قَالَ:He said:
He said:
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidلِأَبِيto Abuالْعَيْنَاءِ:Al-Aynaa:
And it was said to Abu Al-Aynaa:
مَاWhatبَالُis the matter withالْعَمَىblindnessقَدْthat it hasصَارَbecomeفِيinصِغَارِكُمْyour young onesوَكِبَارِكُمْand your old onesحَتَّىevenإِنَّهُthat itيَلْحَقُafflictsالطِّفْلَthe infantمِنْكُمْ؟among you?
What is the matter with blindness that it has become in your young and old, even afflicting the infant among you?
فَقَالَ:So he said:
So he said:
نَعَمْYesالطِّينَةُthe clayالْمَلْعُونَةُcursedوَالدَّعْوَةُand the supplicationالْمَشْؤُومَةُ،ill-omened,
Yes, the cursed clay and the ill-omened supplication,
وَذَلِكَand that isأَنَّهُthatسَلَّمَhanded overبَعْضُone ofالْخُلَفَاءِthe caliphsرَجُلاًa manمِنْfromآلِthe familyأَبِيof AbiطَالِبٍTalibإِلَىtoجَدِّنَاour grandfatherالْأَكْبَرِthe eldestفَقَتَلَهُso he killed himوَدَعَاand invokedعَلَيْهِagainst himفَلَحِقَتْنَاso his supplication reached usدَعْوَتُهُhis prayerفَمَاso whateverتَرَاهُyou see of itفَهُوَthen it isمِنْfromتِلْكَthatالدَّعْوَةِ.supplication.
and that is because one of the caliphs handed over a man from the family of Abi Talib to our eldest grandfather, so he killed him and invoked [curses] against us, and his supplication reached us, so whatever you see of it is from that supplication.
وَاجْتَازَAnd passed byأَبُوAbuالْعَيْنَاءِAl-Aynaaذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayفَسَمِعَand heardغِنَاءًsingingلَمْthat did notيُعْجِبْهُplease himفَسَأَلَso AbuأَبُوAl-Aynaaالْعَيْنَاءِaskedعَنْaboutصَاحِبِthe ownerالْغِنَاءِof the singingفَلَمَّاand whenقِيلَit was saidلَهُto himإِنَّهُthat he isأَبُوAbuالْحِمَارِAl-Himarقَالَ:he said:صَدَقَGod hasاللَّهُspoken the truthإِنَّindeedأَنْكَرَthe harshestالْأَصْوَاتِof voicesلَصَوْتُis surely the voiceالْحَمِيرِ.of donkeys.وَكَانَAnd he wasعَمّاًa paternal uncleلِمُحَمَّدِto Muhammadبْنِson ofأَحْمَدَAhmadبْنِson ofيَحْيَىYahyaبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiالْبَغْلِ.Al-Baghla.
And Abu Al-Aynaa passed by one day and heard singing that did not please him, so Abu Al-Aynaa asked about the singer. When it was said to him that he is Abu Al-Himar, he said: God has spoken the truth, "Indeed, the harshest of sounds is the voice of donkeys." And he was a paternal uncle to Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn Abi Al-Baghla.
قِيلَ:It was said:
It was said:
وَلَمَّاAnd whenصَدَرَdepartedالْمُعْتَصِمُAl-Mu'tasimبِاللَّهِBillahعَنْfromبِلَادِthe landsالرُّومِof Romeوَصَارَand arrivedبِنَاحِيَةِat the vicinity ofالرَّقَّةِAr-Raqqaقَالَhe saidلِعَمْرِوto Amrبْنِson ofمَسْعَدَةَ:Mas'ada:يَاOعَمْرُوAmrأَشَرْتَyou advisedعَلَيَّmeبِالرُّخْجِيِّregarding Al-Rukhjiفَوَلَّيْتُهُso I appointed him overالْأَهْوَازَAl-Ahwazفَقَعَدَand he satفِيinسَلَّةِthe basketالدُّنْيَاof the worldيَأْكُلُهَاeating itخَضْماًby crunchingوَقَضْماً.and chewing.
And when Al-Mu'tasim Billah departed from the lands of Rome and arrived in the vicinity of Ar-Raqqa, he said to Amr ibn Mas'ada: O Amr, you advised me regarding Al-Rukhji, so I appointed him over Al-Ahwaz, and he sat in the basket of the world eating it by crunching and chewing.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulفَأَنَاI willأُوَجِّهُdispatchإِلَيْهِto himرَسُولاًa messengerيَبْعَثُwho will sendإِلَيْكَto youبِالْأَمْوَالِthe fundsوَلَوْeven ifعَلَىuponأَجْنِحَةِthe wingsالطَّيْرِ.of birds.
