قَالَ:HeوَقَالَAndعُمَارَةُUmarahبْنُson ofحَمْزَةَHamzahلِأَبِيto Abuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbasوَقَدْwhenأَمَرَhe orderedلَهُfor himبِجَوْهَرٍprecious jewelsنَفِيسٍ:magnificent:
He said: Umarah ibn Hamzah said to Abu al-Abbas, when he had ordered precious jewels for him:
وَصَلَكَMay Allah join youاللَّهُAllahيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَبَرَّكَ،and bless you,
"May Allah connect you, O Commander of the Faithful, and bless you,
فَوَاللَّهِfor by Allahلَئِنْifأَرَدْنَاwe intendedشُكْرَكَto thank youعَلَىforإِنْعَامِكَyour bountyلَيَقْصُرَنَّour gratitude would surely fall shortشُكْرُنَاofعَنْyourنِعْمَتِكَblessingكَمَاjust asقَصَّرَhas fallen shortاللَّهُAllahبِنَاwith usعَنْofمَنْزِلَتِكَ.your status.
for by Allah, if we intended to thank you for your favor, our gratitude would fall short of your blessing, just as Allah has made us fall short of your status."
قَالَ:HeوَدَخَلَAnd enteredشَبِيبُShabibبْنُson ofشَيْبَةَShaybahعَلَىuponالْمَهْدِيِّal-Mahdiفَقَالَ:and said:
He said: Shabib ibn Shaybah entered upon al-Mahdi and said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,إِنَّindeedاللَّهَAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand MightyحَيْثُwhenقَسَمَHe dividedالدُّنْيَاthe worldلَمْdid notيَرْضَacceptلَكَfor youإِلَّاexceptبِأَرْفَعِهَاits highestوَأَشْرَفِهَاand noblest
"O Commander of the Faithful, indeed Allah, Majestic and Mighty, when He divided the world, was satisfied for you with nothing less than its highest and noblest,
فَلَاso do notتَرْضَbe satisfiedلِنَفْسِكَfor yourselfمِنَregardingالْآخِرَةِthe Hereafterإِلَّاexceptبِمِثْلِwith the likes ofمَاwhatرَضِيَHe was satisfied withلَكَfor youمِنَofالدُّنْيَا،the world.
so do not be satisfied for yourself in the Hereafter with anything less than what He was satisfied with for you in this world.
وَأُوصِيكَAnd I advise youيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulبِتَقْوَىto have fear ofاللَّهِAllahفَإِنَّهَاfor itعَلَيْكُمْupon youنَزَلَتْwas revealedوَمِنْكُمْand from youقُبِلَتْwas acceptedوَإِلَيْكُمْand to youتُرَدُّ.it is returned.
And I advise you, O Commander of the Faithful, to fear Allah, for it was revealed upon you, accepted from you, and returned to you."
قَالَ:HeوَقَالَAnd saidإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimالْمَوْصِلِيُّal-Mوصليلِلْهَادِيto al-Hadiوَقَدْwhenغَنَّاهُhe sang for himصَوْتاًa songأَعْجَبَهُ:that pleased him:
He said: Ibrahim al-Mوصلي said to al-Hadi, when he sang a song for him that pleased him:
إِنَّIndeedمَنْwhoeverكَانَwasمَحَلُّهُhis placeمِنَofالْانبِسَاطِfamiliarityوَتَقَارُبِand closenessالنُّدَامِof drinking companionsمَحَلِّيmy placeجَرَّأَهُemboldened himالْبَسْطُboldnessعَلَىtoالطَّلَبِmake a requestوَبَعَثَتْهُand prompted himالْمُنَادَمَةُcompanionshipعَلَىtoالرَّجَاءِ،hope,
"Indeed, whoever has a place of familiarity and closeness of companionship like mine, boldness encourages him to make a request, and companionship prompts him to hope,
وَقَدْandنَصَبَhas set upلِيfor meأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulلِقُرْبِيbecause of my closenessمِنْهُto himمَشَارِعَpathsالرَّغْبَةِof desireوَحَثَّنِيand urged meمَكَانُthe position ofحَالِيmy stateعِنْدَهُwith himعَلَىtoالْكُرُوعِdrink deeplyفِيinالنَّهَلِthe first draughtمِنْfromيَدِهِ.his hand.
and the Commander of the Faithful has set up for me, because of my closeness to him, paths of desire, and the position of my state with him has urged me to drink deeply of the first draught from his hand."
