ar,en
ولذلك قيل: لا يزال الناس بخير ما بقي الأوَّلُ يتعلم منه الآخر.,This is the reason why it has been said: Mankind will always be well off as long as the later generations learn from the former.””
وإنَّ السبب على جمع نتف من أخبار العرب في حنينها إلى أوطانها، وشوقها إلى تُرَبها وبلدانها، ووصفها في أشعارها توقُّدَ النار في أكبادها؛ أني فاوضت بعضَ من انتقل من الملوك في ذكر الديار، والنزاع إلى الأوطان، فسمعته يذكر أنه اغترب من بلد إلى آخرَ أمهدَ من وطنه، وأعمرَ من مكانه، وأخصبَ من جنابه،,"The reason why I gathered some bits of information of the Arabs about their yearning for their native land, about their longing for their earth and cities and about the way how they described in their poems the burning fire in their hearts, is that in a conversation which I had with a displaced king about one’s recollection of home and affection for the native land, I heard him say that he went from a country to one more cheerful, more populated and more prosperous than his native land;"
ولم يزل عظيمَ الشان، جليلَ السلطان، تَدِين له من عشائر العرب ساداتُها وفتيانُها، ومن شعوب العجم أنجادُها وشجعانُها،,He always enjoyed a high position and much authority. The lords and the (noble) young men of the Arab tribes obeyed him; and so did the bold and brave men of the non- Arab nations.
يقود الجيوش ويسوس الحروب، وليس ببابه إلا راغب إليه أو راهب منه،,He commanded armies and led wars. All those in his court wanted some favor from him or were afraid of him.
فكان إذا ذكر التربة والوطن حنَّ إليه حنين الإبل إلى أعطانها،,"Yet, when he remembered his land and his native country, he yearned for it as camels yearn for their watering places."
"وكان كما قال الشاعر:
إِذَا مَا ذَكَرْتُ الثَّغْرَ فَاضَتْ مَدَامِعِي *** وَأَضْحَى فُؤَادِي نُهْبَةً لِلْهَمَاهِمِ
حَنِينًا إِلَى أَرْضٍ بِهَا اخْضَرَّ شَارِبِي *** وَحُلَّتْ بِهَا عَنِّي عُقُودُ التَّمَائِمِ
وَأَلْطَفُ قَوْمٍ بِالْفَتَى أَهْلُ أَرْضِهِ *** وَأَرْعَاهُمُ لِلْمَرْءِ حَتَّى التَّقَادُمِ","He fitted the description of the poet;
Whenever I remember the home, my eyes are full of tears
and my heart becomes a prey to anxieties,
Because of my yearning for a land where I grew up to manhood
and where the strings of amulets were taken off from me.
The nicest people for a youth to have are his countrymen,
the ones who most respect the man’s right of his past."
"وكما قال الآخر:
يَقَرُّ بِعَيْنِي أَنْ أَرَى مَنْ مَكَانُهُ *** ذُرَا عُقُدَاتِ الْأَبْرَقِ الْمُتَقَاوِدِ
وأَنْ أَرِدَ الْمَاءَ الَّذِي شَرِبَتْ بِهِ *** سُلَيْمَى وَقَدْ مَلَّ السُّرَى كُلُّ وَاخِدِ
وَأَلْصِقُ أَحْشَائِي بِبَرْدِ تُرَابِهِ *** وَإِنْ كَانَ مَخْلُوطًا بِسُمِّ الْأَسَاوِدِ","As well as the description of another poet:
It cools my eye to see, on the spot,
the summits of the undulations of the plain Abrag
And to descend to the water spring from which Sulayma has drunk,
after all fast striding (men) had enough of the night journey.
And to press my belly to the coolness of its soil,
even if it is infected with the poison of the large black snakes."
فقلت: لئن قلت ذلك، لقد قالت العجم: من علامة الرشد أن تكون النفس إلى مولدها مشتاقة، وإلى مسقط رأسها توَّاقة.,"So I said: If so you speak, the Persians said before: It is a sign of straightforwardness that one yearns for one’s birth-place, and that one sighs for one’s home.””"
وقالت الهند: حرمة بلدك عليك كحرمة أبويك؛ لأن غذاءك منهما وأنت جنين، وغذاءهما منه.,"The Indians said: The reverence you owe to your country is like your reverence for your parents, because you owe your subsistence to them while you were an embryo, while they owe theirs to it (the native land).””"
وقال آخر: احفظ بلدًا رشَّحك غذاؤه، وَارْعَ حمًى أكنَّك فناؤه.,Someone else said: Preserve (protect) a country which fed you and defend a sanctuary which sheltered you.””
وأولى البلدان بصبابتك إليه بلد رضعت ماءه، وطعمت غذاءه،,"The country which deserves most to be longed for is the one whose water you drank, and whose food you ate."
وكان يقال: أرض الرجل ظئره، وداره مهده، والغريب النائي عن بلده المتنحي عن أهله كالثور النادِّ عن وطنه، الذي هو لكل رام قنيصة.,"It was also said: The land of a man is his nurse and his home is his cradle. And the stranger who is far from his home and away from his family is like an ox which strayed from its grounds and is, consequently, a prey to every hunter.””"
وقال آخر: الكريم يحن إلى جنابه، كما يحن الأسد إلى غابه.,Someone else said: The noble man yearns for his country as the lion longs for its thicket.””
وقال آخر: الجالي عن مسقط رأسه ومحل رضاعه، كالعير الناشط عن بلده الذي هو لكل سبع قنيصة، ولكل رام دريئة.,"Someone else said: He who emigrates from his birthplace and the place where he was a suckling, is like a wild ass roaming far from its habitat which is a prey for lions and a spear-thrusting for shooters.””"
وقال آخر: تربة الصِّبا تَغرس في القلب حرمة وحلاوة، كما تغرس الولادة في القلب رقة وحفاوة.,"Someone else said: The land of one’s youth, plants reverence and meekness into one’s heart, as giving birth to children plants tenderness and devotion in the heart (of the mother).”"
وقال آخر: أحق البلدان بنزاعك إليه بلد أَمَصَّكَ حلبَ رَضاعه.,Someone else said: The country which most deserves your affection is the one which gave you its milk to drink when you were a suckling.””
وقال آخر: إذا كان الطائر يَحِن إلى أوكاره فالإنسان أحق بالحنين إلى أوطانه.,"Someone else said: If the bird yearns for its nest, the man should, with even better reason, yearn for his home.””"
وقالت الحكماء: الحنين من رقة القلب، ورقة القلب من الرعاية، والرعاية من الرحمة، والرحمة من كرم الفطرة، وكرم الفطرة من طهارة الرِّشدة، وطهارة الرشدة من كرم الْمَحْتِدِ.,"The Sages said: Yearning results from tenderness of heart, tenderness of heart results from benevolence, benevolence results from mercy, mercy results from a noble disposition, a noble disposition results from purity of descent, and purity of descent results from noble origin.””"
"وقال آخر: ميلك إلى مولدك من كرم محتدك. وقال آخر: عسرك في دارك أعز لك من يسرك في غربتك، وأنشد:
لقرب الدار في الإقتار خير *** من العيش الموسع في اغتراب","وقال آخر: ميلك إلى مولدك من كرم مَحْتِدِكَ. وقال آخر: عسرك في دارك أعز لك من يسرك في غربتك، وأنشد:
لَقُرْبُ الدَّارِ فِي الْإِقْتَارِ خَيْرٌ *** مِنَ الْعَيْشِ الْمُوَسَّعِ فِي اغْتِرَابِ"
وقال آخر: الغريب كالغرس الذي زايل أرضه، وفقد شِربه، فهو ذاوٍ لا يثمر، وذابلٌ لا ينضر.,"Someone else said: The foreigner is like a plant which has been removed from its soil and deprived of its water. It shrivels and bears no fruit, and it withers and thus is no longer green.””"
وقال بعض الفلاسفة: فطرة الرجل معجونة بحب الوطن؛,A certain philosopher said; The natural dispositions of a man is kneaded and mixed with the love of the native land.””
ولذلك قال بقراط: يُداوَى كلُّ عليل بعقاقير أرضه؛ فإن الطبيعة تتطلع لهوائها، وتنزع إلى غذائها.,"That is why Hippocrates said: The ill person should be treated with the medicines of his own land because nature wants the air and is fond of the food to which it is used.”,!”"
