وَمِنْAnd fromكَرَمِهِhis generosityمَاis whatحُدِّثَwas narratedبِهِto himالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'mun,
And among his generosity is what was narrated to al-Ma'mun,
فَكَبُرَso it seemed greatعِنْدَهُto himوَاسْتَحْسَنَهُand he approved of itوَعَجِبَand he wonderedمِنْatجُودِهِhis generosityوَسِعَةِand breadthصَدْرِهِ،of his chest,
so it seemed great to him, he approved of it, and he wondered at his generosity and breadth of chest,
فَإِنَّهُfor itبَلَغَنَاhas reached usعَنْfromعَمْرِوAmrبْنِson ofمَسْعَدَةَMas'adahقَالَ:who said:
for it has reached us from Amr ibn Mas'adah who said:
رَفَعْتُI raisedقِصَّةًa petitionإِلَىtoالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munمَنْسُوبَةًattributedإِلَىtoمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllah
I raised a petition to al-Ma'mun attributed to Muhammad ibn Abd Allah
يَمُتُّwherein he seeks closenessفِيهَاin itبِحُرْمَةٍby a sanctityوَيَزْعُمُand he claimsأَنَّهُthat heمِنْis fromأَهْلِthe peopleالنِّعْمَةِof bountyوَالْقَدْرِand status
wherein he seeks closeness by a sanctity and claims that he is from the people of bounty and status,
وَأَنَّهُand that heمَوْلًىis a mawlaلِيَحْيَىto Yahyaبْنِson ofخَالِدٍKhalid,
and that he is a mawla to Yahya ibn Khalid,
وَأَنَّهُand that heكَانَwasذَاpossessor ofضَيْعَةٍan estateوَاسِعَةٍvastوَنِعْمَةٍand a bountyجَلِيلَةٍgreat,
and that he was the possessor of a vast estate and a great bounty,
وَأَنَّand thatضِيَاعَهُhis estatesقُبِضَتْwere seizedفِيمَاamong whatقُبِضَwas seizedلِلْبَرَامِكَةِfor the Barmakis
and that his estates were seized among what was seized for the Barmakis
وَزَالَتْand departedنِعْمَتُهُhis bountyبِحُلُولِby the befallingالنِّقْمَةِof punishmentعَلَيْهِمْ،upon them,
and his bounty departed with the befalling of punishment upon them,
فَدَفَعَهَاso he handed itالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munإِلَىtoابْنِIbnأَبِيAbiخَالِدٍKhalid
so al-Ma'mun handed it over to Ibn Abi Khalid
وَأَمَرَهُand ordered himأَنْtoيَضُمَّattachالرَّجُلَthe manإِلَىtoنَفْسِهِhimself
and ordered him to take the man under his wing
وَأَنْand toيُجْرِيَprovide a stipendعَلَيْهِto himوَيُحْسِنَand treat wellإِلَيْهِ،him,
and to provide a stipend for him and treat him well,
فَفَعَلَso he didذَلِكَthatبِهِto himوَصَاحَتْand flourishedحَالُهُhis condition
so he did that with him, and his condition flourished,
وَتَرَاجَعَand returnedأَمْرُهُhis affairsوَصَارَand he becameنَدِيمًاa companionلِابْنِto IbnأَبِيAbiخَالِدٍKhalid
his affairs returned to normal, and he became a companion to Ibn Abi Khalid
لَاnotيُفَارِقُهُ،leaving him,
not leaving him,
فَتَأَخَّرَso he stayed awayعَنْهُfrom himذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayلِمَوْلُودٍfor a newborn childوُلِدَbornلَهُ،to him,
so he stayed away from him one day for a newborn child born to him,
فَبَعَثَso he sentإِلَيْهِto himفَاحْتَجَبَand he secluded himselfعَنْهُ،from him,
so he sent for him and he secluded himself from him,
فَغَضِبَso became angryعَلَيْهِat himابْنُIbnأَبِيAbiخَالِدٍKhalid
so Ibn Abi Khalid became angry with him
وَأَمَرَand orderedبِحَبْسِهِhis imprisonmentوَتَقْيِيدِهِand putting him in fettersوَإِلْبَاسِهِand dressing himجُبَّةَin a tunicصُوفٍ،of wool,
and ordered his imprisonment, putting him in fetters, and dressing him in a woolen tunic,
