فَقَالَSo saidيَوْماًone dayلِيَحْيَى:to Yahya:أَدْخِلْBringإِلَيَّto meهَذَاthisالْغُلَامَboyالْمَجُوسِيَّMagianحَتَّىso thatأَنْظُرَI may lookإِلَيْهِ،at him.
So he said one day to Yahya: Bring this Magian boy to me so that I may look at him.
فَفَعَلَSo didيَحْيَىYahyaذَلِكَ،that,فَلَمَّاand whenمَثُلَhe stoodبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْهِhis handsوَقَفَhe stoppedوَتَحَيَّرَand was confusedوَأَرَادَand wantedالْكَلَامَto speakفَأُرْتِجَbut he was tongue-tiedعَلَيْهِupon himوَأَدْرَكَتْهُand he was overtaken byكَبْوَةٍ،a stumble,
So Yahya did that, and when he stood before him, he stopped and was confused and wanted to speak, but he became tongue-tied and was overtaken by a stumble.
فَنَظَرَSo lookedالرَّشِيدُal-RashidإِلَىatيَحْيَىYahyaنَظَرَwith the lookمُنْكِرٍof disapprovalلِمَاdue to whatكَانَhad beenتَقَدَّمَpreviously doneمِنْofتَفْرِيطِهِhis negligenceإِيَّاهُ،regarding him,
So al-Rashid looked at Yahya with a look of disapproval due to his previous negligence regarding him.
فَانْبَعَثَThen stood forthالْفَضْلُal-Fadlفَقَالَ:and said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulإِنَّverilyمِنْamongأَبَيْنَthe clearestالدَّلَالَةِproofعَلَىofفَرَاهَةِthe excellence ofالْمَمْلُوكِthe slaveشِدَّةُis the intensity ofإفْرَاطِexcessiveهَيْبَتِهِreverence forلِسَيِّدِهِ.his master.
Then al-Fadl stood forth and said: O Commander of the Faithful, verily among the clearest proofs of the excellence of the slave is the intensity of his excessive reverence for his master.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himالرَّشِيدُ:al-Rashid:أَحْسَنْتَYou have done wellوَاللَّهِ!by Allah!لَئِنْIfكَانَwasسُكُوتُكَyour silenceلِتَقُولَso that you might sayهَذَاthisإِنَّهُverily itلَحَسَنٌis indeed goodوَإِنْand ifكَانَthisهَذَاwasشَيْءٌsomethingأَدْرَكَكَthat overtook youعِنْدَatانْقِطَاعِكَyour moment of being cut offإِنَّهُverily itلَأَحْسَنُis betterوَأَحْسَنُ.and better.
So al-Rashid said to him: You have done well by Allah! If your silence was so that you might say this, it is indeed good, and if this was something that overtook you at your moment of being cut off, it is better and better.
ثُمَّThenجَعَلَhe beganلَاnotيَسْأَلُهُasking himعَنْaboutشَيْءٍanythingإِلَّاexceptرَآهُhe found himمُقَدَّماًaheadفِيهِin itمُبْرِزاً.and excelling.
Then he began not to ask him about anything except that he found him ahead in it and excelling.
فَضَمَّهُSo attached himالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munفِيinذَلِكَthatالْيَوْمِ.day.
So al-Ma'mun attached him to himself on that day.
وَقَالَAnd saidالْفَضْلُal-Fadlبْنُson ofسَهْلٍSahlلِلْمَأْمُونِto al-Ma'munوَقَدْwhile he hadسَأَلَهُasked himحَاجَةًa favorلِبَعْضِfor someأَهْلِpeopleبُيُوتَاتِof the housesدَهَاقِينِof the landownersسَمَرْقَنْدَof Samarqandوَوَعَدَand he had promisedتَعْجِيلَspeeding upإِنْفَاذِهَاits fulfillmentفَتَأَخَّرَbut it was delayedذَلِكَthatعَلَيْهِ:upon him:
And al-Fadl ibn Sahl said to al-Ma'mun, when he had asked him a favor for some of the people of the noble houses of Samarqand's landowners and he had promised to hasten its fulfillment, but it was delayed for him:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulهَبْgrantلِوَعْدِكَto your promiseتَذَكُّراًremembranceمِنْfromنَفْسِكَyourselfوَهَنِّئْand congratulateسَائِلَكَthe one who asks youحَلَاوَةَon the sweetnessنِعْمَتِكَof your blessingوَاجْعَلْand makeمَيْلَكَyour inclinationإِلَىtowardذَلِكَthatفِيinالْكَرَمِgenerosityحَاثّاًurgingعَلَىuponاصْطِفَاءِchoosingشُكْرِthe gratitudeالطَّالِبِينَof those seekingلِتَشْهَدَso that hearts may witnessالْقُلُوبُthe heartsبِحَقَائِقِto the truths ofالْكَرَمِgenerosityوَالْأَلْسُنُand tonguesبِنِهَايَةِto the utmost limit ofالْجُودِ.munificence.