وقال أفلاطون: غذاء الطبيعة من أنجع أدويتها.,Plato said: The natural food is the most successful medicine.””
وقال جالينوس: يَتروَّح العليل بنسيم أرضه كما تتروَّح الأرض الجدبة ببلل القطر.,And Galen said: The ill person is refreshed by the breeze of his country as the barren soil is vivified by the moisture of the rain.””
والقول في حب الناس والوطن، وافتخارهم بالمحالِّ قد سبق، فوجدنا الناس بأوطانهم أقنع منهم بأرزاقهم؛,"We have already mentioned men’s love of their native country and their pride in their home. Indeed, we have found men better satisfied with their native countries than with their livelihood."
ولذلك قال ابن عباس: لو قَنَع الناس بأرزاقهم قناعتهم بأوطانهم ما اشتكى عبدٌ الرزقَ.,"That is why Ibn ‘Abbas said: If men were as well satisfied with their livelihood as they are with their native countries, nobody would complain about his livelihood.””"
وترى الأعرابَ تحنُّ إلى البلد الجدب والمحل القفر والحجر الصلد، وتستوخم الريف، حتى قال بعضهم:,"The Bedouins can be observed to yearn for the barren soil, the desert and the hard stone and to regard the cultivated land as unhealthy and unreliable. Thus one of them even said:"
"أَتُجْلِينَ فِي الْجَالِينَ أَمْ تَتَصَبَّرِي *** عَلَى ضِيقِ عَيْشٍ وَالْكَرِيمُ صَبُورُ؟
فَبِالْمِصْرِ بُرْغُوثٌ وَحُمَّى وَحَصْبَةٌ *** وَمُومٌ وَطَاعُونٌ وَكُلُّ شُرُورٍ
وَبِالْبِيدِ جُوعٌ لَا يَزَالُ كَأَنَّهُ *** رُكَامٌ بِأَطْرَافِ الْإِكَامِ تَمُورُ","Would you migrate with the others or would you rather endure
a hard life; such endurance is characteristic of the noble man.
For in the cities there are fleas, fever, measles,
pleurisy, pestilence and all kinds of evil
While in the desert there is incessant hunger which does not end as if it were
a thick cloud which quickly passes by the edges of the hills."
وترى الحضري يُولد بأرض وباء ومَوَتان وقلة خصب، فإذا وقع ببلادٍ أَرْيَفَ مِن بلاده وجنابٍ أَخصَبَ مِن جَنَابِه، واستفاد غنًى؛ حنَّ إلى وطنه ومستقره.,"And also the sedentary people who were born in a land which is ridden by disease, pestilence and infertility can be observed to yearn for their native land and abode when they happen to be in a country and region which is more fertile and prosperous than their own and which afforded them wealth."
ولو جمعنا أخبار العرب وأشعارها في هذا المعنى لطال اقتصاصه، ولكن توخَّينا تدوينَ أحسن ما سنح من أخبارهم وأشعارهم، وبالله التوفيق.,And if we were to collect all the stories and poems of the Arabs concerning this subject it would be too long a tale. Thus we endeavored to put down only the best of their stories and poems which have come (to our mind); and on God we trust for success.
ومما يؤكد ما قلنا في حب الأوطان قولُ الله عز وجل، حين ذكر الديار يخبر عن مواقعها من قلوب عباده،,"A confirmation of what we have said about patriotism is the statement of God, the Almighty, when mentioning the homeland, in which He describes the place which it (the homeland) holds in the hearts of His servants."
فقال: وَلَوْ أَنَّا كَتَبْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَنِ اقْتُلُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ أَوِ اخْرُجُوا مِنْ دِيَارِكُمْ مَا فَعَلُوهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ مِنْهُمْ، فسوَّى بين قتل أنفسهم وبين الخروج من ديارهم،,"He said: If we prescribed to them: Kill yourselves or leave your country, they won’t do it except very few of them.” He thus considered leaving one’s country equivalent to suicide.”"
وقال تعالى: وَمَا لَنَا أَلَّا نُقَاتِلَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللهِ وَقَدْ أُخْرِجْنَا مِنْ دِيَارِنَا وَأَبْنَائِنَا.,"He, He is exalted, also said: Why don’t we fight in the path of God, after we have been ousted from our homes and (deprived of) our children.””"
وقال الأول: عمَّر الله البلدان بحب الأوطان، وكان يقال: لولا حبُّ الناسِ الأوطانَ لخربت البلدان.,"The ancients said: God had rendered the countries populous and flourishing through patriotism.” It has also been said: “If men wouldn’t love their native land, all the countries would have been destroyed.””"
وقال عبد الحميد الكاتب وَذَكَر الدنيا: نَفَتْنَا عن الأوطان، وقطعتنا عن الإخوان.,The writer (secretary) ‘Abd al-Hamid said describing the world: It exiled us from our native country and cut us off from our friends.””
وقالت الحكماء: أكرم الخيل أجزعها من السوط، وأكيس الصبيان أبغضهم للكُتَّاب، وأكرم الصفايا أشدُّها ولهًا إلى أولادها، وأكرم الإبل أشدها حنينًا إلى أوطانها، وأكرم المهارى أشدُّها ملازمة لأمها، وخير الناس آلفهم للناس.,"The sages said: The noblest horse is the one that is most fearful of the whip, the best children are those who most hate the school, the noblest milch- camels are those which are most fond of their children, the noblest camels are those which yearn most for their home, the noblest fleet- camels are those that cling closest to their mother and the best men are those who are most intimate with others.””"
وقال آخر: من أمارات العاقل بره لإخوانه، وحنينه إلى أوطانه، ومداراته لأهل زمانه.,"Someone else said: The characteristics of the intelligent man are his kindness toward his friends, his yearning for his native land, and the flattery he uses toward his contemporaries.””"
واعتلَّ أعرابيٌّ في أرض غربة فقيل له: ما تشتهي؟ فقال: حِسل فَلاةٍ وحَسْو قلات،,A Bedouin who fell sick in a foreign land was asked: What do you desire?” He replied: “A young lizard from the desert and a sip (of rain water) from clefts (in a rock).”
وسُئل آخر فقال: مخضًا رويًّا، وضبًّا مشويًّا. وسُئل آخر فقال: ضبًّا عنينًا أعور. وقالت العرب: حماك أحمى لك، وأهلك أحفى بك.,"Another’s reply to the same question was: Some refreshing churned cream and a toasted lizard.” Still another’s reply was: “A moaning and one-eyed lizard.” The Arabs said: “Your own sanctuary is your best protector, and your kinsmen are more favorable to you (than anybody else).””"
"وقيل: الغربة كربة والقلة ذلة،
وقال:
لا ترغبوا إخوتي في غربة أبدا *** إن الغريب ذليل حيثما كانا","وقيل: الغربة كربة والقلة ذلة،
وقال:
لَا تَرْغَبُوا إِخْوَتِي فِي غُرْبَةٍ أَبَدًا *** إِنَّ الْغَرِيبَ ذَلِيلٌ حَيْثُمَا كَانَا"
وقال آخر: لا تنهض عن وكرك فَتُنَغِّصَك الغربة وتَضيمَك الوحدة.,"Someone else said: Don’t leave your shelter, for your remoteness would perturb your life, and your solitude would cause you pain.””"
وقال آخر: لا تجفُ أرضًا بها قوابلك، ولا تَشْكُ بلدًا فيه قبائلك.,"Someone else said: Don’t neglect a land where the midwives who delivered you live, and don’t complain of a country where your own tribe lives.””"
وقال أصحاب القيافة في الاسترواح: إذا أحسَّت النفس بمولدها تفتحت مسامُّها فعرفت النسيم،,"The prognosticators described recreation as follows; If the soul feels (notices) its birthplace, its pores open and it feels the breeze.””"
وقال آخر: يحن اللبيب إلى وطنه كما يحنُّ النجيب إلى عطنه،,Someone else said: The intelligent noble man yearns for his native country as the fine camel yearns for its watering place.””
وقال: كما أن لحاضنتك حقَّ لبنها، كذلك لأرضك حقُّ وطنها.,"He also said: As much as you are indebted to your nurse for her milk, so you are indebted to your land for being your home.””"