فَمَكَثَso he remainedلِذَلِكَfor thatأَيَّامًا،for days,
so he remained in that state for days,
فَسَأَلَهُso asked himالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munعَنْهُ،about him,
so al-Ma'mun asked him about him,
فَقَصَّso he narratedعَلَيْهِto himقِصَّتَهُhis storyوَعَظَّمَand magnifiedعَلَيْهِagainst himجُرْمَهُhis crime
so he narrated his story to him and magnified his crime against him,
وَشَكَاand complainedمَاof whatيَرَاهُhe seesعَلَيْهِupon himمِنَofالتِّيهِarroganceوَالصَّلَفِand boastfulnessوَالِافْتِخَارِand prideبِالْبَرَامِكَةِin the Barmakisوَالسَّمُوِّand exaltingبِآبَائِهِمْ،by their fathers,
and complained of what he saw in him of arrogance, boastfulness, pride in the Barmakis, and exalting themselves by their fathers,
فَأَمَرَهُso he ordered himبِإِحْضَارِهِ،to bring him,
so he ordered him to be brought,
فَأُحْضِرَand he was broughtفِيinصُوفِهِ،his wool,
and he was brought in his woolen garment,
فَأَقْبَلَso turnedعَلَيْهِtowards himالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munبِالتَّوْبِيخِwith reprimandمُصَغِّراًbelittlingلِقَدْرِهِhis statusمُسَفِّهاًdeeming foolishلِرَأْيِهِhis opinion
so al-Ma'mun turned towards him with reprimand, belittling his status and deeming his opinion foolish,
وَعَظَّمَand magnifiedفِيinعَيْنِهِhis sightإِحْسَانَthe kindnessابْنِof IbnأَبِيAbiخَالِدٍKhalidإِلَيْهِto him
and magnified in his sight the kindness of Ibn Abi Khalid to him
مَعَalong withطَعْنٍcriticismعَلَىofالْبَرَامِكَةِthe Barmakisوَوَضْعٍand putting downمِنْهُمْ،them,
along with criticism of the Barmakis and putting them down,
فَأَطْنَبَso he spoke at lengthفِيinذَلِكَ،that,
so he spoke at length in that,
فَقَالَthen saidمُحَمَّدٌ:Muhammad:
then Muhammad said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,
O Commander of the Faithful,
لَقَدْindeedصَغَّرْتَyou have belittledمِنَofالْبَرَامِكَةِthe Barmakisغَيْرَone who is notمُصَغِّرٍbelittled
you have belittled the Barmakis undeservingly
وَوَضَعْتَand you have put downمِنْهُمْthemغَيْرَundeservingمَوْضُوعٍof being put downوَذَمَمْتَand you have blamedمِنْهُمْthemغَيْرَundeservingمَذْمُومٍ،of blame,
and you have put them down undeservingly, and you have blamed them undeservingly,
وَلَقَدْfor indeedكَانُواthey wereشِفَاءَthe cureأسْقَاهُمْfor the illnesses ofدَهْرُهُمْtheir timeوَغِيَاثَand the reliefإجْدَابِfor the barrenness ofعَصْرِهِمْ،their era,
for indeed they were the cure for the illnesses of their time and the relief for the barrenness of their era,
كَانُواthey wereمَفْزَعًاa sanctuaryلِلْمَلْهُوفِينَfor the distressedوَمَلْجَأًand a refugeلِلْمَظْلُومِينَ،for the oppressed,
they were a sanctuary for the distressed and a refuge for the oppressed,
وَإِنْand ifأَذِنَgrants permissionلِيto meأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulحَدَّثْتُهُI would narrate to himبِبَعْضِsome ofأَخْبَارِهِمْtheir accounts
and if the Commander of the Faithful grants me permission, I would narrate to him some of their accounts
لِيُسْتَدَلَّso that it may be inferredبِذَلِكَtherebyعَلَىofصِدْقِthe truthfulnessقَوْلِيof my speechفِيهِمْabout themوَيَقِفَand he may standعَلَىuponجَمِيلِthe beautifulأَخْلَاقِهِمْmoralsوَمَحْمُودِand praiseworthyمَذَاهِبِهِمْmethodsفِيinعَصْرِهِمْtheir eraوَالْأَفْعَالِand the noble deedsالشَّرِيفَةِand preciousوَالْأَيَادِيfavorsالنَّفِيسَةِ!precious!
