Epitome of Wisdom, Poem (l. 44-48)

Below is the eight installment (lines 44-48) of my translation of Bosti‘s famous poem, Epitome of Wisdom, with the original Arabic following immediately underneath. The earlier lines can be found on the following links: (l. 1-6) and (l. 7-12) and (l.13-17) and (l.18-24) and (l.25-31) and (l.32-36) and (l.37-43).

You'll realize through deep thought and wit:
If income meets your needs, its adequate.
The satisfied man's happy with his life,
The miser e'en with more remains in strife.
When you are far from brethren and from friends
Your intellect as confidant attends.
Good sense and piety are comrades twain
And riches have a neighbor named disdain.
The noble man besieged by decadence
Shall elsewhere on the earth find residence.

44  كفى من العيش ما قد سَدَّ مِن عَوَزٍ ** ففيـه للحُـرِّ إن حقَّقْــتَ غُنْيـان

45  وذو القناعةِ راضٍ من معيشتِـهِ ** وصاحبُ الحِرصِ إن أثْرى فغضبانُ

46  حَسْبُ الفتى عَقْـلُه خِلاًّ يُعاشِرُه ** إذا تحــامـاه إخـوانٌ وخُــلاَّنُ

47  هما رَضيعا لِبانٍ: حِكمةٌ وتُقًى، ** وساكِنـاً وطـنٍ: مـالٌ وطغيــانُ

48  إذا نَبـا بكريـم مَوْطِـنٌ فلـه ** وراءَهُ في بسيـطِ الأرضِ أوطـانُ

PICTURE CREDIT: Maklay62, from https://pixabay.com/photos/money-dollars-success-business-1428594/

Lady Zaynab’s Karbala Lament (rhymed)

After the tragedy of Karbala (in the year 61H / 680 CE), in which the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Husayn was slaughtered along with many of his family members, the following lines of poetry were recited by Zaynab bint `Ali (Husayn’s sister) (according to another version it was Zaynab bint `Aqil, Husayn’s first cousin. I had previously translated these lines into unrhymed English (here), and now I am pleased to present them with rhyme and meter:

 

Imagine if right now the Prophet spoke;

What have you done, O last community?

My offspring, and inviolate women folk

Are drenched with blood, or in captivity?

Recall you not, when ere your Prophet spoke,

To caution you against such perfidy?

ماذا تقولون إن قال النبي لكم * ماذا فعلتم وأنتم آخر الأمم
بعترتي وبأهلي بعد مفتقدي * منهم أسارى ومنهم ضرجوا بدم
ما كان هذا جزائي إذ نصحت لكم * أن تخلفوني بسوء في ذوي رحمي

Sources: Tarikh Dimashq, Ansab al-Ashraf, Muruj al-Dhahab  with slight variations in the wording of the lines of poetry

Epitome of Wisdom, Poem (l. 37-43)

Below is the seventh installment (lines 37-43) of my translation of Bosti‘s famous poem, Epitome of Wisdom, with the original Arabic following immediately underneath. The earlier lines can be found on the following links: (l. 1-6) and (l. 7-12) and (l.13-17) and (l.18-24) and (l.25-31) and (l.32-36).

PICTURE CREDIT: ShepherdMedia, https://pixabay.com/photos/sundial-sun-dial-manor-house-4017657/

Think not all men to be a single type
In sooth they are of widely diverse stripe.
Yea, no two springs are equally as sweet,
Nor every fodder is a camel's treat.
Let not delay scratch charity's fair face:
Postponement is a lesion on your grace.
Seek rede from only allies pure and true
Who'll give astute insights that nurture you.
For planning calls for movers who fulfill,
As battle calls for gallant knights with skill.
Allow all matters to run their due course
And all things have a bounded term perforce.
So shun impatience when pursuing things
As oft a healing crisis true cure brings.