وذكر أعرابي بلده فقال: رملة كنت جنينَ ركامها، ورضيعَ غمامها، فحضنتني أحشاؤها وأرضعتني أحساؤها،,"A Bedouin, remembering his country said; It is a desert whose hills of sand were my womb and whose clouds were my wet nurse. The lap in which I lay was its earth and the milk I drank was the water which was collected in puddles in the sand.””"
وشبَّهت الحكماء الغريب باليتيم اللطيم الذي ثَكِل أبويه، فلا أم تَرْأَمه ولا أب يحدب عليه.,The sages compared the foreigner with an orphan who has lost both his parents. He has no mother who fondly loves him and no father who is kind to him.
وقالت أعرابية: إذا كنت في غير أهلك فلا تنسَ نصيبَك من الذُّل،,A Bedouin woman said: If you are far away from your family expect your proper share of humiliation.””
"وقال الشاعر:
لَعَمْرِي لَرَهْطُ الْمَرْءِ خَيْرُ بَقِيَّةٍ *** عَلَيْهِ وَإِنْ عَالَوْا بِهِ كُلَّ مَرْكَبِ
إِذَا كُنْتَ فِي قَوْمٍ عِدًا لَسْتَ مِنْهُمُ *** فَكُلْ مَا عُلِفْتَ مِنْ خَبِيثٍ وَطَيِّبِ","The poet said:
I swear that a man’s kinsfolk are his best insurance,
even if they put him to much trouble.
If you are among foreign peoples to whom you do not belong,
be prepared to eat whatever you get, be it bad or good."
وفي المثل: «أوضح من مرآة الغريبة»؛ وذلك أن المرأة إذا كانت هديًّا في غير أهلها تَتَفَقَّدُ من وجهها وهيئتها ما لا تَتَفَقَّدُه وهي في قومها وأقاربها، فتكون مرآتُها مجلوةً تتعهَّد بها أمر نفسها.,"The proverb says: Clearer than the mirror of a foreign woman.” For when a woman is married outside her own family, she cares for her beauty and appearance in a way she does not while she is among her people and her relatives. Consequently her mirror is always polished and ready to help her to take good care of herself.”"
"وقال ذو الرُّمة:
لَهَا أُذْنٌ حَشْرٌ وَذِفْرَى أَسِيلَةٌ *** وَخَدٌّ كَمِرْآةِ الْغَرِيبَةِ أَسْجَحُ","Dhul-Rummah said:
She has a delicately formed ear and a soft and long neckline,
and a cheek as smooth as the mirror of a foreign (maiden)."
وكانت العرب إذا غزت وسافرت حملت معها من تربة بلدها رملًا وعَفَرًا تستنشقه عند نزلة أو زكام أو صداع،,"Whenever the Arabs went on a raid or a journey, they used to carry with them some dust from the soil of their land, which they snuffed in case of a rheum or a cold or a headache."
"وأنشد لبعض بني ضبة:
نَسِيرُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ بِكُنْهِ مَسِيرِنَا *** بِعُفَّةِ زَادٍ فِي بُطُونِ الْمَزَاوِدِ
وَلَا بُدَّ فِي أَسْفَارِنَا مِنْ قَبِيصَةٍ *** مِنَ التُّرْبِ نُسْقَاهَا لِحُبِّ الْمَوَالِدِ","The following verses have been recited in the name of a (poet) of the Banu Dabbah:
We travel fully conscious of the aim of our journey
carrying with us little travelling provision in our bags.
It is indispensable for us on our journeys to carry a handful
of earth (from our country) whose (solution) we drink as a sign of love for the land of our birth."
وقال آخر: أرض الرجل أوضح نسبه، وأهله أحضر نَشَبِه،,Someone else said: The country of a man is his clearest pedigree and his kinsfolk are his best property.””
وقيل لأعرابي: كيف تصنع في البادية إذا اشتد القيظ، وانتعل كل شيء ظله؟,A Bedouin was asked: How do you manage in the desert when the summer heat is intense and everything draws in its shadow (at noon?”)”
قال: وهل العيش إلا ذاك؟ يمشي أحدنا ميلًا فيرفضُّ عرقًا، ثم يَنصبُ عصاه، ويُلْقي عليها كساءه، ويجلس في فيئه يكتال الريح، فكأنه في إيوان كسرى،,"He replied: Can life be otherwise? One of us marches a mile; he sweats profusely; he, then, plants his stick (into the ground), puts his garment over it, and sits in its shade, enjoying his share of breeze, and feeling as if he were in the audience chamber of Khusro.””"
وقيل لأعرابي: ما أصبرَكم في البدو! قال: كيف لا يصبر مَن وِطاؤُه الأرض، وغِطاؤُه السماء، وطعامُه الشمس، وشرابُه الريح،,"A Bedouin was also asked: How can you endure the life of desert?” He replied: “How can he not endure it whose mattress is the earth, whose cover is the sky, whose food is the sun, and whose drink is the breeze.”"
والله لقد خرجنا في أثر قوم قد تقدمونا بمراحل ونحن حفاة، والشمس في قُلَّة السماء، حيث انتعل كلُّ شيء ظله، وإنهم لأسوء حالًا منا،,"Indeed, we followed people who were far ahead of us. We were barefooted; and the sun was at its zenith so that everything had drawn in its shadow; yet, their condition was worse than ours."
إن مهادهم للعفر، وإن وسادهم للحجر، وإن شعارهم للهواء، وإن دثارهم للخواء.,"Their bed was the dust, their pillow was the stone, their undergarment was the air and their uppergarment was emptiness. Their undergarment and their uppergarment was just the air (meaning they had nothing on their body.)"
وحدثني التَّوَّزِيُّ عن رجل من عُرَيْنةَ قال: حدثني رجل من بني هاشم قال: قلت لأعرابي من بني أسد: من أين أقبلت؟ قال: من هذه البادية.,Al-Tawwazi told me on the authority of a man of the ‘Uraynah that the latter had said: A man of Banu Hashim told me the following story: I asked a Bedouin of Banu Asad: “Where did you come from?” He replied: “From this desert.””
قلت: وأين تسكن منها؟ قال: مساقط الحمى؛ حمى ضَرِيَّة بأرض لَعَمْرُ الله ما نريد بها بدلًا، ولا نبغي عنها حِولًا،,"I continued: And in which part of it do you live?” He said: “In the territory of Hima Dariyyah, a land which, I swear by God, we would not like to exchange for another, nor would we like to leave it.”"
قد نفحتها الغدوات وحفَّتها الفلوات، فلا يَمْلَوْلِحُ ماؤها، ولا يَحمى ترابها، ولا يَمْعَر جنابها، ليس فيها أذًى ولا قذًى، ولا أنين ولا حمَّى،,"The cool breeze of the morning blows upon it. The vast deserts surround it. Never does its water become salty, never does its earth become hot, and never does its land become barren. There is nothing harmful or injurious there, no complaint (groan or moan أنين) or fever."
فنحن بأرفه عيش وأرفع نعمة. قلت: فما طعامكم فيها؟ قال: بخ بخ! عيشنا والله عيش يعلل جاذبه،,"We thus live in the greatest luxury and comfort. I continued: “What is your food there?” He replied: “Ah, good! By God (I swear) our life is one with which those who lead it are satisfied.”"
وطعامنا أطيب طعام وأهنؤه؛ الهبيد والضِّباب واليرابيع والقنافذ والحيَّات، وربما والله أكلنا القَد واشتوينا الجلد، فلا نعلم أحدًا أخصب منا عيشًا. فالحمد لله على ما بسط من السعة ورزق من الدَّعَة،,"Our food is the most delicious and healthiest of foods, the bitter gourd (colocynth), lizards, gerboas, hedgehogs and snakes. We may, perhaps, also eat lamb skin and roast the skin. We know of no one who leads a more abundant life than we do. praised be God for the prosperity and ease which He gave (us)."
"أو ما سمعت قول قائلنا، وكان والله عالمًا بلذيذ العيش:
إِذَا مَا أَصَبْنَا كُلَّ يَوْمٍ مُذَيْقَةً *** وَخَمْسَ تُمَيْرَاتٍ صِغَارٍ كَوَانِزِ
فَنَحْنُ مُلُوكُ الأَرْضِ خِصْبًا وَنِعْمَةً *** وَنَحْنُ أُسُودُ الغَابِ عِنْدَ الْهَزَاهِزِ
وَكَمْ مُتَمَنٍّ عَيْشَنَا لَا يَنَالُهُ *** وَلَوْ نَالَهُ أَضْحَى بِهِ حَقَّ فَائِزِ","Have you not heard what our poet has said and he, indeed, knew what a pleasant life is like:
If we can obtain everyday some adulterated milk and five little hard dates,
We are the Kings of the earth as far as abundance and comfort is concerned,
and we are the lions of the thicket whenever there is trouble.