so that the truthfulness of my speech about them may be inferred from it, and he may bear witness to their beautiful morals, their praiseworthy methods in their era, their noble deeds, and their precious favors!
قَالَ:He said:هَاتِ،Bring it forth,
He said: Bring it forth,
قَالَ:he said:لَيْسَIt is notبِإنْصَافٍfairnessمُحَدِّثٌthat a narratorمُقَيَّدٌis fetteredفِيinجُبَّةِa tunic ofصُوفٍ،wool,
he said: It is not fairness for a narrator to be fettered in a woolen tunic,
فَأَمَرَso he orderedفَأُخِذَand was removedقَيْدُهُ،his fetter,
so he ordered, and his fetter was removed,
فَقَالَ:then he said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,أَلَمُthe pain ofالْجُبَّةِthe tunicيَحُولُpreventsبَيْنِيbetween meوَبَيْنَandالْحَدِيثِ،the narrative,
then he said: O Commander of the Faithful, the pain of the tunic prevents me from narrating properly,
فَأَمَرَso he orderedفَخُلِعَand it was taken offعَلَيْهِ،from him,
so he ordered, and it was taken off him,
ثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:هَاتِBring forthحَدِيثَكَ،your account,
then he said: Bring forth your account,
قَالَ:he said:نَعَمْYesيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,
he said: Yes, O Commander of the Faithful,
كَانَwasوَلَائِيmy allegianceوَانْقِطَاعِيand my devotionإِلَىtoالْفَضْلِ،Al-Fadl,
my allegiance and my devotion was to al-Fadl,
فَقَالَso saidلِيto meالْفَضْلُal-Fadlيَوْمًاone dayبِمَحْضَرٍin the presenceمِنْofأَبِيهِhis fatherوَأَخِيهِand his brotherجَعْفَرٍ:Ja'far:
so al-Fadl said to me one day in the presence of his father and his brother Ja'far:
وَيْحَكَWoe to youيَاOمُحَمَّدُMuhammad,إِنِّيverily Iأُحِبُّloveأَنْthatتَدْعُوَنِيyou invite meدَعْوَةًto a mealكَمَاjust asيَدْعُوinvitesالصَّدِيقُa friendصَدِيقَهُhis friendوَالْخَلِيلُand a close friendخَلِيلَهُ،his close friend,
Woe to you, O Muhammad, I would love for you to invite me to a meal just as a friend invites his friend and a close friend invites his close friend,
فَقُلْتُ:so I said:جُعِلْتُMay I be madeفِدَاكَ!your ransom!
so I said: May I be made your ransom!