O Commander of the Faithful, grant your promise a remembrance from yourself, congratulate the one who asks you on the sweetness of your blessing, and make your inclination toward that in generosity an urge to choose the gratitude of those seeking, so that hearts may witness the truths of generosity and tongues witness the utmost limit of munificence.
فَقَالَ:So he said:قَدْI haveجَعَلْتُplacedإِلَيْكَupon youإِجَابَةَthe answering ofسُؤَّالِيthose who ask meعَنِّيon my behalfبِمَاwith whatتَرَىyou see fitفِيهِمْregarding themوَأَخَذْتُكَand I have held youبِالتَّقْصِيرِaccountable for any shortcomingفِيمَاin whatيَلْزَمُis incumbentلَهُمْupon themمِنْwithoutغَيْرِanyاسْتِثْمَارٍdelayوَلَاorمُعَاوَدَةٍrepetitionفِيinإِخْرَاجِissuingالصَّكَاكِthe documentsمِنْfromأَخْضَرِthe freshالْمَالِwealthمُتَنَاوِلاً.readily obtainable.
He said: I have entrusted to you the answering of those who ask me on my behalf with what you see fit regarding them, and I hold you accountable for any shortcoming in what is incumbent upon them, without delay or repetition in issuing the documents from fresh wealth readily obtainable.
قَالَ:He said:إِذاًThenلَأَتَحَدَّىI will vie inمَعْرِفَتِيmy knowledge ofبِمَاwhatيَجِبُis dueلِأَمِيرِto the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulالْهَنَأُbeing the congratulationبِمَاwith whatيُدِيمُperpetuatesلَهُfor himحُسْنَgoodالثَّنَاءِ،praise,وَمِنْand fromدُعَائِهِمْtheir supplicationطُولَfor length ofالْبَقَاءِ.existence.
He said: Then I will vie in my knowledge of what is due to the Commander of the Faithful by offering congratulations that perpetuate for him good praise, and from their supplication for long life.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd saidالْفَضْلُal-Fadlبْنُson ofسَهْلٍSahlلِلْمَأْمُونِ:to al-Ma'mun:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulاجْعَلْmakeنِعْمَتَكَyour blessingصَائِنَةًguardingلِمَاءِthe water ofوُجُوهِfaces ofخِدْمَتِكَyour servantsعَنْfromإِرَاقَتِهِshedding itفِيinغَضَاضَةِthe humiliation ofالسُّؤَالِ.asking.
He said: And al-Fadl ibn Sahl said to al-Ma'mun: O Commander of the Faithful, make your blessing guard the dignity of your servants from shedding it in the humiliation of asking.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:وَاللَّهِBy Allahلَاit shallكَانَnotذَلِكَbeإِلَّاexceptكَذَلِكَ.thus.
So al-Ma'mun said: By Allah, it shall not be except thus.
قَالَ:He said:وَدَخَلَAnd enteredالْعِتَابِيُّal-'Attabiعَلَىuponالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munفَقَالَ:and said:يَاOأَبَاAbuكُلْثُومٍKulthumخُبِّرْتُI was informedبِوَفَاتِكَof your deathفَغَمَّتْنِيso it grieved meثُمَّthenجَاءَتْنِيcame to meوِفَادَتُكَyour arrivalفَسَرَّتْنِي.so it gladdened me.
He said: And al-'Attabi entered upon al-Ma'mun and said: O Abu Kulthum, I was informed of your death so it grieved me, then your arrival came to me so it gladdened me.
فَقَالَ:He said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulكَيْفَhowأَمْدَحُكَcan I praise youأَوْorبِمَاذَاwith whatأَصِفُكَdo I describe youوَلَاwhile there is noدِينَreligionإِلَّاexceptبِكَthrough youوَلَاand noدُنْيَاworldإِلَّاexceptمَعَكَ!with you!
He said: O Commander of the Faithful, how can I praise you or with what do I describe you, while there is no religion except through you and no world except with you!
فَقَالَ:So he said:سَلْنِيAsk meعَمَّاfor whateverبَدَاappearsلَكَ.to you.
So he said: Ask me for whatever appears to you.