How many are those who wish they could live our life but fail to achieve it,
And if, by chance, they would attain it, how successful (lucky)they would be."
ولهذا خبر طويل وصف فيه نوقًا أضلها، واقتصرنا منه على ما وصف من قناعته بوطنه،,This was a long story in which he described some camels which he lost; but we restricted ourselves to quoting the part of it in which he described his satisfaction with his native land.
قال الهاشمي: فلما فرغ من نعت نوقه قلت له: هل لك في الغداء؟ قال: إني والله غاوٍ إغباب، لاصق القلب بالحجاب،,"The Hashimite continued: When the man had finished the description of his camels I asked him: Do you wish to have breakfast (or lunch)?” He replied: “Indeed, my throat is dried out and my belly is so empty that I lie flat on my stomach.”"
ما لي عهد بِمضاغ إلا شلو يربوع، وجد مَعْمَعةً، فانسلت مني، فأخذت بنافقائه وقاصعائه ودامَّائه وراهطائه، ثم تنفَّضْتُه فأخرجته، ولا والله ما فرحت بشيء فرحي به،,"I had nothing to chew but a small piece of a jerboa which found it hot and so fled away from me. So I obstructed all its holes. Then I looked for it and brought it out. Indeed, I never have been as delighted with anything, as I was with it."
فتلقاني رويع ببطن الخرجاء، يوقد نُويْرة تخبو طورًا وتشُبُّ أخرى،,"But soon after, I met a little shepherd, in the valley of Al-Kharja kindling a small fire which was alternately burning low and high."
فَدَسَسْتُه في إِرَته، فخمدت نويرته، ولا والله ما بلغ نضجه حتى اختلس الرُّويْعي منه،,"So I secretely placed it (the gerboa) in the fireplace, but the fire went out; and no sooner had (the gerboa) been cooked when the little shepherd snatched part of it."
فغلبني على رأسه وحوشه وصدره وبدنه،,"He forcibly deprived me of its head, its giblets, its breast and its body. All that. was left to me were its two legs, its haunches, and its backbone. This was what God’s benevolence gave me."
فاغتبقتها على نَكَظ منكِظ وبوض بايظ عن عراكه إياي، غير أن الله أعانني عليه،,"Thus I hastened to eat it in the evening in a state of violent hunger and with satisfaction and good health, despite my struggle with him (the little shepherd). But God gave me His help over him."
فذلك والله عهدي بالطعام، وإني لذو حاجة إلى غذاء أنوه به فؤادي وأشد به آدي، فقد والله بلغ مني المجهود، وأدرك مني المجلود.,"That is, indeed, all food I have had. And I am badly in need of some food to refresh my heart and to recover my strength; for my efforts have gotten the better of me and my strength is exhausted.”`فذلك والله عهدي بالطعام، وإني لذو حاجة إلى غذاء أنوِّه به فؤادي وأشد به آدي، فقد والله بلغ مني المجهود، وأدرك مني المجلود.”"
يصف هذا البؤس والجهد، ويتحمل هذه الفاقة ويصبر على الفقر، قناعة بوطنه، وحبًّا لعطنه، واعتدادًا بما وصف من رفاغة عيشه.,"He describes all these hardships and exertions, endures all this deprivation and patiently bears all this poverty, because he is satisfied with his native country, and loves his watering place (his home) and is proud of this life of abundance of his which he has described."
وحدثنا سليمان بن معبد أن الوليد بن عبد الملك أراد أن يرسل خيله، فجاء أعرابي له بفرس أنثى، فسأله أن يدخلها مع خيله، فقال الوليد لقهرمانه أسيلم بن الأحنف: كيف تراها يا أسليم؟,"Sulayman Ibn Ma‘bad told us that Ai-Walid Ibn Abd al-Malik wanted to race his horses. A Bedouin had come to him with a mare and asked him to enter her together with his horses, Al-Walid, thereupon, asked his steward Usaylim Ibn Al-Ahnaf: How do you like her?””"
فقال: يا أمير المؤمنين، حجازيةٌ، لو ضمها مضمارك ذهبت. قال الأعرابي: أنت والله منقوص الاسم، أعوج اسم الأب.,"Usaylim replied: She is a Hijazi mare, O Commander of the Faithful; if she had to join your hippodrome, she would break out. The Bedouin, said (to the Usaylim): “You are, indeed, deficient as far as your name is concerned, and you are crooked as far as the name of your father is concerned.””"
فأمر الوليد بإدخال فرسه، فلما أُجرِيَت الخيل سبق الأعرابي على فرسه، فقال الوليد: أواهبها لي أنت يا أعرابي؟ فقال: لا والله، إنها لقديمة الصحبة، ولها حق،,"Al-Walid, thereupon, ordered to enter his mare. In the race the Bedouin won with his mare. So Al-Walid asked him: Would you give her to me?” The Bedouin replied: “No, certainly not! She is an old companion of mine and she is entitled to consideration.”"
ولكن أحملك على مُهر لها سبق عامًا أول وهو رابض، فضحك الوليد، وقال: أعرابي مجنون!,But I can give you a colt of her own who won the race last year while he was lying down upon his breast. Al-Walid laughed and said: What a foolish Bedouin!””
فقال: وما يضحككم؟ سبقت أُمُّه عامًا أول وهو في بطنها، فاستظرفه واحتسبه عنده،,"The Bedouin said: Why are you laughing? (I said) his mother won the race, last year, while he was still unborn.” Al-Walid liked him for his wittiness and kept him in his company.”"
"فمرض، فبعث إليه بالأطباء، فأنشأ يقول:
جاء الأطباء من حمص تخالهم *** من جهلهم أن أداوى كالمجانين
قال الأطباء ما يشفيك؟ قلت لهم: *** دخان رمث من التسرير يشفيني
إني أحن إلى أدخان محتطب *** من الجنينة جزل غير موزون","فمرِض، فبعث إليه بالأطباء، فأنشأ يقول:
جَاءَ الْأَطِبَّاءُ مِنْ حِمْصٍ تَخَالُهُمُ *** مِنْ جَهْلِهِمْ أَنْ أُدَاوَى كَالْمَجَانِينِ
قَالَ الْأَطِبَّاءُ مَا يَشْفِيكَ؟ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ: *** دُخَانُ رَمْثٍ مِنَ التَّسْرِيرِ يَشْفِينِي
إِنِّي أَحِنُّ إِلَى أَدْخَانِ مُحْتَطَبٍ *** مِنَ الْجُنَيْنَةِ جَزْلٍ غَيْرِ مَوْزُونِ"
فأمر الوليد أن يُحمل إليه سليخة من رمث فوافوه وقد مات، فهو عند الخليفة وببلد ليس في الأقاليم أريف منه ولا أخصب جنابًا، فحن إلى سليخة رمث حبًّا للوطن.,"Al-Walid, thereupon, ordered to bring for him some dried rimth. But when they came to him he was dead. Although he lived with the Caliph and in a country which had not its superior in the world as far as abundance of herbage, and fertility is concerned, yet he yearned for some dried wood of rimth, because he loved his native land so much."
وحكى أبو عبد الله الجعفري عن عبد الله بن إسحق الجعفري قال: أمرت بِصِهْرِيجٍ لي في بستان عليه نخل مُطلٌّ أن يملأ، فذهبت بأم حسانة المرية وابنتها وهي زوجتي،,"Abu ‘Abdallah Al-Ja‘fari told the following story on the authority of ‘Abdallah Ibn I shag Al-Ja’fari: I had a cistern in a garden with palm-trees beside it rising over it; I ordered it filled (with water). Then I went there accompanied by Umm Hassanah Al-Murriyyah and her daughter, who was my wife."
