حتى يجيء نشيط من مرو
كان نشيط غلاماً لزياد بن أبي سفيان، وكان بناء، هرب قبل أن يشرف وجه دار زياد، وكان لا يرضى إلا عمله، فقيل له: لم لا تشرف دارك? فقال: حتى يجيء ... المثل. فصار مثلاً لكل ما لا يتم. وقال بعض أهل البصرة:
إلى ما يوم يبعث كل حـي
ويرجع بعد من مرو نشيط
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Until Nashit comes from Merv.
Nashit was a servant of Ziyad ibn Abi Sufyan, and he was a builder. He ran away before he could even look at the front of Ziyad's house, for he was only satisfied with his own work. He was asked, "Why don't you look at your house?" He replied, "Until... the proverb comes." And so it became a proverb for anything that is not completed. Some people from Basra said:
Until the Day when every living being is resurrected, and Nashit returns from Merv.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
المثل «حتى يجيء نشيطٌ من مَرْو» يُضرب للشيء الذي لا يتم ولا يُنجز، أو يُعلَّق على أمر بعيد المنال؛ لأن نشيطًا هرب قبل أن يُتمّ بناء دار زياد، فأصبح إتمامها معلقًا على عودته، وهو أمر غير متوقع.
ومن أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: When pigs fly.
= «عندما تطير الخنازير»، أي: لن يحدث الأمر أبدًا أو من المستبعد جدًا حدوثه. وهذا أقرب مثل اصطلاحي إذا كان المقصود استحالة تحقق الأمر.
When hell freezes over.
= «عندما يتجمد الجحيم»، أي: لن يحدث ذلك أبدًا.
It’ll never happen.
= «لن يحدث ذلك أبدًا».
It’s a job that will never be finished.
= «عمل لن يكتمل أبدًا»، إذا كان التركيز على عدم تمام الشيء لا على استحالته.
الأقرب للمثل العربي
إذا كان المقصود كما في شرحك شيئًا لا يتم لأن إتمامه معلق على عودة شخص لا يُنتظر عوده، فأقرب تعبير طبيعي:
It’ll be finished when pigs fly.
أي: «سيكتمل عندما تطير الخنازير» = «لن يكتمل أبدًا تقريبًا».
أما إذا كان المراد فقط تأجيل الشيء إلى أجل غير معلوم، فـ:
It’s waiting for Godot.
تعبير أدبي حديث، مأخوذ من مسرحية Waiting for Godot، ويُستعمل لشيء ينتظر حدوثه أو وصول شخص دون أن يحدث ذلك. وهو قريب جدًا من فكرة «حتى يجيء نشيط من مرو».
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proverb "Until Nashit comes from Marw" is used to describe something that is never completed or accomplished, or that is contingent upon something unattainable. This is because Nashit fled before finishing the construction of Ziyad's house, so its completion became contingent upon his return, which was not expected.
Some of the closest English equivalents are:
"When pigs fly."
This means: It will never happen or is very unlikely to happen. This is the closest idiomatic expression if the intended meaning is the impossibility of the matter occurring.
"When hell freezes over."
This means: It will never happen.
"It'll never happen."
"It's a job that will never be finished."
"A job that will never be finished." This is used when the focus is on the incompleteness of the thing, not its impossibility. Closest to the Arabic proverb
If, as you explained, the intended meaning is something that will not be completed because its completion depends on the return of someone whose return is not expected, then the closest natural expression is:
"It'll be finished when pigs fly."
That is, "It will be finished when pigs fly" = "It will almost never be finished."
However, if the intention is simply to postpone something indefinitely, then:
"It's waiting for Godot."
This is a modern literary expression, taken from the play Waiting for Godot, and is used for something that is expected to happen or for someone to arrive, but neither happens. It is very similar to the idea of "until someone comes from Merv."
