وَحَدَّثَAndمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahالْخُرَاسَانِيُّal-Khorasaniقَالَ:said:
And Muhammad ibn Abd Allah al-Khorasani narrated, saying:
حَدَّثَنِيnarrated to meالْمُفَضَّلُal-Mufaddalالضَّبِّيُّal-Dabbiقَالَ:saying:
al-Mufaddal al-Dabbi narrated to me, saying:
سَمِعْتُI heardالْمُسَيَّبَal-Musayyabبْنَson ofزُهَيْرٍZuhayrيَقُولُ:saying:
I heard al-Musayyab ibn Zuhayr saying:
بَيْنَاWhileالْمَنْصُورُal-Mansurيَطُوفُwas circumambulatingبِالْبَيْتِthe House
While al-Mansur was circumambulating the House
وَأَنَاand Iقُدَّامَهُin front of himإِذَاwhenرَجُلٌa manمُسْتَلِمٌwas touchingالرُّكْنَthe Corner
and I was in front of him, behold, a man was touching the Corner,
فَقُلْتُso I saidلَهُ:to him:تَنَحَّMove asideفَقَدْfor indeedجَاءَhas comeأَمِيرُCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,
so I said to him, 'Move aside, for the Commander of the Faithful has come,'
كَرَّتَيْنِtwiceأَوْorثَلَاثاً،thrice,
twice or thrice,
فَلَمْand he didيَبْرَحْnot budgeحَتَّىuntilرَمَقَهُnoticed himالْمَنْصُورُal-Mansurوَسَمِعَهُand heard himوَهُوَwhile heيَقُولُ:was saying:
and he did not budge until al-Mansur noticed him and heard him saying:
اللَّهُمَّO Allahإِنِّيtruly Iأَشْكُوcomplainإِلَيْكَto Youظُهُورَthe appearance ofالْجَوْرِtyrannyوَالْبَغْيِand injusticeوَالْفَسَادِand corruptionفِيinالْأَرْضِthe earth
'O Allah, truly I complain to You of the appearance of tyranny, injustice, and corruption in the earth,
وَمَاand whatيَحُولُcomesبَيْنَbetweenالْمَرْءِa manوَقَلْبِهِand his heartمِنَofالطَّمَعِ.greed.
and what comes between a man and his heart of greed.'
فَلَمَّاWhenسَمِعَهُhe heard himقَالَhe saidلِي:to me:يَاOمُسَيَّبُMusayyabعَلَيَّbring to meبِالرَّجُلِ.the man.
When he heard him, he said to me, 'O Musayyab, bring the man to me.'
فَقُلْتُSo I saidلَهُ:to him:أَمَّاAs forإِذْsinceقَدْyou haveابتُلِيتَbeen testedبِكَwith youفَأَجِبْ.then answer.
So I said to him, 'Since you have been tested with him, respond.'
قَالَ:He said:حَتَّىUntilأُتِمَّI completeطَوَافِي.my circumambulation.
He said, 'Until I complete my circumambulation.'
فَلَمَّاWhenأَتَمَّhe completedطَوَافَهُhis circumambulationقُلْتُI saidلَهُ:to him:أَجِبِAnswerالْآنَnowفَقَدْfor indeedفَرَغْتَyou have finishedمِنْfromطَوَافِكَ،your circumambulation,
When he completed his circumambulation, I said to him, 'Answer now, for you have finished your circumambulation.'
قَالَ:He said:حَتَّىUntilأُصَلِّيَI prayرَكْعَتَيْنِ.two rak'ahs.
He said, 'Until I pray two rak'ahs.'
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْYesفَصَلِّ.then pray.
I said, 'Yes, pray.'
فَصَلَّىSo he prayedرَكْعَتَيْنِtwo rak'ahsثُمَّthenأَدْخَلْتُهُI brought himعَلَىtoالْمَنْصُورِ،al-Mansur.