قَالَ:He said:يَدَاكَYour handsبِالْعَطِيَّةِwith givingأَطْلَقُare freerمِنْthanلِسَانِيmy tongueبِالْمَسْأَلَةِ.with asking.
He said: Your hands with giving are freer than my tongue with asking.
قَالَ:He said:وَتَكَلَّمَAnd spokeالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munيَوْماًone dayفَأَحْسَنَand spoke wellفَقَالَso saidيَحْيَىYahyaبْنُson ofأَكْثَمَ:Aktham:
He said: And al-Ma'mun spoke one day and spoke well, so Yahya ibn Aktham said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulجَعَلَنِيmay Allah make meاللَّهُAllahفِدَاكَ!your ransom!إِنْIfخُضْنَاwe delveفِيintoالطِّبِّmedicineفَأَنْتَthen you areجَالِينُوسُGalenفِيinمَعْرِفَتِهِ،knowing it,أَوْorفِيinالنَّجْمِastronomyفَأَنْتَthen you areهَرْمَسُHermesفِيinحِسَابِهِ،calculating it,أَوْorفِيinالْفِقْهِjurisprudenceفَأَنْتَthen you areعَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍ،Talib,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُAllahعَنْهُ،with him,فِيinعِلْمِهِ،his knowledge,وَإِنْand ifذُكِرَis mentionedالسَّخَاءُgenerosityكُنْتَyou wereحَاتِماًHatimفِيinجُودِهِ،his munificence,أَوْorالصِّدْقُtruthfulnessفَأَنْتَthen you areأَبُوAbuذَرٍّDharrفِيinصِدْقِtruthfulness ofلَهْجَتِهِ،his speech,أَوْorالْكَرَمُnobilityفَأَنْتَthen you areكَعْبُKa'bبْنُson ofمَامَةَMamaفِيinإِيثَارِهِhis preferring othersعَلَىoverنَفْسِهِ،himself,أَوْorالْوَفَاءُloyaltyفَأَنْتَthen you areالسَّمَوْأَلُal-Samaw'alبْنُson ofعَادِيَاAdiyaفِيinوَفَائِهِ.his loyalty.
O Commander of the Faithful, may Allah make me your ransom! If we delve into medicine, then you are Galen in knowing it, or in astronomy then you are Hermes in calculating it, or in jurisprudence then you are Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, in his knowledge, and if generosity is mentioned you were Hatim in his munificence, or truthfulness then you are Abu Dharr in the truthfulness of his speech, or nobility then you are Ka'b ibn Mama in his preferring others over himself, or loyalty then you are al-Samaw'al ibn Adiya in his loyalty.
فَاسْتَحْسَنَSo he found pleasingقَوْلَهُhis statementوَتَهَلَّلَand beamedوَجْهُهُ.his face.
So he found his statement pleasing and his face beamed.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd saidإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimبْنُson ofالْمَهْدِيِّal-Mahdiلِلْمَأْمُونِ:to al-Ma'mun:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulلَيْسَthere is notلِلْعَافِيfor the one who asks forgivenessبَعْدَafterالْقُدْرَةِpowerعَلَيْهِover himذَنْبٌ،any sin,وَلَيْسَand there is notلِلْمُعَاقِبِfor the punisherبَعْدَafterالْمِلْكِpossessionعُذْرٌ.any excuse.
He said: And Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi said to al-Ma'mun: O Commander of the Faithful, there is no sin for the one who seeks forgiveness after having power over him, and there is no excuse for the punisher after having the ability.
قَالَ:He said:صَدَقْتَYou have spoken the truthفَمَاso what isحَاجَتُكَ؟your need?
He said: You have spoken the truth, so what is your need?
قَالَ:He said:فُلَانٌ.So-and-so.
He said: So-and-so.
قَالَ:He said:هُوَHeلَكَ.is yours.
He said: He is yours.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd saidالْوَاثِقُal-Wathiqيَوْماًone dayلِأَحْمَدَto Ahmadبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiدُؤَادَDu'adوَقَدْwhile he hadتَضَجَّرَbecome annoyedبِكَثْرَةِby the abundance ofحَوَائِجِهِ:his requests:
He said: And al-Wathiq said one day to Ahmad ibn Abi Du'ad, when he had become annoyed by the abundance of his requests:
قَدْYou haveأَخْلَيْتَemptiedبُيُوتَthe houses ofالْأَمْوَالِwealthبِطَلَبَاتِكَwith your requestsلِلَّائِذِينَfor those seeking refugeبِكَwith youوَالْمُتَوَصِّلِينَand those reachingإِلَيْكَ!to you!