Saturday, August 8, 2026
More foolish than Hubnaqa أحمق من هبنقة
أحمق من هبنقة
هو ذو الودعات. واسمع يزيد بن ثروان أحد بني قيس بن ثعلبة. وبلغ من حمقه أنه ضل له بعير فجعل ينادي من وجد بعيري فهو له. فقيل له: فلم تنشده? قال: فأين حلاوة الوجدان. ومن حمقه أنه اختصمت الطفاوة وبنو راسب إلى عرباض في رجل إدعاه هؤلاء فقالت الطفاوة: هذا من عرافتنا. وقالت بنو راسب: بل هو من عرافتنا. ثم قالوا: رضينا بأول من يطلع علينا. فلما دنا قصوا عليه قصتهم فقال هبنقة: الحكم عندي في ذلك أن يذهب به إلى نهر البصرة فيلقى فيه، فإن كان راسبياً رسب فيه، وإن كان طفاوياً طفا. فقال الرجل: لا أريد أن أكون من أجد هذين الحيين ولا حاجة لي بالديوان. ومن حمقه أنه جعل في عنقه قلادة من ودع وعظام وخزف، وهو ذو لحية طويلة، فسئل عن ذلك فقال: لأعرف بها نفسي، ولئلا أضل. فبات ذات ليلة وأخذ أخوه قلادته فتقلدها فلما أصبح ورأى القلادة في عنق أخيه قال: يا أخي، أنت أنا فمن أنا. ومن حمقه أنه كان يرعى غنم أهله فيرعى السمان في العشب وينحي المهازيل، فقيل له: ويحك، ما تصنع? قال: لا أفسد ما أصلحه الله، ولا أصلح ما أفسده. قال الشاعر فيه:
عش بـجـــد ولـــن يضـــرب نـــوك
إنـمـا عـيش مـن تـــرى بـــجـــدود
عش بجد وكن هبنقة القيسي نوكاً أو شيبة بن الوليد
برب ذي أربة مقل من الما
ل وذي عـنـجـــهـــية مـــجـــدود
العنجهية، الجهل. وشيبة بن الوليد، رجل من رجالات العرب
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More foolish than Hubnaqa: He is the one with the cowrie shells. Listen to Yazid ibn Thawran, one of the Banu Qays ibn Tha'laba. His foolishness was such that when his camel went astray, he began calling out, "Whoever finds my camel, it's his!" He was asked, "Why didn't you announce it?" He replied, "Where is the joy of finding it?" Another example of his foolishness is when the Tufawa and Banu Rasib tribes disputed before Arbad over a man they both claimed. The Tufawa said, "This man is one of our own." The Banu Rasib said, "No, he is one of ours." Then they said, "We will accept the first person who comes forward." When he approached, they told him their story. Hubnaqa said, "My judgment on this matter is that he should be taken to the Basra River and thrown in. If he is a Rasib, he will sink; if he is a Tufawi, he will float." The man said, "I don't want to be associated with either of these two tribes, and I have no need for the court." Another example of his foolishness is that he wore a necklace of cowrie shells, bones, and pottery around his neck, despite having a long beard. When asked about it, he said, "So that I may recognize myself and not get lost." One night, he slept, and his brother took his necklace and put it on. When he woke up and saw the necklace on his brother's neck, he said, "My brother, you are me, so who am I?" And in his foolishness, he used to tend his family's sheep, letting the fat ones graze in the grass and driving away the lean ones. He was asked, "What are you doing?" He replied, "I will not spoil what God has made good, nor will I fix what He has spoiled." A poet said of him:
Live with seriousness, and your foolishness will not strike; indeed, the life of those you see is with seriousness.
Live with seriousness, and be foolish like Hubnaqa al-Qaysi or Shaybah ibn al-Walid.
By the Lord, a man of need, poor in wealth, and arrogant, ignorant. Arrogance is ignorance. And Shaybah ibn al-Walid was a man among the Arabs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
«أحمق من هَبَنَّقة» من أشهر أمثال العرب في الحمق الشديد. وهبنقة رجل ضُرب به المثل في الحمق وسوء التصرف.
ومن أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: As stupid as a donkey.
= أحمق كالحمار، وهو قريب جدًا من صورة المثل العربي.
As dumb as an ox.
= غبي جدًا، وهو تعبير شائع.
As thick as two short planks. 🇬🇧
= غبي جدًا، وهو تعبير بريطاني اصطلاحي.
A complete idiot.
= أحمق تمامًا.
A fool of the first order.
= أحمق من الدرجة الأولى.
الأقرب في الصيغة والمعنى
إذا أردت مقابلاً إنجليزيًا يحتفظ بصيغة «أحمق من...»:
As stupid as a donkey.
أما إذا أردت تعبيرًا إنجليزيًا اصطلاحيًا قويًا يؤدي معنى «أحمق من هبنقة»:
He’s a complete idiot.
والجدير بالذكر أن هبنقة في المثل العربي تؤدي وظيفة ثقافية شبيهة بشخصيات الحمقى التي أصبحت مضربًا للمثل في اللغات الأخرى؛ لذلك لا يوجد عادةً مقابل إنجليزي يحمل اسم هبنقة نفسه.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"As stupid as Habannaqa" is one of the most famous Arabic proverbs describing extreme foolishness. Habannaqa was a man whose name became synonymous with stupidity and bad behavior.
Some of the closest English equivalents are:
As stupid as a donkey.
= Very stupid, a very close approximation of the Arabic proverb.
As dumb as an ox.
= Very stupid, a common expression.
As thick as two short planks.
= Very stupid, a British idiom.
A complete idiot.
= Completely stupid.