فلما نظرت أم حسانة إلى الصهريج قعدت عليه، وأرسلت رجليها في الماء، فقلت لها: ألا تطوفين معنا على هذا النخل لنجني ما طاب من ثمره؟ فقالت: ها هنا أعجب إليَّ، فَدُرْنا ساعةً وتركناها،,"When Umm Hassanah saw the cistern, she sat down beside it and put her feet into the water. I asked her: Would you not like to walk around with us among these palmtrees and pick up the fruits which are good.” She replied: “I like it better here.” So we left her and walked around for a while.”"
ثم انصرفنا وهي تخضخض رجليها في الماء وتحرك شفتيها، فقلت: يا أم حسانة، لا أحسبك إلا وقد قلت شعرًا،,"Then we returned and found her splashing the water with her feet and moving her lips (as if she were saying something). So I said to her: O Umm Hassanah, I certainly think that you have spoken some verses!””"
"قالت: أجل، ثم أنشدتني:
أقول لأدني صاحبي أسره *** وللعين دمع يحدر الكحل ساكبه:
لعمري لنهي باللوى نازح القذى *** نقي النواحي غير طرق مشاربه
بأجرع مجراع كأن رجاجه *** سحاب من الكافور والمسك شائبه","قالت: أجل، ثم أنشدتني:
أَقُولُ لِأَدْنَي صَاحِبَيَّ أَسُرُّهُ *** وَلِلْعَيْنِ دَمْعٌ يَحْدُرُ الْكُحْلَ سَاكِبُهْ:
لَعَمْرِي لَنَهْيٌ بِاللَّوَى نَازِحُ الْقَذَى *** نَقِيُّ النَّوَاحِي غَيْرُ طَرْقٍ مَشَارِبُهْ
بِأَجْرَعَ مِجْرَاعٍ كَأَنَّ رَجَاجَهُ *** سَحَابٌ مِنَ الْكَافُورِ وَالْمِسْكُ شَائِبُهْ"
"أَحَبُّ إِلَيْنَا مِنْ صَهَارِيجَ مُلِّئَتْ *** لِلُعْبٍ فَلَمْ تَمْلُحْ لَدَيَّ مَلَاعِبُهْ
فَيَا حَبَّذَا نَجْدٌ وَطِيبُ تُرَابِهِ *** إِذَا هَضَبَتْهُ بِالْعَشِيِّ هَوَاضِبُهْ
وَرِيحُ صَبَا نَجْدٍ إِذَا مَا تَنَسَّمَتْ *** ضُحًى أَوْ سَرَتْ جُنْحَ الظَّلامِ جَنَائِبُهْ","Is more attractive to us than cisterns which have been filled (with water) for the purpose of fun; but such fun does not appeal to me. Oh! how beloved (wonderful) is the Najd and its good soil When heavy rainfall drenches it at night;
And the Zephyr of the Najd when it gently blows in the morning or when the southern winds blow during the night."
"وأنشد أبو النصر الأسدي:
أُحِبُّ الْأَرْضَ تَسْكُنُهَا سُلَيْمَى *** وَإِنْ كَانَتْ بِوَادِيهَا الْجُدُوبُ
وَمَا عَهْدِي بِحُبِّ تُرَابِ أَرْضٍ *** وَلَكِنْ مَنْ يَحُلُّ بِهَا حَبِيبُ","Abul-Nasr Al-Asadi recited the following verses:
I love the country where Sulayma dwells, even though its valley is barren.
It is not the dust of the soil which I love but rather the beloved who abides there."
"وأنشدني حماد بن إسحق الموصلي:
أَحَبُّ بِلادِ اللهِ مَا بَيْنَ صَارَةٍ *** إِلَى غَطْفَانَ أَنْ يَصُوبُ سَحَابُهَا
بِلَادٌ بِهَا نِيطَتْ عَلَيَّ تَمَائِمِي *** وَأَوَّلُ أَرْضٍ مَسَّ جِسْمِي تُرَابُهَا","Hammad Ibn Ishaq Al-Mawsili recited to me the following verses:
The country on God’s earth that I like best the rain to fall upon is the land between Sarah and Ghatafan.
(That is) the land in which my amulets were hung around my (neck), and the first land, whose dust my body touched."
قال: ولما حُملت نائلة بنت القرافصة الكلبية إلى عثمان بن عفان — رضي الله عنه — كَرِهَت فراق أهلها، فقالت لضبٍّ أخيها:,"He said: When Na’ilah Bint Al-Farafisah Al-Kalbiyyah was carried to ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Affan, may God be pleased with him, she disliked to leave her family, and so she said to her brother Dabb:"
"أَلَسْتَ تَرَى يَا ضَبُّ بِاللهِ أَنَّنِي *** مُرَافِقَةٌ نَحْوَ المَدِينَةِ أَرْكُبَا
أَمَا كَانَ فِي أَوْلَادِ عَوْفِ بنِ عَامِرٍ *** لَكَ الْوَيْلُ مَا يُغْنِي الخِبَاءُ المُطَنَّبَا؟!
أَبَى اللهُ إِلَّا أَنْ أَكُونَ غَرِيبَةً *** بِيَثْرِبَ لَا أُمًّا لَدَيَّ وَلَا أَبَا","Don’t you see, in the name of God, O Dabb, that I am leaving for Al-Madinah in a large company;
Does there not exist among the decendants of ‘Awf Ibn ‘Amir, Woe to you, some one who could free me from the fastened tent (ready for departure).
God wants me to be a foreigner, in yathrib, deprived of my mother and father."
قال: وزُوِّجَت مِن أَبَان في كلبٍ امرأةٌ، فنظرت ذات يوم إلى ناقة قد حنَّت فذكرت بلادها، وأنشأت تقول:,"He also said: A woman from Aban was given in marriage to a member of the Kalb. Seeing, once, a she-camel yearning (and groaning), she remembered her country and recited (the following verses):”"
"أَلَا أَيُّهَا الْبَكْرُ الْأُبَانِيُّ إِنَّنِي *** وَإِيَّاكَ فِي كَلْبٍ لَمُغْتَرِبَانِ
تَحِنُّ، وَأَبْكِي ذَا الهَوَى لِصَبَابَةٍ *** وَإِنَّا عَلَى الْبَلْوَى لَمُصْطَحِبَانِ
وَإِنَّ زَمَانًا أَيُّهَا الْبَكْرُ ضَمَّنِي *** وَإِيَّاكَ فِي كَلْبٍ لَشَرُّ زَمَانِ","O! young Abani camel, I and you are strangers among the Kalb.
You yearn and I cry, moved by a deep affection;
We are companions in this misfortune.
A time (a fate), 0 young camel, which brought me and you together among the Kalb is, indeed, the worst of times (fates)."
"وقال آخر:
أَلَا يَا حَبَّذَا وَطَنِي وَأَهْلِي *** وَصَحْبِي حِينَ يُدَّكَرُ الصِّحَابُ
وَمَا عَسَلٌ بِبَارِدِ مَاءِ مُزْنٍ *** عَلَى ظَمَأٍ لِشَارِبِهِ يُشَابُ
بِأَشْهَى مِنْ لِقَائِكُمُ إِلَيْنَا *** فَكَيْفَ لَنَا بِهِ وَمَتَى الْإِيَابُ","Someone else said:
Oh, how wonderful is my native country and my people, and my friends when friends are ever remembered.
Honey mixed with the cool rain water given to a thirsty man to drink
Is not more desirable than you meeting us;
So, how can we have a meeting and when shall we be back?"
"قال: ومن هذا أخذ الطائي قوله:
كَمْ مَنْزِلٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَأْلَفُهُ الْفَتَى *** وَحَنِينُهُ أبَدًا لِأَوَّلِ مَنْزِلِ","He said: Al-Tai was inspired by this to the following verses:
How many homes there are on earth to which a young man can get used to,
Yet his yearning always goes for his first home."
"وأنشد أبو عمرو البجلي:
تمتع من شميم عرار نجد *** فما بعد العشية من عرار
ألا يا حبذا نفحات نجد *** وريا روضه غب القطار","وأنشد أبو عمرو البجلي:
تَمَتَّعْ مِنْ شَمِيمِ عَرَارِ نَجْدٍ *** فَمَا بَعْدَ الْعَشِيَّةِ مِنْ عَرَارِ
أَلَا يَا حَبَّذَا نَفَحَاتُ نَجْدٍ *** وَرِيًّا رَوْضِهِ غِبَّ الْقِطَارِ"
"وَعَيْشُكَ إِذْ يَحُلُّ الْقَوْمُ نَجْدًا *** وَأَنْتَ عَلَى زَمَانِكَ غَيْرُ زَارِي
شُهُورٌ يَنْقَضِينَ وَمَا شَعُرْنَا *** بِأَنْصَافٍ لَهُنَّ وَلَا سَرَارِ
فَأَمَّا لَيْلُهُنَّ فَخَيْرُ لَيْلٍ *** وَأَقْصَرُ مَا يَكُونُ مِنَ النَّهَارِ","And your life when (your) people dwell in the Najd;
During all the ages you have nothing, to blame you for.
