Ibn Marzubans

Essay on the Nature

of Man

Magribine Press 1996

Introduction:
Original Arabic text by Abu Bakr Muhammad b. Khalaf
Ibn al-Marzuban as collected from a speech of his given on
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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 al-Khazzaz. 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 al-Baghdadi was
from al-Muhawwali, a small village near Baghdad. His other
works include: Dhamm al -Thuqala (Blame of the
Disagreeable People), Al-Muntakhab min Kitab ul-Hadaya
( 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.
al-Ahari Bektashi of 4309 W. Lawrence, Chicago, Illinois
60630..

The Text
With 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 al-Khabasi he said
that Qadi Abu al-Khasm `Ali Ibn al-Muhsin ibn `Ali
al-Tanuwki said unto us that he heard that Abu `Umar
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Muhammad ibn al-`Abass ibn Muhammad ibn Muhammad

ibn Zahriyyah ibn Hayyawayh al-Khazzaz read a speech to us
that he heard on Wednesday, 11th Rajab, 381 Hijrah Year
from Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Khalaf ibn al-Marzuban.
The speech al-Khazzaz heard from al-Marzuban 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.
"iAbu Dharr al-Ghifari, 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 pre-Islamic 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 al-Mubarradii told that one of his teachers
Bishr ibn al-Harith 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,
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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 al-Sadusi 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 [wolf-like people] wear human faces and
clothes! When you meet a stingy liar, despair is written
between their eyes.
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`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 Tmmamiii 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 al-Rumi 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 Haffaniv recited the following to me:
Don't be suprised to see me on foot in your midst when
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riff-raff are on horses. If these rise above the nobles do not be

suprised, scum rises above both water and froth!'
Ibn al-Marzuban continued saying the following.
I met Isma'il ibn Bulbulv 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
al-Kufi al-Makhdumvi, 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.
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"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 Al-Fudayl ibn Iyad
said,
`A man cannot be called God-fearing 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 al-Khuza'i
recited:
An enemy has assumed the garb of friendship and shares
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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 al-Katibvii 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 al-Ahari Bektashi by the grace of Allah.
Ya Hu, Ya Hu, Ya Da`im.

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

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