So he prayed two rak'ahs, then I brought him in to al-Mansur.
فَلَمَّاWhenرَآهُhe saw himقَالَ:he said:السَّلَامُPeaceعَلَيْكَbe upon youيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَرَحْمَةُand the mercy ofاللَّهِAllahوَبَرَكَاتُهُ!and His blessings!
When he saw him, he said, 'Peace be upon you, O Commander of the Faithful, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings!'
قَالَ:He said:وَعَلَيْكَAnd upon youالسَّلَامُ،be peace,مَاwhatهَذَاis thisالْكَلَامُtalkالَّذِيwhichسَمِعْتُكَI heard youتَلَفَّظُutteringبِهِitآنِفاًjust nowعِنْدَatالرُّكْنِ؟the Corner?
He said, 'And upon you be peace. What is this talk which I heard you uttering just now at the Corner?'
قَالَ:He said:أَوَسَمِعْتَهُDid you hear itيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟of the Faithful?
He said, 'Did you hear it, O Commander of the Faithful?'
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ.Yes.
He said, 'Yes.'
قَالَ:He said:هُوَItذَاكَ،is that so,أَلَسْتَare you notابْنَthe son ofعَمِّthe paternal uncle ofرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِand grant himوَسَلَّمَ،peace,
He said, 'It is that so. Are you not the son of the paternal uncle of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace?
أَلَسْتَAre you notالْخَلِيفَةَthe caliphمَاnoبَقِيَتْremainedغَايَةٌgoalإِلَّاexceptوَقَدْthat indeedبَلَغْتَهَا،you have reached it,
Are you not the caliph, with no goal left except that you have reached it?
أَتَطْمَعُDo you aspireأَنْtoتَنَالَattainمَاwhatعِنْدَis withاللَّهِAllahجَلَّExaltedوَعَزَّand Majesticبِمَاthrough whatأَنْتَyouفِيهِ؟are in?'
Do you aspire to attain what is with Allah, Exalted and Majestic, through what you are in?'
قَالَ:He said:وَفِيمَAnd in whatأَنَا؟am I?
He said, 'And what am I in?'
قَالَ:He said:أُخْبِرُكَI will inform youبِمَاof whatلَاnotتَقْدِرُyou are ableأَنْtoتَدْفَعَهُ.repel.
He said, 'I will inform you of what you are not able to repel.'
قَالَ:He said:وَمَاAnd whatهُوَ؟is it?
He said, 'And what is it?'
قَالَ:He said:عَمَدْتَYou intendedإِلَىtowardsالطِّينِclayفَأَوْقَدْتَand you kindled fireعَلَيْهِupon itفَصَيَّرْتَand you madeمِنْهُfrom itالْآجُرَّbricks,
He said, 'You took clay and kindled fire upon it, making bricks from it.
ثُمَّThenعَمَدْتَyou intendedإِلَىtowardsالرَّمْلِsandفَأَوْقَدْتَand you kindled fireعَلَيْهِupon itفَصَيَّرْتَand you madeمِنْهُfrom itالْجِصَّmortar,
Then you took sand and kindled fire upon it, making mortar from it.
وَصَيَّرْتَAnd you placedبَعْضَهُsome of itفَوْقَaboveبَعْضٍsomeفَبَنَيْتَand you builtلَكَfor yourselfمِنْهَاfrom themالْحُصُونَfortressesالْمَشِيدَةَfortifiedوَالْقُصُورَand palacesالْعَالِيَةَlofty,
And you placed some of it above some, building for yourself from them fortified fortresses and lofty palaces.
ثُمَّThenغَلَّقْتَyou lockedعَلَيْهَاupon themأَبْوَابَdoorsالْحَدِيدِof ironفَاحْتَجَبْتَand you secluded yourselfعَنِfromالنَّاسِthe peopleأَجْمَعِينَall of them.
Then you locked iron doors upon them, secluding yourself from all the people.