A fool of the first order.
The closest in form and meaning:
If you want an English equivalent that retains the phrase "As stupid as...":
As stupid as a donkey.
But if you want a strong English idiom that conveys the meaning of "As stupid as Habannaqa":
He's a complete idiot.
It is worth noting that in the Arabic proverb, Habnaqa serves a cultural function similar to the characters of fools who have become proverbial in other languages; therefore, there is usually no English equivalent bearing the name Habnaqa itself.
هو ذو الودعات. واسمع يزيد بن ثروان أحد بني قيس بن ثعلبة. وبلغ من حمقه أنه ضل له بعير فجعل ينادي من وجد بعيري فهو له. فقيل له: فلم تنشده? قال: فأين حلاوة الوجدان. ومن حمقه أنه اختصمت الطفاوة وبنو راسب إلى عرباض في رجل إدعاه هؤلاء فقالت الطفاوة: هذا من عرافتنا. وقالت بنو راسب: بل هو من عرافتنا. ثم قالوا: رضينا بأول من يطلع علينا. فلما دنا قصوا عليه قصتهم فقال هبنقة: الحكم عندي في ذلك أن يذهب به إلى نهر البصرة فيلقى فيه، فإن كان راسبياً رسب فيه، وإن كان طفاوياً طفا. فقال الرجل: لا أريد أن أكون من أجد هذين الحيين ولا حاجة لي بالديوان. ومن حمقه أنه جعل في عنقه قلادة من ودع وعظام وخزف، وهو ذو لحية طويلة، فسئل عن ذلك فقال: لأعرف بها نفسي، ولئلا أضل. فبات ذات ليلة وأخذ أخوه قلادته فتقلدها فلما أصبح ورأى القلادة في عنق أخيه قال: يا أخي، أنت أنا فمن أنا. ومن حمقه أنه كان يرعى غنم أهله فيرعى السمان في العشب وينحي المهازيل، فقيل له: ويحك، ما تصنع? قال: لا أفسد ما أصلحه الله، ولا أصلح ما أفسده. قال الشاعر فيه:
عش بـجـــد ولـــن يضـــرب نـــوك
إنـمـا عـيش مـن تـــرى بـــجـــدود
عش بجد وكن هبنقة القيسي نوكاً أو شيبة بن الوليد
برب ذي أربة مقل من الما
ل وذي عـنـجـــهـــية مـــجـــدود
العنجهية، الجهل. وشيبة بن الوليد، رجل من رجالات العرب
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More foolish than Hubnaqa: He is the one with the cowrie shells. Listen to Yazid ibn Thawran, one of the Banu Qays ibn Tha'laba. His foolishness was such that when his camel went astray, he began calling out, "Whoever finds my camel, it's his!" He was asked, "Why didn't you announce it?" He replied, "Where is the joy of finding it?" Another example of his foolishness is when the Tufawa and Banu Rasib tribes disputed before Arbad over a man they both claimed. The Tufawa said, "This man is one of our own." The Banu Rasib said, "No, he is one of ours." Then they said, "We will accept the first person who comes forward." When he approached, they told him their story. Hubnaqa said, "My judgment on this matter is that he should be taken to the Basra River and thrown in. If he is a Rasib, he will sink; if he is a Tufawi, he will float." The man said, "I don't want to be associated with either of these two tribes, and I have no need for the court." Another example of his foolishness is that he wore a necklace of cowrie shells, bones, and pottery around his neck, despite having a long beard. When asked about it, he said, "So that I may recognize myself and not get lost." One night, he slept, and his brother took his necklace and put it on. When he woke up and saw the necklace on his brother's neck, he said, "My brother, you are me, so who am I?" And in his foolishness, he used to tend his family's sheep, letting the fat ones graze in the grass and driving away the lean ones. He was asked, "What are you doing?" He replied, "I will not spoil what God has made good, nor will I fix what He has spoiled." A poet said of him:
Live with seriousness, and your foolishness will not strike; indeed, the life of those you see is with seriousness.
Live with seriousness, and be foolish like Hubnaqa al-Qaysi or Shaybah ibn al-Walid.
By the Lord, a man of need, poor in wealth, and arrogant, ignorant. Arrogance is ignorance. And Shaybah ibn al-Walid was a man among the Arabs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
«أحمق من هَبَنَّقة» من أشهر أمثال العرب في الحمق الشديد. وهبنقة رجل ضُرب به المثل في الحمق وسوء التصرف.
ومن أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: As stupid as a donkey.
= أحمق كالحمار، وهو قريب جدًا من صورة المثل العربي.
As dumb as an ox.
= غبي جدًا، وهو تعبير شائع.
As thick as two short planks. 🇬🇧
= غبي جدًا، وهو تعبير بريطاني اصطلاحي.