37. لا تحسبِ الناسَ طبعاً واحداً فلهم …غرائـزٌ لسـتَ تُحْصيهـنَّ ألــوانُ

38ـ وما كلُّ مـاءٍ كصـدّاءٍ لـوارِدِهِ … نَعَـمْ، ولا كـلُّ نَبْـتٍ فهو سَعْــدانُ

39ـ لا تَخْدِشَنَّ بمَطْلٍ وَجْـهَ عارِفـةٍ … فالبِـرُّ يَخْدِشُــه مَطْــلٌ ولَيـّـانُ

40. لا تَسْتشِرْ غيرَ نَدْبٍ حازمٍ يقظٍ ** قد استَـوى فيـه إســرارٌ وإعلانُ

41ـ فللتدابير فرسان إذا ركضـوا ** فيهـا أبـروا، كمـا للحـرب فرسان

42ـ وللأمـور مواقيـتٌ مقـدرةٌ ** وكــل أمـر لـه حـد وميــزان

43ـ فلا تكُنْ عَجِلاً بالأمـر تَطْلبُـه ** فليـس يُحمَـدُ قبـلَ النُّضْج بُحْرانُ

Epitome of Wisdom, Poem (l. 32-36)

Below is the sixth installment (lines 22-36) of my translation of Bosti‘s famous poem, Epitome of Wisdom, with the original Arabic following immediately underneath. The earlier lines can be found on the following links: (l. 1-6) and (l. 7-12) and (l.13-17) and (l.18-24) and (l.25-31).

Be not lethargic when pursuing good, 
For lazy folk shall miss much livelihood.
Good sense and piety cannot be matched
For honor, though one's roof with gold be thatched.
When fortune smiles on you, your friends abound,
When it withdraws, then most of them rebound.
A tongue-tied fool with wealth earns great repute,
A poor Shakespeare may just as well be mute.
A gossiper your secrets will not keep;
As in the wild a fox won't guard your sheep.

32 – دَعِ التكاسُلَ في الخيراتِ تَطْلُبُها … فليـس يسـعدُ بالخيـراتِ كسـلانُ

33 – لا ظِلَّ للمَرْءِ يَعْرى من تُقىً ونُهىً … وإنْ أظلَّتــــه أوراقٌ وأفْنـــانُ

34 – والناسُ أعوانُ من والتْهُ دَولَتُهُ … وهــم عليـه إذا عادَتْـهُ أعــوانُ

35 – (سَحْبانُ) من غيرِ مالِ (باقِلٌ) حَصِرٌ … و(باقِـلٌ) فـي ثـراءِ المالِ (سَحْبانُ)

36 – لا تودِعِ السِّـر وشَّـاءً يبوحُ بهِ … فمـا رَعـى غنماً في الدَّوِّ سِرْحـانُ

PICTURE CREDIT: qimono, https://pixabay.com/photos/crow-tree-bird-black-nature-sky-2158775/

Epitome of Wisdom, Poem (l. 25-31)

Below is the fifth installment (lines 25-31) of my translation of Bosti‘s famous poem, Epitome of Wisdom, with the original Arabic following immediately underneath. The earlier lines can be found on the following links: (l. 1-6) and (l. 7-12) and (l.13-17) and (l.18-24).

Be ever with a friendly smile to tell
All men that you are helpful and mean well.
Abide by gentleness in all affairs,
For mild folk won't regret nor draw men's glares.
Be not beguiled if haste brings fortunes great
For haste is waste while calmness' edifice is graced.
Do good when you have the ability
You'll not regain the opportunity.
Be kind and fair, your soul shall show grandeur 
Like leas through unfurled buds take on splendor.
Rend not your honor, keep it well intact
For decency make with yourself a pact.
Though you should meet an enemy, still show
To him a face with cheerfulness aglow.