شَأْنِيMy affairأَصْغَرُis smallerمِنْthanذَلِكَthatوَمَالِيand my wealthيَعْجِزُis incapableعَنْهُof itوَبَاعِيand my reachيَقْصُرُfalls shortعَنْofذَلِكَthat
My affair is smaller than that, my wealth is incapable of it, my reach falls short of that,
وَدَارِيand my houseتَضِيقُis too narrowعَنْهُfor itوَمُنْتِيand my capabilityلَاdoes notتَقُومُsufficeلَهُ،for it,
my house is too narrow for it, and my capability does not suffice for it,
قَالَ:he said:دَعْLeaveعَنْكَasideذَلِكَthatفَلَاfor there isبُدَّno escapeمِنْهُ،from it,
he said: Leave that aside, for there is no escape from it,
فَأَعَدْتُso I repeatedعَلَيْهِto himالِاسْتِعْفَاءَ،the plea to be excused,
so I repeated my plea to be excused to him,
فَرَأَيْتُهُand I saw himجَادًّاseriousفِيinذَلِكَthatمُقِيمًاinsistentعَلَيْهِ،upon it,
and I saw him serious in that and insistent upon it,
وَسَأَلَاand they two askedذَلِكَthatوَأَعْلَمَاهُand informed himقُصُورَof the shortcomingيَدِيof my handعَنْfromبُلُوغِattainingمَاwhatيَجِبُis obligatoryوَيُشْبِهُand resemblesمِثْلَهُ،his like,
and both of them asked for that and informed him of the shortcoming of my hand in attaining what is obligatory and suitable for his like,
فَقَالَso saidلَهُمَا:to them both:لَسْتُI am notبِقَانِعٍcontentمِنْهُfrom himدُونَwithoutأَنْthatيَدْعُوَنِيhe invites meوَإِيَّاكُمَاand you bothلَاnoرَابِعَfourthمَعَنَا،with us,
so he said to them both: I will not be content with him unless he invites me and you both, with no fourth with us,
فَأَقْبَلَso turnedعَلَيَّtowards meيَحْيَىYahyaوَقَالَ:and said:
so Yahya turned towards me and said:
قَدْIndeedأَبَىhe has refusedأَنْtoيُعْفِيَكَexcuse you,وَإِنْand ifلَمْnotيَكُنْthere beغَيْرُنَاanyone other than usفَأَقْعِدْنَاthen seat usعَلَىonأَثَاثِthe furnishings ofبَيْتِكَyour house
He has refused to excuse you, and if there is no one other than us, then seat us on the furnishings of your house,
فَلَاso let there beحَشْمَةَno formalityمِنَّاfrom usوَاطْعَمْنَاand feed usمِنْfromطَبِيخِthe cooking ofأَهْلِكَyour family
so let there be no formality from us, and feed us from the cooking of your family,
فَنَحْنُfor weبِهِwith itرَاضُونَare contentوَعَلَيْهِand with itشَاكِرُونَ،are grateful,
for we are content with it and grateful for it,
فَقُلْتُ:so I said:جُعِلْتُMay I be madeفِدَاكَ!your ransom!
so I said: May I be made your ransom!
إِنْIfكُنْتَyou haveقَدْindeedعَرَضْتَofferedعَلَيَّto meذَلِكَthatوَأَبَيْتَand refusedإِلَّاexceptهَتْكِيto exposeوَفَضِيحَتِيand disgrace me
If you have indeed offered that to me and refused anything other than exposing and disgracing me,
فَالْأَقَلُّthen the leastأَنْis thatتُؤَجِّلَنِيyou grant me respiteحَتَّىuntilأَتَأَهَّبَ،I prepare myself,
then the least is that you grant me respite until I prepare myself,
فَقَالَ:so he said:اسْتَأْجِلْAsk for respiteلِنَفْسِكَ،for yourself,
so he said: Ask for respite for yourself,
فَقُلْتُ:so I said:سَنَةً،A year,
so I said: A year,
فَقَالَ:so he said:وَيْحَكَWoe to you,أَمَعَنَاis there with usأَمَانٌsecurityمِنَfromالْمَوْتِdeathإِلَىuntilسَنَةٍ؟a year?
so he said: Woe to you, do we have security from death until a year?