ثُمَّThenأَقْعَدْتَyou seatedعَلَىatالْأَبْوَابِthe doorsأَقْوَاماًgroups of peopleعَبَدُوكَwho worshipped youمِنْinstead ofدُونِbesidesاللَّهِ.Allah.
Then you seated at the doors groups of people who worshipped you instead of Allah.'
فَلَمَّاWhenقَالَhe saidلَهُto himذَلِكَthatاسْتَوَىhe satجَالِساًuprightثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:أَنَا!Me!
When he said that to him, he sat upright, then said, 'Me!'
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْYesأَنْتَ،you,
He said, 'Yes, you.'
أَمَاDidسَمِعْتَyou hearاللَّهَAllahجَلَّExaltedذِكْرُهُis His mentionيَقُولُ:saying:
Did you not hear Allah, Exalted is His mention, saying:
اتَّخَذُواThey tookأَحْبَارَهُمْtheir rabbisوَرُهْبَانَهُمْand their monksأَرْباباًas lordsمِنْbesidesدُونِother thanاللَّهِAllah
'They took their rabbis and their monks as lords besides Allah'—
مَاthey didصَلَّوْاnot prayلَهُمْto themوَلَاand norصَامُواfastوَلَكِنَّهُمْbut rather theyأَمَرُوهُمْcommanded themفَأَطَاعُوهُمْand they obeyed themفِيinكُلِّeveryمَاwhatأَرَادُواthey desiredوَلَمْand they did notيُخَالِفُوهُمْ،disobey them,
'they did not pray to them nor did they fast, but rather they commanded them and they obeyed them in everything they desired and did not disobey them,'
فَكَانَتْand thatتِلْكَwasرُبُوبِيَّتُهُمْ؟their lordship over them?
'and that was their lordship over them?'
ثُمَّThenاتَّخَذْتَyou tookبِطَانَةًan entourageيَسِيرَةًsmallوَقُلْتَand you saidلَاdo notيَدْخُلْlet enterعَلَيَّupon meفُلَانٌSo-and-soوَفُلَانٌ،and So-and-so,
Then you took a small entourage and said, 'Do not let So-and-so and So-and-so enter upon me.'
فَرَفَعَSo raisedأُولَئِكَthose peopleإِلَيْكَto youمِنْofأُمُورِthe affairs ofالْمُسْلِمِينَthe Muslimsمَاwhatهَانَseemed insignificantعَلَيْهِمْto themوَخَفَّand seemed lightعَلَيْكَ،to you,
So those people raised to you of the affairs of the Muslims what seemed insignificant to them and light to you.
فَإِذَاAnd whenجَاءَcameالْمَظْلُومُthe wronged personإِلَىtoالْبَابِthe doorلَمْhe could notيَصِلْreachإِلَيْكَyou
When the wronged person came to the door, he could not reach you,
فَصَارَso he wentإِلَىtoبَعْضِsomeمَنْone of those whoيَصِلُreachesإِلَيْكَyouفَقَالَand saidارْفَعْRaiseقِصَّتِيmy petitionهَذِهِthisإِلَىtoأَمِيرِCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,
so he went to someone who could reach you and said, 'Raise this petition of mine to the Commander of the Faithful.'
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ،Yes,فَدَفَعَهَاso he took itإِلَيْهِfrom himفَإِذَاand beholdهُوَitيَتَظَلَّمُwas complaining of injusticeمِنْagainstبَعْضِone ofمَنْthose whoيَصِلُreachإِلَيْكَ،you,
He said, 'Yes,' and took it from him, and behold, it was a complaint against one of those who could reach you.