25 – كن ريِّقَ الْبشر إِن الْحر همته … صحيفَة وَعَلَيْهَا الْبشر عنوان

26 – ورافق الرِّفْق فِي كل الْأُمُور فَلم … ينْدَم رَفِيق وَلم يَذمُمْه إِنْسَان

27 – وَلَا يَغرَّنَّك حَظٌّ جَرّه خرق … فالخرق هدم ورفق الْمَرْء بُنيان

28 – أحسن إِذا كَانَ إِمْكَان ومقدرة … فَلَنْ يَدُومَ على الْإِحْسَان إِمْكَان

29 – فالروضُ يَزْدَان بالأنوارِ فاغمةً … وَالْحرُّ بِالْعَدْلِ وَالْإِحْسَان يَزْدَان

30 – صُنْ حر وَجهك لَا تهتك غِلَالَتِهِ … فَكل حر لحر الْوَجْه صَوّان

31 – فَإِن لقِيت عَدوّا فالقِه أبدا … وَالْوَجْه بالبشر وَالْإِشْرَاق غضّان

PICTURE CREDIT: Julita, https://pixabay.com/photos/wildflowers-meadow-grass-plants-3571119/#

Epitome of Wisdom, Poem (l. 18-24)

Below is the fourth installment (lines 18-24) of my translation of Bosti‘s famous poem, Epitome of Wisdom, with the original Arabic following immediately underneath. The earlier lines can be found on the following links: (l. 1-6) and (l. 7-12) and (l.13-17).

The wise man who with clarity shall muse
Upon this world shall avarice refuse.
The foolish man whose eyes are covetous
Will on the paths of good feel sluggishness.
Whoever deals with men shall face fatigue,
For men incline to evil and intrigue.
If you'd fain hate a bosom friend then pry,
For many in their secret lives prove sly.
Take counsel from the history of the world,
Its colours true will to you be unfurled.
Whoever sows iniquity's dark seed
Shall reap remorse at harvest time decreed.
Whoever gets in bed with rogues awakes
To find his garments plagued by asps and snakes.

18 – من كَانَ لِلْعَقْلِ سُلْطَان عَلَيْهِ غَدا … وَمَا على نَفسه للحرص سُلْطَان
19 – من مد طرفا لفرط الْجَهْل نَحْو هوى … أغضى على الْحق يَوْمًا وَهُوَ خزيان
20 – من عَاشر النَّاس لَاقَى مِنْهُم نصبا … لِأَن سوسهم بغى وعدوان
21 – وَمن يفتش عَن الإخوان يقلهم … فجل إخْوَان هَذَا الْعَصْر خوان
22 – من اسْتَشَارَ صروف الدَّهْر قَامَ لَهُ … على حَقِيقَة طبع الدَّهْر برهَان
23 – من يزرع الشَّرّ يحصد فِي عواقبه … ندامة ولحصد الزَّرْع إبان
24 – من استنام إِلَى الأشرار نَام وَفِي … قَمِيصه مِنْهُم صل وثعبان

PICTURE CREDIT: Image by Gunter, moritz320 from Pixabay

Epitome of Wisdom, Poem (l. 13-17)

Below is the third installment (lines 13-17) of my translation of Bosti‘s famous poem, Epitome of Wisdom, with the original Arabic following immediately underneath. The earlier lines can be found here (l. 1-6) and here (l. 7-12).

The final outcome's good if you heed God, 
You shall not fear base villains nor Nimrod[1].
Seek not from other than God help, beware!
Enfeebled and abandoned, ill you'll fare.
That man who to forbidding good propends 
No brethren shall he have, in sooth, nor friends.
Towards the bounteous man will people veer,
Yet wealth will often easily ensnare.
If from the spite of men you'd fain be free  
Keep peace with all, and joyful you shall be.

[1] I have used ‘Nimrod’ as a synecdochical example of a tyrant. The name Nimrod appears in the Bible, and some biblical commentaries describe him as a tyrant rebelling against God. The word ‘Nimrod’ contains within it the Hebrew root letters מרד that mean ‘to rebel.’ In Muslim tradition, some Quranic commentators say Nimrod was the name of a tyrant king whom Abraham confronted.

13 – من يتق الله يحمد فِي عواقبه … ويكفه شَرّ من عزوا وَمن هانوا
14 – من اسْتَعَانَ بِغَيْر الله فِي طلب … فَإِن ناصره عجز وخذلان
15 – من كَانَ للخير مناعا فَلَيْسَ لَهُ … على الْحَقِيقَة إخْوَان وأخدان
16 – من جاد بِالْمَالِ مَال النَّاس قاطبة … إِلَيْهِ وَالْمَال للْإنْسَان فتان
17 – من سَالم النَّاس يسلم من غوائلهم … وعاش وَهُوَ قرير الْعين جذلان

PHOTOGRAPH: (C) 2016, Suheil Laher

Epitome of Wisdom, Poem (l. 7-12)

Below is the second installment (lines 7-12) of my translation of Bosti‘s famous poem, Epitome of Wisdom, with the original Arabic following immediately underneath. (The opening, lines 1-6, can be found here.)