A complete idiot.
= أحمق تمامًا.
A fool of the first order.
= أحمق من الدرجة الأولى.
الأقرب في الصيغة والمعنى
إذا أردت مقابلاً إنجليزيًا يحتفظ بصيغة «أحمق من...»:
As stupid as a donkey.
أما إذا أردت تعبيرًا إنجليزيًا اصطلاحيًا قويًا يؤدي معنى «أحمق من هبنقة»:
He’s a complete idiot.
والجدير بالذكر أن هبنقة في المثل العربي تؤدي وظيفة ثقافية شبيهة بشخصيات الحمقى التي أصبحت مضربًا للمثل في اللغات الأخرى؛ لذلك لا يوجد عادةً مقابل إنجليزي يحمل اسم هبنقة نفسه.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"As stupid as Habannaqa" is one of the most famous Arabic proverbs describing extreme foolishness. Habannaqa was a man whose name became synonymous with stupidity and bad behavior.
Some of the closest English equivalents are:
As stupid as a donkey.
= Very stupid, a very close approximation of the Arabic proverb.
As dumb as an ox.
= Very stupid, a common expression.
As thick as two short planks.
= Very stupid, a British idiom.
A complete idiot.
= Completely stupid.
A fool of the first order.
The closest in form and meaning:
If you want an English equivalent that retains the phrase "As stupid as...":
As stupid as a donkey.
But if you want a strong English idiom that conveys the meaning of "As stupid as Habannaqa":
He's a complete idiot.
It is worth noting that in the Arabic proverb, Habnaqa serves a cultural function similar to the characters of fools who have become proverbial in other languages; therefore, there is usually no English equivalent bearing the name Habnaqa itself.
More modest than a girl and more courageous than a woman giving gifts to her husband. أحيا من فتاة ومن هدي
أحيا من فتاة ومن هدي
وهي المرأة تهدي إلى زوجها. قالت الأخيلية في توبة بن الحمير:
فتى كان أحيا من فتاة حيية
وأجرأ من ليث بخفان خادر
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More modest than a girl and more courageous than a woman giving gifts to her husband. Al-Akhiliyya said of Tawba ibn al-Humayr: A young man more modest than a shy girl and braver than a lion in a den.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
أحيا من فتاة ومن هَدْي» يُضرب في شدة الحياء والخجل؛ أي أن الشخص شديد الحياء، والفتاة والهَدْي (الذبيحة عند سوقها إلى الحرم) كانا مضرب المثل في الخجل والحياء.
أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: As shy as a maiden.
= شديد الحياء كالعذراء/الفتاة.
As bashful as a young girl.
= خجول جدًا كفتاة صغيرة.
Shy as a deer.
= خجول كالغزال، وهو تعبير طبيعي للتعبير عن شدة الخجل.
He is painfully shy.
= شديد الخجل بصورة ملحوظة.
وأقرب صيغة إنجليزية للمثل:
As shy as a young maiden.
وإذا أردت تعبيرًا إنجليزيًا أكثر طبيعية وأدبية عن شدة الحياء:
As bashful as a young girl.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"More shy than a maiden and a sacrificial animal" is an expression used to describe extreme shyness and modesty; it means the person is very shy, and the maiden and the sacrificial animal (the animal brought to the sanctuary) were proverbial symbols of shyness and modesty.
Closest English equivalents:
As shy as a maiden.
= Extremely shy like a maiden.
As bashful as a young girl.
= Very shy like a young girl.
Shy as a deer.
= Shy like a deer, a natural expression of extreme shyness.
He is painfully shy.
= Noticeably very shy.
The closest English version of the proverb:
As shy as a young maiden.
And if you want a more natural and literary English expression of extreme shyness:
As bashful as a young girl.
وهي المرأة تهدي إلى زوجها. قالت الأخيلية في توبة بن الحمير:
فتى كان أحيا من فتاة حيية
وأجرأ من ليث بخفان خادر
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More modest than a girl and more courageous than a woman giving gifts to her husband. Al-Akhiliyya said of Tawba ibn al-Humayr: A young man more modest than a shy girl and braver than a lion in a den.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
أحيا من فتاة ومن هَدْي» يُضرب في شدة الحياء والخجل؛ أي أن الشخص شديد الحياء، والفتاة والهَدْي (الذبيحة عند سوقها إلى الحرم) كانا مضرب المثل في الخجل والحياء.
أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: As shy as a maiden.
= شديد الحياء كالعذراء/الفتاة.
As bashful as a young girl.
= خجول جدًا كفتاة صغيرة.
Shy as a deer.
= خجول كالغزال، وهو تعبير طبيعي للتعبير عن شدة الخجل.
He is painfully shy.
