Ibn Marzubans Essay on the Nature of Man

Magribine Press 1996Introduction:

Original Arabic text by Abu Bakr Muhammad b. Khalaf Ibn alMarzuban as collected from a speech of his given on Wednesday, 11th of Rajab, 381 A.H.. This text was translated fromthe text from his student Abu `Umar Muhammad B. al`Abbas b. Zakariyya b. Hayyawayh alKhazzaz. An earlier translation to English was done by G.R. Smith and M.A.S. Abdel Haleem and published by Aris & Phillips Ltd., of Warminster, England.

The Author of The Essay on the Nature of Man, Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Khalaf ibn Bassam alBaghdadi was from alMuhawwali, a small village near Baghdad. His other works include: Dhamm al Thuqala (Blame of the Disagreeable People), AlMuntakhab min Kitab ulHadaya ( Selections from the Book of Wit), and some poetry. Other works such as a 27 volume commentary of the Quran have not survived.

This complete modern prose version was done by Muhammad A. Bektashi (author of The End of Time and the Fulfillment of the Prophecies, African Muslim Slaves in America: Their Educational Theories and Practices, and other works) and is available through Magribine Press c/o M.A. alAhari Bektashi of 4309 W. Lawrence, Chicago, Illinois 60630..

The TextWith the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful May the Blessings of Allah be upon our Master Muhammad and upon his house and upon those with [true] guidance. From the teacher Abu Musa `Isa Abu `Abi 'Isa alKhabasi he said that Qadi Abu alKhasm `Ali Ibn alMuhsin ibn `Ali alTanuwki said unto us that he heard that Abu `Umar Muhammad ibn al`Abass ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn Zahriyyah ibn Hayyawayh alKhazzaz read a speech to us that he heard on Wednesday, 11th Rajab, 381 Hijrah Year from Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Khalaf ibn alMarzuban.

The speech alKhazzaz heard from alMarzuban is as follows:

"The age we are living in is one in which people have no real affection for each other and are lacking in morals and character. The one who is searching for a true and trustworthy friend has a long journey ahead of him. The traveler on the path of finding a friend is further from this destnation the longer he travels toward it.

"Abu Dharr alGhifari, may Allah be pleased with him, has said that, `People used to be like leaves without thorns, but now they are like thorns without leaves.' Gone are the days when people made genuine promises and they kept their word and apologized for their errors.

"Labid [a preIslamic poet] has said, `Gone are those under whose protection one can live and the offspring of these are like rotting, stinking flesh.'

"Abu al`Abbass alMubarrad told that one of his teachers Bishr ibn alHarith was gloomy one day and did not talk until sunset and then he recited the following poetry:

`Gone are the virtuous whose actions should be copied,

Gone are those who abhor all that is far from good

conduct,

I am left to their descendants who relish in bad deeds,

I am left with one disgraceful man defending another.

`Gone are those who, when they saw me coming said, `welcome'.Those that remain say, `I wish he hadn't come.'

`Gone are the real people, they are own their own.

Gone are the real people, left behind are like monkeys!

Gone are the real people,

I am left among those who look like people

When they are put to a test,

they turn out not to be true people!

`Gone are the people worth their salt.

The good no longer remain.

The ugliest type of humans remain,

I wish that death would come claim them!

`Gone are those who hold their anger and are no vengeful. Gone are those who are pleased if I acquire something of value.

Gone are those who are not stingy with me if I am with them.'

"Abu 'Abd Allah alSadusi recited these poems to me:

Gone are those welcomed like a heaven sent rain. Left are those who are dreaded like a punishment sent down. All ties of kinship have been cut as if they never existed! People are all the same, exposed, with an ugly nature. The poor are eaten away by envy, the rich are stingy. They [the rich] feel they are doing a favor in giving charity, but in truth Someone [their Creator] provided the favor.

`Gone are the noble, they lie dead, lie decayed leaves ready to be scattered on the wind. Their abode has changed in death, their bad offspring replace the good. After they [the good] left, I live in an age against whose evils leave me on constant guard. I live in an age where I must even beware of which friends I entertain at night.

`Gone are the true people and their reign of glory. Those that are left are but dogs! If one is not like a wolf in his dealings with other he will be eaten by those who are like wolves. These [wolflike people] wear human faces and clothes! When you meet a stingy liar, despair is written between their eyes.

`Gone are those whose virtues are well known and offered others food in times of drought. They have left and none are left like them. You must be a fool if you think they still exist! None of these exist, and none that are like them are called anything except, what's his name!

`Gone are those whose death's I grieve. I am now alone with those of virtue. [True] men have passed away and I am left alone. Those that left this life before me, left their possessions. I will leave mine to those that live after me.

"From Abu Tmmam I heard,

`If drowsiness left him and his cloak were thrown to the ground, he would redistribute our shares in this life, but this Time of ours is truely an ass! Gone are our virtuous, committed, promise keeping ancestors. I am left to suffer being among those lower than dirt. The fickle crowds hold sway in this time and rulers are worse than the ruled. They harken to the call of evil and are deaf to the call to good. If I could change things, I would give back all around me for the return of those before.'