The metaphor of ‘God’s rope,’ in line 12, is taken from Quran, 3:103, and the phrase has been exegetically glossed (variously) as: God’s covenant, monotheism, God’s revelation, the Quran, the community of believers.

To win the hearts of people: kindness show,
For kindness on men's hearts is wont to grow.
Fool! how long will you wretchedly seek gain
In service of this body that will wane?
To your soul turn, perfect its righteousness;
'Tis soul not body that makes humanness.
If you perchance encounter balefulness,
Respond with pardon and with graciousness.
Whenever hopefuls turn to you: assist
The noble man is a philanthropist.
Hold fast with your hands twain to God's firm rope;
God is your refuge when there seems no hope.

7 – أحسِنْ إِلَى النَّاس تستعبدْ قُلُوبَهم … فطالما استعبد الْإِنْسَان إِحْسَانُ
8 – يَا خَادِم الْجِسْم كم تشقى بخدمته … أتطلب الرِّبْح فِيمَا فِيهِ خسرانُ
9 – أقبِلْ على النَّفسِ واستكمِلْ فضائلَها … فَأَنت بِالنَّفسِ لَا بالجسمِ إِنْسَانُ
10 – وَإِن أَسَاءَ مُسيءٌ فَلْيَكُنْ لَك فِي … عرُوض زلَّتِه صَفْحٌ وغُفرانُ
11 – وَكُنْ على الدَّهْر مِعْوانا لذى أمَل … يَرْجُو نَداك فَإِن الْحُـرَّ مِعوُانُ
12 – وَاشْدُدْ يَديك بِحَبل الله مُعتصِما … فَإِنَّهُ الرُّكْن إِن خانتْك أَرْكَانُ

PICTURE CREDIT: Climbing Mountainer, aatlas, https://pixabay.com/en/climber-mountaineer-mountaineering-299018/

Epitome of Wisdom, Poem (l. 1-6)

“The price of wisdom is above rubies,” the Biblical Book of Job declares. “Whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good,” we find in the Quran. Wisdom has a perennial appeal to the human spirit, and since ancient times, poets across the world have been attempting to capture it in lines of wisdom poetry.

The poem Epitome of Wisdom (`Unwan al-Hikam) by Abul-Fath al-Bosti (d. 1010 CE / 401H) is perhaps the most famous piece of wisdom poetry in Arabic. Below is my translation of the first six lines. I have translated each hemistich as a separate line, as is my wont, and so the English below comprises twelve lines, in pentametric rhyming couplets. The original Arabic follows. I am hoping to continue translating the rest of the poem over the next few months, as time permits.

Know well that more in worldly things is less,
And profit, save in goodness pure, is loss.
And all enjoyment that lacks permanence
Is ultimately naught but indigence.
You who intently builds what nigh will end,
In this will you your precious life expend?
And you, assiduous for your wealth to grow,
Did you forget that wealth's delight is woe?
From this world and its glint detach your heart;
A turbid draught t'is which will soon depart.
Give ear to these wise aphorisms mine,
Well-burnished for you like a diamond fine.