= شديد الخجل بصورة ملحوظة.
وأقرب صيغة إنجليزية للمثل:
As shy as a young maiden.
وإذا أردت تعبيرًا إنجليزيًا أكثر طبيعية وأدبية عن شدة الحياء:
As bashful as a young girl.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"More shy than a maiden and a sacrificial animal" is an expression used to describe extreme shyness and modesty; it means the person is very shy, and the maiden and the sacrificial animal (the animal brought to the sanctuary) were proverbial symbols of shyness and modesty.
Closest English equivalents:
As shy as a maiden.
= Extremely shy like a maiden.
As bashful as a young girl.
= Very shy like a young girl.
Shy as a deer.
= Shy like a deer, a natural expression of extreme shyness.
He is painfully shy.
= Noticeably very shy.
The closest English version of the proverb:
As shy as a young maiden.
And if you want a more natural and literary English expression of extreme shyness:
As bashful as a young girl.
More foolish than a gnat. أحمق من دغة
أحمق من دغة
وهي مارية بنت مغنج، ومغنج ربيعة بن عجل. قال حمزة: هي بنت مغنج. قلت: ووجدت بخط المنذري معنج. ويحكى عن المفضل ابن سلمة أن اسم الرجل كما ذكرته قبل. ومن حمقها أنها زوجت وهي صغير في بني العنبر بن تميم فحملت، فلما ضربها المخاض ظنت أنها تريد الخلاء فبرزت إلى بعض الغيطان فولدت فاستهل الوليد، فانصرفت تقدر أنها أحدثت فقالت لضرتها: يا هناه، هل يفغر الجعر فاه? فقالت: نعم، ويدعو أباه. فمضت ضرتها وأخذت الولد. فبنو العنبر تسمى، بني الجعراء، تسب بها. ومن حمقها أيضاً أنها نظرت إلى يافوخ ولدها يضطرب، وكان قليل النوم، كثير البكاء، فقالت لضرتها: أعطيني سكيناً. فناولتها، وهي لا تعلم ما أنطوت عليه، فمضت وشقت به يافوخ ولدها فأخرجت دماغه، فلحقتها الضرة فقالت: ما الذي تصنعين? فقالت: أخرجت هذه المدة من رأسه ليأخذه النوم، فقد نام الآن. قال الليث: يقال دغة ودغينة إذا أرادوا أنه أحمق.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More foolish than a gnat.
She was Mariya bint Mughanj, and Mughanj was Rabi'a ibn 'Ajal. Hamza said: She was the daughter of Mughanj. I said: And I found in al-Mundhiri's handwriting Mu'anj. It is narrated on the authority of al-Mufaddal ibn Salama that the man's name was as I mentioned before. Among her foolish acts was that she was married off while still young to the Banu 'Anbar ibn Tamim, and she became pregnant. When labor pains struck her, she thought she needed to relieve herself, so she went out to some fields and gave birth. The baby cried out, so she went back, thinking she had defecated, and said to her co-wife: "Oh, Hanah, does a dung beetle open its mouth?" She said: "Yes, and it calls for its father." So her co-wife went and took the child. Thus, the Banu 'Anbar are called Banu al-Ja'ra', and they are insulted by it. Among her other foolish acts was that she saw her son's head quivering, and he slept little and cried a lot, so she said to her co-wife: "Give me a knife." She handed it to her, unaware of its contents. She then proceeded to cut open her son's fontanelle and extracted his brain. Her co-wife caught up with her and asked, "What are you doing?" She replied, "I took this substance out of his head so he would fall asleep; he is asleep now." Al-Layth said: The words "dagha" and "daghina" are used when they mean someone is foolish.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
«أحمق من دَغَة» يُضرب في شدة الحمق والبلادة.
ومن أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: As stupid as a goose.
= أحمق كالإوزة، وهو تعبير قريب من صيغة المثل العربي.
As dumb as an ox.
= غبي جدًا، وهو تعبير شائع.
A bird-brain.
= أحمق / قليل العقل.
As thick as two short planks. 🇬🇧
= غبي جدًا، وهو تعبير بريطاني عامي.
وأقرب مقابل اصطلاحي مختصر:
A bird-brain.
وإذا أردت الحفاظ على صيغة «أحمق من...» نفسها، فالأقرب:
As stupid as a goose.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"As stupid as a goose" is an expression used to describe extreme stupidity and dullness.
Some of the closest English equivalents are:
"As stupid as a goose."
This is an expression similar to the Arabic proverb.
"As dumb as an ox."
This is a common expression.
"A bird-brain."
This is a British slang expression.
The closest concise idiomatic equivalent is:
"A bird-brain."
If you want to keep the original "As stupid as..." expression, the closest is:
"As stupid as a goose."
