ar,en
عَنْ أَبِي الْأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ الْإِسْلَامَ بَدَأَ غَرِيبًا وَسَيَعُودُ كَمَا بَدَأَ فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ» قِيلَ: مَنِ الْغُرَبَاءُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: ” النُّزَّاعُ مِنَ الْقَبَائِلِ,"2. On the authority of Abu’lAhwas; on the authority of “Abdullah who said that the Messenger of Allah said, “Islam began as something strange and it will return to being strange just as it began, so tuba for the strangers!” It was asked of him, “Messenger of Allah, who are the strangers?’ He replied, “”Those who have departed from the tribes.”"
3 قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ وَأَنْشَدَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ أَبُو بَكْرٍ الْمُؤَدِّبُ فِي مَعْنَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ,"‘Abdullah ibn Humayd Abu Bakr alMu’addib encapsulated the meaning of this hadlth in a poem,"
"بَدَا الْإِسْلَامُ حِينَ بَدَا غَرِيبًا… وَكَيْفَ بَدَا يَعُودُ عَلَى الدَّلَائِلْ
فَطُوبَى فِيهِ لِلْغُرَبَاءِ طُوبَى… لِجَمْعِ الْآخِرِينَ ولِلْأَوَائِلْ
كَمَا قَالَ الرَّسُولُ فَقِيلَ: مَنْ هُمْ؟… فَقَالَ: النَّازِعُونَ مِنَ الْقَبَائِلْ”","Islam began as something strange,
To what it was it shall again change.
So Tuba for those who are strange.
All of them: the first and the last.
When asked how they were classed,
“The departees from the tribes,” the Prophet recast."
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ الْإِسْلَامَ بَدَأَ غَرِيبًا وَسَيَعُودُ كَمَا بَدَأَ غَرِيبًا فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ»,"3. On the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah said, “Islam began as something strange and it will return, just as it began, to being something strange, so tuba for the strangers!”"
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ الدِّمَشْقِيِّ قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو الدَّرْدَاءِ، وَأَبُو أُمَامَةَ وَوَاثِلَةُ بْنُ الْأَسْقَعِ وَأَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ قَالُوا: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ الْإِسْلَامَ بَدَأَ غَرِيبًا وَسَيَعُودُ غَرِيبًا فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ»,"4. ‘Abdullah ibn Yazld alDimashql said that: Abu’lDarda’, Abu Umamah, Wathilah ibn alAsqa’ and Anas ibn Malik informed him that the Messenger of Allah said, “Islam began as something strange and shall return to being something strange, so tuba for the strangers!”"
سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ: قَالَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ وَنَحْنُ عِنْدَهُ: «طُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ» قِيلَ: وَمَنِ الْغُرَبَاءُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: «أُنَاسٌ صَالِحُونَ قَلِيلٌ فِي نَاسِ سُوءٍ كَثِيرٌ، مَنْ يَعْصِيهِمْ أَكْثَرُ مِمَّنْ يُطِيعُهُمْ»,"5. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr reports that he heard the Messenger of Allah saying while we were with him, “ Tuba for the strangers.” It was asked of him, ‘Messenger of Allah, who are the strangers?’ He replied, “A small group of righteous people amongst a large number of evil people; those who disobey them are greater in number than those who obey them.”"
سَمِعْتُ الْحَسَنَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ: «الْمُؤْمِنُ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَالْغَرِيبِ لَا يَجْزَعُ مِنْ ذُلِّهَا وَلَا يُنَافِسُ فِي عِزِّهَا، لِلنَّاسِ حَالٌ وَلَهُ حَالٌ»,"alHasan said, ‘In this world the believer is like a stranger, he does not despair when it humiliates him and neither does he covet its grandeur. The people are in one state and he is in a totally different state.’"
8 أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ قَالَ: وَأَنْشَدَنِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ الْمُؤَدِّبُ أَيْضًا فِي ذَلِكَ:,"Abu Bakr ‘Abdullah ibn Humayd said,"
"وَتَرَى الْمُؤْمِنَ فِي الدُّنْيَا… غَرِيبًا مُسْتَفَزًّا
فَهُوَ لَا يَجْزَعُ مِنْ ذُلٍّ… وَلَا يَطْلُبُ عِزًّا
وَتَرَاهُ مِنْ جَمِيعِ الْخَلْقِ… خَلْوًا مُشْمَئِزًّا
ثُمَّ بِالطَّاعَةِ مَا عَاشَ… وَبِالْخَيْرِ مُلِزًّا","In the world, the believer is a stranger, full of agitation.
He seeks not distinction, he despairs not at humiliation.
Alone; shrink does he from all of creation,
Yet ever true in servitude and pure intention."
فَإِنْ قَالَ قَائِلٌ: مَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «بَدَأَ الْإِسْلَامُ غَرِيبًا وَسَيَعُودُ كَمَا بَدَأَ»؟ قِيلَ لَهُ:,"If one were to ask what the meaning of the Messenger of Allah’s statement, “Islam began as something strange and shall return to being something strange as it began” is, we would say:"
كَانَ النَّاسُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُبْعَثَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَهْلَ أَدْيَانٍ مُخْتَلِفَةٍ، يَهُودٌ وَنَصَارَى وَمَجُوسٌ وَعَبْدَةُ أَوْثَانٍ، فَلَمَّا بُعِثَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ مَنْ أَسْلَمَ مِنْ كُلِّ طَبَقَةٍ مِنْهُمْ,"Before the advent of the Messenger of Allah people would adhere to different religions; you would find the Jew, the Christian, the Magian and the polytheist. When the Prophet was sent, those who accepted Islam from each of these groups would be looked at askance."
غَرِيبًا فِي حَيِّهِ، غَرِيبًا فِي قَبِيلَتِهِ، مُسْتَخْفِيًا بِإِسْلَامِهِ، قَدْ جَفَاهُ الْأَهْلُ وَالْعَشِيرَةُ، فَهُوَ بَيْنَهُمْ ذَلِيلٌ حَقِيرٌ، مُحْتَمِلٌ لِلْجَفَاءِ، صَابِرٌ عَلَى الْأَذَى,"They were viewed as strangers in their individual localities and strangers amongst their tribe members. They would be forced to conceal their Islam and would be ostracised by their own families, they would be humiliated and belitded but would bear all they met with patience and constancy."
حَتَّى أَعَزَّ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْإِسْلَامَ، وَكَثُرَ أَنْصَارُهُ وَعَلَا أَهْلُ الْحَقِّ، وَانْقَمَعَ أَهْلُ الْبَاطِلِ، فَكَانَ الْإِسْلَامُ فِي ابْتِدَائِهِ غَرِيبًا بِهَذَا الْمَعْنَى،,"This continued until Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, ennobled Islam; its followers and helpers multiplied, the adherents to the truth became ascendant while the adherents to falsehood were humiliated and subjugated. Therefore, in the beginning, Islam was something strange."
وَقَوْلُهُ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «وَسَيَعُودُ غَرِيبًا» مَعْنَاهُ وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ: أَنَّ الْأَهْوَاءَ الْمُضِلَّةُ تَكْثُرُ فَيَضِلُّ بِهَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَيَبْقَى أَهْلُ الْحَقِّ الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَى شَرِيعَةِ الْإِسْلَامِ غُرَبَاءَ فِي النَّاسِ لِقِلَّتِهِمْ،,"The meaning of “…and it shall return to being something strange” is and Allah knows best that misguided innovations shall increase and many people will succumb to them; as such those who follow the truth, those who adhere to the Legal Law of Islam, shall seem like strangers amongst the masses."
أَلَمْ تَسْمَعْ إِلَى قَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:,"Have you not heard the saying of the Messenger,"
تَفْتَرِقُ أُمَّتِي عَلَى ثَلَاثٍ وَسَبْعِينَ فِرْقَةٍ، كُلُّهَا فِي النَّارِ إِلَّا وَاحِدَةٌ، فَقِيلَ: مَنْ هِيَ النَّاجِيَةُ؟ فَقَالَ: مَا أَنَا عَلَيْهِ وَأَصْحَابِي،,"6. “My nation shall divide into seventythree sects, all of them will be in the Fire save one.” When asked who the saved sect was, he replied, “That which is upon what I and my Companions are upon.”"
وَبِقَوْلِهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:,"Or have you not heard his saying,"
مُرُوا بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَانْهَوْا عَنِ الْمُنْكَرِ حَتَّى إِذَا رَأَيْتَ شُحًّا مُطَاعًا وَهَوًى مُتَّبَعًا وَدُنْيَا مُؤْثَرَةً وَإِعْجَابَ كُلِّ ذِي رَأْيٍ بِرَأْيِهِ، وَرَأَيْتَ أَمْرًا لَا يَدَ لَكَ بِهِ فَعَلَيْكَ بِخَاصَّةِ نَفْسِكَ وَإِيَّاكَ وَعَوَامِّهِمْ، فَإِنَّ فِيهِمْ أَيَّامُ الصَّبْرِ الصَّبْرُ فِيهِنَّ كَقَبْضٍ عَلَى الْجَمْرِ,"7. “Command the good and prohibit the evil until you see parsimony being obeyed, desires being followed, the world being preferred, and every person being amazed at his own opinion; at the time when you see affairs that you cannot change, concern yourself with yourself and avoid the masses. Those will be the days of patience and to be patient amongst them will be like holding onto red hot coals.”"
، فَهَذِهِ صِفَةٌ مِنْ صِفَاتِ الْغَرِيبِ الصَّابِرِ عَلَى دِينِهِ حَتَّى يَسْلَمَ مِنَ الْأَهْوَاءِ الْمُضِلَّةِ,This then is one of the characteristics of the stranger: one who remains steadfast and patient upon his religion so that he can safeguard himself against misguided innovation.
10 وَمِنْ صِفَةِ الْغُرَبَاءِ أَيْضًا الَّتِي نُعِتَ بِهَا أَهْلُ الْحَقِّ أَنْ يَكُونَ الْغَالِبُ عَلَى النَّاسِ فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِهِمْ,One of the characteristics of strangeness that the adherents to truth are described with is that they will be clearly manifest amongst the people.
مِثْلُ مُؤَاخَاةِ الْإِخْوَانِ، وَصُحْبَةُ الْأَصْحَابِ، وَمُجَاوَرَةُ الْجِيرَانِ، وَصِلَةُ الْأَرْحَامِ، وَعِيَادَةُ الْمَرْضَى وَشُهُودُ الْجَنَائِزِ، وَمَا يَجْرِي عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ الْمَصَائِبِ، وَمَا يُسِرُّونَ بِهِ مِنَ الْأَفْرَاحِ بِالدُّنْيَا وَالْمُتَاجَرَةُ وَالْمُعَامَلَةُ وَالْمَحَبَّةُ وَالْبُضْعَةُ وَالْمُزَاوَرَةُ وَالْمُلَاقَاةُ وَالْمُجَالَسَةُ وَالِاجْتِمَاعُ فِي الْوَلَائِمِ وَأَشْبَاهٌ لِهَذِهِ الْأُمُورِ،,"They would be the most stringent of people in keeping the ties of brotherhood, fulfilling the rights of companionship and the rights of the neighbour, joining the ties of kinship, visiting the sick and attending the funerals, in facing adversity and tribulation, in facing the joys of this world, in their dealings with people, in their loving and hating, in their gatherings, in their meetings, and in their circles of knowledge."
فَإِنَّ جَمِيعَ ذَلِكَ يَجْرِي بَيْنَهُمْ عَلَى خِلَافِ الْكِتَابِ وَالسُّنَّةِ لِغَلَبَةِ الْجَهْلِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلِدُرُوسِ الْعِلْمِ فِيهِمْ،,"This is because all of these matters will be performed by the others in a way that opposes the Book and Sunnah due to the predominance of ignorance, and by them in a way that conforms to the Book and Sunnah."
فَإِذَا أَرَادَ الْمُؤْمِنُ الْعَاقِلُ الَّذِي قَدْ فَقَّهَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي الدِّينِ وَبَصَّرَهُ عُيُوبَ نَفْسِهِ، وَقَبِيحَ مَا النَّاسُ عَلَيْهِ وَرَزَقَهُ مَعْرِفَةً بِالتَّمْيِيزِ بَيْنَ الْحَقِّ وَالْبَاطِلِ، وَبَيْنَ الْحَسَنِ وَالْقَبِيحِ وَبَيْنَ الضَّارِّ وَالنَّافِعِ،,"So the intelligent Muslim, one whom Allah has granted understanding of the religion, one whom Allah has allowed to see his own defects, one whom Allah has shown the truth of what the people are on and nourished him with the ability to discern truth from falsehood, good from bad, what is beneficial from what is harmful,"
وَعَلِمَ مَا لَهُ مِمَّا عَلَيْهِ إِذْ أَلْزَمَ نَفْسَهُ الْعَمَلَ بِالْحَقِّ بَيْنَ ظَهْرَانَيْ مَنْ قَدْ جَهِلَ الْحَقَّ، بَلِ الْغَالِبُ عَلَيْهِمُ اتِّبَاعُ الْهَوَى،,"one who knows his rights and his duties the intelligent Muslim is one who resolutely adheres to the truth amongst those who are ignorant of it, many of whom have but submitted to innovation."
لَا يُبَالُونَ مَا نَقَصَ مِنْ دِينِهِمْ إِذَا سَلِمَتْ لَهُمْ دُنْيَاهُمْ، فَإِذَا نَظَرُوا إِلَى مَنْ يُخَالِفُهُمْ عَلَى طَرِيقَتِهِمْ ثَقُلَ ذَلِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَمَقَتُوهُ وَخَالَفُوهُ وَطَلَبُوا لَهُ الْعُيُوبِ فَأَهْلُهُ بِهِ مُتَضَجِّرُونَ وَإِخْوَانُهُ بِهِ مُتَثَقِّلُونَ وَمُعَامِلُوهُ بِهِ غَيْرُ رَاغِبِينَ فِي مُعَامَلَتِهِ، وَأَهْلُ الْأَهْوَاءِ لَهُ عَلَى مَذْهَبِ الْحَقِّ مُخَالِفُونَ,"These people do not care how much they lose of religiosity so long as their worldly ends are met. When they see one who differs from them, they cannot bear it and oppose him. They hunt for any of his faults. His own family is vexed at him, his brothers are burdened by him, and those who deal and trade with him have no desire to do so."
فَصَارَ غَرِيبًا فِي دِينِهِ لِفَسَادِ دِينِ أَكْثَرِ الْخَلْقِ غَرِيبًا فِي مُعَامَلَتِهِ لِكَثْرَةِ فَسَادِ مَعَاشِ أَكْثَرِ الْخَلْقِ، غَرِيبًا فِي مُؤَاخَاتِهِ وَصُحْبَتِهِ لِكَثْرَةِ فَسَادِ صُحْبَةِ النَّاسِ وَمُؤَاخَاتِهِمْ، غَرِيبًا فِي جَمِيعِ أُمُورِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ,"Such a person will become strange because of his following his religion, strange in his dealings with people, strange in all the matters of this world and those related to the Hereafter."
