Jami' al-Saghir / Jam' al-Jawami' (al-Suyuti) 2-2711b

Translation

Machine translation, not reviewed

"Al-Sha'bi reported that al-Zibriqan ibn Badr, who was the chief of his people, came to 'Umar ibn al-Khattab and said: 'O Commander of the Believers! Jarwal has satirised me on the day of al-Hutay'ah.' 'Umar said: 'With what did he satirise you?' He said: 'He said: Leave generosity, do not travel in pursuit of its aim... and sit, for you are the one who eats and clothes.' 'Umar said: 'I do not hear satire here; it is only a reproach.' Al-Zibriqan said: 'O Commander of the Believers, by the One in whose hand is my soul, no one has been satirised with the like of what I was satirised with. So take for me from the one who satirised me.' 'Umar said: 'Bring me the son of al-Furay'ah,' meaning Hassan ibn Thabit. When he was brought, he said to him: 'O Hassan, al-Zibriqan claims that Jarwal satirised him.' Hassan said: 'With what?' He said: 'With his saying: Leave generosity...' Hassan said: 'He did not satirise him, O Commander of the Believers.' He said: 'Then what did he do to him?' He said: 'He urinated on him.' 'Umar said: 'Bring me Jarwal.' When he was brought, he said to him: 'O enemy of himself, do you satirise the Muslims?!' He ordered that he be imprisoned. Then he wrote to 'Umar from prison: 'O Commander of the Believers: What do you say of fledglings at Dhu Mirkh, red-throated, with neither water nor tree... I cast their earner into the depth of darkness... so bestow upon me, may Allah guide you, O 'Umar. You are the Imam after his companion, to whom the reins of wisdom have been handed by the people. They did not prefer you or put you forward for it, but they were the marks upon themselves through you.' He said: ''Umar was informed of his frail condition and the weakness of his people's support for him, so he summoned him and said: 'Woe to you, O Jarwal, why do you satirise the Muslims?' He said: 'Because of several qualities that surround me. One of them: it is only a worm that crawls on my tongue. Another: it is only the earning of my dependants. And a third: al-Zibriqan is wealthy among his people, and he knows the frailty of my condition and the great number of my dependants, yet he did not show me kindness and compelled me to ask. When I asked him, he refused me, O Commander of the Believers, and asking is the price of every gift. I used to see him wallowing in the wealth of Allah and His Messenger, while I was writhing in poverty and need. I used to see him belching like a camel, while I was picking crumbs of barley bread in my saddlebag with my dependants. O Commander of the Believers, whoever is unable to obtain sustenance is even more unable to remain silent.' 'Umar's eyes shed tears, and he said: 'How many dependants do you have?' He counted them to him, and he ordered food, clothing and provision for him sufficient for a year, and said to him: 'When you are in need, return to us, and you will have the like of this from us.' Jarwal said: 'May Allah reward you, O Commander of the Believers, with the reward of the righteous and the recompense of the good, for you have been kind, connected, compassionate and generous.' When Jarwal had left, 'Umar said: 'O people, fear Allah regarding your kinsfolk and your neighbours. Whenever you know their need, console them and show them compassion, and do not make them need to ask, for Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, will ask the servant, when he is rich and sufficient, about his kin, his relative and his neighbour when he is in need, to give him before he asks.'"

Report a problem

No source translates this, so this English was written by a computer model. It can be wrong; rely on the Arabic. Report a problem below.