So I said: O Commander of the Faithful, I will dispatch a messenger to him who will send the funds to you, even if upon the wings of birds.
قَالَ:He said:كَلَّاBy no meansوَلَكِنِbutاشْخَصْset outإِلَيْهِto himبِنَفْسِكَin personكَمَاjust asأَشَرْتَyou advisedبِهِ.it.
He said: By no means, but set out to him in person just as you advised it.
قَالَ:He said:فَفَكَّرْتُSo I thoughtفِيaboutأَنْstepping downأَنْزِلَstepping downعَنِfromالْوِزَارَةِthe vizierateوَأَصِيرَand becomingمُسْتَحِثّاًan inspectorعَلَىoverعَامِلٍ.an agent.
He said: So I thought about stepping down from the vizierate and becoming an inspector over an agent.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulأَنْthatأَقَعَI fallإِلَيْهِ.upon him.
So I said: O Commander of the Faithful, that I fall upon him.
قَالَ:He said:فَضَعْPlaceيَدَكَyour handعَلَىonرَأْسِيmy headأَنَّكَthatلَاyou will notتُقِيمُstayبِبَغْدَادَin Baghdadإِلَّاexceptيَوْماًone dayوَاحِداًsingleحَتَّىuntilتَلْحَقَyou joinبِهِ،him,
He said: Place your hand on my head that you will not stay in Baghdad except a single day until you join him,
فَوَضَعْتُso I placedيَدِيmy handعَلَىonرَأْسِهِhis headوَحَلَفْتُand sworeلَهُ،to him,
so I placed my hand on his head and swore to him,
وَانْحَدَرْتُand I descendedإِلَىtoبَغْدَادَBaghdadفَسَلَّمْتُand greetedعَلَىmy familyأَهْلِيmy familyوَإِخْوَانِيand brethrenوَأَخَذْتُand tookزُلَالاًa water-coolerفَعَلَّقْتُupon which I hungعَلَيْهِitالْخِيشَburlapوَبُسِطَand was spreadلِيfor meفِيهِin itالطَّبَرِيُّthe Tabari matوَمَلَأْتُهُand I filled itبِالثَّلْجِwith iceوَسِرْنَا.and we set off.
and I descended to Baghdad and greeted my family and brethren, and took a water-cooler upon which I hung burlap, and a Tabari mat was spread for me in it, and I filled it with ice, and we set off.
فَلَمَّاAnd whenصِرْنَاwe arrivedبَيْنَbetweenدَيْرِthe monastery ofالْعَاقُولِAl-Aaqulوَدَيْرِand the monastery ofهِزْقِلَHizqilإِذَاbeholdأَنَاIبِرَجُلٍwith a manعَلَىonالشَّطِّthe bankيَصِيحُ:shouting:يَاOمَلَّاحُboatmanرَجُلٌa manمُنْقَطِعٌstrandedأُرِيدُI wantدَيْرَthe monastery ofالْعَاقُولِAl-Aaqulفَاحْمِلْنِيso carry meيَأْجُرْكَmay God reward youاللَّهُ!!
And when we arrived between the monastery of Al-Aaqul and the monastery of Hizqil, behold, I [saw] a man on the bank shouting: O boatman, a stranded man! I want the monastery of Al-Aaqul, so carry me, may God reward you!
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:احْمِلُوهُ.Carry him.
So I said: Carry him.
فَقَالَ:He said:يَاOمَوْلَايَmy masterهَذَاthisرَجُلٌmanمِنْfromهَؤُلَاءِtheseالشَّحَّاذِينَbeggarsيُؤْذِيكَhe will annoy youوَيُقَذِّرُand make uncleanعَلَيْكَfor youزُلَالَكَ.your water-cooler.
He said: O my master, this is one of those beggars; he will annoy you and make your water-cooler unclean for you.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:احْمِلْهُCarry himوَيْلَكَ!woe to you!
So I said: Carry him, woe to you!
فَقَرُبَSo he approachedإِلَيْهِhimالزُّلَالُthe water-cooler boatفَحَمَلَهُand carried himفِيinمُؤَخَّرِهِ.its stern.
So the water-cooler boat approached him and carried him in its stern.
وَحَضَرَAnd lunchالْغَدَاءُwas presentفَتَحَوَّبْتُand I felt reluctantأَنْnotلَاtoأَدْعُوَهُinvite himفَقُلْتُso I saidلَهُ:to him:هَلُمَّ.Come.
And lunch was present, and I felt reluctant not to invite him, so I said to him: Come.