لَا يَجِدُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ مُسَاعِدًا يَفْرَحُ بِهِ وَلَا مُؤَانِسًا يَسْكُنُ إِلَيْهِ، فَمِثْلُ هَذَا غَرِيبٌ مُسْتَوْحِشٌ لِأَنَّهُ صَالِحٌ بَيْنَ فُسَّاقٍ، وَعَالِمٌ بَيْنَ جُهَّالٍ، وَحَلِيمٌ بَيْنَ سُفَهَاءَ، يُصْبِحُ حَزِينًا، وَيُمْسِي حَزِينًا، كَثِيرٌ غَمُّهُ قَلِيلٌ فَرَحُهُ، كَأَنَّهُ مَسْجُونٌ كَثِيرُ الْبُكَاءِ كَالْغَرِيبِ الَّذِي لَا يُعْرَفُ وَلَا يَأْنَسُ بِهِ أَحَدٌ، يَسْتَوْحِشُ مِنْهُ مَنْ لَا يَعْرِفُهُ,"He will be hard put to find someone to help him or to take solace with. This person will be a stranger, finding himself isolated; a scholar amongst the ignorant and forbearing amongst fools. He will become someone who is sombre, finding little to laugh at and much to cry at, just like a stranger in a strange land who knows no one."
فَهَذَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «وَسَيَعُودُ غَرِيبًا كَمَا بَدَأَ»,"This then is the meaning of, “…and it shall return to being something strange just as it began”"
وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ.,and Allah knows best.
قُلْتُ: فَلَوْ تُشَاهِدُهُ فِي الْخَلَوَاتِ يَبْكِي بِحُرْقَةٍ، وَيَئِنُّ بِزَفْرَةٍ، وَدُمُوعُهُ تَسِيلُ بِعَبْرَةٍ، فَلَوْ رَأَيْتُهُ وَأَنْتَ لَا تَعْرِفُهُ لَظَنَنْتَ أَنَّهُ ثَكْلَى قَدْ أُصِيبَ بِمَحْبُوبِهِ، وَلَيْسَ كَمَا ظَنَنْتَ، وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ خَائِفٌ عَلَى دِينِهِ أَنْ يُصَابَ بِهِ، لَا يُبَالِي بِذَهَابِ دُنْيَاهُ إِذَا سَلِمَ لَهُ دِينُهُ،,"Were you to see him when he is alone, you would see him crying in anxiety, tears streaming down his cheeks and letting out deep apprehensive sighs. If you did not know him, you would think him to be a parent who has lost a child, but this is not the case, rather he is in a state of fear and concern about his religion, indifferent to losing out on some worldly lot if it means preserving it."
قَدْ جَعَلَ رَأْسَ مَالِهِ دِينَهُ يَخَافُ عَلَيْهِ الْخُسْرَانَ، كَمَا قَالَ الْحَسَنُ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ: رَأْسُ مَالِ الْمُؤْمِنِ دِينُهُ، حَيْثُ مَا زَالَ زَالَ مَعَهُ، لَا يُخَلِّفُهُ فِي الرِّحَالِ، وَلَا يَأْتَمِنُ عَلَيْهِ الرِّجَالَ.,"His religion is his capital and in it does he fear loss; alHasan said, The capital of the believer is his religion, it is always with him, he does not leave it behind when on a journey and neither does he entrust it to another.’"
قَلْتُ: وَلِلْغَرِيبِ أَوْصَافٌ كَثِيرَةٌ، قَدْ ذَكَرْتُ مِنْهَا مَا يُكْتَفَى بِهِ عَنِ الْكَثِيرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ,The strangers have many qualities and descriptions but what we have mentioned should suffice.
12 أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، قَالَ: أَنْشِدْنِي إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ لِبَعْضِ الْحُكَمَاءِ فِي مَعْنَى سَيْرِ الْغَرِيبِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَحْدَهُ:,"Ibrahim ibn Muhammad quoted to me some lines of poetry from one of the sages concerning the journey of the stranger to Allah, Mighty and Magnificent,"
"الطُّرُقُ شَتَّى وَطَرِيقُ الْحَقِّ مُنْفَرِدٌ… وَالسَّالِكُونَ طَرِيقَ الْحَقِّ أَفْرَادٌ
لَا يَطْلُبُونَ وَلَا تُطْلَبُ مَسَاعِيهِمْ… فَهُمْ عَلَى مَهْلٍ يَمْشُونَ قُصَّادٌ
وَالنَّاسُ فِي غَفْلَةٍ عَمَّا لَهُ قَصَدُوا… فَجُلُّهُمْ عَنْ طَرِيقِ الْحَقِّ رُقَادٌ","The Path of Truth is solitary.
Those who traverse it are lonely;
They are not wanted, nor their aspiration.
Leisurely do they travel, with resolution.
Of what they seek, people are heedless,
For, about the truth most are careless."
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، قَالَ: وَأَنْشَدَنِي أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ الْقَاسِمِ قَالَ: أَنْشَدَنِي أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الرَّقِّيُّ فِي بُكَاءِ الْغَرِيبِ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ: “,"Abu (Ali alHasan ibn alQasim stated the following lines of poetry concerning the weeping of the stranger over his condition,"
"نَسَجْتُ مِنَ الْأَحْزَانِ شِعْرًا فَقُلْتُهُ… لِأَنِّي غَرِيبٌ وَالْغَرِيبُ حَزِينُ
وَلَيْتَنِي دَهْرِي فَلَوْ كُنْتُ جَلْمَدًا… لَلِنْتُ وَكُلٌّ لِلْبَلَاءِ يَلِينُ
فَلَا تَعْجَبُوا مِنْ أَنَّهُ بَعْدَ زَفْرَةٍ… لِكُلِّ غَرِيبٍ فِي الظَّلَامِ أَنِينُ","Owing to my woes I composed some poetry:
I am a stranger and such is melancholy.
My time has softened me, even if I were a pebble.
Everything softens in the face of trial.
Be not surprised at moans following deep sighs,
So laments every stranger in the pitch of darkness."
قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ: رَأَيْتُ مُنْذَ سِنِينَ كَثِيرَةٍ مَعَ عَجُوزٍ جَوْرَبَيْنِ أَبْيَضَيْنِ، أَخْبَرَتْنِي أَنَّ شَابًّا مِنْ أَهْلِ دِمَشْقَ مَحْبُوسٌ فِي الْمُطْبَقُ مَظْلُومٌ، وَأَنَّهُ نَسَجَ عَلَى خَصْرَيْهِمَا بَيْتَيْنِ مِنَ الشِّعْرِ فِي الْغُرَبَاءِ عَلَى الْأَوَّلِ:,"Many years ago I saw on old woman carrying two white socks, she informed me that a youth from Damascus had been wrongly imprisoned in a dungeon and that he had woven two lines of poetry on these socks concerning the strangers, on the first,"
غَرِيبٌ يُقَاسِي الْهَمَّ فِي أَرْضِ غُرْبَةٍ… فَيَا رَبِّ قَرِّبْ دَارَ كُلِّ غَرِيبٍ,"A stranger beset with worry in a strange land…
Lord, draw near the home of every stranger!"
"وَعَلَى الثَّانِي:
وَأَنَا الْغَرِيبُ فَلَا أُلَامُ عَلَى الْبُكَا… إِنَّ الْبُكَا حَسَنٌ بِكُلِّ غَرِيبٍ","and on the second,
Fault me not for weeping: I am a stranger
Weeping behoves every stranger."
17 أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ قَالَ: وَأَنْشَدَنِي أَبُو الْحُسَيْنِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الرَّازِيُّ لِبَعْضِ الْحُكَمَاءِ:,"Abu’lHusayn Muhammad ibn Jafar alRazI quoted me the following lines of poetry from one of the sages,"
"إِنَّ الْغَرِيبَ لَهُ اسْتِكَانَةُ مُذْنِبٍ… وَخُضُوعُ مَدْيُونٍ وَذُلُّ مُرِيبٍ
إِنَّ الْغَرِيبَ وَإِنْ أَقَامَ بِبَلْدَةٍ… يُجْبِي اللَّهُ خَرَاجَهَا لِغَرِيبِ","The stranger bears the abjection of a sinner,
The deference of a debtor,
The lowliness of a doubter.
If the stranger settles in a city,
Allah will collect its landtax for him."
بَابُ الْحَثِّ عَلَى بُلُوغِ مَرَاتِبِ الْغُرَبَاءِ,Aspiring to be a Stranger
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: أَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِبَعْضِ جَسَدِي فَقَالَ لِي: «يَا ابْنَ عُمَرَ كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ، وَعُدَّ نَفْسَكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُبُورِ»,"8. Ibn (Umar reported that, The Messenger of Allah took hold of me and said, Tbn TJmar: be in this world like a stranger or somebody passing on his way; and count yourself amongst the inhabitants of the grave.”’"
وَقَالَ لِي ابْنُ عُمَرَ: فَإِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَلَا تُحَدِّثْ نَفْسَكَ بِالْمَسَاءِ، وَإِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ فَلَا تُحَدِّثْ نَفْسَكَ بِالصَّبَاحِ، وَخُذْ مِنْ صِحَّتِكَ قَبْلَ سَقَمِكَ وَمِنْ حَيَاتِكَ قَبْلَ مَوْتِكَ، فَإِنَّكَ لَا تَدْرِي يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ مَا اسْمُكَ غَدًا “,"Ibn Umar said, ‘So when you awake do not expect to be alive by nightfall. When you go to sleep do not expect to be alive by morning. Take benefit of your health before your frailness and from your life before your death. Servant of Allah, what will your name be tomorrow?’"
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: أَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِعَضَلَةِ سَاقِي أَوْ قال: بِبَعْضِ جَسَدِي وَقَالَ: «يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ وَعُدَّ نَفْسَكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُبُورِ»,"9. Ibn Umar reported that, ‘The Messenger of Allah grabbed me by my shin or took hold of me and said, “‘Abdullah: be in this world like a stranger and count yourself amongst the inhabitants of the grave.’”"
قَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ وَقَالَ لِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ: يَا مُجَاهِدُ فَإِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ فَلَا تُحَدِّثْ نَفْسَكَ بِالصَّبَاحِ، وَإِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَلَا تُحَدِّثْ نَفْسَكَ بِالْمَسَاءِ، وَخُذْ مِنْ دُنْيَاكَ لِآخِرَتِكَ,"Mujahid said, “Abdullah said to me, “When you awake do not expect to be alive by nightfall. When you go to sleep do not expect to be alive by morning. Take from this world that which would aid your Hereafter.’”"
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: أَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِبَعْضِ جَسَدِي فَقَالَ لِي: «اعْبُدِ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، وَكُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ»,"10. Ibn Umar reported that, ‘The Messenger of Allah took hold of me and said, “Worship Allah as if you see Him and be in this world like someone passing on his way”"
22 وَأَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ قَالَ: وَأَنْشَدَنِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ الْمُؤَدِّبُ:,"Abu Bakr ‘Abdullah ibn Humayd quoted me the following lines of poetry,"
"أَيُّهَا الْغَافِلُ فِي… ظِلِّ نَعِيمٍ وَسُرُورٍ
كُنْ غَرِيبًا وَاجْعَلِ الدُّ… نْيَا سَبِيلًا لِلْعُبُورِ
وَاعْدُدِ النَّفْسَ طُوَالَ… الدَّهْرِ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُبُورِ
وَارْفُضِ الدُّنْيَا وَلَا… تَرْكَنْ إِلَى دَارِ الْغُرُورِ","O heedless one sitting in the shade of joy and pleasure!
Travel through this world as a stranger!
Ever count your soul amongst those already deceased.
Shun this world and cling not to this Abode of Deceit."
23 قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ: فَإِنْ قَالَ قَائِلٌ: أَيشْ يَحْتَمِلُ قَوْلُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ؟، قِيلَ لَهُ: وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ:,"If someone were to ask what the meaning of his saying, “Be in this world like a stranger or somebody passing on his way” was, we would say in reply, and Allah knows best:"
هُوَ الرَّجُلُ الْحَاضِرُ الَّذِي قَدْ أَنْعَمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْهِ، فَرَزَقَهُ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا سَرَّهُ بِهِمَا، وَزَوْجَةً حَسْنَاءَ وَدَارًا قَوْرَاءَ، وَلِبَاسًا نَاعِمًا، وَطَعَامًا طَيِّبًا،,"This is a reference to someone who is resident, someone whom Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, has blessed with wealth and children that greatly please him. He has a beautiful wife, a large house, nice clothes and good food to eat."
فَبَيْنَا هُوَ كَذَلِكَ إِذْ عَرَضَ لَهُ سَفَرٌ لَابُدَّ لَهُ مِنَ الْخُرُوجِ فِيهِ، فَخَرَجَ فَطَالَ بِهِ السَّفَرُ وَفَقَدَ جَمِيعَ مَا كَانَ يَلَذُّ بِهِ، وَصَارَ غَرِيبًا فِي بَلَدٍ لَا يُعْرَفُ فَاسْتَوْحَشَ مِنَ الْغُرْبَةِ لِمَا قَاسَى فِيهَا مِنَ الذُّلِّ وَالْمَسْكَنَةِ،,"While in this state, it so happens that he must undertake a journey and he does so, this journey stretches on and on and he loses all that he previously used to take delight in and ends up a stranger in a strange land. He feels the bite of loneliness and desolation in this land and is subjugated to humiliation and weakness."
وَحَنَّ قَلْبُهُ إِلَى الرُّجُوعِ إِلَى وَطَنِهِ، فَجَدَّ فِي السَّيْرِ، هَمُّهُ فِي مَسِيرِهِ أَنْ يَقْطَعَ السَّفَرَ بِالتَّحَرِّي، فَطَعَامُهُ الْيَسِيرُ مِمَّا فِيهِ كِفَايَتُهُ وَلِبَاسُهُ الْحَقِيرُ لِمَا يَسْتُرُ بِهِ عَوْرَتَهُ,He ardently desires to return to his city and so renews his journey with the single goal of completing it; the food he takes is the minimum that would sustain him and the clothes he takes are such as would suffice to cover him properly.
جُلُّ مَا يَحْمِلُ مَعَهُ جِرَابُهُ وَرِكْوَتُهُ، يُكَابِدُ السَّهَرَ لِيَقْطَعَ عَنْهُ شِدَّةَ آلَامِ السَّفَرِ، وَقَلْبُهُ مُتَطَلِّعٌ إِلَى مَا يَلَذُّ بِهِ الْحَضَرُ مُحْتَمِلٌ لِلْأَذَى صَابِرٌ عَلَى الْبَلْوَى لَا يَعْرُجُ فِي مَسِيرِهِ عَلَى شَيْءٍ مِنْ أُمُورِ الدُّنْيَا غَيْرَ مَا فِيهِ بَعْضُ كِفَايَتِهِ، قَدْ لَهَى عَنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ لَهُ فِيهِ لَذَّةٌ،,Therefore the most he takes with him is his bag of provisions and water botde such as would allow him to endure the hardship of the journey; all the while his heart is longing for the joy that lies in store for him when he finally returns. He bears any harm he faces and meets hardship and tribulation with patience.
يَنَامُ بِاللَّيْلِ فِي الْأَوْدِيَةِ وَالشِّعَابِ وَيَقِيلُ بالنَّهَارِ فِي فَيَافِي الْجِبَالِ وَالشَّجَرِ عَلَى التُّرَابِ،,"By night he sleeps in valleys and by day he takes his siesta in any mountain crevice or under a tree, on the bare earth."
إِذَا مَرَّ بِمَا تَهْوَاهُ النُّفُوسُ لَا يَعْرُجُ عَلَيْهِ، يُحَادِثُ نَفْسَهُ بِالصَّبْرِ عَنْهُ يَقُولُ لَهَا حَتَّى أَبْلُغَ مُسْتَقَرِّي فَأَمْنَحَكِ مَا تُحِبِّينَ، إِذَا أَجْهَدَهُ السَّيْرُ يَبْكِي بِحُرْقَةٍ وَيَئِنُّ بِزَفْرَةٍ وَيَخْتَنِقُ بِعَبْرَةٍ,"Whenever he sees something he desires, he does not allow himself to be allured by it, instead exhorting his soul to patience and reminding it that all the delight it desires lies waiting at his destination. When the journey becomes straitened he cries in anxiety and lets out deep apprehensive sighs only to swallow them when taking lesson from his state."
