Al-Adab Al-Mufrad #875
Poetry
The Arabic includes the chain of narration (sanad) and the collector's commentary; the English translation shows the Prophet's words only.
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمُنْذِرِ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي مَعْنٌ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنِي عُمَرُ بْنُ سَلاَّمٍ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ بْنَ مَرْوَانَ دَفَعَ وَلَدَهُ إِلَى الشَّعْبِيِّ يُؤَدِّبُهُمْ، فَقَالَ: عَلِّمْهُمُ الشِّعْرَ يَمْجُدُوا وَيُنْجِدُوا، وَأَطْعِمْهُمُ اللَّحْمَ تَشْتَدُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ، وَجُزَّ شُعُورَهُمْ تَشْتَدُّ رِقَابُهُمْ، وَجَالِسْ بِهِمْ عِلْيَةَ الرِّجَالِ يُنَاقِضُوهُمُ الْكَلامَ.
'Abdu'l-Malik ibn Marwan entrusted the teaching of his children
to ash-Sha'bi and said, "Teach them poetry so that they will possess dignity
and vigor. Feed them meat so that their hearts will be strong. Cut off
their hair so that their necks will be strong. Make them sit with men of
distinction who will contradict them in words."
Topics
About Al-Adab Al-Mufrad
This hadith is #875 from Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, in the Book of Poetry.