"`Ali ibn al`Abbas alRumi recited to us:

Gone are those who can be shook into action by words. [Gone are those] whose deeds could be sung to be recognized. Their generosity was proper. Praise reaches the heart of the deserving. Shun the shiftless, praising them is like idol worship. Many will say when I praise them with beautiful words, `Well done. Well done. But I am not like that. I only care for rewards, when my final balance is reckoned!'

"Abu Haffan recited the following to me:

Don't be suprised to see me on foot in your midst when riffraff are on horses. If these rise above the nobles do not be suprised, scum rises above both water and froth!'

Ibn alMarzuban continued saying the following.

I met Isma'il ibn Bulbul one day when he was walking. I asked him why he was walking. He replied: `I am forced to walk because so few generous people are about. There is so much wealth among the base people. I am not the only one troubled by this, all people are miserable because of this.'

"I have done as you have asked and have collected several verses enumerating the virtues (both hidden and apparent) of the dogs over the wicked. I have collected enough to make a clear position. I have no doubt that you have heard of the next tale I will relate. It is the story of `Abd Allah ibn Hilal alKufi alMakhdum, the keeper of the seal, and his neighbor, when the latter asked `Abd Allah to write a letter to Satan May Allah curse him! about a want of his neighbor. This incredible story is an accurate parable relating to many people. So `Abd Allah wrote the letter to Satan who read and kissed it and placed it over his eyes! He said, `By any means I will request what `Abd Allah requests! What is your request?' The neighbor replied, `I have a neighbor who is generous with me, who likes me and shows kind to my family. He helps when I ask. He lends me money when I ask. If I am away he watches my family and treats them well.' To every remark, Satan replied, `Fine, excellent.' When he finished describing the neighbor Satan asked, `What do you want me to do about him?' The neighbor replied, `I want you to take away his wealth and impoverish him! His good health, wealth, and present situation anger me.' When Satan heard this he let out a scream such as none had heard before. All his Jinn and soldiers surrounded him. They asked him what was wrong. Satan answered saying, `Do you not realize that Allah has made creatures worse than me.' When they said no, he told them to look at the man standing in front of them.

"In this time it is easy to find among your associates a man such as this man. If such a man meets you he greats you and then slanders you behind your back. He is good in front of you and he hides his deceit. You must have heard what the Prophet, Peace be upon him, has said about backbiters. He has said that he who has two faces in this world will have two tongues of fire in the hereafter. He has also warned us of backbiting as it is worse than fornication. If a fornicator repents Allah will forgive him. If a backbiter repents Allah will not forgive him until the victim of his talk does.

"From Bashir ibn Harith it is related that AlFudayl ibn Iyad said,

`A man cannot be called Godfearing until his enemy can feel safe from his treachery.' Then he exclaimed, `By the heavens how can his enemy feel safe? That type of people no longer exist.'

"Someone said, `Gone is that age of good company, charity, and trust. Be wary both of friend and enemy. Take every action very seriously and before you take an action use wisdom. Do not reveal your secrets as they may be revealed when the relationship sours.'

"Zayd ibn `Ali explained it this way,

Beware of the insincere friend, one who mixes bitterness and sweet. He remembers the wrongs from the days of friendship in the days of enmity. When asked about what type of people to be wary of, he replied that a person should be most wary of the powerful enemy, tyrannical ruler, and deceitful friend!'

"I heard the following lines of Di'bil ibn `Ali alKhuza'i recited:

An enemy has assumed the garb of friendship and shares your drink. He has two faces, the outward a cousin, the inner a real bastard! He pleases you in your face and slanders you behind your back. Such is the behavior of all bastards!'

"Kuthayyir `Azzah has said,

`You live among a people who turn your good deeds to bad when you are not with them. When you are with them they praise you to exaulted heights!'

"Finally, Ibn Abi Tahir alKatib recited the following poem:

`Wretched Time has changed that which you once knew and changed your friend's disposition from affection. Men are now equal in deceit and cunning and all now have forked tongues!'"

This translation was finished on the 24th of April, 1993 by Muhammad Abdullah alAhari Bektashi by the grace of Allah. Ya Hu, Ya Hu, Ya Da`im.

Endnotes:

2:25:09Abu Dharr AlGhifari was a famous companion of the Prophet (S). A philologist from the Iraqi city of Basra, author of AlKamil. His name is Habib ibn `Uways alTai. An `Arab poet and anthropologist who lived in Syria and Egypt. His name was `Abdullah ibn Ahmad alMihzami. Originally from Basra and was a poet. Was secretary, poet and wazir to several Khalifs. Was executed by alMutadid. A jurist from the nineth century. Name was Ahmad ibn Tayfur. Was a historian from Baghdad.

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