لَا يَجْفُو عَلَى مَنْ جَفَا عَلَيْهِ وَلَا يُؤَاخِذُ مَنْ آذَاهُ وَلَا يُبَالِي بِمَنْ جَهِلَهُ، قَدْ هَانَ عَلَيْهِ فِي غُرْبَتِهِ جَمِيعُ أُمُورِ الدُّنْيَا حَتَّى يَقْطَعَ السَّفَرَ وَيَرِدَ الْحَضَرَ،,"He does not behave coarsely to one who is coarse to him, he does not take retribution against those who harm him, he does not pay attention to those who behave igno randy with him, all the affairs of this world have become insignificant to him, his only care being to reach his destination."
فَقِيلَ لِهَذَا الْمُؤْمِنِ الْعَاقِلِ الَّذِي يُرِيدُ الْآخِرَةَ وَيَشْنَأُ الدُّنْيَا: كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا مِثْلَ هَذَا الْغَرِيبِ لَا يَعْرُجُ إِلَّا عَلَى مَا قَلَّ وَكَفَى وَقَدْ تَرَكَ مَا كَثُرَ وَأَلْهَى,It is said to the intelligent Muslim who desires the Hereafter and detests this world: be in this world like this stranger who only looks to this world for that which will suffice him and leaves plenitude and luxury.
فَإِنَّكَ إِذَا فَعَلْتَ ذَلِكَ كُنْتَ غَرِيبًا كَعَابِرِ سَبِيلٍ حَتَّى تَرِدَ الْآخِرَةَ وَأَنْتَ مُحَقِّرٌ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا حِينَئِذٍ تَحْمَدُ عَوَاقِبَ الصَّبْرِ فِي جَمِيعِ مَا نَالَكَ مِنَ الْمَشَقَّةِ فِي سَفَرِكَ,"When you do this, truly will you be a stranger, someone who is but passing on his way, someone who desires the Hereafter and looks down on this world. If you do this, you will see the praiseworthy outcome of your bearing with patience all the hardship and adversity of your journey."
وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ,Allah knows best.
25 قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ: مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَبْلُغَ مَرَاتِبَ الْغُرَبَاءِ فَلْيَصْبِرْ عَلَى جَفَاءِ أَبَوَيْهِ وَزَوْجَتِهِ وَإِخْوَانِهِ وَقَرَابَتِهِ، فَإِنْ قَالَ قَائِلٌ: فَلِمَ يَجْفُونِي وَأَنَا لَهُمْ حَبِيبٌ وَغَمَّهُمْ لِفَقْدِي إِيَّاهُمْ إِيَّايَ شَدِيدٌ، قِيلَ:,"Whoever wishes to attain the levels of the strangers, let him bear with patience the harm he will meet from his parents, his wife, his brothers and relatives. If one were to ask, ‘How can they harm me seeing as I am beloved to them and they to me?’ It is said in reply:"
لِأَنَّكَ خَالَفْتَهُمْ عَلَى مَا هُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ حُبِّهِمُ الدُّنْيَا وَشِدَّةِ حِرْصِهِمْ عَلَيْهَا، وَلِتَمَكُّنِ الشَّهَوَاتِ مِنْ قُلُوبِهِمْ، مَا يُبَالُونَ مَا نَقَصَ مِنْ دِينِكِ وَدِينِهِمْ إِذَا سَلِمَتْ لَهُمْ بِكَ دُنْيَاهُمْ، فَإِنْ تَابَعْتُهُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ كُنْتَ الْحَبِيبَ الْقَرِيبَ، وَإِنْ خَالَفْتَهُمْ وَسَلَكْتَ طَرِيقَ أَهْلِ الْآخِرَةِ بِاسْتِعْمَالِكَ الْحَقَّ جَفَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَمْرُكَ,"You have opposed them in their love of this world and their great desire for it. They, in order to attain this world, do not care what they lose of their religion; if you follow them in this, they will love you; if you oppose them and instead traverse the path to the Hereafter by following the truth, they will behave coarsely towards you."
فَالْأَبَوَانِ مُتَبَرِّمَانِ بِفِعَالِكَ، وَالزَّوْجَةُ بِكَ مُتَضَجِّرَةٌ فَهِيَ تُحِبُّ فِرَاقَكَ وَالْأَخَوَانِ وَالْقَرَابَةُ فَقَدْ زَهِدُوا فِي لِقَائِكَ،,"Your parents will be pained and angry at your actions, your wife will vexed at you and seek separation, and your brothers and relatives will rarely meet you."
فَأَنْتَ بَيْنَهُمْ مَكْرُوبٌ مَحْزُونٌ، فَحِينَئِذٍ نَظَرْتَ إِلَى نَفْسِكَ بِعَيْنِ الْغُرْبَةِ، فَآنَسْتَ مَا شَاكَلَكَ مِنَ الْغُرَبَاءِ وَاسْتَوْحَشْتَ مِنَ الْإِخْوَانِ وَالْأَقْرِبَاءِ فَسَلَكْتَ الطَّرِيقَ إِلَى اللَّهِ الْكَرِيمِ وَحْدَكَ,"You will be, amongst them, saddened and disturbed, and it is then that you will look at yourself with the eye of a stranger and you will understand the circumstances of all strangers like yourself, you will feel isolated from your brothers and relatives, and you will find yourself alone traversing the path to Allah, the Noble."
فَإِنْ صَبَرْتَ عَلَى خُشُونَةِ الطَّرِيقِ أَيَّامًا يَسِيرَةً وَاحْتَمَلْتَ الذُّلَّ وَالْمُدَارَاةَ مُدَّةً قَصِيرَةً وَزَهِدْتَ فِي هَذِهِ الدَّارِ الْحَقِيرَةِ أَعْقَبَكَ الصَّبْرُ أَنْ وَرَدَ بِكَ إِلَى دَارِ الْعَافِيَةِ، أَرْضُهَا طَيِّبَةٌ وَرِيَاضُهَا خَضِرَةٌ وَأَشْجَارُهَا مُثْمِرَةٌ وَأَنْهَارُهَا عَذْبَةٌ، فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي الْأَنْفُسُ وَتَلَذُّ الْأَعْيُنُ، وَأَهْلُهَا فِيهَا مُخَلَّدُونَ،,"Be patient for just a few days, bear the ignominy of this world for a few minutes, partake scarcely of this lowly life, you will find that this leads you to the Abode of wellbeing, its land is pure, its gardens resplendent, its fruits bountiful and its rivers sweet; therein will you have all the soul desires and all the eye takes delight in, therein will you abide for eternity."
{يُسْقَوْنَ مِنْ رَحِيقٍ مَخْتُومٍ. خِتَامُهُ مِسْكٌ. وَفِي ذَلِكَ فَلْيَتَنَافَسِ الْمُتَنَافِسُونَ. وَمِزَاجُهُ مِنْ تَسْنِيمٍ. عَيْنًا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا الْمُقَرَّبُونَ} [المطففين: 26]،,"“They are given the choicest sealed wine to drink, whose seal is musk let people with aspiration aspire to that! mixed with tasnim: a fountain at which those brought near will drink.”
alMutaffifin (83): 25-28"
{وَكَأْسٍ مِنْ مَعِينٍ لَا يُصَدَّعُونَ عَنْهَا وَلَا يُنْزِفُونَ وَفَاكِهَةٍ مِمَّا يَتَخَيَّرُونَ وَلَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ وَحُورٌ عِينٌ كَأَمْثَالِ اللُّؤْلُؤِ الْمَكْنُونِ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ} [الواقعة: 18],"Goblets filled with a drink from an overflowing spring will be circulated amongst them, “…it does not give them any headache nor does it leave them stupefied. And any fruit they specify and any birdmeat they desire; and darkeyed maidens like hidden pearls as recompense for what they did.” alWaqeah (56): 19-24"
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ الصُّوفِيُّ قَالَ ثَنَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ خُرَاسَانَ قَالَ: ” أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَى نَبِيٍّ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ:,"Muhammad ibn Muawiyah alSufi reports that a man from amongst the inhabitants of Khurasan told him that, ‘Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, revealed to one of the Prophets,"
إِنْ أَرَدْتَ لِقَائِي غَدًا فِي حَظِيرَةِ الْقُدُسِ فَكُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا غَرِيبًا، مَحْزُونًا مُسْتَوْحِشًا كَالطَّيْرِ الْوَحْدَانِيِّ الَّذِي يَطِيرُ فِي الْأَرَاضِي الْقِفَارِ، وَيَأْكُلُ مِنْ رُءُوسِ الْأَشْجَارِ فَإِذَا كَانَ اللَّيْلُ أَوَى إِلَى وَكْرِهِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ مَعَ الطَّيْرِ اسْتِئْنَاسًا بِرَبِّهِ وَاسْتِيحَاشًا مِنَ النَّاسِ “,"“If you wish to meet Me in the Holy Realm, be in this world despondent and alone, like a lone bird flying in bleak regions of the earth, eating off trees and sleeping in its nest”"
بَابُ صِفَةِ الْغَرِيبِ الَّذِي لَوْ أَقْسَمَ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَأَبَرَّ قَسَمَهُ,The Oath of the Stranger
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «طُوبَى لِعَبْدٍ مُغْبَرَّةٌ قَدَمَاهُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ شَاعِثٌ رَأْسُهُ، إِنْ كَانَتِ السَّاقَةُ كَانَ فِيهِمْ وَإِنْ كَانَ الْحَرَسُ كَانَ فِيهِمْ إِنْ شَفَعَ لَمْ يَشَفَّعْ، وَإِنِ اسْتَأْذَنَ لَمْ يُؤَذَنْ لَهُ، طُوبَى لَهُ ثُمَّ طُوبَى لَهُ»,"11. Abu Hurayrah reports that the Prophet said, “Tuba for a servant whose feet become covered in dust in the Way of Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, and his hair dishevelled. Be pie needed in the rearguard, you will find him amongst them, or the vanguard, you will find him amongst them. If he tries to intercede, his intercession will not be accepted and if he asks permission for something, he will not be granted it. Tuba for him, again Tuba for him.”"
حَدَّثَنِي أَنَسُ بْنُ مَالِكٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «رُبَّ أَغْبَرَ ذِي طِمْرَيْنِ لَا يُؤْبَهُ لَهُ لَوْ أَقْسَمَ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَأَبَرَّهُ»,"12. Anas ibn Malik reports that the Messenger of Allah said, “It is well possible that someone covered in dust, wearing threadbare garments, someone who is not paid any attention; it is well possible that such a person could take an oath by Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, and He fulfil it.”"
عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «أَلَا أُخْبِرُكُمْ عَنْ مُلُوكِ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ؟» قَالُوا: بَلَى يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ: «كُلُّ ضَعِيفٍ أَغْبَرَ ذِي طِمْرَيْنِ لَا يُؤْبَهُ لَهُ لَوْ أَقْسَمَ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَأَبَرَّهُ»,"13. Muadh ibn Jabal reports that the Prophet said, “Should I not inform you of the inhabitants of Paradise?” They replied, ‘Messenger of Allah, of course!’ He said, “They are every weak, dust covered person wearing threadbare garments and not paid any attention. Were such a one to take an oath by Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, He would fulfil it.”"
سَمِعْتُ ذَا النُّونِ الْمِصْرِيَّ، يَقُولُ: ” رَكِبْنَا الْبَحْرَ نُرِيدُ مَكَّةَ، وَمَعَنَا فِي الْمَرْكَبِ رَجُلٌ عَلَيْهِ أَطْمَارٌ رَثَّةٌ، فَوَقَعَ فِي الْمَرْكَبِ تُهْمَةٌ فَدَارَتْ حَتَّى صَارَتْ إِلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ: إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ قَدِ اتَّهَمُوكَ،,"Dhu’lNun alMisri said, ^We embarked on a ship desiring to travel to Mecca, there was a man with us wearing threadbare and shabby garments. Something went missing and the blame eventually fell on him. I said to him, “The people blame you.”"
فَقَالَ: إِيَّايَ تَعْنِي؟ فَقُلْتُ: نَعَمْ قَالَ: فَنَظَرَ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَقَالَ: أَقْسَمْتُ عَلَيْكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَقْسَمْتُ عَلَيْكَ إِلَّا أَخْرَجْتَ مَا فِيهِ مِنْ حُوتٍ بِجَوْهَرَةٍ قَالَ: فَلَقَدْ خُيِّلَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّ مَا فِي الْبَحْرِ حُوتٌ إِلَّا وَقَدْ خَرَجَتْ فِي فِيهَا لُؤْلُؤَةٌ أَوْ جَوْهَرَةٌ، ثُمَّ رَمَى بِنَفْسِهِ فِي الْبَحْرِ وَذَهَبَ “,"He said, “Are you talking to me?”, “Yes”, I replied. The man looked to the sky and said, “I take an oath by You, I take an oath by You! Let every fish come up carrying a jewel.” It seemed to me that every fish of the sea came up, carrying in its mouth a jewel or pearl, [one of which he gave to the aggrieved person saying that it should be adequate in repaying what he had lost], then he jumped into the sea and went away.”"
31 أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ قَالَ: أَنْشَدَنِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ الْمُؤَدِّبُ فِي ذَلِكَ: “,"Abu Abu Bakr ‘Abdullah ibn Humayd recited to me the following odes,"
"رُبَّ ذِي طِمْرَيْنِ نِضْوٍ… يَأْمَنُ الْعَالِمُ شَرَّهُ
لَا يُرَى إِلَّا غَنِيًّا… وَهُوَ لَا يَمْلِكُ ذَرَّةً
ثُمَّ لَوْ أَقْسَمَ فِي شَيْءٍ… عَلَى اللَّهِ أَبَرَّهُ","Someone wearing threadbare garments, mocked by all
It is well possible that the world be safe from his evil.
Penniless is he and it only takes note of the affluent.
Yet, if he took an oath by Allah, the oath would He implement."
32 أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ قَالَ: وَأَنْشَدَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ هَارُونَ الْعَسْكَرِيُّ قَالَ: أَنْشَدَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْجُنَيْدِ لِبَعْضِ الْمُتَعَبِّدِينَ:,"Ibrahim ibn alJunayd recited to me the following lines from one of the worshippers,"
"أَلَا رُبَّ ذِي طِمْرَيْنِ أَشْعَثَ أَغْبَرَا… يُدَافِعُ بِالْأَبْوَابِ إِذْ ظَلَّ مُعْسِرًا
مُطِيعٌ يَخَافُ اللَّهَ فِي كُلِّ أَمْرِهِ… يَكَادُ مِنَ الْأَحْزَانِ أَنْ يَتَفَطَّرَا
وَلَوْ يُقْسِمَنَّ أَلْفًا عَلَيْهِ أَبَرَّهُ… وَكَانَ حَقِيقًا أَنْ يُجَابَ وَيُجْبَرَا","Indeed, it is well possible that one wearing rags, dishevelled and dusty,
Turned away from every door, facing difficulty,
Obedient, fearing Allah in all his affairs,
From sadness he almost collapses:
But if he to take a thousand oaths, all of them would He implement.
His answer and assistance he fully warrants."