فَقَالَso saidيَحْيَى:Yahya:أَفْرَطْتَYou have exaggeratedفِيinالْأَجَلِ،the term,
so Yahya said: You have exaggerated in the term,
وَلَكِنِّيbut Iأَحْكُمُwill judgeبَيْنَكُمَاbetween you bothبِمَاwith whatأَرْجُوI hopeأَنْthatلَاnotيَرُدَّهُreject itأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbasوَأَقْبَلَهُand accept itأَنْتَyouأَيْضًا،also,
but I will judge between you both with what I hope Abu al-Abbas will not reject and you too will accept,
فَقُلْتُ:so I said:احْكُمْJudgeوَفَّقَكَmay Allah grant you successاللَّهُtoلِلصَّوَابِthe right thingوَتَفَضَّلْand bestow graceعَلَيَّupon meبِالِاسْتِظْهَارِby supportingوَالْفَسْحِand expandingفِيinالْمُدَّةِ،the period,
so I said: Judge, may Allah grant you success to the right thing, and bestow grace upon me by supporting and expanding the period,
فَقَالَ:so he said:قَدْIndeedحَكَمْتُI have judgedبِشَهْرَيْنِ،with two months,
so he said: I have judged with two months,
فَخَرَجْتُso I went outمِنْfromعِنْدِهِمْtheir presenceوَبَدَأْتُand I beganبِرَمِّrepairingدَارِيmy houseوَإِصْلَاحِand fixingآلَتِيmy equipmentوَشِرَاءِand buyingمَاwhatأَتَجَمَّلُI adornبِهِmyself withمِنْofفُرُشٍcarpetsوَأَثاثٍand furnishingsوَغَيْرِand otherذَلِكَthan that
so I went out from their presence and began repairing my house, fixing my equipment, and buying what I would adorn myself with of carpets, furnishings, and other things than that,
وَهُوَwhile heفِيinذَلِكَthatلَاnotيَزَالُceasesيَذْكُرُنِيmentioning meوَيَعُدُّand countingالْأَيَّامَthe daysعَلَيَّ،against me,
while he in that continually mentioned me and counted the days against me,
حَتَّىuntilإِذَاwhenكَانَتِwasالْجُمُعَةُthe Fridayالَّتِيwhichيَجِبُis obligatoryفِيهَاin itالدَّعْوَةُthe invitationقَالَhe saidلِي:to me:
until when it was the Friday in which the invitation was due, he said to me:
يَاOمُحَمَّدُMuhammad,قَدْindeedقَرُبَhas drawn nearالْوَقْتُthe timeوَلَاand notأَحْسَبُهُI reckon itبَقِيَhas remainedعَلَيْكَupon youإِلَّاexceptالطَّعَامُ،the food,
O Muhammad, the time has drawn near and I reckon nothing remains for you to do except the food,
قُلْتُ:I said:أَجَلْYesيَاOسَيِّدِي،my master,
I said: Yes, O my master,
فَأَمَرْتُso I orderedبِاتِّخَاذِthe preparation ofالطَّعَامِthe foodعَلَىatغَايَةِthe utmostمَاof whatانْبَسَطَتْexpandedبِهِthrough itيَدِيmy handوَمَقْدِرَتِي،and my ability,
so I ordered the preparation of the food at the utmost of what my hand and my ability could stretch to,
وَجَاءَنِيand came to meرَسُولُهُhis messengerعَشِيَّةَon the evening ofالْيَوْمِthe dayالَّذِيwhichفِيinصَبِيحَتِهِits morningالدَّعْوَةُis the invitation
and his messenger came to me on the evening of the day whose morning was the invitation
فَقَالَand saidلِي:to me:إِلَىToأَيْنَwhereبَلَغْتَhave you reachedوَهَلْand doتَأْذَنُyou permitبِالرُّكُوبِ؟riding?
and said to me: To what point have you reached and do you permit riding?