فَقَامَSo he stood upحَتَّىuntilجَاءَhe cameفَأَكَلَand ateأَكْلَthe eating ofجَائِعٍa hungryنَهِمٍgreedy personإِلَّاexceptأَنَّهُthat heكَانَwasنَظِيفَcleanالْأَكْلِ،in eating,
So he stood up until he came and ate the eating of a hungry, greedy person, except that he was clean in his eating.
فَلَمَّاAnd whenفَرَغَhe finishedمِنَfromالْغَدَاءِlunchأَرَدْتُI wantedمِنْهُfrom himمَاwhatتَفْعَلُهُthe common people doالْعَامَّةُthe common peopleبِالْخَاصَّةِwith the eliteأَنْthatيَقُومَhe should stand upفَيَغْسِلَand washيَدَهُhis handنَاحِيَةًasideفَلَمْand he did notيَفْعَلْ.do it.
And when he finished lunch, I expected of him what the common people do with the elite—that he stand up and wash his hand aside—but he did not do it.
فَغَمَزَهُSo winked at himالْغُلَامُthe servantوَسَائِرُand the rest ofالْغِلْمَانِthe servantsفَلَمْso he did notيَقُمْ.stand up.
So the servant and the rest of the servants winked at him, but he did not stand up.
فَتَنَاوَمْتُSo I feigned sleepعَلَيْهِconcerning himفَلَمْand he did notيَقُمْ.stand up.
So I feigned sleep concerning him, and he did not stand up.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidلَهُ:to him:مَاWhatصِنَاعَتُكَ؟is your profession?
So I said to him: What is your profession?
قَالَ:He said:حَائِكٌ،A weaver,جُعِلْتُmay I be madeفِدَاكَ.your ransom.
He said: A weaver, may I be made your ransom.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:هَذَاThisأَنَاIفَعَلْتُهُhave done itبِنَفْسِي.to myself.
So I said: This is what I have brought upon myself.
فَقَالَSo he saidلِي:to me:وَأَنْتَAnd youفَمَاwhat isصِنَاعَتُكَ؟your profession?
So he said to me: And you, what is your profession?
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:كَاتِبٌ.A scribe.
So I said: A scribe.
فَقَالَ:He said:الْكُتَّابُThe scribesخَمْسَةٌ،are five,فَأَيُّهُمْso which of themأَنْتَ؟are you?
He said: The scribes are five, so which of them are you?
فَأَوْرَدَSo he presentedعَلَيَّto meشَيْئاًsomethingعَجِبْتُI was amazedمِنْهُ.by it.
So he presented to me something I was amazed by.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:عُدَّهُمْ.Count them.
So I said: Count them.
قَالَ:He said:كَاتِبُA scribe ofرَسَائِلَlettersيَجِبُmustأَنْknowيَعْرِفَknowالْوُصُولَaccessionsوَالْفُصُولَand divisionsوَالتَّرْغِيبَand encouragementوَالتَّرْهِيبَand intimidationوَالْجَوَابَاتِ.and responses.
He said: A letter-scribe must know accessions, divisions, encouragement, intimidation, and responses.
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ.Yes.
I said: Yes.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَاتِبُAnd a scribe ofخَرَاجٍland taxيَجِبُmustأَنْknowيَعْرِفَknowالْمِسَاحَةَsurveyingوَالذِّرَاعَand the cubitوَالْأَشْوَلَand the deflictedوَالتَّقْسِيطَ،and installment apportionment,
He said: And a land-tax scribe must know surveying, the cubit, the deflicted land, and installment apportionment,
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ.Yes.
I said: Yes.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَاتِبُAnd a scribe ofقَاضٍa judgeيَجِبُmustأَنْknowيَعْرِفَknowالْحَلَالَthe lawfulوَالْحَرَامَand the unlawfulوَالتَّأْوِيلَand interpretationوَالتَّنْزِيلَand revelationوَالْمُحْكَمَand the decisiveوَالْمُتَشَابِهَand the allegoricalوَالْمَقَالَاتِand doctrinesوَالِاخْتِلَافَاتِ.and differences.
He said: And a judge's scribe must know the lawful and unlawful, interpretation, revelation, the decisive, the allegorical, doctrines, and differences.
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ.Yes.
I said: Yes.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَاتِبُAnd a scribe ofجُنْدٍthe armyيَجِبُmustأَنْknowيَعْرِفَknowالْحُلِيَّadornmentsوَالشِّيَاتِ.and distinguishing marks.
He said: And an army scribe must know adornments and distinguishing marks.
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ.Yes.