Months and months passed and we did not notice their middle and their end.
Their nights were the best ones
and the days were the shortest"
"وقال آخر:
أَلَا هَلْ إِلَى شَمِّ الْخُزَامَى وَنَظْرَةٍ *** إِلَى قَرْقَرَى قَبْلَ المَمَاتِ سَبِيلُ
فَأَشْرَبُ مِنْ مَاءِ الْحُجَيْلَاءِ شَرْبَةً *** يُداوَى بِهَا قَبْلَ الْمَمَاتِ عَلِيلُ
فَيَا أَثَلَاتِ الْقَاعِ قَلْبِي مُوَكَّلٌ *** بِكُنَّ وَجَدْوَى خَيْرِكُنَّ قَلِيلُ","Someone else said:
an Alas! would that I had opportunity, before my death, to smell the sweet odor of the lavender and to see the land of Qargara
And to have from the water of the Hujayla a drink which would heal an ill person before his death.
O, Tamarisks of the plain, my heart is attached to you, even though you are of so little use."
"وَيَا أَثَلَاثِ القَاعِ قَدْ مَلَّ صُحْبَتِي *** مَسِيرِي فَهَلْ فِي ظِلِّكُنَّ مَقَيلُ؟
أُرِيدُ انْحِدَارًا نَحْوَهَا فَيَرُدُّنِي *** وَيَمْنَعُنِي دَينٌ عَلَيَّ ثَقِيلُ
أُحَدِّثُ نَفْسِي عَنْكِ أَنْ لَسْتُ رَاجِعًا *** إِلَيْكِ فَحُزْنِي فِي الفُؤَادِ دَخِيلُ","O, Tamarisks of the plain, my companions had enough of my journey; so, could I not have a siesta in your shade.
I wish to return to them (the tamarisks) but I am kept back and prevented (from returning) by a heavy debt which burdens me.
When I speak to myself about you that I can not return to you, sadness enters my heart."
"وأنشد للمجنون:
إِلَى عَامِرٍ أَصْبُو، وَمَا أَرْضُ عَامِرٍ؟ *** هِيَ الرَّمْلَةُ الوَعْسَاءُ وَالبَلَدُ الرَّحْبُ
مَعَاشِرُ بِيضٌ لَوْ وَرَدْتَ بِلَادَهُمْ *** وَرَدْتَ بُحُورًا مَاؤُهَا لِلنِّدَا عَذْبُ
إِذَا مَا بَدَتْ لِلنَّاظِرِينَ خِيَامُهُم *** فَثَمَّ الْعِتَاقُ الْقُبُّ والْأَسَلُ الْقُضْبُ","The following verses have been recited as verses by Al-Majnun:
To the Amir goes my affection. And what is the A land of the ‘Amir?
It is a sandy hill and a spacious country.
Nice people as they are, if you ever visit their country,
you would find oceans whose waters are so generous and sweet.
When their tents appear in sight,
there you find noble and lank horses as well as slender bows."
"وأنشدنا المازنيُّ:
اقْرَأْ عَلَى الْوَشْلِ السَّلَامَ وَقُلْ لَهُ: *** كُلُّ الْمَوَارِدِ مُذْ هُجِرْتَ ذَمِيمُ
جَبَلٌ يَنِيفُ عَلَى الْجِبَالِ إِذَا بَدَا *** بَيْنَ الْغَدَائِرِ وَالرِّمَالِ مُقِيمُ","Al-Mazini recited to us the following verses:
Extend my greetings to Al-Washal and tell it:
All the watering places are distateful since I left you.
(It is) a mountain which exceeds in height all other mountains when it appears lying amidst the pools and the sands."
"تَسْرِي الصِّبَا فَتَبِيتُ فِي أَلْوَاذِهِ *** وَيَبِيتُ فِيهِ مِنَ الْجَنُوبِ نَسِيمُ
سَقْيًا لِظِلِّكَ بِالعَشِيِّ وَبِالضُّحَى *** وَلِبَرْدِ مَائِكَ وَالْمِيَاهُ حَمِيمُ
لَوْ كُنْتُ أَمْلِكُ مَنْعَ مَائِكِ لَمْ يَذُقْ *** مَا فِي قِلَاتِكِ مَا حَيِيتُ لَئِيمُ","The east wind blows in the evening and spends the night in its gorges; Also the Zephyr blowing from the south spends the night in it.
May your shade be refreshed by rain in the evening and in the morning, and also your cool water (unlike all other waters which are warm.
If I had a right to control your water and deny it to those whom I do not want to enjoy it, never, as long as I live, would a villain taste the water in your hollows."
"وقالت امرأة من عقيل:
خَلِيلَيَّ مِنْ سُكَّانِ مَاوَانَ هَاجَنِي *** هُبُوبُ جَنُوبٍ مَرُّهَا وَنِسَامُهَا
فَلَا تَسْأَلَانِي مَا وَرَائِي فَإِنَّنِي *** بِمَنْزِلَةٍ أَعْيَا الطَّبِيبَ سِقَامُهَا","A woman from the Ugayl also said:
O, my two friends of the inhabitants of Mawan, I am so excited by a breeze of the south wind which gently passes (by me).
So don’t ask me what is happening to me, for I am in a state of illness that baffled the physicians skill."
"وقال آخر:
أَلَا لَيْتَ شِعْرِي وَالحَوَادِثُ جَمَّةٌ *** مَتَى تَجْمَعُ الْأَيَّامُ يَومًا لَنَا الشَّمْلَا
وَكُلُّ غَرِيبٍ سَوْفَ يُمسِي بِذِلَّةٍ *** إِذَا بَانَ عَنْ أَوْطَانِهِ وَجَفَا الْأَهْلَا","Someone else said:
The vicissitudes of life are indeed numerous, and would that I knew when the time will, one day, unite us.
Every stranger will (some time or other) run into humiliation, if he leaves his native country and discards his family."
"وقال آخر:
أَلَا لَيْتَ شِعْرِي يَجْمَعُ الدَّهْرُ بَيْنَنَا *** بِصَحْرَاءَ مِنْ نَجْرَانَ ذَاتِ ثَرًى جَعْدِ!
وَهَلْ يَنْفُضَنَّ الرِّيحُ أَفْنَانَ لِمَّتِي *** عَلَى لَاحِقِ الرَّجُلَيْنِ مُضْطَمِرٍ وَرْدِ
وَهَلْ أَرِدَنَّ الدَّهْرَ حِسْيَيْ مُزَاحِمٍ *** وَقَدْ ضَرَبَتْهُ نَفْحَةٌ مِنْ صِبَا نَجْدِ","Someone else said:
Would that I knew whether time will unite us in a dewy and moistened desert near Najran;
And whether the wind will dishevel the locks of my hair while I am riding on a reddish, thin and swift horse;
And whether I shall ever come down to the sandy (and swampy) land of Muzahim, after the east wind from the Najd had blown upon it."
"وقال آخر:
وَأَنْزَلَنِي طُولُ النَّوَى دَارَ غُرْبَةٍ *** إِذَا شِئْتُ لَاقَيْتُ امْرأً لَا أُشَاكِلُهْ
فَحَامَقْتُهُ حَتَّى يُقَالَ سَجِيَّةٌ *** وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا عَقْلٍ لَكُنْتُ أُعَاقِلُهْ
وَلَوْ كُنْتُ فِي قَوْمِي وَجُلِّ عَشِيرَتِي *** لَأَلْفَيْتُ فِيهِمْ كُلَّ خِرْقٍ أُوَاصِلُهْ","Someone else said:
My long absence had put me in an alien land where if I wished to meet people I would only find men whose characters are unlike mine,
So I acted stupidly with them so that it was said (of me) (stupidity is his) natural disposition And if they had been intelligent enough T. would have acted intelligently towards them.;
Had I been with my people and my illustrious kinsfolk, I would have found among them fine gentlemen with whom I could be constantly together."