وهي مارية بنت مغنج، ومغنج ربيعة بن عجل. قال حمزة: هي بنت مغنج. قلت: ووجدت بخط المنذري معنج. ويحكى عن المفضل ابن سلمة أن اسم الرجل كما ذكرته قبل. ومن حمقها أنها زوجت وهي صغير في بني العنبر بن تميم فحملت، فلما ضربها المخاض ظنت أنها تريد الخلاء فبرزت إلى بعض الغيطان فولدت فاستهل الوليد، فانصرفت تقدر أنها أحدثت فقالت لضرتها: يا هناه، هل يفغر الجعر فاه? فقالت: نعم، ويدعو أباه. فمضت ضرتها وأخذت الولد. فبنو العنبر تسمى، بني الجعراء، تسب بها. ومن حمقها أيضاً أنها نظرت إلى يافوخ ولدها يضطرب، وكان قليل النوم، كثير البكاء، فقالت لضرتها: أعطيني سكيناً. فناولتها، وهي لا تعلم ما أنطوت عليه، فمضت وشقت به يافوخ ولدها فأخرجت دماغه، فلحقتها الضرة فقالت: ما الذي تصنعين? فقالت: أخرجت هذه المدة من رأسه ليأخذه النوم، فقد نام الآن. قال الليث: يقال دغة ودغينة إذا أرادوا أنه أحمق.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More foolish than a gnat.
She was Mariya bint Mughanj, and Mughanj was Rabi'a ibn 'Ajal. Hamza said: She was the daughter of Mughanj. I said: And I found in al-Mundhiri's handwriting Mu'anj. It is narrated on the authority of al-Mufaddal ibn Salama that the man's name was as I mentioned before. Among her foolish acts was that she was married off while still young to the Banu 'Anbar ibn Tamim, and she became pregnant. When labor pains struck her, she thought she needed to relieve herself, so she went out to some fields and gave birth. The baby cried out, so she went back, thinking she had defecated, and said to her co-wife: "Oh, Hanah, does a dung beetle open its mouth?" She said: "Yes, and it calls for its father." So her co-wife went and took the child. Thus, the Banu 'Anbar are called Banu al-Ja'ra', and they are insulted by it. Among her other foolish acts was that she saw her son's head quivering, and he slept little and cried a lot, so she said to her co-wife: "Give me a knife." She handed it to her, unaware of its contents. She then proceeded to cut open her son's fontanelle and extracted his brain. Her co-wife caught up with her and asked, "What are you doing?" She replied, "I took this substance out of his head so he would fall asleep; he is asleep now." Al-Layth said: The words "dagha" and "daghina" are used when they mean someone is foolish.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
«أحمق من دَغَة» يُضرب في شدة الحمق والبلادة.
ومن أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: As stupid as a goose.
= أحمق كالإوزة، وهو تعبير قريب من صيغة المثل العربي.
As dumb as an ox.
= غبي جدًا، وهو تعبير شائع.
A bird-brain.
= أحمق / قليل العقل.
As thick as two short planks. 🇬🇧
= غبي جدًا، وهو تعبير بريطاني عامي.
وأقرب مقابل اصطلاحي مختصر:
A bird-brain.
وإذا أردت الحفاظ على صيغة «أحمق من...» نفسها، فالأقرب:
As stupid as a goose.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"As stupid as a goose" is an expression used to describe extreme stupidity and dullness.
Some of the closest English equivalents are:
"As stupid as a goose."
This is an expression similar to the Arabic proverb.
"As dumb as an ox."
This is a common expression.
"A bird-brain."
This is a British slang expression.
The closest concise idiomatic equivalent is:
"A bird-brain."
If you want to keep the original "As stupid as..." expression, the closest is:
"As stupid as a goose."
