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
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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.
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«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.
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"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."