I said: Yes.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَاتِبُAnd a scribe ofشُرْطَةٍthe policeيَجِبُmustأَنْknowيَعْرِفَknowالشِّجَاجَhead woundsوَالْجِرَاحَاتِ.and bodily wounds.فَأَيُّهُمْSo which of themأَنْتَ؟are you?
He said: And a police scribe must know head wounds and bodily wounds. So which of them are you?
قُلْتُ:I said:كَاتِبُA scribe ofرَسَائِلَ.letters.
I said: A scribe of letters.
قَالَ:He said:فَصَدِيقٌThen a friendلَكَof yoursتُكَاتِبُهُwhom you correspond withفِيinالْمَحْبُوبِwhat is belovedوَالْمَكْرُوهِand dislikedتَزَوَّجَتْmarriedأُمُّهُhis motherكَيْفَhowتَكْتُبُdo you writeإِلَيْهِto himتَهْنِئَةًcongratulationأَوْorتَعْزِيَةً؟condolence?
He said: Then a friend of yours whom you correspond with in matters beloved and disliked—his mother got married; how do you write to him, a congratulation or a condolence?
قُلْتُ:I said:هُوَIt isوَاللَّهِby Godإِلَىcloser toالتَّعْزِيَةِcondolenceأَقْرَبُ.closer.
I said: By God, it is closer to condolence.
قَالَ:He said:فَكَيْفَThen howتُعَزِّيهِ؟do you condole him?
He said: Then how do you condole him?
قُلْتُ:I said:لَاI do notأَجِدُfindإِلَىtoذَلِكَthatسَبِيلاً.a way.
I said: I do not find a way to that.
قَالَ:He said:فَلَسْتَThen you are notبِكَاتِبِa scribe ofرَسَائِلَ!letters!
He said: Then you are not a scribe of letters!
قُلْتُ:I said:أَنَاI amكَاتِبُa scribe ofخَرَاجٍ.land tax.
I said: I am a land-tax scribe.
قَالَ:He said:فَوَلَّاكَSo appointed youأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulبَلْدَةًover a townوَأَمَرَكَand ordered youبِالنُّفُوذِto set forthفَخَرَجْتَso you went outإِلَىtoعَمَلِكَyour postفَبَثَثْتَand spread outعُمَّالَكَyour agentsفِيinالْعَمَلِthe regionفَجَاءَand there cameإِلَيْكَto youقَوْمٌa peopleيَتَظَلَّمُونَcomplainingمِنْagainstعَامِلٍan agentزَادَwho addedعَلَيْهِمْupon themفِيinالْمِسَاحَةِsurveyingفَخَرَجْتَso you went outمَعَهُمْwith themفَوَقَفُواand they stoodعَلَىatقَرَاحٍa tract of landكَأَنَّهُas if it wereقَاتِلٌmurderousفَيْئاًto a shadowكَيْفَhowتَمْسَحُهُ؟do you survey it?
He said: The Commander of the Faithful appointed you over a town and ordered you to set forth, so you went out to your post and spread your agents in the region. A people came to you complaining against an agent who overcharged them in surveying, so you went out with them and they stood at a tract of land as if it were fatal to a shadow—how do you survey it?
قُلْتُ:I said:اضْرِبْMultiplyوَسَطَهُits middleفِيbyطَرَفَيْهِ.its two ends.
I said: Multiply its middle by its two ends.
قَالَ:He said:تَتَثَنَّىWill twistعَلَيْكَupon youالْقُطُوعُ.the boundaries.
He said: The boundaries will twist upon you.
قُلْتُ:I said:فَكَيفَThen howأَمْسَحُهُ؟do I survey it?
I said: Then how do I survey it?
قَالَ:He said:لَسْتَYou are notبِكَاتِبِa scribe ofخَرَاجٍ!land tax!
He said: You are not a land-tax scribe!
قُلْتُ:I said:أَنَاI amكَاتِبُa scribe ofقَاضٍ.a judge.
I said: I am a judge's scribe.