 

1 – زِيَادَة الْمَرْء فِي دُنْيَاهُ نُقْصَان … وَربحه غير مَحْض الْخَيْر خسران
2 – وكل وجدان حَظّ لاثبات لَهُ … فَإِن مَعْنَاهُ فِي التَّحْقِيق فقدان
3 – يَا عَامِرًا لخراب الدَّار مُجْتَهدا … بِاللَّه هَل لخراب الْعُمر عمرَان
4 – وَيَا حَرِيصًا على الْأَمْوَال تجمعها … أنسيت أَن سرُور المَال أحزان
5 – زع الْفُؤَاد عَن الدُّنْيَا وَزينتهَا … فصفوها كدر والوصل هجران
6 – وأرع سَمعك أَمْثَالًا أفصلها … كَمَا يفصل ياقوت ومرجان

– Suheil Laher

PICTURE CREDITS:

Turbidity: Gerd Altmann, https://pixabay.com/en/smoke-steam-diesigkeit-veil-smog-108664/

Foggy Path: Erich Westendarp, https://pixabay.com/en/fog-fields-dirt-track-bauerschaft-3097079/

Unforgotten Favors

A touching anecdote about an unforgotten act of kindness, capped off by some beautiful lines of poetry about the moral obligation of gratitude (my English translations in iambic pentameter blank verse, along with the original Arabic). Both the pieces (coincidentally) involve Buwayhid viziers.

The Vizier Muhallabi (Abu Muhammad al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Azdi, d. 352H / 963CE) was appointed as vizier in the Buwayhid court of Mu`izz al-Dawla in 339H / 950 CE. Before his attachment to the royal court, he was once traveling, and wished for meat, but due to extremely straitened circumstances was unable to afford any. In his frustration, he spontaneously composed the following lines of poetry, in which he wishes he could die!¹

Is there not death for sale that I could buy? For in this life of mine, I see no good. Can not delicious-tasting death now come, And liberate me from this hateful life? Whenever from afar I see a grave, I wish that I were buried next to him. Shan't I beseech Almighty God to bless, That man who'll charitably gift me death?

ألا موت يباع فأشتريه ** فهذا العيش مالا خير فيه ألا موت لذيذ الطعم يأتي ** يخلصني من العيش الكريه إذا أبصرت قبرا من بعيد ** وددت لو أنني مما يليه ألا رحم المهيمن نفس حر ** تصدق بالوفاة على أخيه

One of his travelling companions (named either Abu `Abdullah al-Sufi, or Abul-Husayn al-`Asqalani), upon hearing this pitiable lament, went and purchased some meat with one silver coin (dirham). He cooked the meat and fed it to Muhallabi, and the two men parted ways soon after.

The vicissitudes of fortune proved such that Muhallabi went on to be appointed vizier in the royal court, while his former travel companion fell upon hard times. The latter, hearing of Muhallabi’s new position, sought him out in Baghdad, and sent him a small chit bearing the following lines of poetry:

O tell the vizier – dearer than myself – These words, reminding of what's long forgot! Remember when in misery you said: Is there not death for sale that I could buy?

ألا قل للوزير فدته نفسي ** مقالة مذكر ما قد نسيه أتذكر إذ تقول لضنك عيش ** ألا موت يباع فأشتريه

When Muhallabi read the note, the reminder of his former state of indigence drew out his deepest feelings of generosity. He immediately commanded that the man be given 700 silver coins (dirhams), along with a note on which he wrote the Quranic verse meaning:

“The likeness of those who spend their money in the cause of God is that of a grain from which grow seven ears, each ear containing a hundred grains. And God multiples for whom He wills.” (Quran, 2:261)

He then summoned the man into his presence, bestowed a fine robe upon him, and appointed him to comfortable job as a state functionary.

[Source: Ibn Khallikan, Wafayat al-A`yan, 2/124-5]

A later Buwayhid Vizier and belletrist, Abul-Qasim al-Maghribi (d. 418H / 1027 CE) wrote the following lines of poetry, which rather beautifully capture sentiments such as those underlying the above story. He wrote:

The debts of acts of kindness are not paid The same way as financial debts are paid. But in the hearts of noble folk they'll hang, Suspended like a mote floats in the eye.

ديون المكارم لا تقتضى ** كما تقتضى واجبات الديون ولكنها في قلوب الكرام ** تجول مجال القذى في العيون

[Source: Ihsan `Abbas, al-Wazir al-Maghribi, p. 158]

1 On the theological dispproval of explicitly praying for death, see the following hadith: https://sunnah.com/bukhari/75/32

PICTURE CREDIT: Cara Sweeney https://pixabay.com/en/thanks-appreciation-gratitude-font-418358/