youأُمْنِيَتَكَyour desireفَتَمَنَّ،so wish,قَالَ:he said:أَلْفُA thousandدِينَارٍ،dinars,قَالَ:he said:هِيَthey areلَكَfor youوَمِثْلُهَاand the like of itاسْتِظْهَاراًas a reinforcementلِبَقَاءِfor the continuation ofالنِّعْمَةِblessingعَلَيْكَ.upon you.
It was said: Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan went out one day and a man stood before him and said: I have hoped in you for an important matter, so what is my compensation from that? He said: Fulfilling your desire for you, so wish. He said: A thousand dinars. He said: They are for you, and the like of it as a reinforcement for the continuation of blessing upon you.
وَقَالَAnd saidالْمُهَلَّبُAl-Muhallabبْنُson ofأُصْفُرَةَUsfurahلِبَنِيهِ:to his sons:يَاOبُنَيَّmy sonsإِنَّindeedثِيَابَكُمْyour clothesعَلَىonغَيْرِكُمْothers besides youأَحْسَنُare betterمِنْهَاthanعَلَيْكُمْ،on you,وَدَوَابَّكُمْand your mountsتَحْتَunderغَيْرِكُمْothers besides youأَحْسَنُare betterمِنْهَاthanتَحْتَكُمْ،under you,وَكَانَand he usedيَقُولُto sayلِوَلَدِهِ:to his offspring:لَاDo notتَتَكَلَّفُواrelyعَلَىuponمَاwhatسَبَقَprecededمِنْfromفِعْلِيmy deedوَافْعَلُواand doمَاwhatيُنْسَبُis attributedإِلَيَّ،to me,ثُمَّthenقَالَhe saidمُتَمَثِّلًا:reciting poetry:
And Al-Muhallab ibn Usfurah said to his sons: O my sons, indeed your clothes on others besides you are better than them on you, and your mounts under others besides you are better than them under you. And he used to say to his offspring: Do not rely upon what preceded from my deed and do what is attributed to me, then he said reciting poetry:
إِنَّمَاIndeedالْمَجْدُglory isمَاwhatبَنَىbuiltوَالِدُthe father ofالصِّدْtruthقِ...وَأَحْيَاand revivedفِعَالَهُhis deedsالْمَوْلُودُthe newborn son
Indeed glory is what the truthful father built... and whose deeds the son revived
وَيَقُولُ:And he would say:ابْتِدَاءُInitiatingالْفَضْلِfavorيَدٌis a handمَوْفُورَةٌabundantوَالْبَذْلُand givingبَعْدَafterالطَّلَبِthe requestيَدٌis a handمَقْبُوضَةٌ.withdrawn.
And he would say: Initiating favor is an abundant hand, and giving after the request is a withdrawn hand.
فَأَمَّاAs forصِلَاتُgifts ofالْخُلَفَاءِthe caliphsوَسَخَاؤُهُمْand their generosityفَإِنَّهُthen indeed itحَدَّثَنَاnarrated to usهَارُونُHarunبْنُson ofمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِson ofإِسْمَاعِيلَIsmailبْنِson ofمُوسَىMusaالْهَادِيAl-Hadiقَالَ:he said:حَدَّثَنِيnarrated to meعَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofصَالِحٍSalihقَالَ:he said:كُنْتُI wasيَوْماًone dayعَلَىatرَأْسِthe head ofالْهَادِيAl-Hadiوَأَنَاwhile Iغُلَامٌwas a boyوَقَدْand he hadجَفَاneglectedالْمَظَالِمَgrievancesثَلَاثَةَthreeأَيَّامٍdaysعَاقِرُthe consumer ofالْعَقَارِwineفِيهَا،in them,فَدَخَلَso enteredعَلَيْهِupon himالْحَرَانِيُّAl-Harraniفَقَالَ:and said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulإِنَّindeedالْعَامَّةَthe common peopleلَاare notتُقَادُ،led,أَوْorقَالَ:he said:لَاdo notتَنْقَادُcomplyلِمَاwith whatأَنْتَyou areعَلَيْهِ،upon,لَمْyou have notتَنْظُرْlookedفِيintoالْمَظَالِمِgrievancesمُنْذُforثَلَاثَةِthreeأَيَّامٍ،days,فَالْتَفَتَso he turnedإِلَيَّto meفَقَالَ:and said:يَاOعَلِيُّAliائْذَنْgive permissionلِلنَّاسِto the peopleعَلَيَّto enter upon meبِالْجَفْلَىen masseلَاnotبِالنَّقْرَى،selectively,فَخَرَجْتُso I went outمِنْfromعِنْدِهِhis presenceوَأَنَاwhile Iأَطِيرُwas flyingعَلَىonوَجْهِيmy faceلَاnotأَدْرِيknowingمَاwhatقَالَhe saidلِي،to me,فَقُلْتُ:so I said:أَرْجِعُShall I returnفَأسْأَلُهُand ask himعَمَّاabout whatقَالَhe saidفَيَقُولُso he will sayتَحْجُبُنِيYou block meوَلَاand do notتَعْلَمُunderstandكَلَامِي؟