You have emptied the treasuries of wealth with your requests for those seeking refuge with you and those reaching out to you!
فَقَالَ:So he said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulنَتَائِجُthe fruits ofشُكْرِهَاgratitude for itمُتَّصِلٌis connectedبِكَto youوَذَخَائِرُand the treasures ofأَجْرِهَاits rewardمَكْتُوبٌis writtenلَكَfor youوَمَاand there is nothingلِيfor meمِنْfromذَلِكَthatإِلَّاexceptعِشْقُthe devotion ofالْأَلْسُنِtonguesلِخُلُودِto the permanence ofالْمَدْحِpraiseفِيكَ.for you.
So he said: O Commander of the Faithful, the fruits of gratitude for it are connected to you, the treasures of its reward are written for you, and there is nothing for me from that except the devotion of tongues to the permanence of praise for you.
فَقَالَ:So he said:يَاOأَبَاAbuعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahوَاللَّهِby AllahلَاI will notمَنَعْتُكَdeny youمَاwhatيَزِيدُincreasesفِيinعِشْقِكَyour devotionوَتَقْوَىand is strengthened byبِهِitمِنْتَكَyour favorإِذْsinceكَانَاthey both wereلَنَاfor usدُونَكَ.instead of you.
So he said: O Abu Abdullah, by Allah, I will not deny you what increases your devotion and strengthens your favor, since both were for us instead of you.
وَأَمَرَAnd he orderedفَأُخْرِجَand there was brought outلَهُto himثَلَاثُونَthirtyأَلْفَthousandدِينَارٍdinarsيُفَرِّقُهَاto distribute themفِيamongالزَّوَّارِ.the visitors.
And he ordered, and thirty thousand dinars were brought out for him to distribute among the visitors.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَدِمَAnd arrivedأَبُوAbuوَجْزَةَWajzahالسُّلَمِيُّal-Sulamiعَلَىuponالْمُهَلَّبِal-Muhallabبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiصُفْرَةَSufrahفَقَالَ:and said:أَصْلَحَMay Allah set rightاللَّهُAllahالْأَمِيرَ!the Emir!إِنِّيVerily Iقَطَعْتُcrossedإِلَيْكَto youالدَّهْنَاءَal-Dahna desertوَضَرَبْتُand struckإِلَيْكَtoward youأَكْبَادَthe livers ofالْإِبِلِcamelsمِنْfromيَثْرِبَ.Yathrib.
He said: And Abu Wajzah al-Sulami arrived at al-Muhallab ibn Abi Sufrah and said: May Allah set right the Emir! Verily I crossed al-Dahna desert to you and drove the camels from Yathrib toward you.
فَقَالَ:So he said:هَلْDidأَتَيْتَنَاyou come to usبِوَسِيلَةٍwith a meansأَوْorقَرَابَةٍkinshipأَوْorعِشْرَةٍ؟companionship?
So he said: Did you come to us with a means of kinship or companionship?
قَالَ:He said:لَاNoوَلَكِنِّيbut Iرَأَيْتُكَsaw youلِحَاجَتِيfor my needأَهْلاًworthyفَإِنْso ifقُمْتَyou fulfillبِهَاitفَأَهْلُthen worthy ofذَلِكَthatأَنْتَare youوَإِنْand ifيَحُلُّcomesدُونَهَاbetween itحَائِلٌa barrierلَمْI will notأَذْمُمْblameيَوْمَكَyour dayوَلَمْand I will notأَيْأَسْdespairمِنْofغَدِكَ.your tomorrow.
He said: No, but I saw you worthy of my need; so if you fulfill it, then you are worthy of that, and if a barrier comes between it, I will not blame your day nor despair of your tomorrow.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمُهَلَّبُ:al-Muhallab:يُعْطَىGive himمَاwhat isفِيinبَيْتِthe house ofالْمَالِ.wealth.
So al-Muhallab said: Give him what is in the treasury.
فَوَجَدَSo he foundفِيهِin itمِائَةَone hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsفَدُفِعَتْso they were paidإِلَيْهِ،to him,فَأَنْشَأَand he beganيَقُولُ:reciting:
So he found in it one hundred thousand dirhams, and they were paid to him, and he began reciting:
يَاOمَنْone whoعَلَىuponالْجُودِgenerosityصَاغَhas moldedاللَّهُAllahرَاحَتَهُhis palm......فَلَيْسَso he does notيَحْسُنُknow how to doغَيْرَother thanالْبَذْلِbestowingوَالْجُودِand generosity
O you whose palm Allah has molded upon generosity... He knows nothing other than bestowing and generosity.