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْYesبَكِّرْ،come early,
I said: Yes, come early,
فَبَكَّرَso he came earlyهُوَheوَيَحْيَىand Yahyaوَجَعْفَرٌand Ja'farوَمَعَهُمْand with themأَوْلَادُهُمْtheir childrenوَفِتْيَانُهُمْ،and their pages,
so he came early, he, Yahya, and Ja'far, and with them their children and their pages,
فَلَمَّاso whenدَخَلُواthey enteredأَقْبَلَturnedعَلَيَّtowards meالْفَضْلُAl-Fadlوَقَالَ:and said:
so when they entered, al-Fadl turned towards me and said:
يَاOمُحَمَّدُMuhammad,إِنَّverilyأَوَّلَthe firstمَاthingأَبْدَأُI will beginبِهِwith itالنَّظَرُis lookingإِلَىatنِعْمَتِكَyour bountyكُلِّهَاall of itصَغِيرِهَاits smallوَكَبِيرِهَا،and its large,
O Muhammad, verily the first thing I will begin with is looking at your bounty entirely, its small and its large,
فَقُمْso stand upبِنَاwith usإِلَيْهَاto itحَتَّىso thatأَدُورَI may walk aroundفِيهَاin itوَأَقِفَand inspectعَلَيْهَا،it,
so stand up with us to it so that I may walk around in it and inspect it,
فَقُمْتُso I stood upمَعَهُwith himوَطَافَand he roamedفِيinالْمَجْلِسِthe sitting roomثُمَّthenخَرَجَhe went outإِلَىtoالْخَزَائِنِthe storehouses
so I stood up with him and he roamed in the sitting room, then he went out to the storehouses
وَصَارَand proceededإِلَىtoبُيُوتِthe rooms ofالشَّرَابِdrinksوَخَرَجَand went outفِيtoالْاصْطِبَلَاتِthe stables
and proceeded to the drink rooms and went out to the stables
وَنَظَرَand lookedإِلَىatصَغِيرِthe smallنِعْمَتِيof my bountyوَكَبِيرِهَاand its largeثُمَّthenعَدَلَhe turnedإِلَىtoالْمَطْبَخِthe kitchen
and looked at the small of my bounty and its large, then he turned to the kitchen
فَأَمَرَand orderedبِكَشْفِthe uncovering ofالْقُدُورِall the potsكُلِّهَاand sawوَأَبْصَرَa potقِدْرًاfrom among them,مِنْهَا،uncovering of all the pots
and ordered the uncovering of all the pots and noticed a pot among them,
فَأَقْبَلَso he turnedعَلَىtoأَبِيهِhis fatherوَقَالَ:and said:هَذَاThis isقِدْرُكَyour potالَّذِيwhichيُعْجِبُكَpleases you
so he turned to his father and said: This is your pot which pleases you
وَلَسْتُand I will notأَبْرَحُleaveدُونَwithoutأَنْthatتَأْكُلَyou eatمِنْهُ،from it,
and I will not leave without you eating from it,
ثُمَّthenكَرِهَhe dislikedأَنْthatيَأْكُلَhe eatفَيَثْلِمَand thus diminishعَلَيَّupon meفِيinأَكْلِهِhis eatingوَيُفْسِدَand spoilطَعَامَهُ،his food,
then he disliked that he should eat and thereby diminish upon me in his eating and spoil his food,
فَدَعَاso he calledبِرَغِيفٍfor a loaf of breadفَغَمَسَهُand dipped itفِيinالْقِدْرِthe potوَنَاوَلَand handedأَبَاهُit to his father
so he called for a loaf of bread, dipped it in the pot, and handed it to his father
ثُمَّthenفَعَلَhe didذَلِكَthatبِأَخِيهِwith his brotherوَدَعَاand calledبِخِلَالٍ،for a toothpick,
then he did that with his brother and called for a toothpick,
وَخَرَجَand he went outإِلَىtoالدَّارِthe houseوَوَقَفَand stoodفِيinصَحْنِهَاits courtyardمُفَنِّنًاsurveyingطَرْفَهُhis glanceفِيinفَنَائِهَاits courtyardوَبِنَائِهَاand its buildingوَسُقُوفِهَاand its roofsوَأَرْوِقَتِهَاand its porticoes
and he went out to the house and stood in its courtyard, surveying his glance in its courtyard, its building, its roofs, and its porticoes,
ثُمَّthenأَقْبَلَhe turnedعَلَيَّto meوَقَالَ:and said:مَنْWhoجِيرَانُكَ؟are your neighbors?
then he turned to me and said: Who are your neighbors?
قُلْتُ:I said:جُعِلْتُMay I be madeفِدَاكَ!your ransom!عَنْonيَمِينِيmy rightفُلَانُso-and-soبْنُson ofفُلَانٍso-and-soالتَّاجِرُ،the merchant,
I said: May I be made your ransom! On my right is so-and-so son of so-and-so the merchant,
وَعَنْand onشِمَالِيmy leftفُلَانُso-and-soبْنُson ofفُلَانٍso-and-soالْكَاتِبُ،the writer,وَفِيand inظَهْرِthe back of
and on my left is so-and-so son of so-and-so the writer, and at the back of