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُ:to him:سَلْ"Askحَاجَتَكَfor your needشِفَاهَاًorallyفَإِنِّيfor indeed Iجَاعِلٌam makingفِعْلِيmy actionإِجَابَتَكَanswering youإِلَيْهِto itحَاضِراً.present.
So he said to him: "Ask for your need directly, for I will make my fulfillment of it prompt."
فَسَأَلَهُSo he asked him forقِيمَةَthe value ofخَمْسِfiveمِائَةِhundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsفَأَعْطَاهُand he gave himأَلْفَa millionأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
So he asked him for the value of five hundred thousand dirhams, and he gave him one million dirhams.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَدَخَلَAnd enteredإِسْحَاقُIshaqبْنُson ofإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimالْمَوْصِلِيُّal-Mوصليعَلَىuponالرَّشِيدِal-Rashidفَقَالَ:and said:كَيْفَ"Howحَالُكَ؟is your state?"فَقَالَ:And he said:
It was said: Ishaq ibn Ibrahim al-Mوصلي entered upon al-Rashid and said: "How is your state?" And he said:
سَوَامِيMy livestockسَوَامُis the livestock ofالْمُكْثِرِينَthe wealthyتَجَمُّلاًout of pride......وَمَالِيand my wealthكَمَاasقَدْyouتَعْلَمِينَknow, is little
My livestock is like that of the wealthy in appearance, but my wealth, as you know, is little,
وَآمِرَةٍAnd a female prompterبِالْبُخْلِof stinginessقُلْتُI saidلَهَاto herاقْصُرِي"Cease......فَذَلِكَfor thatشَيْءٌis somethingمَاto whichإِلَيْهِto itسَبِيلُthere is no way
And to a female prompter of stinginess I said: Cease, for that is something to which there is no way.
وَكَيْفَAnd howأَخَافُcould I fearالْفَقْرَpovertyأَوْorأَحْرِمُbe deprived ofالْغِنَىwealth......وَرَأْيُwhen the opinion ofأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulجَمِيلُis beautiful
And how could I fear poverty or be deprived of wealth, when the opinion of the Commander of the Faithful is beautiful?
أَرَىI seeالنَّاسَpeopleخِلَانَas friends ofالْجَوَادِthe generous oneوَلَاand I do not seeأَرَىseeبَخِيلاًa miserلَهُwho hasفِيinالْعَالَمِينَthe worldsخَلِيلُa friend
I see people as friends of the generous one, and I see no miser having a friend in all the worlds.
فَقَالَSo saidالرَّشِيدُ:al-Rashid:هَذَا"Thisوَاللَّهِby Allahالشِّعْرُis the poetryالَّذِيwhoseصَحَّتْmeaningsمَعَانِيهِare soundوَقُوِيَتْand its pillarsأَرْكَانُهُare strongوَلَذَّand it is sweetعَلَىuponأَفْوَاهِthe mouths ofالْقَائِلِينَthe speakersوَأَسْمَاعِand the ears ofالسَّامِعِينَ،the listeners.
So al-Rashid said: "This, by Allah, is the poetry whose meanings are sound, whose pillars are strong, and which is sweet upon the mouths of speakers and the ears of listeners!
يَاOغُلَامُboy,احْمِلْcarryإِلَيْهِto himخَمْسِينَfiftyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams."
O boy, carry fifty thousand dirhams to him."
قَالَSaidإِسْحَاقُ:Ishaq:كَيْفَ"Howأَقْبَلُcan I acceptصِلَتَكَyour giftيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَقَدْwhenمَدَحْتَyou praisedشِعْرِيmy poetryبِأَكْثَرَmore thanمِمَّاwhatمَدَحْتُكَ؟I praised you?"
Ishaq said: "How can I accept your gift, O Commander of the Faithful, when you have praised my poetry with more than what I praised you?"
قَالَSaidالْأَصْمَعِيُّ:al-Asma'i:فَعَلِمْتُSo I knewأَنَّهُthat heأَصْيَدُwas more eagerلِلدَّرْهَمِfor the dirhamمَنِّي.than I.
Al-Asma'i said: "So I knew that he was more eager for the dirham than I was."