عَمَّتْHave envelopedعَطَايَاكَyour giftsمَنْeveryoneبِالشَّرْقِin the Eastقَاطِبَةًaltogether......وَأَنْتَand youوَالْجُودُand generosityمَنْحُوتَانِare carvedمِنْfromعُودِone wood.
Your gifts have enveloped everyone in the East altogether... And you and generosity are carved from the same wood.
قَالَ:He said:وَدَخَلَAnd enteredالْكَوْثَرُal-Kawtharبْنُson ofزُفَرَZufarعَلَىuponيَزِيدَYazidبْنِson ofالْمُهَلَّبِal-Muhallabفَقَالَ:and said:أَصْلَحَكَMay Allah set you rightاللَّهُ!O Allah!أَنْتَYouأَعْظَمُare too great inقَدْراًstatusمِنْthanأَنْthatيُسْتَعَانَhelp is soughtعَلَيْكَagainst youوَيُسْتَعَانَor help is soughtبِكَ،through you,لَسْتَyou do notتَفْعَلُdoمِنَofالْمَعْرُوفِkindnessشَيْئاًanythingإِلَّاexcept thatوَهُوَit isأَصْغَرُsmallerمِنْكَ،than you,وَلَيْسَand it is notمِنَofالْعَجَبِwonderأَنْthatتَفْعَلَyou doوَلَكِنَّbutالْعَجَبَthe wonderأَنْis thatلَاyou do notتَفْعَلَ.do.
He said: And al-Kawthar ibn Zufar entered upon Yazid ibn al-Muhallab and said: May Allah set you right! You are too great in status for help to be sought against you or through you; you do not do any act of kindness except that it is smaller than you, and it is not a wonder that you do it, but the wonder is that you do not do it.
قَالَ:He said:سَلْAskحَاجَتَكَ.your need.
He said: Ask your need.
قَالَ:He said:تَحَمَّلْتُI have taken upon myselfعَنْon behalf ofقَوْمِيmy peopleعَشْرَtenدِيَاتٍblood-money paymentsوَقَدْand indeedنَهَكَتْنِي.they have exhausted me.
He said: I have taken upon myself on behalf of my people ten blood-money payments, and indeed they have exhausted me.
قَالَ:He said:قَدْWe haveأَمَرْنَاorderedلَكَfor youبِهَاthemوَأَضْعَفْنَاهَاand we have doubled themبِمِثْلِهَا.with their like.
He said: We have ordered them for you and we have doubled them with their like.
فَقَالَSo saidالْكَوْثَرُ:al-Kawthar:إِنَّVerilyمَاwhatسَأَلْتُكَI asked you forهُوَit isبِوَجْهِيby my faceلِمَقْبُولٍacceptableمِنْكَ،from you,وَأَمَّاand as forمَاwhatبَدَأْتَنِيyou initiated me withبِهِof itفَلَاthere isحَاجَةَno needلِيfor meفِيهِ.in it.
So al-Kawthar said: Verily what I asked you for is acceptable from you by my face, and as for what you initiated me with of your own accord, I have no need for it.
قَالَ:He said:وَلِمَAnd whyوَقَدْwhenكَفَيْتُكَI have spared youذُلَّthe humiliation ofالسُّؤَالِ؟asking?
He said: And why, when I have spared you the humiliation of asking?
قَالَ:He said:لِأَنِّيBecause Iرَأَيْتُsawالَّذِيthat whichأَخَذْتُهُI tookمَنِّيfrom meبِمَسْأَلَتِيby my askingإِيَّاكَyouأَكْثَرَwas moreمِمَّاthanنَالَنِيwhat reached meمِنْofمَعْرُوفِكَyour kindnessفَكَرِهْتُso I dislikedالْفَضْلَthe excessعَلَىoverنَفْسِي.myself.
He said: Because I saw that what I took by my asking you was more than what reached me of your kindness, so I disliked the excess over myself.
قَالَSaidيَزِيدُ:Yazid:فَأَنَاThen Iأَسْأَلُكَask youبِحَقِّكَby your rightعَلَيَّupon meفِيمَاregarding whatأَمَلْتَنِيyou hoped for from meلَهُfor itمِنْofإِنْزَالِكَyour alightingإِلَيَّwith meإِلَّاexcept thatقَبِلْتَهَا.you accept it.
Yazid said: Then I ask you by your right upon me regarding what you hoped for from me in coming to me, except that you accept it.
فَقَبِلَهَا.So he accepted it.
So he accepted it.
مَسَاوِئُThe vices ofالْمُخَاطَبَاتِdiscourses
The Vices of Discourses