More forbearing than al-Ahnaf أحلم من الأحنف
أحلم من الأحنف
هو الأحنف بن قيس، وكنيته أبو بحر، واسمه صخر من بني تميم، وكان في رجله حنف، وهو الميل إلى أنسيها. وكانت أمه ترقصه وهو صغير وتقول:
والله لولا ضعفه من هـزلـه
وحنف أودقه فـي رجـلـه
ما كان في صبيانكم من مثله
وكان حليماً، موصوفاً بذلك، حكيماً معترفاً له به. قالوا: فمن حلمه أنه أشرف عليه رجل وهو يعالج قدراً له يطبخها
فقال الرجل:
وقدر ككف القرد لا مستعيرها
يعار ولا من يأتهـا يتـدسـم
فقيل ذلك للأحنف فقال: يرحمه الله، لو شاء لقال أحسن من هذا. وقال: ما أحب أن لي بنصيبي من الذل حمر النعم فقيل له: أنت أعز العرب. فقال: إن الناس يرون الحلم ذلاً. وكان يقول: رب غيظ قد ترجعته مخافة ما هو أشد منه. وكان يقول: كثرة المزاح تذهب بالهيبة. ومن أكثر من شيء عرف به. والسؤدد كرم الأخلاق وحسن الفعل. وقال ثلاث ما أقولهن إلا ليعتبر معتبر، لا أخلف جليسي بغير ما أحضر به، ولا أدخل نفسي فيما لا مدخل لي فيه، ولا آتي السلطان أو يرسل إلي. وقال له رجل: يا أبا بحر، دلني على محمدة بغير مرزئة. قال: الخلق السجيح، والكف عن القبيح، وأعلم أن أدوا الداء اللسان البذي والخلق الردي. وأبلغ رجل مصعباً عن رجل شيئاً، فأتاه الرجل يعتذر. فقال مصعب: الذي بلغنيه ثقة. فقال الأحنف: كلا أيها الأمير، فإن الثقة لا يبلغ. وسئل هل رأيت أحلم منك? قال: نعم، وتعلمت منه الحلم. قيل: ومن هو? قال: قيس بن عاصم المنقري، حضرته يوماً، وهو محتب يحدثنا، إذ حاءوا بابن له قتيل، وابن عم له كنيف، فقالوا: إ، هذا قتل ابنك هذا. فلم يقطع حديثه، ولا نقض حبوته، حتى إذا فرغ من الحديث التفت إليهم فقال: أين ابني فلان? فجاءه. فقال: يا بني، قم إلى ابن عمك فأطلقه، وإلى أخيك فادفنه، وإلى أم القتيل فأعطها مائة ناقة فإنها غريبة لعلها تسلو عنه. ثم اتكأ على شقه الأيسر وأنشأ يقول:
وأنا امرؤ لا يعتري خلقـي
دنـس يفـنـده ولا أفـن
من منقر من بيت مكـرمة
والغصن ينبت حوله الغصن
خطباء حين يقول قائلـهـم
بيض الوجوه مصاقع لسن
لا يفطنون لعيب جـارهـم
وهم لحسن جواره فـطـن
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More forbearing than al-Ahnaf
He was al-Ahnaf ibn Qays, also known as Abu Bahr, and his name was Sakhr, from the Banu Tamim tribe. He had a clubfoot, a condition where his foot turned inward. His mother used to rock him when he was little and say: “By God, were it not for his weakness from his frivolity and the clubfoot that afflicted him, there would be no one like him among your children.” He was known for his forbearance, and his wisdom was acknowledged. It is said that one example of his forbearance was when a man looked down on him as he was cooking in a pot. The man said: “A pot as small as a monkey’s paw—neither the borrower nor the one who comes to it gets dirty.” This was said to al-Ahnaf, and he said: “May God have mercy on him! If he had wished, he could have said something better.” He also said: “I would not exchange my share of humiliation for the finest camels.” He was told: “You are the most honored of the Arabs.” He replied: “People see forbearance as humiliation.” He used to say: “Many a day I have suppressed my anger for fear of something worse.” He also used to say: “Excessive joking diminishes respect.” He was known for many things. Nobility of character and good deeds were his hallmarks. He said, "There are three things I only say so that others may take heed: I will not leave my companion with anything other than what I have prepared, I will not involve myself in matters that do not concern me, and I will not go to the ruler unless he summons me." A man said to him, "O Abu Bahr, show me something praiseworthy without harm." He replied, "Good character, refraining from what is ugly, and know that the worst disease is a foul tongue and bad character." A man informed Mus'ab of something about another man, and the man came to him to apologize. Mus'ab said, "The one who informed me is trustworthy." Al-Ahnaf said, "No, O Prince, for a trustworthy person does not convey such information." He was asked, "Have you ever seen someone more forbearing than yourself?" He replied, "Yes, and I learned forbearance from him." He was asked, "Who is he?" He said, "Qays ibn 'Asim al-Manqari. I was with him one day, and he was sitting cross-legged, talking to us, when they brought in his murdered son and his cousin, who had a latrine. They said, 'This one killed your son.'" He did not interrupt his speech, nor loosen his belt, until he had finished speaking. Then he turned to them and said, "Where is my son, so-and-so?" The boy came to him. He said, "My son, go to your cousin and release him, and to your brother and bury him, and to the mother of the slain man and give her a hundred camels, for she is a stranger; perhaps she will find solace in him." Then he leaned on his left side and began to recite:
I am a man whose character is unblemished, and I am not corrupted.
From a noble lineage, and branches grow around it.
Eloquent speakers, when they speak, are fair-faced and eloquent.