سَمِعْتُ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنَ قُرَّةَ يَقُولُ: بَلَغَنَا أَنَّ كَعْبًا، كَانَ يَقُولُ: ” طُوبَى لَهُمْ طُوبَى لَهُمْ، فَقِيلَ: وَمَنْ هُمْ يَا أَبَا إِسْحَاقَ؟ قَالَ: طُوبَى لَهُمْ إِنْ شَهِدُوا لَمْ يَدْخُلُوا، وَإِنْ خَطَبُوا لَمْ يَنْكِحُوا وَإِنْ مَاتُوا لَمْ يُفْتَقَدُوا”,"Muawiyah ibn Qurrah said, ‘It has reached me that Ka(b would say, “Tuba is for them, tuba is for them!” It was asked of him, “Abu Ishaq, who are they?” He replied, “Tuba is for them; when they are seen, they are not invited; if they offer their hand in marriage, it is not accepted; when they die, they are not missed”"
حَدَّثَنِي بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبَى الْفَضْلِ الشَّكَلِيِّ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ شَابًّا فِي بَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ وَعَلَيْهِ خِلَقٌ فَكَأَنِّي لَمْ أَحْفَلْ بِهِ، فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ ثُمَّ قَالَ:,"Abu’lFadl alShikll said, ‘I saw a youth in the street wearing a shabby garment and I paid him no further attention, then suddenly he turned to me and said,"
"لَا تَنْأَ عَنِّي بِأَنْ تَرَى خِلَقِي… فَإِنَّمَا الدُّرُّ دَاخِلُ الصَّدَفِ
عِلْمِي جَدِيدٌ وَمَلْبَسِي خَلَقٌ… وَمُنْتَهَى اللُّبْسِ مُنْتَهَى الصَّلَفِ
قَالَ: فَجَعَلْتُ أَلُوذُ بِهِ وَأَنِسْتُ بِهِ","Be not aloof by reason of my attire,
The pearl is found inside the oyster.
My clothes are shabby, not so my learning.
The end of clothes is that of pomposity.
so I attached myself to him and became close to him"
عَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ، عَنْ نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِنَّ أَغْبَطَ النَّاسِ عِنْدِي لَمُؤْمِنٌ خَفِيفُ الْحَاذِ ذُو حَظٍّ مِنْ صَلَاةٍ، أَحْسَنَ عِبَادَةَ رَبِّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَكَانَ رِزْقُهُ كَفَافًا، لَا يُشَارُ إِلَيْهِ بِالْأَصَابِعِ، وَصَبَرَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ حَتَّى يَلْقَى اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ثُمَّ حَلَّتْ مَنِيَّتُهُ وَقُلَّ تُرَاثُهُ وَقَلَّتْ بَوَاكِيهِ»,"14. On the authority of Abu Umamah that the Prophet of Allah said, ‘The most enviable person in my estimation is a believer who is light of back [having little property], prays a great deal, makes good his worship of his Lord, Mighty and Magnificent, and makes do with little. The fingers of people do not point at him and he remains patient with this until he meets Allah, Mighty and Magnificent; then, when death comes to him, his inheritance is paltry and his mourners are few"
36 أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ قَالَ: أَنْشَدَنِي أَبُو بَكْرٍ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ الْمُؤَدِّبُ فِي ذَلِكَ:,"Abu Bakr ibn Humayd quoted me the following odes concerning this,"
"أَخَصُّ النَّاسِ بِالْإِيمَانِ عَبْدٌ… خَفِيفُ الْحَاذِ مَسْكَنُهُ الْقِفَارُ
لَهُ فِي اللَّيْلِ حَظٌّ مِنْ صَلَاةٍ… وَمِنْ صَوْمٍ إِذَا جَاءَ النَّهَارُ
وَقُوتُ النَّفْسِ يَأْتِي فِي كَفَافٍ… وَكَانَ لَهُ عَلَى ذَاكَ اصْطِبَارُ","With regards faith, a servant light of back,
Living in the wilderness, is most select.
By night his prayer is abounding,
The onset of day finds him fasting.
The soul makes do with litde,
Patient, this he does not belitde."
"وَفِيهِ عِفَّةٌ وَبِهِ خُمُولٌ… إِلَيْهِ بِالْأَصَابِعِ لَا يُشَارُ
وَقَلَّ الْبَاكِيَاتُ عَلَيْهِ لَمَّا… قَضَى نَحْبًا وَلَيْسَ لَهُ يَسَارُ
فَذَلِكَ قَدْ نَجَا مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ… وَلَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ يَوْمَ الْبَعْثِ نَارُ","His provision is meagre, he is neglected:
At him fingers are not directed.
Few are those who cry in lament
at his passing away. He is not affluent.
From every evil is such a person protected,
On the Day of Rising he is not tormented."
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ: ” أَحَب شَيْءٍ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْغُرَبَاءُ، قِيلَ: وَمَا الْغُرَبَاءُ؟ قَالَ: الْفَرَّارُونَ بِدِينِهِمْ يُجْمَعُونَ إِلَى عِيسَى ابْنِ مَرْيَمَ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ “,"Abdullah ibn Amr said, “The most beloved thing to Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, is the strangers.’ When asked who they were, he replied, “Those who flee in order to safeguard their religion. On the Day of Judgment, they will meet with (Isa ibn Maryam"
عَنْ نَافِعِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ قَالَ: دَخَلَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَوَجَدَ مُعَاذَ بْنَ جَبَلٍ رحمه الله جَالِسًا إِلَى بَيْتِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ يَبْكِي، فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ: مَا يُبْكِيكَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ هَلَكَ أَخُوكَ لِرَجُلٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ هَلَكَ,"15. Naff ibn Malik reports that “Umar ibn alKhattab entered the Mosque to find Muadh ibn Jabal sitting down, facing the house of the Prophet and crying. He said, “Abu Abdu’lRahman, what makes you cry, has a brother of yours died?’"
قَالَ: لَا، وَلَكِنَّ حَدِيثًا حَدَّثَنِيهِ حِبِّي صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَأَنَا فِي هَذَا الْمَسْجِدِ، فَقَالَ: مَا هُوَ يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ؟,"He replied, “No, rather a hadlth which my beloved narrated to me while I was in this very Mosque.’ He said, “What is it, Abu Ahdu’lRahman?’"
قَالَ: أَخْبَرَنِي «أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يُحِبُّ الْأَخْفِيَاءَ الْأَتْقِيَاءَ الْأَبْرِيَاءَ، الَّذِينَ إِذَا غَابُوا لَمْ يُفْتَقَدُوا، وَإِنْ حَضَرُوا لَمْ يُعْرَفُوا، قُلُوبُهُمْ مَصَابِيحُ الْهُدَى يَخْرُجُونَ مِنْ كُلِّ فِتْنَةٍ عَمْيَاءَ مُظْلِمَةٍ»,"He replied, “He informed me that, “”Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, loves the unknown, pious and righteous people; those who are not missed when absent and who go unnoticed when present: their hearts are niches of guidance and they emerge [unscathed] from every dark, blinding tribulation.”"
بَابُ ذِكْرِ مَنْ كَانَ يُحِبُّ الْغُرْبَةَ وَيُخْفِي نَفْسَهُ وَيَنْتَقِلُ مِنْ مَوْضِعٍ إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ,Loving Strangeness
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ التَّيْمِيُّ قَالَ: قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مُؤَذِّنُ مَسْجِدِ بَنِي حَرَامٍ: ” جَاوَرَنِي شَابٌّ، فَكُنْتُ إِذَا أَذَّنْتُ لِلصَّلَاةِ وَأَقَمْتُ فَكَأَنَّهُ فِي نَقْرَةِ قَفَايَ، فَإِذَا صَلَّيْتُ صَلَّى ثُمَّ لَبِسَ نَعْلَيْهِ ثُمَّ دَخَلَ مَنْزِلَهُ،,"Muhammad ibn Salih alTayml narrated that Abu ‘Abdullah, the mu’adhdhin of the Mosque of Banu Haram, said, “My neighbour was a young boy, whenever I called the adhan and iqdmah for prayer, it would seem that he was standing at the nape of my neck. When he had prayed, he would put on his shoes and enter his house."
فَكُنْتُ أَتَمَنَّى أَنْ يُكَلِّمُنِي أَوْ يَسْأَلَنِي حَاجَةً، فَقَالَ لِي ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ: يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عِنْدَكَ مُصْحَفٌ تُعِيرُنِي أَقْرَأُ فِيهِ؟ فَأَخْرَجْتُ إِلَيْهِ مُصْحَفًا فَدَفَعْتُهُ إِلَيْهِ، فَضَمَّهُ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ: لَيَكُونَنَّ الْيَوْمَ لِي وَلَكَ شَأْنٌ، فَفَقَدْتُهُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ فَلَمْ أَرَهُ يَخْرُجُ,"I would hope that he talk to me or ask me for something and one day he asked me, “Abu ‘Abdullah, do you have a mushaf that you could lend me that I may recite from?” I gave him one, he took it and held it against his chest and then said, “Something will happen to you and I today,” that whole day I did not see him."
فَأَقَمْتُ لِلْمَغْرِبِ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ، وَأَقَمْتُ لِعِشَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ فَلَمْ يَخْرُجْ، فَسَاءَ ظَنِّي، فَلَمَّا صَلَّيْتُ عِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةِ جِئْتُ إِلَى الدَّارِ الَّتِي هُوَ فِيهَا، فَإِذَا فِيهَا دَلْوٌ وَمِطْهَرَةٌ، وَإِذَا عَلَى بَابِهِ سِتْرٌ، فَدَفَعْتُ الْبَابَ فَإِذَا بِهِ مَيِّتًا وَالْمُصْحَفُ فِي حِجْرِهِ فَأَخَذْتُ الْمُصْحَفَ مِنْ حِجْرِهِ وَاسْتَعَنْتُ بِقَوْمٍ عَلَى حَمْلِهِ حَتَّى وَضَعْنَاهُ عَلَى سَرِيرِهِ،,"I called the iqamah for Maghrib but he did not come and likewise for (Isha’, so I started having suspicions. I went to his house and all I saw there was a bucket and a washroom. There was a curtain on his door which I pulled back and saw him there, dead. My mushaf was also there which I took and then called some people to help lift him onto his bed."
وَبَقِيتُ لَيْلَتِي أُفَكِّرُ مَنْ أُكَلِّمُ حَتَّى يُكَفِّنَهُ، فَأَذَّنْتُ لِلْفَجْرِ بِوَقْتٍ وَدَخَلْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ لِأَرْكَعَ فَإِذَا بِضَوْءٍ فِي الْقِبْلَةِ، فَدَنَوْتُ مِنْهُ فَإِذَا كَفَنٌ مَلْفُوفٍ فِي الْقِبْلَةِ فَأَخَذْتُهُ، وَحَمِدْتُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ,"I spent the night thinking about who I could ask concerning his burial sheet. I called the adhan for Fajr and entered the Mosque to see a light coming from the direction of the Qiblah, I went to it and found a wrapped burial sheet there which I took, all the while praising Allah, Most High."
وَأَدْخَلْتُهُ الْبَيْتَ وَخَرَجْتُ، فَأَقَمْتُ الصَّلَاةَ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمْتُ فَإِذَا عَنْ يَمِينِي ثَابِتٌ الْبُنَانِيُّ وَمَالِكُ بْنُ دِينَارٍ وَحَبِيبٌ الْفَارِسِيُّ وَصَالِحٌ الْمُرِّيُّ، فَقُلْتُ لَهُمْ: يَا إِخْوَانِي مَا غَدَا بِكُمْ؟ قَالُوا لِي: مَاتَ فِي جِوَارِكَ اللَّيْلَةَ أَحَدٌ؟,"I put it in my house and then called the iqdmah, after prayer I found sitting on my right hand side Thabit alBunanl, Malik ibn Dinar, Habib alFarisI and Salih alMurrl. I said, “Brothers, what has brought you here?” They said, “Has someone died here this night gone by?”"
قُلْتُ: مَاتَ شَابٌّ وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي مَعِيَ الصَّلَوَاتِ، فقَالُوا لِي: أَرِنَاهُ، فَلَمَّا دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ كَشَفَ مَالِكُ بْنُ دِينَارٍ الثَّوْبَ عَنْ وَجْهِهِ ثُمَّ قَبَّلَ مَوْضِعَ سُجُودِهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: بِأَبِي أَنْتَ يَا حَجَّاجُ، إِذَا عُرِفْتَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ تَحَوَّلْتُ مِنْهُ إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ غَيْرِهِ حَتَّى لَا تُعْرَفَ، خُذُوا فِي غُسْلِهِ،,"I said, “A young boy who used to pray with me.” They said, “Show us.” When they entered his house, Malik ibn Dinar removed the garment covering the deceased face and kissed his forehead on the place where he would prostrate and said, “May my father and mother be ransomed! You Hajjaj, if you became known in a particular place, you would move on to a place in which you were not known… come let us wash him!”"
وَإِذَا مَعَ كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمٍ كَفَنٌ، فَقَالَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ: أَنَا أُكَفِّنُهُ، فَلَمَّا طَالَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُمْ قُلْتُ لَهُمْ: إِنِّي فَكَّرْتُ فِي أَمْرِهِ هَذِهِ اللَّيْلَةَ فَقُلْتُ: مَنْ أُكَلِّمُ حَتَّى يُكَفِّنَهُ، فَأَتَيْتُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَأَذَّنْتُ ثُمَّ دَخَلْتُ لِأَرْكَعَ فَإِذَا كَفَنٌ مَلْفُوفٌ لَا أَدْرِي مَنْ وَضَعَهُ، فَقَالُوا: يُكَفَّنُ فِي ذَلِكَ الْكَفَنِ,"Each one of them had a burial sheet in which they wished to wrap him, I informed them of what had happened that morning and they agreed to bury him in the burial sheets I had found."
فَكَفَّنَّاهُ وَأَخْرَجْنَاهُ، فَمَا كِدْنَا نَرْفَعُ جَنَازَتَهُ مِنْ كَثْرَةِ مَنْ حَضَرَهُ مِنَ الْجَمْعِ “,We then left and could hardly lift up his bier for the great crowd of people who had gathered to attend his funeral!”
40 أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ قَالَ: أَنْشَدَنَا أَبُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ الشَّكَلِيُّ قَالَ: أَنْشِدْنِي بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا: “,"Abu’lFadl al(Abbas ibn Yusuf alShikli quoted to me the following odes from one of his colleagues,"
"أَلَا رُبَّ ذِي طِمْرَيْنِ فِي مَجْلِسٍ غَدَا… زَرَابِيُّهُ مَبْثُوثَةٌ وَنَمَارِقُهْ
قَدِ اطَّرَدَتْ أَنْهَارُهُ فِي رِيَاضِهِ… مَعَ الْحُورِ وَالْتَفَتَّ عَلَيْهِ حَدَائِقُهْ
مَحَلَّ دِيَارٍ إِنْ حَلَلْتَ دِيَارَهَا… نَعِمْتَ بِدَارِ الْخُلْدِ مَعَ مَنْ تُرَافِقُهْ","It is likely that one attired in rags sit in a gathering tomorrow:
His carpet spread out, laid out with cushions;
Rivers flow ceaselessly in his meadow;
Accompanied by hurs encircled by gardens.
Lands and homes, wondrous, treasured!
Wonderful is the Abode of Eternity, excellent the company."
"رَفِيقٌ وَجَارٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ… لَقَدْ أُعْطِي الزُّلْفَى رَفِيقً يُرَافِقُهْ
فَيَا حُسْنَ عَبْدٍ جَاوَرَ اللَّهَ رَبَّهُ… بِدَارِ الْغِنَى وَالْغَانِيَاتُ تُعَانِقُهْ
وَيَا حُسْنَهُ وَالْحَوْرُ يَمْشِينَ حَوْلَهُ… عَلَى فُرُشِ الدِّيبَاجِ سُبْحَانَ خَالِقُهْ","A friend and neighbour of the Prophet, Muhammad
Granted closeness to a friend most worthy.