قَالَ:HeوَقَالَAnd saidالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munلِإِبْرَاهِيمَto Ibrahimبْنِson ofالْمَهْدِيِّ:al-Mahdi:شَاوَرْتُ"I consultedفِيregardingأَمْرِكَyour affairفَأَشَارُواand they advisedعَلَيَّmeبِقَتْلِكَ.to kill you."
He said: Al-Ma'mun said to Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi: "I consulted regarding your affair, and they advised me to kill you."
فَقَالَ:So he said:أَمَّا"As forأَنْthatيَكُونُواtheyنَصَحُوكَadvised you sincerelyفِيمَاregarding whatجَرَتْflowsبِهِwith itالسِّيَاسَةُpoliticsوَحَكَمَتْand rulesبِهِby itالرِّيَاسَةُleadershipفَقَدْthey indeedفَعَلُواdidوَلَكِنَّكَbut youتَأْبَىrefuseأَنْtoتَسْتَجْلِبَdrawالنَّصْرَvictoryإِلَّاexceptمِنْfromحَيْثُwhereعَوَّدَكَaccustomed youاللَّهُ،Allah,
So he said: "As for them advising you sincerely in what politics dictates and leadership rules, they have indeed done so; but you refuse to draw victory except from where Allah has accustomed you,
فَإِنْfor ifعَاقَبْتَyou punishفَلَكَthen you haveنَظِيرٌan equalوَإِنْand ifعَفَوْتَyou pardonفَلَيْسَthen there isلَكَfor youنَظِيرٌ،no equal,
for if you punish, you have an equal, but if you pardon, you have no equal.
وَإِنَّAnd indeedجُرْمِيmy crimeيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَعْظَمُis greaterمِنْthanأَنْthatأَنْطِقَI speakفِيهِconcerning itبِعُذْرٍwith an excuseوَعَفْوُand the pardon ofأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَجَلُّis too grandمِنْforأَنْthatيَفِيَit be fulfilled byبِهِitشُكْرٌ.gratitude.
And my crime, O Commander of the Faithful, is too great for me to utter an excuse concerning it, and the pardon of the Commander of the Faithful is too grand for gratitude to fulfill it."
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:مَاتَ"Diedالْحِقْدُspiteعِنْدَatهَذَاthisالْعُذْرِ.excuse."
So al-Ma'mun said: "Spite has died at this excuse."
فَاسْتَعْبَرَSo weptإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimوَبَكَى،and cried,فَقَالَand saidلَهُto himالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:مَا"Whatلَكَ؟is the matter with you?"
So Ibrahim was moved to tears and wept, and al-Ma'mun said to him: "What is the matter with you?"
قَالَ:He said:النَّدَمُ"Regretإِذْsinceكَانَwasذَنْبِيmy sinإِلَىagainstمَنْoneهَذِهِthisصِفَتُهُis his descriptionفِيinالْإِنْعَامِbestowing bountyعَلَيَّ.upon me."
He said: "Regret, since my sin was against one whose description is this in bestowing bounty upon me."
وَحَدَّثَنِيAnd narrated to meسَعِيدُSaeedبْنُson ofمُسْلِمٍMuslimقَالَ:who said:قَالَSaidالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munلِإِبْرَاهِيمَto Ibrahimبْنِson ofالْمَهْدِيِّal-Mahdiبَعْدَafterالْمُؤَانَسَةِcompanionshipوَإِخْرَاجِand removingمَاwhatكَانَwasفِيinقَلْبِهِhis heartعَلَيْهِ:against him:
And Saeed ibn Muslim narrated to me, saying: Al-Ma'mun said to Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi after companionship and removing what was in his heart against him:
يَاOعَمِّpaternal uncleمَاwhatالَّذِيthat whichحَمَلَكَcarried youعَلَىtoمُنَازَعَةِdisputeمَنْthe one whomجَرَىranقَدَرُthe decree ofاللَّهِAllahعَزَّMightyوَجَلَّand Majesticلَهُfor himبِتَمَامِwith the completion ofأَمْرِهِHis commandوَإِصْلَاحِand the setting right ofشَأْنِهِ؟his affair?
"O paternal uncle, what drove you to dispute with the one for whom the decree of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, ran with the completion of His command and the setting right of his affair?"
قَالَ:He said:طَلَبُ"Seekingصَلَاحِthe betterment ofحَالِيmy stateيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَofَّةُ the Faithfulوَتَوَفُّرُand the abundance ofمَاwhatتَتَسَعُexpandsبِهِwith itيَدِيmy handعَلَىforخَاصَّتِيmy familyوَعَامَّتِي.and general people."