They do not perceive the faults of their neighbor, but they are keenly aware of the goodness of their neighborliness.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
«أحلم من الأحنف» يُضرب في وصف الرجل شديد الحِلم، الصبر، وكظم الغيظ. والمقصود بالأحنف هو الأحنف بن قيس، الذي صار مضرب المثل في الحلم والأناة.
ومن أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: As patient as Job.
= «أصبر من أيوب»، وهو من أشهر المقابلات الثقافية للحلم والصبر.
As calm as a saint.
= «هادئ كقديس»، إذا كان التركيز على الهدوء وضبط النفس.
He has the patience of a saint.
= «له صبر القديس»، أي شديد الصبر والتحمل.
He never loses his temper.
= «لا يفقد أعصابه أبدًا»، وهو أقرب إلى معنى كظم الغيظ.
أفضل مقابل
إذا أردت مثلًا إنجليزيًا مشهورًا يؤدي معنى «أحلم من الأحنف»، فأرشح:
As patient as Job.
أما إذا كان المقصود تحديدًا الحِلم بمعنى ضبط النفس وعدم الغضب عند الإساءة، فالأدق:
He has the patience of a saint.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"More forbearing than Al-Ahnaf" is an expression used to describe a man of exceptional forbearance, patience, and self-control. Al-Ahnaf refers to Al-Ahnaf ibn Qays, who became a byword for forbearance and composure.
Some of the closest English equivalents are:
"As patient as Job."
This is a well-known cultural equivalent for forbearance and patience.
"As calm as a saint."
This is a more accurate way to describe someone who is calm and composed.
"He has the patience of a saint."
This is a more accurate way to describe someone who is very patient and forbearing.
"He never loses his temper."
This is a more accurate way to describe someone who is very composed and forbearing.
Best equivalents:
If you want a well-known English proverb that conveys the meaning of "more forbearing than Al-Ahnaf," I recommend:
"As patient as Job."
However, if the intended meaning is specifically self-control and not getting angry when offended, then the more accurate expression is:
"He has the patience of a saint."
More cunning than a chameleon أحزم من حرباء
أحزم من حرباء
لأنه لا يخلي على ساق شجرة حتى يمسك شجرة أخرى. وقال:
إني أتيح لها حرباء تـنـضـبة
لا يرسل الساق إلا ممسكاً ساقاً
------------------------------------------------------------------------
More cunning than a chameleon, for it never leaves one tree trunk unattended until it has seized another. He said:
I have provided her with a chameleon that never lets go of a trunk without holding another trunk.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
«أحزم من حرباء» يُضرب في وصف الشخص شديد الحذر والاحتياط، الذي لا يترك موضعًا حتى يضمن موضعًا آخر؛ وشُبّه بالحرباء لأنها لا تترك ساق الشجرة التي تمسك بها حتى تمسك بساق أخرى.
أقرب المقابلات الإنجليزية: Better safe than sorry.
= «الاحتياط خير من الندامة.» وهو أقرب مثل إنجليزي إلى فكرة الحزم والاحتياط.
He never leaves one thing until he has another secured.
= «لا يترك شيئًا حتى يضمن بديله.»
He always has a backup plan.
= «دائمًا لديه خطة بديلة.»
He doesn’t put all his eggs in one basket.
= «لا يضع كل بيضه في سلة واحدة»، وهو مناسب إذا كان المقصود عدم المخاطرة بفقدان كل شيء والاحتفاظ ببديل.
وأقرب مقابل للمثل في سياقه تحديدًا:
He never lets go until he has a firm grip on something else.
أما إذا كنت تريد مثلًا إنجليزيًا مأثورًا بدل الترجمة الحرفية، فأرشح:
Better safe than sorry.
لكن «أحزم من حرباء» أدق من ذلك؛ لأنه لا يدل على مجرد الحذر، بل على شدة الاحتياط وضمان البديل قبل التخلي عن الشيء الأول.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"More cautious than a chameleon" is used to describe someone who is extremely careful and prudent, never leaving one position until they have secured another. They are likened to a chameleon because they don't let go of the tree branch they're clinging to until they've secured another.
Similar English equivalents:
Better safe than sorry.
This proverb is closer to the idea of prudence and caution.
He never leaves one thing until he has another secured.
He always has a backup plan.
He doesn't put all his eggs in one basket.
This proverb is appropriate if the intention is to avoid risking everything and to have a backup plan.
The closest equivalent in this specific context is:
He never lets go until he has a firm grip on something else.
If you'd prefer a more proverbial English expression instead of a literal translation, I suggest:
Better safe than sorry.
However, "more cautious than a chameleon" is more accurate; it doesn't just convey caution, but extreme prudence and securing an alternative before abandoning the first option.
-------------------------------
أحزم من فرخ العقاب
More determined than an eagle chick
أحزم من سنان
More resolute than Sinan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)