فَأَرْسَلَSo sentإِلَيْهِto himالظَّالِمُthe oppressorالَّذِيwhoظَلَمَoppressedصَاحِبَthe owner ofالْقِصَّةِ:the petition:وَاللَّهِBy Allahلَئِنْif indeedرَفَعْتَyou raiseقِصَّةَthe petition ofفُلَانٍSo-and-soإِلَىtoأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulلَأَرْفَعَنَّI will surely raiseقِصَّةَthe petition ofفُلَانٍSo-and-soالَّذِيwhomظَلَمْتَهُyou oppressedفِيregardingكَذَاsuchوَكَذَا،and such,
So the oppressor who had wronged the petitioner sent word to him, 'By Allah, if you raise the petition of So-and-so to the Commander of the Faithful, I will surely raise the petition of So-and-so whom you oppressed regarding such and such.'
فَأَمْسَكَSo he withheldالْقِصَّةَthe petitionوَلَمْand did notيَرْفَعْهَا،raise it,
So he withheld the petition and did not raise it.
فَعِنْدَAnd atذَلِكَthatاقْتُطِعَتْwere cut offحُقُوقُthe rights ofالنَّاسِthe peopleدُونَكَshort of youوَأَنْتَwhile youمَحْصُورٌare sequesteredفِيinقَصْرِكَyour palace
And at that, the rights of the people were cut off before reaching you, while you are sequestered in your palace,
تَظُنُّthinkingأَنَّكَthat youفِيare uponشَيْءٍsomethingأَوْorعَلَىuponشَيْءٍsomethingوَالنَّاسُwhile the peopleوَرَاءَbehindبَابِكَyour doorيُقْتَلُونَare being killedوَيُؤْكَلُونَ.and consumed.
thinking that you are upon something or amount to something, while the people behind your door are being killed and consumed.
وَاللَّهِBy AllahلَقَدْtrulyدُفِعْتُI was drivenإِلَىtoجَزِيرَةٍan islandمِنْofجَزَائِرِthe islands ofالْبَحْرِthe sea
By Allah, truly I was driven to an island of the islands of the sea,
وَإِذَاand beholdمَلِكُthe king ofتِلْكَthatالْبِلَادِcountryمُشْرِكٌwas an idolaterوَصَنَمُهُand his idolفِيwas inكُمِّهِhis sleeveوَتُسَمَّىand it is calledالْبِلَادُthe countryالصِّينَChina.
and behold, the king of that country was an idolater with his idol in his sleeve, and the country is called China.
فَرَأَيْتُهُSo I saw himذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayوَهُوَwhile heيَبْكِيwas weepingفِيinمَجْلِسِهِ،his assembly,
So I saw him one day while he was weeping in his assembly.
فَقَامَThen stoodإِلَيْهِto himوُجُوهُthe nobles ofمَمْلَكَتِهِhis kingdomفَقَالُوا:and said:مَاwhatيُبْكِيكَmakes you weepأَدَامَmay Allah perpetuateاللَّهُAllahمُلْكَكَyour kingdomوَأَعَزَّكَand strengthen youأَيُّهَاOالْمَلِكُ،King,
The nobles of his kingdom stood up to him and said, 'What makes you weep, may Allah perpetuate your kingdom and strengthen you, O King?
أَلَيْسَHas notقَدْindeedمَكَّنَempoweredاللَّهُAllahلَكَ،you,أَلَيْسَhas notقَدْindeedمَهَّدَestablishedاللَّهُAllahلَكَ؟for you?'
Has not Allah empowered you? Has not Allah established [matters] for you?'
قَالَ:He said:أَبْكِيI weepالصَّمَمَat the deafnessقَدْthatاعْتَرَانِيhas afflicted meأَخَافُfor I fearأَنْthatلَاnotأَسْمَعَI hearصَوْتَthe voice ofمَظْلُومٍa wronged personوَصَارِخٍand a crier for helpبِالْبَابِ،at the door.
He said, 'I weep because deafness has afflicted me; I fear that I may not hear the voice of a wronged person and a crier for help at the door.