He said: "Seeking the betterment of my state, O Commander of the Faithful, and the abundance of what my hand expands with for my family and general people."
قَالَ:He said:فَقَدِّرْ"Then estimateمَاwhatشِئْتَyou wishوَهُوَand itلَكَis for youمُشَاهَرَةً.monthly.
He said: "Then estimate whatever you wish, and it shall be yours on a monthly basis."
قَالَ:He said:إِذاً"Thenتَجِدُنِيyou will find meبِحَيْثُwhereتُحِبُّyou loveوَيَجْرِيand will runحُكْمُكَyour judgmentعَلَيَّupon meوَفِيَّand in meكَمَاjust asيَجْرِيit runsفِيinأَحَدِone ofعَبِيدِكَ.your slaves."
He said: "Then you will find me where you love, and your judgment will run upon me and in me just as it runs in any of your slaves."
وَقَدْAndقُلْتُI have saidفِيconcerningذَلِكَ:that:
And I have said concerning that:
أَرَىI seeالْحُرَّthe free manعَبْداًas a slaveلِلَّذِيto the one whoseسَيْبُbounty ofكَفِّهِhis palm......شَرَاهُhas bought himبِمَاwith whatغَاظَهُpleased himغَايَةَthe utmost limit ofالْحَمْدِpraise
I see the free man as a slave to the one whose palm's bounty has bought him with what pleased him to the utmost limit of praise,
عَلَىonأَنَّthatمِلْكَownership ofالْحُرِّa free manأَسْنَىis a loftierذَرِيعَةًmeans......إِلَىtoالْمَجْدِgloryمِنْthanمَالٍwealthيُصَانُthat is preservedوَمِنْand fromعَبْدِa slave
even though owning a free man is a loftier means to glory than wealth that is preserved or a slave.
وَإِنْAnd ifخُصَّis singled outبَيْعُthe sale ofمِلْكِproperty ofحُرٍّa free manبِنِعْمَةٍby a blessing......إِذَاwhenقُوبِلَتْit is metبِالشُّكْرِwith gratitudeقَارَنَهَاglory accompaniesالْمَجْدُit
And if the sale of a free man's ownership is distinguished by a blessing, when met with gratitude, glory accompanies it.
فَقَالَ:So he said:لَئِنْ"Ifكَانَthat isذَلِكَsoكَذَلِكَindeedإِنِّيI amلَأَهْلٌmost worthyأَنْtoأَرْفَعَكَraise youبِمَوَادِّby supplies ofنِعْمَتِيmy bountyعَلَيْكَupon youعَنْaboveأَنْthatيُقَالَit be saidهَذَاthisفِيكَconcerning youأَوْorتُمْْتَهِنَكَhumiliate youعَيْنُthe eye ofأَحَدٍanyoneبِذِلَّةٍ.with disgrace."
So he said: "If that is so, I am most worthy to raise you, through the supplies of my bounty upon you, above having this said concerning you or having the eye of anyone humiliate you with disgrace."
قَالَ:He said:وَدَخَلَAnd enteredالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayإِلَىintoالدِّيرَانِthe bureauفَنَظَرَand lookedإِلَىatغُلَامٍa youthجَمِيلٍhandsomeعَلَىuponأُذُنِهِhis earقَلَمٌa penفَقَالَ:and said:مَنْ"Whoأَنْتَare youيَاOغُلَامُ؟youth?"
He said: Al-Ma'mun entered the bureau one day and looked at a handsome youth with a pen over his ear, and said: "Who are you, O youth?"
قَالَ:He said:يَا"OأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulالنَّاشِئُthe one raisedفِيinدَوْلَتِكَyour stateوَالْمُتَقَلِّبُand moving aboutفِيinنِعْمَتِكَyour blessingوَالْمُؤَمِّلُand hopingلِخِدْمَتِكَfor your serviceالْحَسَنُal-Hasanبْنُson ofرَجَاءٍ.Raja."
He said: "O Commander of the Faithful, the one raised in your state, moving about in your blessing, and hoping for your service: al-Hasan ibn Raja."
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:بِالْإِحْسَانِ"With excellenceفِيinالْبَدِيهَةِimprovisationتَتَفَاضَلُexcelالْعُقُولُ.minds."
So al-Ma'mun said: "Through excellence in improvisation, minds excel."