Wonder for the servant living in his Lord’s vicinity.
In the Abode of Richness, in the embrace of ladies fair.
Wonder for him: the burs walking in close proximity,
On green brocaded carpets.
Glory to the Creator!"
حَدَّثَنِي الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ أَحْمَدَ الْأَزْدِيُّ قَالَ: ” قَدِمَ الْمَصِّيصَةَ فَتًى مِنَ الْمُتَعَبِّدِينَ، فَنَزَلَ فِي مَسْجِدِ أَسَدٍ الْخَشَّابِ، وَكَانَ يَسْمَعُ مِنَ النَّاسِ الْحَدِيثَ، وَكَانَ عَلَيْهِ أَطْمَارٌ،,"alHusayn ibn Ahmad alAzdi said, 6A young boy, devout in worship, came to alMasIsah and set up residence near the Mosque of Asad alKhushab. He would listen to the speech of the people and wore old garments."
وَكَانَ نَاحِلَ الْجِسْمِ ذَابِلًا فَأَشْرَفَ أَسَدٌ عَلَى بَعْضِ اجْتِهَادِهِ فَقَرَّبَهُ وَأَدْنَاهُ وَخَصَّهُ بِالْحَدِيثِ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ مِنْ فِعْلِهِ هَرَبَ مِنْهُ فَافْتَقَدَهُ فَحَزِنَ عَلَيْهِ حُزْنًا شَدِيدًا، فَأَنْشَأَ يَقُولُ:,"He was a thin boy of languid complexion and when Asad saw his devotion to worship, he drew him close to himself. When the boy realised this, he ran away and did not come back. This caused him a great deal of sorrow and he composed the following lines of poetry,"
"يَا مَنْ رَأَى لِي غَرِيبًا… ثِيَابُهُ أَطْمَارُ
الْجِسْمُ مِنْهُ نَحِيلٌ… وَالْوَجْهُ فِيهِ اصْفِرَارُ
عَلَيْهِ آثَارُ حُزْنٍ… بِوَجْهِهِ وَاغْبِرَارُ
يَقُومُ فِي جَوْفِ لَيْلٍ… يُنَاجِي الْجَبَّارَ","O one who saw a stranger in a threadbare garment,
Thin of body, pale in colour.
Face smeared with dust, despondent.
In the depths of the night, conversing with the Compeller;"
"يَقُولُ يَاسُؤَلَ قَلْبِي… يَا مَاجِدٌ غَفَّارُ
فَالدَّمْعُ يَجْرِي بِحُزْنٍ… فَدَمْعُهُ مِدْرَارُ
يَبْغِي جِنَانَ نَعِيمٍ… يَا حُسْنَ دَارِ الْقَرَارِ
فِيهَا جَوَارٍ حِسَانٌ… يَا حُسْنَ تِلْكَ الْجِوَارِ
عَرَائِسُ فِي خِيَامٍ… مِنَ اللَّآلِئِ الْكِبَارِ","My heart craves You,’ says he,
0 Glorious, O Clement.’
His tears flow in abject desire.
O wonderful a home to seek: the Gardens of enchantment!
Wives in pavilions of glorious pearls"
"كَوَاعِبُ غَنِجَاتٌ… نَوَاهِدُ أَبْكَارُ
لِبَاسُهُنَّ حَرِيرٌ… يُحَيِّرُ الْأَبْصَارَ
وَفِي الذِّرَاعِ سِوَارٌ… يَا حُسْنَهُ مِنْ سِوَارٍ
شَرَابُهُنَّ رَحِيقٌ… يُفَجِّرُ الْأَنْهَارَ
وَسَلْسَبِيلٌ وَخَمْرٌ… تَبَارَكَ الْجَبَّارُ
يَا مَنْ رَأَى لِي غَرِيبًا… ثِيَابُهُ أَطْمَارُ","Full breasted, large eyed, youthful, innocent,
Clothed in silk, the eyes they bewilder,
Bracelets on their forearms, O what wonderment!
Their drink is sealed wine springing forth from rivers,
And the fount of Salsabil and wine… blessed be the Omnipotent!
Surrounded by a company exalted,
O wonder!
O one who saw a stranger in a threadbare garment."
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَتَّابٍ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ بْنَ مُسْلِمٍ يَقُولُ:,Abu Bakr Ahmad ibn Ttab said: I heard Abu Bakr [ibn Muslim] saying.
"يَا مَنْ يُرِيدُ بِزَعْمِهِ الْإِخْمَالَا… إِنْ كَانَ حَقًّا فَاسْتَعِدَّ خِصَالَا
تَرْكُ التَّذَاكُرِ وَالْمَجَالِسِ كُلِّهَا… وَاجْعَلْ خُرُوجَكَ لِلصَّلَاةِ خَيَالَا","O you who thinks he desires anonymity,
If you are true adhere to this quality:
Relinquish all gatherings and company;
Let your going for prayer be illusory,"
"بَلْ كُنْ بِهَا حَيٌّا كَأَنَّكَ مَيِّتٌ… لَا يَرْتَجِي مِنْهُ الْقَرِيبُ وِصَالَا
وَأْنَسْ بِرَبِّكَ وَاعْلَمْنَ بِأَنَّهُ… عَوْنُ المُرِيدِ يُسَدِّدُ الْإِخْلَالَا
يُعْطِي وَيُثْنِي بِالْعَطَاءِ تَفَضُّلًا… بَعْدَ الثَّوَابِ وَيَبْسُطُ الْآمَالَا
مَنْ ذَا يُرِيدُ مَعَ الْوَدُودِ مُؤْنِسًا… مَنْ ذَا يُرِيدُ لِغَيْرِهِ أشْغَالَا","Rather pray it as if dead, yet alive,
A stranger should not expect his company.
Take comfort with your Lord and have certainty
That He assists you in your desire,
He rectifies iniquity.
He grants, then gives more graciously
After reward and gives hope to expectancy.
Who wants love and a comforter?
Who wants to devote himself to another?"
"مَنْ ذَا يَلَذُّ بِغَيْرِ ذِكْرِ مَلِيكِهِ… مَنْ ذَا يُرِيدُ لِغَيْرِهِ أَعْمَالَا
لَا تَقْنَعَنَّ مِنَ الْحَيَاةِ بِغَيْرِهِ… وَابْذُلْ قُوَاكَ وَقَطِّعِ الْأَوْصَالَا
فَلَئِنْ بَلَغْتَ لَأَنْتَ أَكْرَمُ مَنْ بِهَا… وَلَئِنْ هَلَكْتَ فَمَا ظَلَمْتَ حَلَالًا","Who delights in not mentioning his Master?
Who works deeds for other than the Creator?
In this life, suffice only with the Director.
Expend your efforts, your desires dismember.
How noble you would be should you prosper!
If you fail, the lawful you did not consider."
حَاشَا مُؤَمَّلٍ سَيِّدِي مِنْ خَيْبَةٍ… جَلَّ الْجَوَادُ بِفِعْلِهِ وَتَعَالَا,"Glorified be the Exalted, the Bestower."
سَمِعْتُ ذَا النُّونِ الْمِصْرِيَّ يَقُولُ: ” بَيْنَا أَنَا فِي مَسِيْرِي إِذْ لَقِيَتْنِي امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الْمُتَعَبِّدَاتِ، كَأَنَّهَا وَالِهَةٌ فَقَالَتْ لِي: مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتَ؟ فَقُلْتُ: أَنَا رَجُلٌ غَرِيبٌ، فَقَالَتْ لِي: يَا غَرِيبُ وَهَلْ تُوجَدُ مَعَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَحْزَانُ الْغُرْبَةِ وَهُوَ مُؤْنِسُ الْغُرَبَاءِ وَمُعِينُ الضُّعَفَاءِ؟,"Dhu’lNun alMisri said, ‘Once, while on a journey, I met a devout woman, from her saddened state it seemed like she had lost a child. She asked me, “Where are you from?” I said, “I am stranger here.” She exclaimed, “Stranger! Is it possible to feel the woes of strangeness when one is with Allah, Mighty and Magnificent? He is the recourse and solace of the strangers and the helper of the weak!”"
قَالَ: فَبَكَيْتُ، فَقَالَتِ: اعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْبُكَاءَ رَاحَةٌ لِلْقَلْبِ وَمَلْجَأٌ يُلْجَأُ إِلَيْهِ، وَمَا كَتَمَ الْقَلْبُ شَيْئًا هُوَ أَوْلَى مِنَ الشَّهِيقِ وَالزَّفِيرِ، قُلْتُ: عَلِّمِينِي شَيْئًا، فَقَالَتْ: حِبَّ رَبَّكَ وَاشْتَقْ إِلَيْهِ، فَإِنَّ لَهُ يَوْمًا يَتَجَلَّى فِيهِ لِأَهْلِ مَحَبَّتِهِ فَيُنِيلُهُمْ مَا أَمَّلُوا مِنْ رُؤْيَتِهِ، ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُ فِي الشَّهِيقِ وَالزَّفِيرِ فَتَرَكْتُهَا عَلَى حَالِهَا وَمَضَيْتُ “,"At this I started to cry and she said, “Know that crying relieves the heart and is something to recourse to, the heart has not repressed something more deserving [of display] than sighs and moans.” I said, “Teach me something!” She replied, “Love your Lord and desire to meet Him, for one day He will show Himself to those who love Him and they will attain their hope of seeing Him.” I then left her as I found her and went on my way"
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْخُزَاعِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي رَجُلٌ، مِنْ أَهْلِ الشَّامِ قَالَ: ” صَحِبَنِي رَجُلٌ مِنَ النَّصَارَى، فِي بَعْضِ الطَّرِيقِ، فَقُلْتُ: أَيْنَ تُرِيدُ؟ فَقَالَ: أُرِيدُ رَاهِبًا هَا هُنَا أَقْتَبِسُ مِنْ عَلِمْهِ، قُلْتُ: أَجِيءُ مَعَكَ؟ قَالَ: إِنْ شِئْتَ,"Muhammad ibn Abu Abdullah alKhuzal said that a man from Syria said to him, “A Christian accompanied me on a journey and I asked him where he intended to go. He replied, “I wish to visit a monk in suchandsuch a place to learn from him.” “Can I come with you?” I asked, “If you wish”, he replied."
قَالَ: فَأَتَيْنَا عَلَى كَهْفِ جَبَلٍ نَاحِيَةٍ عَنِ طَرِيقِ النَّاسِ قَالَ: فَوَقَفَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ فَنَادَى بِأَعْلَى صَوْتِهِ: يَا مُعَلِّمَ الْخَيْرِ أَتَيْتُكَ لِأَقْتَبِسَ مِنْ عِلْمِكَ خَيْرًا فَعَلِّمْنِي نَفَعَكَ اللَّهُ بِعِلْمِكَ,"We arrived at a cave in the mountain on one side of the path and he called out, “Teacher of good! I have come to learn something of benefit from you, teach me! May Allah benefit you by your knowledge.”"
قَالَ: فَهَتَفَ بِهِ هَاتِفٌ مِنْ دَاخِلِ الْكَهْفِ: أَيُّهَا السَّائِلُ عَنْ سُبُلِ الْمَنَافِعِ تَيَقَّظْ حِينَ يَغْفُلُ الْجَاهِلُونَ عَنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ قَالَ: فَجَلَسَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ يَبْكِي، وَقَالَ: مَا أَرَاهُ إِلَّا مَرِيضًا، وَإِنِّي لَأَخَافُ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ دَنَا أَجَلُهُ، وَمَا أَرَى أَنَّا نُمْطَرُ إِلَّا بِهِ،,"Someone called out from within the cave, “O questioner after the paths of benefit! Awake at a time when the ignorant are negligent of their own souls!” The Christian sat down and wept saying, “I am sure that he is ill, I fear that his time is near and it is my belief that rain comes down through him.”"
قَالَ: فَقُلْتُ: فَلَوْ دَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ قَالَ: إِنْ شِئْتَ قَالَ: فَانْحَدَرْنَا فِي الْكَهْفِ حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا عَلَى مَوْضِعٍ مِنْهُ وَعْرٍ، فَإِذَا بِشَيْخٍ كَبِيرٍ قَدْ سَقَطَ حَاجِبَاهُ عَلَى عَيْنَيْهِ، وَإِذَا هُوَ مَكْبُوبٌ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ، وَإِذَا هُوَ يَقُولُ: لَئِنْ كُنْتَ أَطَلْتَ جَهْدِي فِي دَارِ الدُّنْيَا وَتُطِيلُ شَقَائِي فِي الْآخِرَةِ لَقَدْ أَهْمَلْتَنِي وَأَسْقَطَّتَنِي مِنْ عَيْنِكَ أَيُّهَا الْكَرِيمُ,"I said, “What if we went in?” He replied, “If you wish.” We climbed up towards the cave until we came to a debris covered cleft at which we found an old man, his brows overshadowing his eyes, back bent over saying, “Were I to cling covetously to this world, and You were to prolong my misery in the Hereafter, O Noble One, You would have overlooked me and abandoned me!”"
ثُمَّ قَالَ: فَسَلَّمْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَإِذَا دُمُوعُهُ قَدْ بَلَّتِ الْأَرْضَ مِنْهَا، فَقَالَ: مَا أَدْخَلَكُمْ عَلَيَّ؟ أَلَمْ تَكُنِ الْأَرْضُ لَكُمْ وَاسِعَةً، وَأَهْلُهَا لَكُمْ أُنَاسًا؟ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُ مِنَ عَقْلِهِ مَا رَأَيْتُ، قُلْتُ: وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَرْغَبُ بِعَقْلِكَ عَنِ النَّارِ، فَبَكَى، وَقَالَ: مَا الَّذِي آيَسَنِي عِنْدَكَ مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الَّتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ؟,"We greeted him and he raised his head and we found the ground wet with his tears. He asked, “Why have you come to me? Is not the earth vast and its people a source of comfort for you?” When I saw that this was a truly intelligent individual I said, “By Allah! I can only hope that such a perspicuous person would not be thrown in the Fire!” He wept and said, “What is it that you see in me that makes you despair of the mercy of Allah?”"
قَالَ: قُلْتُ: إِنَّ رَحْمَةَ اللَّهِ لَنْ يَنَالَهَا غَيْرُ أَهْلِ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا قَالَ: فَبَكَى ثُمَّ قَالَ: مَا أَعْرِفُ غَيْرَ الْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا قَالَ: فَاشْمَأَزَّ النَّصْرَانِيُّ وَقَالَ: يَا مُعَلِّمَ الْخَيْرِ تَرْغَبُ عَنِ النَّصْرَانِيَّةِ وَدِينِ الْمَسِيحِ؟,"I replied, “The mercy of Allah will only be meted out to those who follow Islam.” He wept again and said, “I know of no religion save Islam.” The Christian exclaimed, “Teacher of good! Have you abandoned Christianity, the religion of the Messiah!”"
قَالَ: فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ: ثَكِلَتْكَ أُمُّكَ، أَنَا عَلَى دِينِ الْمَسِيحِ، وَهَلْ كَانَ لِلْمَسِيحِ دِينٌ سِوَى الْإِسْلَامِ؟ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى لَمَّا خَلَقَ خَلْقَهُ ارْتَضَى لَهُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا، فَمَنْ رَغِبَ عَنِ الْإِسْلَامِ فَلَا حَظَّ لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ وَلَا نَصِيبَ,"He replied, “May your mother be bereft of you! I am upon the religion of the Messiah! What was his religion if it was not Islam? When Allah, Blessed and Most High, created the creation, He chose for them Islam as their religion, whoever turns away from it will have no portion of the Hereafter.”"