my speech?ثُمَّThenأَدْرَكَنِيovertook meذِهْنِيmy witفَبَعَثْتُso I sentإِلَىtoأَعْرَابِيٍّa Bedouinكَانَwho wasوَفَدَvisitingعَلَيْنَاusفَسَأَلْتُهُand I asked himعَنِaboutالْجَفْلَىal-jaflaوَالنَّقْرَى،and al-naqra,فَقَالَ:so he said:الْجَفْلَىAl-jafla isجَفَالَةُgathering ofالرِّجَالِmenوَالنَّقْرَىand al-naqra isتَرْتِيبُهُمْ،ordering them,فَأَمَرْتُso I orderedبِالسُّتُورِthe curtainsفَرُفِعَتْto be liftedوَبِالْأَبْوَابِand the doorsفَفُتِحَتْto be openedفَدَخَلَso enteredالنَّاسُthe peopleعَلَىuponبُكْرَةِthe morning ofأَبِيهِمْthem allفَلَمْand he did notيَزَلْceaseيَنْظُرُlookingفِيintoالْمَظَالِمِgrievancesإِلَىuntilاللَّيْلِ،night,فَلَمَّاand whenتَقَوَّضَdispersedالْمَجْلِسُthe gatheringقُلْتُ:I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulكَلَّمْتَنِيyou spoke to meبِكَلَامٍwith wordsلَمْI did notأَعْرِفْهُknowفَبَعَثْتُso I sentإِلَىtoأَعْرَابِيٍّa Bedouinكَانَwho wasعِنْدِيwith meفَفَسَّرَهُand he explainedلِيto meوَفَهَّمَنِيand made me understandفَكَافِئْهُso reward himعَنِّيon my behalfيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،the Faithful,فَقَالَ:he said:نَعَمْYesمِائَةُa hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsتُحْمَلُshall be carriedإِلَيْهِ،to him,فَقُلْتُ:so I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinجِلْفٌuncouthوَفِيand inعَشَرَةِtenآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsمَاwhatأَغْنَاهُ!would enrich him!فَقَالَ:He said:وَيْحَكَWoe to youأَجْوَدُDo you show generosityوَتَبْخَلُ؟and act miserly?
As for the gifts of the caliphs and their generosity, Harun ibn Muhammad ibn Ismail ibn Musa al-Hadi narrated to us, saying: Ali ibn Salih narrated to me, saying: I was one day at the head of al-Hadi while I was a boy, and he had neglected grievances for three days while consuming wine in them. Al-Harrani entered upon him and said: O Commander of the Faithful, the common people are not led—or he said: do not comply—with what you are upon; you have not looked into grievances for three days. So he turned to me and said: O Ali, give permission to the people to enter upon me en masse, not selectively. So I went out from his presence while I was flying on my face, not knowing what he said to me. I said: Shall I return and ask him about what he said, whereupon he will say, 'You block me and do not understand my speech'? Then my wit overtook me, so I sent to a Bedouin who was visiting us and asked him about al-jafla and al-naqra. He said: Al-jafla is the gathering of men and al-naqra is their ordering. So I ordered the curtains to be lifted and the doors to be opened, and the people entered en masse, and he continued looking into grievances until night. When the gathering dispersed, I said: O Commander of the Faithful, you spoke to me with words I did not know, so I sent to a Bedouin who was with me and he explained them to me and made me understand, so reward him on my behalf, O Commander of the Faithful. He said: Yes, a hundred thousand dirhams shall be carried to him. So I said: O Commander of the Faithful, an uncouth Bedouin—ten thousand dirhams would have been enough to enrich him! He said: Woe to you, do you show generosity and act miserly?