"وأنشد لذي الرمة:
إِذَا هَبَّتِ الْأَرْوَاحُ مِنْ نَحْوِ جَانِبٍ *** بِهِ أَهْلُ مَيٍّ هَاجَ قَلْبِي هُبُوبُهَا
هَوًى تَذْرِفُ الْعَيْنَانِ مِنْهُ وَإِنَّمَا *** هَوَى كُلِّ نَفْسٍ حَيْثُ حَلَّ حَبِيبُهَا","The following verses have been recited of Dhul- Rummah;
When the winds blow from a side where the family of Mayy lives, my heart becomes all excited (by this breeze).
It is a passion which causes my eyes to shed tears; everyone’s passion is (directed to the place) where his beloved abides."
وقال أبو عثمان: رأيت عبدًا أسودَ حبشيًّا لبني أسد، قدم من شقِّ اليمامة، فصار ناطورًا، وكان وحشيًّا مجنونًا لطول الغربة مع الإبل،,Abu ‘Uthman said; I once saw a black Abyssinian slave belonging to Banu Asad. He had come from the region of the Yamamah and had become a watchman. He had been away (from society) with the camel for such a long time that he became unsociable and crazy.
وكان لا يلقى إلا أكرة، فلا يفهم عنهم ولا يستطيع إفهامهم، فلما رآني سكن إليَّ، وسمعته يقول: لعن الله أرضًا ليس بها عرف، قاتل الله الشاعر حيث يقول: حُرُّ الثَّرَى مُسْتَعْرِبُ التُّرَابِ.,The only men whom he met were peasants and he did not understand them nor could he made them understand him. So when he saw me he had confidence in me and I heard him say: God curse a land where there is not an Arab. May God punish the poet who said: The best land is that of the Arabs.”
أبا عثمان! إن هذه العُرَيب في جميع الناس كمقدار القرحة في جلد الفرس، فلولا أن الله رق عليهم فجعلهم في حشاه لطمست هذه العجم آثارهم،,"O Abu ‘Uthman! These little Arabs, as compared with all other peoples, are like the white spot on a horse’s skin. If God had not been merciful toward them and taken them under His protection, the non-Arabs would have effaced their traces."
أترى الأعيار إذا رأت العتاق لا ترى لها فضلًا، والله ما أمر الله نبيه ﷺ بقتلهم إذ لا يدينون بدين إلا لضنه بهم، ولا ترك قبول الجزية منهم إلا تنزيهًا لهم.,"You know that the wild asses, when they see noble horses, do not appreciate their excellence. Indeed, God commanded his prophet to kill them on account of their lack of religion, only because He wanted to spare them (the Arabs). He also did not accept from them the poll-tax only because He wanted to keep them away from imperfection."
"وقيل لأعرابي: ما السرور؟ فقال: أوبة بغير خيبة، وألفة بعد غيبة. وقيل لآخر: ما السرور؟ قال: غيبة تفيد غنى، وأوبة تعقب منى، وأنشأ يقول:
وكنت فيهم كممطور ببلدته *** يسر أن جمع الأوطان والمطرا","وقيل لأعرابي: ما السرور؟ فقال: أوبة بغير خيبة، وألفة بعد غَيبة. وقيل لآخر: ما السرور؟ قال: غَيبة تفيد غِنًى، وأوبة تُعْقب مُنًى، وأنشأ يقول:
وَكُنْتُ فِيهِمْ كَمَمْطُورٍ بِبَلْدَتِهِ *** يُسَرُّ أَنْ جَمَعَ الْأَوْطَانَ وَالْمَطَرَا"
"وأحسن ما سمعنا في حب الوطن وفرحة الأوبة قوله:
وَبَاشَرْتُهَا فَاسْتَعْجَلَتْ عَنْ قِنَاعِهَا *** وَقَدْ يَسْتَخِفُّ (الطَّامِعِينَ) المُبَاشِرُ
مُشَمِّرَةٍ عَنْ سَاقِ حَوْلَاءَ جَسْرَةٍ *** تُجَارِي بَنِيهَا مَرَّةً وَتُحَاضِرُ","The best verses we have ever heard about one’s love of the native country and the pleasure of returning are the following verses;
I contacted her; So she hastened without putting on her veil, and whoever covets something can, indeed, be incited to act very fast.
(She set out) baring her leg which was strong and tall, and (running in such a way as), sometimes, to outdistance her children and (sometimes) to keep pace with them."
"وَخَبَّرَهَا الوَرَّادُ أَنْ لَيْسَ بَيْنَهَا *** وَبَيْنَ قُرَى نَجْرَانَ وَالدَّرْبِ صَافِرُ
فَأَلْقَتْ عَصَاهَا وَاسْتَقَرَّتْ بِهَا النَّوَى *** كَمْ قَرَّ عَيْنًا بِالْإِيَابِ الْمُسَافِرُ","The men who went down to the water informed her that there were no more travelers (on the way)
between her and the villages of Najran and Al-Darb
So she cast away her(traveler’s) stick and settled (as her Journey came to its end)
(feeling haopy) just as the traveler feels refreshed when he has returned (back home)"
وقيل لبعض الأعراب: ما الغبطة؟ قال: الكفاية مع لزوم الأوطان، والجلوس مع الإخوان. قيل له: فما الذلة؟ قال: التنقل في البلدان، والتنحي عن الأوطان.,"A certain Bedouin was asked; What is bliss?” He said: “Having enough in one’s native country, and being with one’s friends.” Then, he was asked; “What is humiliation?” He answered: “Moving from one place to another, and being away from one’s native country.””"
"وقال آخر:
طَلَبُ المَعَاشِ مُفَرِّقٌ *** بَيْنَ الْأَحِبَّةِ وَالْوَطَنْ
وَمُصَيِّرٌ جَلْدَ الرِّجَالِ *** إِلَى الضَّرَاعَةِ وَالْوَهَنْ","Someone else said:
The search for a livelihood brings about a break
between a man and his friends and native country.
It also turns the strength of men
into lowliness and weakness,"
"حَتَّى يُقَادَ كَمَا يُقَا *** دُ النِّضْوُ فِي ثِنْيِ الرَّسَنْ
ثُمَّ الْمَنِيَّةُ بَعْدَهُ *** فَكَأَنَّهُ مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ","So that (such a man) would become submissive
just like an emaciated camel in its halter,
And then death comes,
And he, thus, is like something that never existed."
ووجدنا من العرب من كان أشرف في نفسه وأفخر في حسبه، ومن العجم من كان أطيب عنصرًا وأنفس جوهرًا، أشد حنينًا إلى وطنه ونزاعًا إلى تربته، وكانت الملوك على قديم الدهر لا تؤثر على أوطانها شيئًا،,"We also found that among the Arabs those who were of a nobler character and of a prouder descent, and among the non-Arabs those of better origin and finer substance, also had a stronger yearning for their native land and a deeper affection for their soil. The kings, too, from ancient times, preferred nothing to their native countries."
وحكى المُوبَذ أنه قرأ في سيرة إسفنديار بن بشتاسف بن لهراسف بالفارسية، أنه لما غزا بلاد الخزر ليستنقذ أُختَه من الأسر اعتلَّ بها، فقيل له: ما تشتهي؟ قال: شمة من تربة بلخ، وشربة من ماء واديها.,"The Mobedh reported that he had read in the Persian biography of Isfandiyar Ibn Bushtasf Ibn Luhrasf that when Isfandiyar raided the land of the Khazar in order to free his sister from captivity, he fell sick there; and he was asked what he wanted to have. He answered: A smell of the soil of Balkh and a drink from the water of its river valley.””"
واعتل سابور ذو الأكتاف بالروم، وكان مأسورًا في القِدِّ، فقالت له بنت ملك الروم وقد عشقته: ما تشتهي مما كان فيه غذاؤك؟ قال: شربةً من ماء دجلة وشمةً من تربة إصطخر.,"Shahpur Dhul-Aktaf fell also sick in Roman territory (Rum) where he was held in fetters as a captive. The daughter of the Roman King who had fallen in love with him, asked him: What food would you desire to have to sustain you?” He said: “A drink from the water of the Tigris and a smell from the soil of Istakhr.””"