قَالَ:He said:فَإِنَّFor indeedرَجُلاًa manخَلَّفَleft behindحُرَّةًa free womanحَامِلاًpregnantوَسَرِيَّةًand a concubineحَامِلاًpregnantفَوَلَدَتَاand they both gave birthفِيinلَيْلَةٍone nightوَاحِدَةٍsingleالْحُرَّةُthe free womanجَارِيَةًa femaleوَالسَّرِيَّةُand the concubineغُلَاماً،a male,فَلَمَّاand whenعَلِمَتِknewالْحُرَّةُthe free womanبِذَلِكَof thatحَمَلَتْهَاcompelled herالْغِيرَةُjealousyعَلَىtoأَنْthatوَضَعَتِshe placedالْجَارِيَةَthe female infantفِيinمَهْدِthe cradle ofالسَّرِيَّةِthe concubineوَأَخَذَتِand tookالِابْنَ،the son,فَقَالَتِso saidالسَّرِيَّةُthe concubineمِنَonالْغَدِ:the morrow:الِابْنُThe sonلِي،is mine,فَتَحَاكَمَتَاso they took their disputeفِيconcerningذَلِكَthatإِلَىtoالْقَاضِيthe judgeوَأَنْتَwhile youحَاضِرٌare presentفَقَالَand he saidلَكَ:to you:اقْضِJudgeبَيْنَهُمَا،between them,بِمَhowكُنْتَwould youتَقْضِي؟judge?
He said: For indeed, a man left behind a free pregnant woman and a pregnant concubine, and they both gave birth in a single night—the free woman a girl and the concubine a boy. When the free woman knew of that, jealousy compelled her to place the girl in the cradle of the concubine and take the boy. On the morrow the concubine said: The son is mine. They took their dispute concerning that to the judge while you were present, and he said to you: Judge between them, how would you judge?
قُلْتُ:I said:لَاI haveعِلْمَnoلِيknowledgeبِذَلِكَ.of that.
I said: I have no knowledge of that.
قَالَ:He said:لَسْتَYou are notبِكَاتِبِa scribe ofقَاضٍ!a judge!
He said: You are not a judge's scribe!
قُلْتُ:I said:أَنَاI amكَاتِبُa scribe ofجُنْدٍ.the army.
I said: I am an army scribe.
قَالَ:He said:اللَّهُGodأَكْبَرُ!is the greatest!تَقَدَّمَCame forwardإِلَيْكَto youرَجُلَانِtwo menمِنْfromأَهْلِthe people ofعَمَلِكَyour regionأَوْorمِنْfromأَهْلِthe people ofعَسْكَرِكَyour armyاسْمَاهُمَاtheir namesوَاحِدٌare oneيُقَالُit is saidلِهَذَاto this oneأَحْمَدُAhmadوَلِهَذَاand to this oneأَحْمَدُ،Ahmad,هَذَاthis oneمَشْقُوقُhas a splitالشَّفَةِlipمِنْfromفَوْقُaboveوَهَذَاand this oneمِنْfromأَسْفَلَ،below,كَيْفَhowتُحَلِّيهِمَا؟do you describe them?
He said: God is the greatest! Two men from the people of your region or your army came forward to you, their names are both Ahmad, it is said to this one Ahmad and to this one Ahmad, this one has a split lip from above and this one from below—how do you describe them?
قُلْتُ:I said:أَكْتُبُI writeأَحْمَدُAhmadالْأَعْلَمُthe upper-splitوَأَحْمَدُand Ahmadالْأَعْلَمُ.the upper-split.
I said: I write Ahmad the upper-split and Ahmad the upper-split.
قَالَ:He said:إِذاًThenيَأْخُذُwill takeهَذَاthis oneعَطَاءَthe stipend ofهَذَاthis oneوَهَذَاand this oneعَطَاءَthe stipend ofهَذَا.this one.
He said: Then this one will take the stipend of that one and that one the stipend of this one.
قُلْتُ:I said:فَكَيْفَThen howأَصْنَعُ؟do I do?
I said: Then how do I do?
قَالَ:He said:لَسْتَYou are notبِكَاتِبِa scribe ofجُنْدٍ!the army!
He said: You are not an army scribe!
قُلْتُ:I said:أَنَاI amكَاتِبُa scribe ofشُرْطَةٍ.the police.
I said: I am a police scribe.
قَالَ:He said:تَقَدَّمَCame forwardعَلَيْكَto youرَجُلَانِtwo menقَدْone of whomشَجَّinflicted a head wound onالْآخَرَthe otherمُوضِحَةًa moudinha (exposing the bone)وَشَجَّand inflicted a wound onالْآخَرُthe otherمَأْمُومَةًa mamouma (reaching the brain membrane)كَمْhow muchبَيْنَهُمَاis between themمِنَofالْإِبِلِ؟camels?
He said: Two men came forward to you, one of whom inflicted a moudinha wound on the other and the other inflicted a mamouma wound—how much is the difference between them in camels?
قُلْتُ:I said:لَاI doأَدْرِي.not know.
I said: I do not know.
قَالَ:He said:لَسْتَYou are notبِكَاتِبِa scribe ofشُرْطَةٍ!the police!
He said: You are not a police scribe!