قَالَ: فَثَارَ النَّصْرَانِيُّ مُوَلِّيًا قَالَ: فَقُلْتُ انْتَظِرْ حَتَّى أَخْرُجَ مَعَكَ قَالَ: فَقَالَ الرَّاهِبُ: دَعْهُ فَمَنْ كَتِبَ عَلَيْهِ الشَّقَاءُ لَمْ يَسْعَدْ أَبَدًا قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ اعْتَزَلْتَ النَّاسَ وَاغْتَرَبْتَ فِي هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ,"The Christian turned away in a rage to leave and I said, “Wait a bit so I may leave with you,” the monk said, “Leave him, those for whom misery and wretchedness is decreed will never be happy.” I said, “May Allah be merciful to you! You have left the people and come to this strange place?”"
قَالَ: فَقَالَ: وَأَنْتَ أَيْ أُخَيَّ فَحَيْثُمَا ظَنَنْتَ أَنَّهُ أَقْرَبُ لَكَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَابْتَغِ إِلَى ذَلِكَ سَبِيلًا، فَلَنْ يجِدَ مُبْتَغُوهُ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ عِوَضًا، قَالَ: قُلْتُ: فَالْمَطْعَمُ؟ قَالَ: أَقِلَّ ذَلِكَ عِنْدَ الْحَاجَةِ إِلَيْهِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ: فَالْقِلَّةُ؟ فَقَالَ: إِذَا أَرَدْنَا ذَاكَ فنْبِتُ الْأَرْضِ وَقُلُوبُ الشَّجَرِ،,"He said, “You too should do something similar. Whenever you see a path before you that you think will draw you closer to Allah, take it, for you will never find a path to replace it better than that.” “What of food?” I asked, “Scarce is the need for it,” he replied. “What is scarcity?” I asked he said. “We make do with what the earth grows and what trees produce,”"
قال: قُلْتُ: أُخْرِجُكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ الْوَعِرِ، فَآتيِ بِكَ أَرْضَ الرِّيفِ وَالْخِصْبِ؟ قَالَ: فَبَكَى، وَقَالَ: إِنَّمَا الْخِصْبُ حَيْثُ يُطَاعُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَأَنَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ، وَإِنَّمَا أَمُوتُ الْآنَ وَلَا حَاجَةَ لِي بِالنَّاسِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ: أَوْصِنِي بِشَيْءٍ أَحْفَظُهُ عَنْكَ قَالَ: تَفْعَلُ؟ قُلْتُ: إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى,"I said, “Should I not take you from this place to urban land rich in vegetation?” He wept and said, “Richness is found wherever Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, is obeyed. I am an old man, I am about to die, I have no need for people.” I said, “Advise me with something,” he asked. “Will you do it?” he asked, “InshdAlldh,” I replied."
قَالَ: لَا تَدَّخِرَنَّ عَنْ نَفْسِكَ مِنْ نَفْسِكَ شَيْئًا، وَلَا تُؤْثِرَنَّ بِحَظِّكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ أَحَدًا، وَارْعَ حُدُودَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عِنْدَ مُغَالَبَةِ الْهَوَى وَتَنَسَّمْ إِلَى مَحَابِّهِ، وَإِنْ صَعُبَ عَلَيْكَ الْمُرْتَقَى,"He said, “Do not hoard things for your soul; do not look down on any person because of your worldly allotment; carefully preserve the limits ordained by Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, at times when your base desires intensify; breathe the refreshing fragrance of doing what He loves, even if you find it strenuous;"
وَأُخْرَى أَقُولُهَا لَكَ جِمَاعًا لَا تَرُدَّ بِفِعْلِكَ غَيْرَهُ، وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ ثُمَّ أَكَبَّ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ وَهُوَ يَبْكِي وَانْصَرَفْتُ “,"and finally I say to you an allencompassing word: never desire any save Him by your deeds. Peace be with you.” Then he bent forward again, weeping, and I left"
بَلَغَنَا عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْفَرَجِ الْعَابِدِ قَالَ: ” احْتَجْتُ إِلَى صَانِعٍ يَصْنَعُ لِي شَيْئًا مِنْ أَمْرِ الرُّوزْجَارِيِينَ فَأَتَيْتُ السُّوقَ فَجَعَلْتُ أَرْمُقُ الصُّنَّاعَ، فَإِذَا فِي أَوَاخِرِهِمْ شَابٌّ مُصَفِّرٌ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ زَبِيلٌ كَبِيرٌ، وَمَرَّ وَعَلَيْهِ جُبَّةُ صُوفٍ وَمِئْزَرُ صُوفٍ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: تَعْمَلُ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، قُلْتُ: بِكَمْ؟ قَالَ: بِدِرْهَمٍ وَدَانَقٍ,"It has reached us that Abdullah ibn alFaraj, the worshipper, said, was in need of someone to make something for me so I went to the marketplace looking for a suitable person. At the end of the market I found a pale young boy before whom was a large basket, he wore a garment of wool and had a woollen towel. I asked him, “Do you work?” He replied, “Yes”, “How much do you charge?” I asked. He replied, “One and onesixth of a dirham.”"
فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: قُمْ حَتَّى تَعْمَلَ قَالَ: عَلَى شَرِيطَةٍ، قُلْتُ: مَا هِيَ؟ قَالَ: إِذَا كَانَ وَقْتُ الظُّهْرِ وَأَذَّنَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ خَرَجْتُ فَتَطَهَّرْتُ وَصَلَّيْتُ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ جَمَاعَةً ثُمَّ رَجَعْتُ، فَإِذَا كَانَ وَقْتُ الْعَصْرِ فَكَذَلِكَ، قُلْتُ: نَعَمْ، فَقَامَ مَعِي فَجِئْنَا الْمَنْزِلَ فَوَافَقْتُهُ عَلَى مَا يَنْقُلُهُ مِنْ مَوْضِعٍ إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ،,"I said, “Stand and come to work,” he said, “I have one condition…”, “What is it?” I asked. He replied, “When the time for Zuhr comes and the adhan is given, I leave, purify myself, pray in congregation in the Mosque and then return. The same applies for (Asr.” I agreed. He went with me to my house and I explained to him what needed to be done."
فَشَدَّ وَسَطَهُ وَجَعَلَ يَعْمَلُ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُنِي بِشَيْءٍ حَتَّى أَذَّنَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ للظُّهْرِ، فَقَالَ: يَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ قَدْ أَذَّنَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ، قُلْتُ: شَأْنَكَ، فَخَرَجَ فَصَلَّى فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ عَمِلَ أَيْضًا عَمَلًا جَيِّدًا إِلَى الْعَصْرِ، فَلَمَّا أَذَّنَ المُؤذِّنُ، قَالَ لِي: يَا عَبْدَ اللهِ، قَدْ أَذَّنَ المُؤذِّنُ قُلْتُ: شَأْنَكَ. فَخَرَجَ فَصَلَّى العَصْرَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ،,"He tightened his belt and commenced work, not saying a single word until the adhan for Zuhr had been called. He left for prayer and when he returned, he worked assiduously until ‘Asr and left for prayer again, when he returned,"
فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَعْمَلُ إِلَى آخِرِ النَّهَارِ فَوَزَنْتُ لَهُ أُجْرَتَهُ وَانْصَرَفَ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ أَيَّامٍ احْتَجْنَا إِلَى عَمَلٍ، فَقَالَتْ لِي زَوْجَتِي: اطْلُبْ لَنَا ذَلِكَ الصَّانِعَ الشَّابَّ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ نَصَحَنَا فِي عَمَلِنَا، فَجِئْتُ السُّوقَ فَلَمْ أَرَهُ فَسَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ,"he worked until night fall, then I paid him his wage and he left. A few days later, we were in need of some more work and my wife advised me to find the same youth again because of his sincere efforts. I went to the marketplace but could not find him and upon asking about him"
فَقَالُوا: تَسْأَلُ عَنْ ذَاكَ الْمُصَفِّرِ الْمَشْؤُومِ الَّذِي لَا نَرَاهُ إِلَّا مِنْ سَبْتٍ إِلَى سَبْتٍ، لَا يَجْلِسُ إِلَّا وَحْدَهُ فِي آخِرِ النَّاسِ؟ قَالَ: فَانْصَرَفْتُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ السَّبْتِ أَتَيْتُ السُّوقَ فَصَادَفْتُهُ، فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: تَعْمَلُ؟ قَالَ: قَدْ عَرَفْتَ الْأُجْرَةَ وَالشَّرْطَ؟ قُلْتُ: أَسْتَخِيرُ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى فَقَامَ فَعَمِلَ عَلَى النَّحْوِ الَّذِي كَانَ عَمِلَ،,"I found that he only ever came on Saturday and always sat alone. On Saturday, I went to him and asked, “Do you wish to work?” He replied, “You already know the wage and my condition,” I agreed and he stood and worked for me as he had previously done."
قَالَ فَلَمَّا وَزَنْتُ لَهُ الْأُجْرَةَ زِدْتَهُ، فَأَبَى أَنْ يَأْخُذَ الزِّيَادَةَ، فَأَلْحَحْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَضَجِرَ وَتَرَكَنِي وَمَضَى فَغَمَّنِي ذَلِكَ فَاتَّبَعْتُهُ وَأَدْرَكْتُهُ وَدَارَيْتُهُ حَتَّى أَخَذَ أُجْرَتَهُ فَقَطْ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ بَعْدَ مُدَّةٍ احْتَجْنَا أَيْضًا إِلَيْهِ فَمَضَيْتُ فِي يَوْمِ السَّبْتِ فَلَمْ أُصَادِفْهُ,"This time I paid him more than he had asked for but he refused to accept anything additional, I insisted and he became irritated and left. This bore down on me heavily and I left after him to at least give him the wage we had agreed upon.
After some time, I needed more work done and on Saturday I went looking for the youth, but did not find him."
فَسَأَلْتُ عَنْهُ، فَقِيلَ لِي: هُوَ عَلِيلٌ، فَقَالَ لِي مَنْ يُخْبِرُهُ أَمْرَهُ: إِنَّمَا كَانَ يَجِيءُ إِلَى السُّوقِ مِنْ سَبْتٍ إِلَى سَبْتٍ يَعْمَلُ بِدِرْهَمٍ وَدَانَقٍ وَيَتَقَوَّتُ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ بِدَانَقٍ، وَقَدْ مَرِضَ فَسَأَلْتُ عَنْ مَنْزِلِهِ فَأَتَيْتُهُ وَهُوَ فِي بَيْتِ عَجُوزٍ، فَقُلْتُ لَهَا: هُنَا الشَّابُّ الرُّوزْجَارِيُّ،,"I inquired after him and discovered that he was ill, someone who knew about him told me that he would work for one and one sixth dirham, and spend one sixth everyday to meet his daily needs. I found out where he lived and went to his house, and there I found an old woman and enquired after him."
فَقَالَتْ: هُوَ عَلِيلٌ مُنْذُ أَيَّامٍ، فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَوَجَدْتُهُ لُمَّا بِهِ، وَتَحْتَ رَأْسِهِ لَبِنَةٌ فَسَلَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَقُلْتُ: لَكَ حَاجَةٌ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ إِنْ قَبِلْتَ، قُلْتُ: أَقْبَلُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى,"She told me that he had been ill for a number of days; I visited him and found him in a state, resting his head on a brick. I extended the salam to him and asked him if he needed anything. He said, ‘Yes, if you accept”, I said, “I accept inshaAllah.”"
قَالَ: إِذَا أَنَا مُتُّ فَبِعْ هَذَا الْمُرَّ وَاغْسِلْ جُبَّتِي هَذِهِ الصُّوفَ وَهَذَا الْمِئْزَرَ وَكَفِّنِّي بِهِمَا وَافْتِقْ جَيْبَ الْجُبَّةِ، فَإِنَّ فِيهَا خَاتَمًا فَخُذْهُ ثُمَّ انْظُرْ يَوْمَ يَرْكَبُ هَارُونُ الرَّشِيدُ الْخَلِيفَةُ فَقِفْ لَهُ فِي مَوْضِعٍ يَرَاكَ فَكَلِّمْهُ وَأَرِهِ الْخَاتَمَ فَإِنَّهُ سَيَدْعُوكَ، فَسَلِّمْ إِلَيْهِ الْخَاتَمَ، وَلَا يَكُونُ هَذَا إِلَّا بَعْدَ دَفْنِي،,"He said, “If I die, sell this iron spade, wash my woollen garment and towel and bury me in them. Undo the pocket of my garment and you will find a ring in it, take it and await the day that Harun alRashid, the Khalifah, comes; stand in a place that he can see you, call him and show him the ring. He will call you and when he does, give him the ring, but make sure this only happens after my burial.”"
قُلْتُ: نَعَمْ، فَلَمَّا مَاتَ فَعَلْتُ بِهِ مَا أَمَرَنِي ثُمَّ نَظَرْتُ الْيَوْمَ الَّذِي يَرْكَبُ فِيهِ الرَّشِيدُ فَجَلَسْتُ لَهُ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ، فَلَمَّا مَرَّ نَادَيْتُهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَكَ عِنْدِي وَدِيعَةٌ وَلَوَّحْتُ بِالْخَاتَمِ، فَأَمَرَ بِي فَأُخِذْتُ وَحُمِلْتُ حَتَّى دَخَلَ إِلَى دَارِهِ ثُمَّ دَعَانِي وَنَحَّى جَمِيعَ مَنْ عِنْدَهُ،,"I agreed and he passed away. I did what he asked and awaited the day that alRashid would pass by. When that day came, I called out to him, “Leader of the Believers! I have a trust to discharge,” and I showed him the ring. He ordered me to come and I went with him to his house, he then called me to him and everybody else left."
وَقَالَ لِي: مَنْ أَنْتَ؟ فَقُلْتُ: عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْفَرَجِ، فَقَالَ: هَذَا الْخَاتَمُ مِنْ أَيْنَ لَكَ؟ فَحَدَّثْتُهُ قِصَّةَ الشَّابِّ، فَجَعَلَ يَبْكِي حَتَّى رَحِمْتُهُ، فَلَمَّا أَنِسَ إِلَيَّ قُلْتُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، مَنْ هُوَ مِنْكَ؟ قَالَ: ابْنِي، قُلْتُ: كَيْفَ صَارَ إِلَى هَذِهِ الْحَالِ؟ قَالَ:,"He asked me who I was and I told him, then he asked me where I got the ring from. I told him the story of the youth and he wept, and kept weeping until I felt sorry for him and comforted him. When his weeping subsided, I asked him who the youth was, he replied,"
وُلِدَ لِي قَبْلَ أَنْ ابْتُلَى بِالْخِلَافَةِ فَنَشَأَ نُشُوءًا حَسَنًا وَتَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَالْعِلْمَ، فَلَمَّا وُلِّيتُ الْخِلَافَةَ تَرَكَنِي وَلَمْ يَنَلْ مِنْ دُنْيَايَ شَيْئًا، فَدَفَعْتُ إِلَى أُمِّهِ هَذَا الْخَاتَمَ وَهُوَ يَاقُوتٌ وَيَسْوِي مَالًا كَثِيرًا، فَدَفَعْتُهُ إِلَيْهَا وَقُلْتُ لَهَا: تَدْفَعِينَ هَذَا إِلَيْهِ وَكَانَ بَارًّا بِأُمِّهِ وَتَسْأَلِينَهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ مَعَهُ فَلَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يَحْتَاجَ إِلَيْهِ يَوْمًا مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ فَيَنْتَفِعَ بِهِ،,"“My son. He was born to me before I was afflicted with leadership; he was a righteous boy who learned the Qur’an and knowledge, when I became the Khallfy he left me, not desiring anything of the world that had been opened before me. I gave his mother this precious ring to give to him, knowing that he was obedient to his mother, in the hope that he could sell it and use the money."