فغبرت عنه أيامًا، ثم أتته يومًا بماء الفرات وقبضة من تراب شاطئه، وقالت: هذا من ماء دجلة، وهذه من تربة أرضك، فشرب واشتم من تلك التربة، فأفاق من مرضه.,"So, she kept away from him for some days. Then, one day, she came back to him with some water from the Euphrates and a handful of soil from its bank and told him: Here is some water from the Tigris and some soil from your land.” He drank the water and smelled that soil and was cured.”"
وكان الإسكندر الرومي جال البلدان وأخرب إقليم بابل، وكنز الكنوز وأباد الخلق، فمرض بحضرة بابل، فلما أشفى أوصى إلى حكمائه ووزرائه أن تحمل رمته في تابوت من ذهب إلى بلده حبًّا للوطن.,"Alexander, the Roman had traversed all the countries, destroyed the zone of Babylon, gathered many treasures and annihilated all peoples. Then he fell sick near Babylon; and as he felt he was dying, he recommended to his physicians and ministers, as his last will, that his body be carried in a golden coffin back to his country, as a sign of his love for his native land."
ولما افتتح وهرز بن شيرزاد اليمن، وقتل ملك الحبشة المتغلب على اليمن، أقام بها عاملًا لأنوشروان، فبنى نجران اليمن وهي من أحسن مدن الثغور، فلما أدركته الوفاة أوصى ابنه شيرزاد أن يحمل إلى إصطخر ناووس أبيه، ففعل به ذلك.,"When Wahriz Ibn Shirzad conquered the Yaman and killed the Abyssinian king who had subdued the country, he remained there as Anusharwan’s governor. He built Najran of the Yaman which is one of the best frontier cities. Then when he felt he was dying, he recommended to his son Shirzad, as his last will, to carry the coffin of his father to Istakhr; the son actually did that."
فهؤلاء الملوك والجبابرة الذين لم يفتقدوا في اغترابهم نعمة، ولا غادروا في أسفارهم شهوة حنُّوا إلى أوطانهم، ولم يؤثروا على ترابهم ومساقط رءوسهم شيئًا من الأقاليم المستفادة بالتغازي، والمدن المغتصبة من ملوك الأمم.,Those kings and tyrants who missed no comfort when they were abroad and lacked no pleasure on their journeys yearned for their native lands and did not prefer to their own soil and their birthplaces any of the regions which they conquered by raids or of the cities which they captured from the kings of the nations.
وهؤلاء الأعراب مع فاقتهم وشدة فقرهم، يحنون إلى أوطانهم، ويقنعون بتربهم ومحالِّهم.,"Those Bedouins, too, despite their destitution and extreme poverty, yearn for their native countries and are satisfied with their own soil and their own places."
ورأيت المتأدب من البرامكة المتفلسف منهم إذا سافر سفرًا أخذ معه من تربة مولده في جراب يتداوى به.,"I have seen the highly educated and learned member of the Barmacid family, when he went on a journey, carry with him some of the soil of his birthplace in a leather bag in order to use it as treatment in case of illness."
ومن أصدق الشواهد في حب الوطن أن يوسف — عليه السلام — لما أدركته الوفاة، أوصى أن تُحمل رمته إلى موضع مقابر أبيه وجده يعقوب وإسحق وإبراهيم — عليهم السلام —,"One of the truest testimonies to patriotism is the fact that when Joseph, peace be on him, was about to die, he recommended, as his last will, that his body be carried to the place where his father and forefathers Jacob, Isaac and Abraham, peace be on them, had been burled."
ورُوِي لنا أن أهل مصر منعوا أولياء يوسف من حمله، فلما بعث الله موسى — عليه السلام — وأهلك على يديه فرعون وغيره من الأمم أمره أن يحمل رمته إلى تربة يعقوب بالشام، وقبره معلوم بأرض بيت المقدس بقرية تسمى حسامى،,"It has been furthermore reported to us that the people of Egypt prevented the family (or those who are in charge) of Joseph to carry away his body. So that when God sent Moses, upon him be peace, as a prophet and destroyed through him Pharaoh and other nations, He ordered him (Moses) to carry Joseph’s body to the graveyard of Jacob in Syria. And his tomb is well known to be in the territory of Jerusalem in a village called Hisma."
وكذلك يعقوب مات بمصر، فحُملت رمته إلى إيلياء؛ قرية ببيت المقدس، وهناك قبر إسحاق بن إبراهيم — عليهما السلام.,"The same was the case with Jacob. He died in Egypt and his body was carried to Iliya’, a village in Jerusalem. There is, too, the tomb of Isaac son of Abraham, upon them be peace."
ومن حب الناس للوطن وقناعتهم بالعطن، أن إبراهيم لما أتى بهاجرَ أمِّ إسماعيل مكةَ فأسكنها، وليس بمكة أنيس ولا ماء ظمئ إسماعيل،,"As an example of man’s love for his native country and his satisfaction with his own watering place is (the story) that when Abraham brought Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, to Mecca and settled there though he had no friend and there was no water in it, Ishmael got thirsty."
فدعا إبراهيم ربه فقال: رَبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنْتُ مِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِنْدَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ، فأجاب الله دعاءه إذ رضي به وطنًا، وبعث جبرائيل — عليه السلام — فركض موضع زمزم برجله، فنبع منه زمزم.,"So Abraham prayed to God and said:O my Lord, I established some of my descendants in an uncultivated valley at your sacred house.” God heard his prayer because he contented himself with taking that sacred place as his home, and sent Gabriel, upon him be peace, who struck with his feet the ground (where the source) of Zamzam (now is) and the water of Zamzam gushed forth.”"
ومر بإسماعيل وأمه فرقة من جُرْهُم، فقالوا: أتأذنون لنا أن ننزل معكم؟,"Then some peoole from the Jurhum passed by Ishmael and his mother and asked for permission to dwell with them. Hagar answered: Yes!”, But (stipulated) that they would have no right in the water.”"
فصار إسماعيل وولده قُطَّان مكة لدعوة إبراهيم — عليه السلام. نعم، وهي مع جدوبتها خير بقاع الأرض؛ إذ صارت حرمًا، ولإسماعيل وولده مسكنًا، وللأنبياء منسكًا ومجمعًا على غابر الدهر.,"Thus, Ishmael and his descendants became residents of Mecca as a consequence of the prayer of Abraham, upon him be peace. And, as a matter of fact, despite its barrenness Mecca is the best land of the world, because it became a sanctuary and an abode for Ishmael and his descendants, as well as a place of worship and a meeting place for the prophets, for ever."
وممن تمسك من بني إسرائيل — عليه السلام — بحب الوطن خاصة ولد هارون وآل داود — عليهما السلام — لم يمت منهم ميت في إقليم بابل في أي البلدان مات إلا نبشوا قبره بعد حَوْل، وحملت رمته إلى موضع يدعى الخصاصة بالشام،,"Among the children of Israel, upon him be peace, those who particularly felt the love for the native land, were the descendants of Aaron and the family of David, upon them be peace. For they did not leave anyone of them who died in the region of Babylon, in whatever city he might have died, without ransacking his grave after a year and carrying his body to a place in Syria called Al-Khasasah."
"فيودع هناك حولًا، فإذا حال الحول نقلت إلى بيت المقدس، وقال الفرزدق:
لَكِسْرَى كَانَ أَعْقَلَ مِنْ تَمِيمٍ *** لَيَالِي فَرَّ مِنْ بَلَدِ الضِّبَابِ
فَأَسْكَنَ أَهْلَهُ بِبِلَادِ رِيفٍ *** وَجَنَّاتٍ وَأَنْهَارٍ عِذَابِ","It was deposited there, and at the close of the year it was carried to Jerusalem. Al-Farazdag said:
Khusro was, indeed, wiser than Tamim,
When he fled away from the country of the lizards,
And established his people in fertile lands
and gardens (like paradise) and rivers with sweet water."
"فَصَارَ بَنُوا بَنِيهِ بِهَا مُلُوكًا *** وَصِرْنَا نَحْنُ أَمْثَالَ الْكِلَابِ
فَلَا رَحِمَ الْإِلَهُ صَدَى تَمِيمٍ *** فَقَدْ أَزْرَى بِنَا فِي كُلِّ بَابِ","There his descendants became kings
while we came to be like dogs.
May God show no mercy to the corpse of Tamim
because he discredited us everywhere."