أَلَاNowوَقَدْand indeedآلَيْتُI have swornعَلَيْكُمْupon youأَنْthatلَاnotيَرْكَبَshall rideمِنْكُمْany of youالْفِيلَan elephantوَلَاnorيَلْبَسَwearثَوْباًa garmentأَحْمَرَredإِلَّاexceptمَظْلُومٌa wronged personحَتَّىuntilأَعْرِفَهُ.I know him.
Now, I have sworn upon you that none of you shall ride an elephant nor wear a red garment except a wronged person, until I know him.'
قَالَ:He said:فَلَقَدْSo indeedوَاللَّهِby AllahرَأَيْتُهُI saw himيَرْكَبُridingبِالْغَدَاةِin the morningوَالْعَشِيِّand the eveningيَتَصَفَّحُscanningالْوُجُوهَthe facesهَلْto see ifيَرَىhe seesمَظْلُوماًa wronged personفَيُنْصِفَهُ،so he may grant him justice.
He said, 'So by Allah, I saw him riding morning and evening, scanning the faces to see if he could see a wronged person so he might grant him justice.
فَهَذَاSo this manلَاdoes notيَعْرِفُknowاللَّهَAllahجَلَّExaltedوَعَزَّand Majesticوَلَاand does notيُرِيدُseekبِذَلِكَtherebyرِفْعَةًelevationعِنْدَwithاللَّهِAllahجَلَّExaltedوَعَزَّand Majesticوَلَاnorزُلْفَىnearnessلَدَيْهِto Himوَلَاnorرَجَاءَhope forثَوَابٍrewardوَلَاnorمَخَافَةَfear ofعِقَابٍpunishment,
So this man does not know Allah, Exalted and Majestic, and does not seek thereby elevation with Allah, Exalted and Majestic, nor nearness to Him, nor hope of reward, nor fear of punishment,
وَلَكِنْbut ratherشَفَقَةًout of affectionعَلَىforمُلْكِهِhis kingdomوَخَوْفاًand fearمِنْthatأَنْmightيَنْتَشِرَspreadعَلَيْهِagainst himأَمْرُهُhis affairفَيَخَافَso he fearsأَنْthatيَذْهَبَmight goمُلْكُهُ،his kingdom,
but rather out of affection for his kingdom and fear that matters might spread against him, so he fears that his kingdom might pass away.
وَهُوَYet heمُشْرِكٌis an idolaterيَفْعَلُwho doesهَذَاthisوَيَتَفَقَّدُهُand investigates itمِنْconcerningنَفْسِهِhimselfوَرَعِيَّتِهِ،and his subjects,
And he is an idolater who does this and investigates it regarding himself and his subjects,
وَأَنْتَwhile youابْنُare the son of the paternal uncle ofرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِand grant himوَسَلَّمَ،peace,وَكُنْتَand you wereأَوْلَىmore deservingبِهَذَاof thisالْفِعْلِdeedمِنْthanذَلِكَthatالْمُشْرِكِ!idolater!'
while you are the son of the paternal uncle of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and you were more deserving of this deed than that idolater!'
قَالَ:He said:صَدَقْتَYou have spoken the truthقَدْindeedعَرَفْتُI have knownالَّذِيwhatقُلْتَyou saidوَفَهِمْتُand understoodمَاwhatوَصَفْتَyou describedوَالْأَمْرُand the matterعَلَىis uponمَاwhatذَكَرْتَ،you mentioned,
He said, 'You have spoken the truth. I have known what you said, and understood what you described, and the matter is as you mentioned.
وَلَكِنْButكَيْفَhowأَصْنَعُshall I actوَقَدْwhen indeedبُلِيتُI have been afflictedبِأَمْرِwith the affair ofالْأُمَّةِthe communityوَدَعَوْتُand I calledالْفُقَهَاءَthe juristsفُلاناًSo-and-soوَفُلاناًand So-and-soعَلَىtoأَنْthatأَسْتَعِينَI seek helpبِهِمْfrom themعَلَىregardingمَاwhatأَنَاIفِيهِam inفَهَرَبُواso they fledمَنِّي؟from me?'