وَتُوُفِّيَتْ أُمُّهُ فَمَا عَرَفْتُ لَهُ خَبَرًا إِلَّا مَا أَخْبَرْتَنِي بِهِ أَنْتَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي: إِذَا كَانَ اللَّيْلُ اخْرُجْ مَعِي إِلَى قَبْرِهِ،,"His mother passed away and after that I have heard nothing of him till this day.” Then he said, “At nightfall take me to his grave.”"
فَلَمَّا كَانَ اللَّيْلُ خَرَجَ وَحْدَهُ مَعِي يَمْشِي حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا قَبْرَهُ فَجَلَسَ إِلَيْهِ فَبَكَى بُكَاءً شَدِيدًا، فَلَمَّا طَلَعَ الْفَجْرُ قُمْنَا فَرَجَعَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي: تعَاهَدْنِي فِي كُلِّ الْأَيَّامِ حَتَّى أَزُورَ قَبْرَهُ، فَكُنْتُ أَتَعَاهَدُهُ فِي الْأَيَّامِ فَيَخْرُجُ فَيَزُورُ قَبْرَهُ ثُمَّ يَرْجِعُ قَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْفَرَجِ: وَلَمْ أَعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ ابْنُ الرَّشِيدِ حَتَّى أَخْبَرَنِي أَنَّهُ ابْنُهُ,"When night came, I took him to his grave, he sat by it and weeping overtook him, when dawn broke, we arose and returned. He asked me to stay with him and help to him to go to the grave every day and I did so. I never knew that that youth was the son of alRashid until alRashld himself told me.’"
وَقَدْ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ الْعَطَّارُ، بِأَخْبَارِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْفَرَجِ وَفِيهَا هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ عَلَى نَحْوٍ مِنْ هَذَا، وَقَالَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ: فَعَرَضَ الرَّشِيدُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْفَرَجِ مَالًا عَظِيمًا فَأَبَى أَنْ يَقْبَلَهُ,Abu ‘Abdullah ibn alMikhlad al’Attar also narrated this incident to me and added that alRashid offered ‘Abdullah ibn alFaraj a great deal of wealth but he refused to accept it.
قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: وَبَلَغَنِي أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الْفَرَجِ لَمَّا مَاتَ لَمْ تَعْلَمْ زَوْجَتُهُ لِإِخْوَانِهِ بِمَوْتِهِ وَهُمْ جُلُوسٌ بِالْبَابِ يَنْتَظِرُونَ الدُّخُولَ عَلَيْهِ فِي عِلَّتِهِ،,"It has reached me that when ‘Abdullah ibn alFaraj died, his wife did not inform his brothers of his death even though they were waiting on his doorstep to visit him in his illness."
فَغَسَّلَتُهُ وَكَفَّنَتُهُ فِي كِسَاءٍ كَانَ لَهُ وَأَخَذْتُ فَرْدَ بَابٍ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ بَيْتِهِ وَجَعَلَتْهُ فَوْقَهُ وَشَدَّتْهُ بِشَرِيطٍ، ثُمَّ قَالَتْ لِإِخْوَانِهِ: قَدْ مَاتَ وَقَدْ فَرَغْتُ مِنْ جِهَازِهِ، فَدَخَلُوا فَاحْتَمَلُوهُ إِلَى قَبْرِهِ وَغَلَّقَتِ الْبَابَ خَلْفَهُمْ,"She washed him and shrouded him. She then took one of the doors of his house and placed him on top if it, tying him down, then called out to his brothers saying, ‘He has died and I have prepared him.’ They entered and bore him to his grave and, when he had been taken, she locked the door behind them."
ثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ خَلَّادٍ الْبَاهِلِيُّ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي مُؤَذِّنُ بَلْهُجَيْمٍ قَالَ: نَزَلَ سُفْيَانُ الثَّوْرِيُّ عِنْدَنَا فِي سْكَنِنَا، وَكَانَ يَجْلِسُ مَعَنَا وَنَحْنُ لَا نَعْرِفُهُ، نَظُنُّ أَنَّهُ أَعْرَابِيٌّ، فَكَانَ يُصْغِي إِلَى حَدِيثِنَا، فَإِذَا صِرْنَا إِلَى حَدِيثِهِ سَمِعْنَا كَلَامًا حَسَنًا يُذَكِّرُنَا الْجَنَّةَ وَيُخَوِّفُنَا النَّارَ، فَإِذَا طَرَدَتْهُ الشَّمْسُ حَلَّ حَبْوَتَهُ وَأَنْشَأَ يَقُولُ:,"Muhammad ibn Khallad alBahili said that the Mu’adhdhin of Lahjlm informed him that, ‘Sufyan alThawrl would visit us in our locality. He would sit amongst us but none of us knew him, instead thinking he was a Bedouin. He would listen to our words and when he spoke, we would hear great words; he would remind us of Paradise and inculcate in us the fear of Hell, then, when the suns heat became intense he would get up and say,"
"«مَا ضَرَّ مَنْ كَانَ فِي الْفِرْدَوْسِ مَسْكَنُهُ… مَا مَسَّهُ قَبْلُ مِنْ ضُرٍّ وَإِقْتَارِ
تَرَاهُ فِي النَّاسِ يَمْشِي خَائِفًا وَجِلًا… إِلَى الْمَسَاجِدِ هَوْنًا بَيْنَ أَطْمَارٍ","The one whose final abode is Firdam will not face injury
By what precedes it of hardship and poverty.
In a state of fear and dread he walks amongst humanity;
Strolling towards the Masjids, in garments torn and tatty."
"تَفْنَى اللَّذَاذَةُ مِمَّنْ نَالَ صَفْوَتَهَا… مِنَ الْحَرَامِ وَيَبْقَى الْخِزْيُ وَالْعَارُ
تَبْقَى عَوَاقِبُ سُوءٍ فِي مَغَبَّتِهَا… لَا خَيْرَ فِي لَذَّةٍ مِنْ بَعْدِهَا النَّارُ»","All delights will vanish, even those of great quality,
All that will remain is disgrace and ignominy;
All that remains of them will be their resultant iniquity.
There is no good in a delight after which is the Fire."
بَابٌ فِي مَوْتِ الْغَرِيبِ,The Death of the Stranger
عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ: تُوُفِّيَ رَجُلٌ بِالْمَدِينَةِ مِمَّنْ وُلِدَ بِالْمَدِينَةِ، فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَقَالَ: «يَا لَيْتَهُ مَاتَ فِي غَيْرِ مَوْلِدِهِ»، فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ: لِمَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ فَقَالَ: «إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ إِذَا مَاتَ فِي غَيْرِ مَوْلِدِهِ قِيسَ لَهُ مِنْ مَوْلِدِهِ إِلَى مُنْقَطَعِ أَثَرِهِ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ»,"16. ‘Abdullah ibn Amr reports that, ‘A man who was born in Madinah, died there. The Messenger of Allah prayed the [funeral] prayer for him and then said, “If only he had died in a place other than the place of his birth.” A man asked, ‘Messenger of Allah, why?’ He said, “When a man dies in a place other than the place of his birth, a place in Paradise is prepared for him equivalent to the distance between his place of birth and place of death”"
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ: وَقَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَلَى قَبْرِ رَجُلٍ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَقَالَ: «يَا لَهُ لَوْ مَاتَ غَرِيبًا»، قِيلَ: وَمَا لِلْغَرِيبِ مِنَّا يَمُوتُ بِغَيْرِ أَرْضِهِ؟ فَقَالَ: «مَا مِنْ غَرِيبٍ يَمُوتُ بِغَيْرِ أَرْضِهِ إِلَّا قِيسَ لَهُ مِنْ تُرْبَتِهِ إِلَى مَوْلِدِهِ فِي الْجَنَّةِ»,"17. ‘Abdullah ibn Amr reports that, ‘The Messenger of Allah stood by the grave of a person in Madinah and said, “If only he had died as a stranger.” It was asked of him, Why should he die as a stranger in a land other than his land?’ He replied, “There is no stranger who dies in a land other than his land except that a place in Paradise is prepared for him equivalent to the distance between his place of birth and place of death.”’"
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَوْتُ الْغَرِيبِ شَهَادَةٌ»,"18. ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allah (H) said, “The death of the stranger is martyrdom.”"
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَوْتُ الْغَرِيبِ شَهَادَةٌ»,"19. Abu Hurayrah reports that the Messenger of Allah said, “The death of the stranger is martyrdom.’’"
سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عَمْرٍو يَقُولُ: كُنَّا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَوْمًا حِينَ طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَقَالَ: «سَيَأْتِي نَاسٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ نُورُهُمْ كَضَوْءِ الشَّمْسِ»،,"20. ‘Abdullah ibn Amr reports that, “We were with the Messenger of Allah at a time when the sun was rising. He said, “People of my nation will come on the Day of Judgment, their light like the light of the sun.”"
قُلْنَا: وَمَنْ أُولَئِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ فَقَالَ: «فُقَرَاءُ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ الَّذِينَ تُتَّقَى بِهِمُ الْمَكَارِهُ، يَمُوتُ أَحَدُهُمْ وَحَاجَتُهُ فِي صَدْرِهِ، يُحْشَرُونَ مِنْ أَقْطَارِ الْأَرْضِ»,"We asked, Who will they be?’ He said, “The poor migrants, those through whom difficulty is averted, those who die with their needs still concealed in their breasts. They will be resurrected from the ends of the earth.’”"
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: ” مَنْ مَاتَ فِي هَذَا الطَّرِيقِ مِنْ حَاجٍّ أَوْ مُعْتَمِرٍ لَمْ يُعْرَضْ وَلَمْ يُحَاسَبْ، وَقِيلَ لَهُ: ادْخُلِ الْجَنَّةَ “,"21. ‘A’ishah reports that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Whoever dies in this road, be he one performing Hajj or ‘Umrah, will not be made to endure the Standing or the Judgement, instead it will be said to him, ‘Enter Paradise!”’"
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو زَيْدٍ، رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَحْرَيْنِ قَالَ: ” غَسَّلْتُ مَيِّتًا بِالْبَحْرَيْنِ، فَإِذَا مَكْتُوبٌ عَلَى لَحْمِهِ: طُوبَاكَ يَا غَرِيبُ: قَالَ: فَذَهَبْتُ أَنْظُرُ فَإِذَا هُوَ بَيْنَ الْجِلْدِ وَالْعَظْمِ “,"Abu Zayd, from Bahrain, informed me that he washed a dead person in Bahrain and found inscribed in his flesh, Tuba is for you O stranger!’"
57 قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ: فَإِنْ قَالَ قَائِلٌ: فَكُلُّ مَنْ مَاتَ غَرِيبًا يَكُونُ مَوْتُهُ شَهَادَةً عَلَى ظَاهِرِ الْخَبَرِ، قِيلَ لَهُ: الْغَرِيبُ عَلَى وَجْهَيْنِ، فَغَرِيبٌ يَمُوتُ طَائِعًا لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِغُرْبَتِهِ، وَهُمْ عَلَى أَصْنَافٍ شَتَّى، كُلُّهَا مَحْمُودَةٌ فَهُمُ الَّذِينَ يُرْتَجَى أَنْ يَكُونَ مَوْتُ أَحَدِهِمْ شَهَادَةً،,"If someone were to ask, ‘Does this now mean that anyone who dies as a stranger dies the death of a martyr?’ It would be said in reply:
There are two types of strangers: one whose strangeness came about by his obeying Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, such strangers are of varying degrees and all these degrees are praiseworthy, these are the strangers who would die the death of a martyr;"
وَغَرِيبٌ عَاصٍ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى بِغُرْبَتِهِ وَهُمْ عَلَى أَصْنَافٍ شَتَّى كُلُّهَا مَذْمُومَةٌ، وَفُرِضَ عَلَيْهِمُ التَّوْبَةُ مِنَ الْغُرْبَةِ وَالرُّجُوعِ عَمَّا تَغَرَّبُوا لَهُ،,"and one whose strangeness comes about by his disobedience to Allah, Mighty and Magnificent, such strangers are of varying degrees and all of these degrees are blameworthy, the obligation upon them is to repent from this strangeness."
58 فَإِنْ قَالَ قَائِلٌ: فَصِفْ لَنَا الْغَرِيبَ الطَّائِعَ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِغُرْبَتِهِ، حَتَّى لَا نَتَغَرَّبَ إِلَّا فِي طَاعَةٍ اللَّهِ، قِيلَ لَهُ,"If someone were to now ask, ‘Describe to us the first type of stranger so that we not fall into the second type,’ it would be said in reply:"
مَنْ تَغَرَّبَ فِي حَجٍّ أَوْ فِي عُمْرَةٍ أَوْ جِهَادٍ، فَمَاتَ فِي خُرُوجِهِ أَوْ رُجُوعِهِ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ، وَمَنْ خَرَجَ فِي طَلَبِ عِلْمٍ يُرِيدُ وَجْهَ اللَّهِ الْكَرِيمَ بِعِلْمِهِ لِيَعْلَمَ مَا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ عَلَيْهِ فَيَسْتَعْمِلُهُ، وَيَعْلَمُ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ فَيَنْتَهِي عَنْهُ، فَمَاتَ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ،,"Whoever goes out to perform Hajj, (Umrah, or Jihad, and dies in his journey there or on his return will die as a martyr. Whoever goes out in search of knowledge, desiring thereby the Face of Allah, and dies in that path, dies as a martyr."
وَمَنْ خَرَجَ زَائِرًا لِأَخٍ فِي اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَوْ لِزِيَارَةِ رَحِمٍ يَبَرُّهُمْ بِزِيَارَتِهِ فَمَاتَ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ، وَمَنْ كَانَ بِبَلَدٍ فَظَهَرَتْ فِيهِ الْفِتَنُ فَخَشِيَ عَلَى دِينِهِ وَمَالِهِ وَأَهْلِهِ فَفَرَّ مِنْهُ إِلَى بَلَدٍ غَيْرِهِ فَمَاتَ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ،,"Whoever goes out to visit one of his brothers in faith, or to visit one of his relations in order to preserve and maintain the ties of kinship, and dies in that path, dies as a martyr. Whoever is in a land submerged in trial and tribulation, and fearing for his religion, wealth, and family, flees to another land and dies, dies as a martyr."
وَمَنْ ضَاقَ عَلَيْهِ الْكَسْبُ الْحَلَالُ فِي بَلَدِهِ فَخَرَجَ إِلَى بَلَدٍ غَيْرِهِ لِيَكْتَسِبَ الْحَلَالَ فَمَاتَ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ، وَمَنْ شَرَدَ لَهُ وَلَدٌ أَوْ أَبَقَ لَهُ عَبْدٌ أَوْ أَمَةٌ فَخَرَجَ فِي طَلَبِهِمْ فَمَاتَ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ،,"Whoever is unable to acquire a lawful means of living in one land and therefore moves to another in order to do so and dies, dies as a martyr. If ones slave runs away, and he leaves in search of him or her and dies in that path, he dies as a martyr."