يُرْفَعُHe is raisedعَنْfromمَرَاتِبِthe ranks ofالدِّيرَانِthe bureauإِلَىtoمَرَاتِبِthe ranks ofالْخَاصَّةِthe eliteوَيُعْطَىand he is givenمِائَةَone hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsمَعُونَةًas assistanceلَهُ.for him.
He is raised from the ranks of the bureau to the ranks of the elite, and he is given one hundred thousand dirhams as assistance for him.
فَفُعِلَSo was doneبِهِto himذَلِكَ.that.
And that was done to him.
قَالَ:HeوَدَخَلَAnd enteredيزِيدُYazidبْنُson ofجَرِيرٍJarirعَلَىuponالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munوَكَانَwhileوَجَدَhe was angryعَلَيْهِwith himفَقَالَ:and said:أَيَزِيدُ؟"O Yazid?"
He said: Yazid ibn Jarir entered upon al-Ma'mun, who was angry with him, and said: "Yazid?"
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ"YesيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,غَذِيُّthe nurtured ofنِعْمَتِكَyour blessingوَخَرّيجُand the graduate ofصَنِيعَتِكَyour handiworkوَغَرْسُand the planted sapling ofيَدِكَyour handالَّذِيwhichلَمْdid notيُشْرِكْكَmake you a partner inفِيهِitمُصْطَنِعٌa benefactorوَلَمْand did notيَسْبِقْكَprecede youإِلَىinتَخْرِيجِهِtraining himأَحَدٌ،anyone,
He said: "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful, the nurtured of your blessing, the graduate of your handiwork, and the sapling planted by your hand, in which no benefactor shared with you, nor did anyone precede you in training him,
وَلَمْand I have notأَزَلْceasedيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulبِعَفْوِكَin your pardonبَعْدَafterسَخَطِكَyour wrathرَاجِياًhopefulوَبِبَصِيرَةِand in the insight ofرَأْيِكَyour opinionفِيregardingالِانْفِرَادِthe sole act ofبِرَدِّيreturning meإِلَىtoمَاwhatعَوَّدْتَنِيyou accustomed me toوَاثِقاًconfidentحَتَّىuntilأَقَامَنِيplaced meاللَّهُAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyهَذَاin thisالْمَقَامَstationالَّذِيin whichفِيهِisإِدْرَاكِيthe attainment ofأَمَلِيmy hopeوَنَيْلِيand the achievement ofمَحَبَّتِي،my love,
and I have not ceased, O Commander of the Faithful, to be hopeful of your pardon after your wrath, and confident in the insight of your opinion regarding the sole act of returning me to what you accustomed me to, until Allah, Majestic and Mighty, placed me in this station in which is the attainment of my hope and the achievement of my love.
فَإِنْSoرَأَىifأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَنْsees fitيُشَهِّرَنِيto make me famousبِرِضَاهُby his pleasureكَمَاjust asشَهَّرَنِيhe made me famousبِسَخَطِهِby his wrathفَعَلَhe may do soإِنْifشَاءَAllahاللَّهُ!wills!
So if the Commander of the Faithful sees fit to make me famous by his pleasure just as he made me famous by his wrath, he may do so if Allah wills!"
فَقَالَ:So he said:قَدْ"Indeedرَضِيَis pleasedعَنْكَwith youأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Faithful."
So he said: "The Commander of the Faithful is indeed pleased with you."
قَالَ:HeوَوَصَفَAnd describedيَحْيَىYahyaبْنُson ofخَالِدٍKhalidالْفَضْلَal-Fadlبْنَson ofسَهْلٍSahlوَهُوَwhileغُلَامٌa youthعَلَىuponالْمَجُوسِيَّةِMagianismلِلرَّشِيدِto al-Rashidوَذَكَرَand mentionedأَدَبَهُhis mannersوَحُسْنَand the goodness ofمَذْهَبِهِhis wayوَجَوْدَةَand the excellence ofمَعْرِفَتِهِhis knowledgeفَعَمِلَso he resolvedعَلَىtoضَمِّهِattach himإِلَىtoالْمَأْمُونِ.al-Ma'mun.
He said: Yahya ibn Khalid described al-Fadl ibn Sahl to al-Rashid while he was a youth upon Magianism, mentioning his manners, the goodness of his way, and the excellence of his knowledge, so he resolved to attach him to al-Ma'mun.