But how shall I act when I have been afflicted with the affair of the community, and I called upon the jurists—So-and-so and So-and-so—to assist me in what I am in, and they fled from me?'
قَالَ:He said:إِنَّهُمْIndeed theyلَمْdid notيَهْرُبُواfleeمِنْكَfrom youوَلَكِنْbut ratherلَمْthey did notيَعْلَمُواknowأَنَّكَthat youتُرِيدُهُمْwanted themلِلْعَمَلِto workبِالْحَقِّby the truthوَكَانَand it would have beenالْعَمَلُworkingمَعَكَwith youوَمَعُونَتُكَand aiding youأَوْجَبَmore obligatoryعَلَيْهِمْupon themمِنَthanالصَّلَاةِprayerوَالصِّيَامِand fastingوَالْحَجِّand pilgrimageوَالنَّوَافِلِand supererogatory acts,
He said, 'Indeed, they did not flee from you; but rather, they did not know that you wanted them to work by the truth, whereas working with you and aiding you was more obligatory upon them than prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and supererogatory acts.
وَلَكِنَّهُمْRatherهَرَبُواthey fledخَوْفاًout of fearعَلَىforأَبْدَانِهِمْtheir bodiesمِنْfromعَذَابِthe punishment ofاللَّهِAllahوَذَلِكَand that isأَنَّهُمْbecause theyتَخَوَّفُواfearedأَنْthatتَحْمِلَهُمْyou would carry themعَلَىuponمِثْلِthe like ofرَأْيِكَ.your opinion.'
Rather, they fled out of fear for their bodies from the punishment of Allah, and that is because they feared that you would drive them to the like of your opinion.'
قَالَSaidالْمَنْصُورُ:al-Mansur:فَهَذَاSo this isعَمِّيmy paternal uncleعِيسَىIsaبْنُson ofعَلِيٍّAliالضَّامِنُwho guaranteesعَلَيَّto meأَنَّكَthat youإِنْifتَأْتِينِيyou bring meبِهِمْthemأَطْلَقْتُI will releaseأَيْدِيَهُمْtheir handsفِيinإِنْصَافِgranting justice toالنَّاسِthe peopleوَلَاand I will notأُخَالِفُopposeأَمْرَهُمْ.their command.
al-Mansur said, 'So this is my paternal uncle Isa ibn Ali, who guarantees to me that if you bring them to me, I will release their hands in granting justice to the people and I will not oppose their command.'
فَقَالَSo saidالرَّجُلُ:the man:أَكَذَاIs it thusيَاOعِيسَىIsaأَنْتَthat you areالضَّامِنُthe guarantorعَلَىconcerningمَاwhatقَالَsaidالْخَلِيفَةُ؟the caliph?
So the man said, 'Is it thus, O Isa, that you are the guarantor concerning what the caliph said?'
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ.Yes.
He said, 'Yes.'
قَالَ:He said:اللَّهُ،By Allah,حَتَّىuntilقَالَهَاhe said itثَلَاثاً.thrice.
He said, 'By Allah,' repeating it until he said it thrice.
قَالَ:He said:وَأُقِيمَتِAnd was establishedالصَّلَاةُthe prayerفَفَارَقْنَا،so we dispersed,
He said, 'And the prayer was established, so we dispersed.
فَلَمَّاWhenصَلَيْنَاwe prayedطُبِلَwas soughtالرَّجُلُthe manفَلَمْand he wasيُوجَدْnot foundفَكَانُواand they used toيَرَوْنَthinkأَنَّهُthat he wasالْخَضِرُ،al-Khidr,عَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ،be peace,أَوْorمَلَكٌan angelأُرْسِلَsentإِلَيْهِ.to him.
When we prayed, the man was sought and was not found, and they used to think that he was al-Khidr, upon him be peace, or an angel sent to him.