59 وَأَمَّا صِفَةُ مَنْ تَغَرَّبَ فِي مَعْصِيَةٍ، مِثْلَ أَنْ يَقْطَعَ الطَّرِيقَ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ، أَوْ أَنْ يُعِينَ الْخَوَارِجَ، أَوْ خَرَجَ يَسْعَى فِي الْأَرْضِ لِلْفَسَادٍ، أَوْ خَدَعَ وَلَدًا لِرَجُلٍ أَوْ عَبْدًا أَوْ أَمَةً فَهَرَبَ بِهِمْ، فَتَغَرَّبَ، أَوْ خَرَجَ فِي تِجَارَةٍ مُحَرَّمَةٍ لَا يُبَالِي مَا نَقَصَ مِنْ دِينِهِ إِذَا سَلِمَتْ لَهُ دُنْيَاهُ،,"Conversely, whoever carries out highway robbery, or aids the Khawarij, or leaves to spread corruption in the land, or leaves to undertake unlawful business,"
فَهَؤُلَاءِ وَمَا يُشْبِهُ أَمْثَالَهُمْ عُصَاةٌ لِلَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ بِتَغَرُّبِهِمْ وَفَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمُ التَّوْبَةَ وَالرُّجُوعَ عَنْ قَبِيحِ مَا خَرَجُوا لَهُ، فَإِنْ مَاتُوا فِي غُرْبَتِهِمْ لَمْ تُحْمَدْ أَحْوَالُهُمْ,"such a person and those like him are those whose strangeness comes about by disobeying Allah, Mighty and Magnificent. They must repent and abandon their deeds."
حَدَّثَنَي زَكَرِيَّا بْنُ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، قَالَ: ” خَرَجَ فَتًى يَطْلُبُ الدُّنْيَا فَتَعَذَّرَتْ عَلَيْهِ فَكَتَبَ إِلَى أُمِّهِ:,"Zakariyyah ibn Abu Khalid narrated to us that a young boy left in pursuit of fortune, after repeatedly failing he wrote to his mother,"
سَأَكْسَبُ مَالًا أَوْ أُرَى فِي ضَرِيحَةٍ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ لَا يَبْكِي عَلَيَّ سَكُوبٌ وَلَا وَالِهٌ، حَرَّى عَلَيَّ حَزِينَةٌ، وَلَا أَحَدَ مِمَّنْ أُحِبُّ قَرِيبٌ سِوَى أَنْ يَرَى قَبْرِي غَرِيبٌ، فَرُبَّمَا بَكَى إِنْ يَرَى قَبْرَ الْغَرِيبِ غَرِيبٌ،,"I’ll acquire my fortune or I’ll show my mother
A grave in the earth carrying my figure.
No grief is left that would cause me misery
For none I love remains in my locality.
Hence, my grave will be seen by a stranger.
There will come a time when the grave
of a stranger be thought strange."
قَالَ: فَوَافَى الْكِتَابُ وَقَدْ مَاتَتْ أُمُّهُ، فَأَجَابَتْهُ خَالَتُهُ:,"The letter was delivered but his mother had already passed away, so his aunt wrote back,"
"تَذَكَّرْتُ أَحْوَالًا وَأذْرَيْتُ عَبْرَةً… وَهَيَّجْتَ أَحْزَانًا فَذَاكَ عَجِيبُ
فَإِنْ تَكُ مُشْتَاقًا إِلَيْنَا فَإِنَّنَا… إِلَيْكَ ظَمَاءٌ وَالْحَبِيبُ حَبِيبُ","You mentioned affairs and have taken heed
You have agitated troubles, that is strange.
If you are missing us then we
Can quench your thirst, the beloved is beloved."
"فَامْنُنْ عَلَى أُمٍّ عَلَيْكَ شَفِيقَةٌ… بَوَجْهِكَ لَا تَثْوَى وَأَنْتَ غَرِيبُ
فَإِنَّ الَّذِي يَأْتِيكَ بِالرِّزْقِ نَائِيًا يَجِيءُ… بِهِ وَالْحَيُّ مِنْكَ قَرِيبُ","So grace a mother who is concerned for you… you are a stranger.
The One who will give you provision
Would give it you even while the living are close to you."
61 أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ قَالَ: أَنْشَدَنَا أَبُو حَفْصٍ عُمَرُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الطَّبَرِيُّ لِبَعْضِ الْحُكَمَاءِ:,"Umar ibn Ja’far alTabari quoted the following ode from one of the sages,"
"زَعَمَ الَّذِينَ تَشَرَّقُوا وَتَغَرَّبُوا… أَنَّ الْغَرِيبَ وَإِنْ أَعَزَّ ذَلِيلُ
فَأَجْبُتُهُمْ أَنَّ الْغَرِيبَ إِذَا اتَّقَى… حَيْثُ اسْتَقَلَّ بِهِ الرِّكَابُ خَلِيلُ
قَالُوا الْغَرِيبُ يُهَانُ قُلْتُ تَجَلَّدَا… إِنَّ الْإِلَهَ بِنَصْرِهِ لَكَفِيلُ","People in the east and west believe
That the stranger, even if noble, is mean They say, ‘The stranger is in ignominy’
I say, ‘Be not hasty! In Allah’s help lies sufficiency.’"
"قَالُوا الْغَرِيبُ إِذَا يَمُوتُ بِبَلْدَةٍ… لَمْ يُبْكَ أَوْ يُسْمَعْ عَلَيْهِ عَوِيلُ
قُلْتُ الْغَرِيبُ كَفَاهُ رَحْمَةُ رَبِّهِ… وَغِنَى الْبُكَاءِ عَلَى الْفَقِيدِ قَلِيلُ","When he dies on a strange shore,’ they surmise ‘None is there to mourn his demise!’
I say, ‘Sufficient is his Lord’s mercy,
The benefit of mourning him is paltry!’"
62 قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: أَنْشَدَنِي بَعْضُ الْمِصْرِيِّينَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا لِبَعْضِ الْحُكَمَاءِ:,"One of our Egyptian friends quoted the following ode from one of the sages,"
"تَغَرَّبْتُ عَنْ أَهْلِي فَظَلْتُ مُشَرَّدًا… وَحِيدًا طَرِيدًا فِي الْبِلَادِ أَدُورُ
وَخَلَّفْتُ إِخْوَانِي وَأَهْلِي وَجِيرَتِي… يَنُوحُونَ شَجْوًا إِنَّنِي لَصَبُورُ
وَلِي وَطَنٌ مَا إِنْ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مِثْلُهُ… وَلَكِنْ مَقَادِيرُ جَرَتْ وَأُمُورُ","I left my family, becoming outcast;
Wandering from land to land, downcast.
My neighbours, my brothers, my kin, I bid farewell They grieve and mourn but I bode well:
I have a home if only the earth had its semblance!
However it is the decree that is in Governance."
قَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ: أَغْرَبُ الْغُرَبَاء فِي وَقْتِنَا هَذَا مَنْ أَخَذَ بِالسُّنَنِ وَصَبَرَ عَلَيْهَا، وَحَذِرَ الْبِدَعَ وَصَبَرَ عَنْهَا، وَاتَّبَعَ آثَارَ مَنْ سَلَفَ مِنْ أَئِمَّةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَعَرَفَ زَمَانَهُ وَشِدَّةَ فَسَادِهِ وَفَسَادَ أَهْلِهِ،,"In our times, the Strangers are those who adhere to the Sunnah and are steadfast upon it, those who steadfasdy avoid innovations, those who follow the narrations of the past Imams, and those who know the reality of the time they live in and the extent of the corruption found therein."
فَاشْتَغْلَ بِإِصْلَاحِ شَأْنِ نَفْسِهِ مِنْ حِفْظِ جَوَارِحِهِ، وَتَرْكِ الْخَوْضِ فِيمَا لَا يَعْنِيهِ وَعَمِلَ فِي إِصْلَاحِ كَسْرَتِهِ، وَكَانَ طَلَبُهُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا مَا فِيهِ كِفَايَتُهُ وَتَرْكُ الْفَضْلِ الَّذِي يُطْغِيهِ،,"They devote themselves to selfpurification, safeguarding their limbs from disobedience, leaving alone anything that does not concern them, and striving in correcting their own faults. What they seek of this world is that which would suffice them, and they leave anything surplus lest it serve to misguide them."
وَدَارَى أَهْلَ زَمَانِهِ وَلَمْ يُدَاهِنُهُمْ، وَصَبَرَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، فَهَذَا غَرِيبٌ وَقَلَّ مَنْ يَأْنَسُ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْعَشِيرَةِ وَالْإِخْوَانِ، وَلَا يَضُرَّهُ ذَلِكَ،,"They are fully aware of the people around them and are affable with them, but do not bring them close, and they are patient and steadfast in this. Those who are close to them of brothers and family are few, but this does not affect them."
فَإِنْ قَالَ قَائِلٌ: افْرُقْ لَنَا بَيْنَ الْمُدَارَاةِ وَالْمُدَاهَنَةِ، قِيلَ لَهُ: الْمُدَارَاةُ الَّتِي يُثَابُ عَلَيْهَا الْعَاقِلُ، وَيَكُونُ مَحْمُودًا بِهَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، وَعِنْدَ مَنْ عَقَلَ عَنِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى,"If someone were to ask, ‘Differentiate affability from dissimulation for us it is said in reply:
The intelligent person is rewarded for affability and is, by virtue of it, considered praiseworthy by Allah, Mighty and Magnificent."
هُوَ الَّذِي يُدَارِي جَمِيعَ النَّاسِ الَّذِينَ لَا بُدَّ لَهُ مِنْهُمْ، وَمِنْ مُعَاشَرَتِهِمْ لَا يُبَالِي مَا نَقَصَ مِنْ دُنْيَاهُ، وَمَا انْتُهِكَ بِهِ مِنْ عِرْضِهِ بَعْدَ أَنْ سَلِمَ لَهُ دِينُهُ، فَهَذَا رَجُلٌ كَرِيمٌ غَرِيبٌ فِي زَمَانِهِ.,"Such a person is one who interacts with those people he must interact with in an affable manner, he does not care how much of his worldly lot is lost, or social status lowered, so long as his religion is safe. Such a person is truly noble, a stranger in his time."
وَالْمُدَاهَنَةُ: فَهُوَ الَّذِي لَا يُبَالِي مَا نَقَصَ مِنْ دِينِهِ إِذَا سَلِمَتْ لَهُ دُنْيَاهُ، قَدْ هَانَ عَلَيْهِ ذَهَابُ دِينِهِ وَانْتِهَاكُ عِرْضِهِ، بَعْدَ أَنْ تَسْلَمَ لَهُ دُنْيَاهُ،,"Dissimulation is the quality of a person who does not care how much of his religion he loses so long as he meets his worldly objective. Losing his religion has become something inconsequential as has losing his honour, his only care is for this world."
فَهَذَا فِعْلُ مَغْرُورٍ، فَإِذَا عَارَضَهُ الْعَاقِلُ فَقَالَ: هَذَا لَا يَجُوزُ لَكَ فِعْلُهُ قَالَ: نُدَارِي فَيَكْسُو الْمُدَاهَنَةَ الْمُحَرَّمَةَ اسْمَ الْمُدَارَاةِ، وَهَذَا غَلَطٌ كَبِيرٌ مِنْ قَائِلِهِ،,"Such a person is deluded and when the intelligent person confronts him, saying, “What you are doing is not permissible!’ He replies by saying, “I am merely being affable!’ Hence he calls dissimulation, affability and this is a great error"
فَاعْلَمْ ذَلِكَ,so be aware of this!
قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مُدَارَاةُ النَّاسِ صَدَقَةٌ، وَقَالَ الْحَسَنُ: الْمُؤْمِنُ يُدَارِي وَلَا يُمَارِي، يَنْشُرُ حِكْمَةَ اللَّهِ، فَإِنْ قُبِلَتْ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ، وَإِنْ رُدَّتْ حَمِدَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ،,"22. The Prophet said, “”Being affable with people is a type of charity.” alHasan said, “The believer is affable and does not quarrel or dispute. His goal is to spread the wisdom of Allah. If it is accepted, he praises Allah; if it is not, he praises Allah.’"
وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ ابْنُ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ: لَيْسَ بِحَكِيمٍ مَنْ لَمْ يُعَاشِرْ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ لِمَنْ لَا يَجِدُ مِنْ مُعَاشَرَتِهِ بُدًّا، حَتَّى يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لَهُ مِنْهُ فَرَجًا وَمَخْرَجًا. قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ: فَمَنْ كَانَ هَكَذَا فَهُوَ غَرِيبٌ طُوبَى لَهُ ثُمَّ طُوبَى لَهُ,"Muhammad ibn alHanafiyyah said, “The wise person is not one who refrains from interacting with those he has to interact with
in a good manner, until Allah shows him a way out.’ Whoever has these qualities is a stranger: Tuba be for him! Tuba be for him!"
سَمِعْتُ يَحْيَى بْنَ مُعَاذٍ الرَّازِيَّ يَقُولُ: «يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ طَلَبْتَ الدُّنْيَا طَلَبَ مَنْ لَا بُدَّ لَهُ مِنْهَا، وَطَلَبْتَ الْآخِرَةَ طَلَبَ مَنْ لَا حَاجَةَ لَهُ إِلَيْهَا، وَالدُّنْيَا قَدْ كُفِيتَهَا وَإِنْ لَمْ تَطْلُبْهَا، وَالْآخِرَةُ بِالطَّلَبِ مِنْكَ تَنَالُهَا فَاعْقِلْ شَأْنَكَ»،,"Yahya ibn Muadh alRazI said, ‘Son of Adam: you seek the world as if your very life depended on it and you seek the Hereafter as if you have no need of it! You will acquire what you need from this world even if you do not run after it, but you will only attain the Hereafter if you run after it. So be aware of your true condition!’"
وَقَالَ يَحْيَى: ” ابْنُ آدَمَ: حُفَّتِ الْجَنَّةُ بِالْمَكَارِهِ، وَأَنْتَ تَكْرَهُهَا، وَحُفَّتِ النَّارُ بِالشَّهَوَاتِ وَأَنْتَ تَطْلُبُهَا، فَمَا أَنْتَ إِلَّا كَالْمَرِيضِ الشَّدِيدِ الدَّاءِ إِنْ صَبَرْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ عَلَى مَضَضِ الدَّوَاءِ اكْتَسَبْتَ بِالصَّبْرِ عَاقِبَةَ الشِّفَاءِ، وَإِنْ جَزِعَتْ نَفْسُكَ عَلَى مَا تَلْقَى مِنْ أَلَمِ الدَّوَاءِ طَالَتْ بِكَ عِلَّتُكَ “,"Yahya ibn Adam said, ‘Paradise was surrounded by difficulties, and you dislike it, and Hellfire was surrounded by desires, and you run after it. You are like one who is afflicted by a serious illness, if you are able to patiently endure the pain of the cure, you will be healed, if not, the illness will only increase in severity.’"
كشف الكربة في وصف أهل الغربة,KASHF ALKURBAH FI WASFI HALL AHLFLGHURBAH
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم,With Name of Allah the AllMercifuly the Most Merciful.
الحمد لله رب العالمين حمدًا كثيرًا طيبًا مباركًا فيه كما يحب ربنا ويرضى وكما ينبغي لكرم وجهه وعز جلاله، وصلى الله على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم تسليمًا.,"All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds; a praise that is pure and inherendy blessed, as our Lord loves and is pleased with, as befits the nobility of His face and the greatness of His Majesty. Abundant peace and blessings be upon our master, Muhammad, his family and his Companions."
خرج مسلم في ” صحيحه ” من حديث أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «بدأ الإسلام غريبًا وسيعود غريبًا كما بدأ، فطوبى للغرباء».,"23. Muslim records on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said, “Islam began as something strange and it shall return to being something strange just as it began, so tuba for the strangers.”"