وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd narrated to usخَصِيفُKhasifبْنُson ofالْحَارِثِal-HarithعَنْfromأَبِيAbuرَجَاءٍRajaقَالَ:who said:
And Khasif ibn al-Harith narrated to us from Abu Raja, who said:
قَدِمَCameمَعَwithالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munرَجُلٌa manمِنْfromدَهَاقِينِthe chiefsالشَّاشِof Chachوَعُظَمَائِهِمْand their notables
There came with al-Ma'mun a man from the chiefs and notables of Chach
عَلَىonعِدَّةٍa promiseسَلَفَتْthat had precededمِنَfromالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munلَهُto himمِنْconcerningتَوْلِيَتِهِappointing him overبَلَداًa townوَأَنْand thatيُضَمَّbe annexedإِلَيْهِto himمَمْلَكَتُهُ،his kingdom,
regarding a promise from al-Ma'mun to appoint him over a town and annex his kingdom to him,
فَطَالَso it became longعَلَىforالرَّجُلِthe manانْتِظَارُthe waitingخُرُوجِfor the issuanceالْمَأْمُونِof al-Ma'munوَأَمْرِهِand his commandلَهُto himبِذَلِكَ،with that,
and the man grew tired of waiting for al-Ma'mun to issue his command regarding that,
فَقَصَدَso he headed toعَمْرَوAmrبْنَbinمسْعَدَةَMas'adahوَسَأَلَهُand asked himإِنْفَاذَto dispatchرُقْعَةٍa noteإِلَىtoالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munمِنْfromنَاحِيَتِهِ.his side.
so he went to Amr ibn Mas'adah and asked him to send a note to al-Ma'mun on his behalf.
فَقَالَSo saidعَمْرٌو:Amr:اكْتُبْWriteمَاwhatشِئْتَyou wishفَإِنِّيfor indeed Iأُوصِلُهُ.will deliver it.
Amr said: "Write what you wish, and I will deliver it."
قَالَ:He said:فَتَوَلَّThen take charge ofذَلِكَthatعَنِّيon my behalfيَكُنْand there will beلَكَfor youعَلَيَّupon meنِعْمَتَانِ.two favors.
He said: "Then handle that for me, and you will have two favors from me."
فَكَتَبَSo wroteعَمْرٌو:Amr:إِنْIfرَأَىseesأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَنْtoيَفُكَّreleaseأَسْرَthe captivityعَبْدِهِof His servantمِنْfromرَبْقَةِthe collar/shackleالْمَطْلِof delayبِقَضَاءِby fulfillingحَاجَتِهِhis needأَوْorيَأْذَنَgrant permissionلَهُto himفِيinالانْصِرَافِreturningإِلَىtoبَلَدِهِhis countryفَعَلَhe should do soإِنْifشَاءَwillsاللَّهُGodتَعَالَى.Most High.
So Amr wrote: "If the Commander of the Faithful sees fit to release his servant from the shackles of delay by fulfilling his need, or to permit him to return to his country, let him do so, if God Most High wills."
فَلَمَّاWhenقَرَأَreadالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munالرُّقْعَةَthe noteدَعَاhe calledعَمْراًAmrفَجَعَلَand beganيُعْجِبُهُadmiringمِنْatحُسْنِthe beautyلَفْظِهَاof its phrasingوَإِيجَازِand the concisenessالْمُرَادِof the intentفِيهَا.within it.
When al-Ma'mun read the note, he called for Amr and began expressing his admiration for the beauty of its phrasing and the conciseness of its intent.
قَالَSaidعَمْرٌو:Amr:فَمَاSo what isنَتِيجَتُهَاits outcomeيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟of the Faithful?
Amr said: "What is its outcome, O Commander of the Faithful?"
قَالَ:He said:الْكِتَابُThe writing/decreeلَهُfor himفِيinهَذَاthisالْوَقْتِtimeبِمَاwith whatسَأَلَhe askedلِئَلَّاso that notيَتَأَخَّرَbe delayedفَضْلُthe virtueاسْتِحْسَانِنَاof our appreciationكَلامَهُof his speech
He said: "The decree for him at this moment is for what he asked, so that the virtue of our appreciation for his speech is not delayed,
وَبِجَائِزَةِand with a rewardمِائَةِof a hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsصِلَةًas a giftعَنْfor/offsettingدَنَاءَةِthe meannessالْمَطْلِof delayوَسَمَاجَةِand the uglinessالإِغْفَالِ.of neglect.
along with a reward of one hundred thousand dirhams as a gift to make up for the meanness of delay and the ugliness of neglect."
فَفَعَلَSo didعَمْرٌوAmrذَلِكَ.that.
So Amr did that.
وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd narrated to usإِسْمَاعِيلُIsmailبْنُson ofأَبِيAbuشَاكِرٍShakirقَالَ:who said:
And Ismail ibn Abu Shakir narrated to us, saying:
لَمَّاWhenأَصَابَbefellأَهْلَthe peopleمَكَّةَof Meccaسَنَةَin the yearثَمَانِeightوَمِائَتَيْنِand two hundredالسَّيْلُthe torrentالَّذِيwhichشَارَفَreached close toالْحِجْرَal-Hijrوَمَاتَand diedتَحْتَunderهَدْمِهِits collapseخَلْقٌa multitudeكَثِيرٌgreat
When the people of Mecca in the year two hundred and eight were struck by the flood which reached near al-Hijr, and a great multitude died beneath its collapsing rubble,
كَتَبَwroteعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنُal-Hasanالْحَسَنِal-Alawiالْعَلَوِيُّwhile he wasوَهْوَthe governorوَالِيof the Two Sanctuariesالْحَرَمَيْنِtoإِلَىal-Ma'munالْمَأْمُونِ:Abdullah ibn al-Hasan al-Alawi wrote:
Abdullah ibn al-Hasan al-Alawi, who was the governor of the Two Sanctuaries, wrote to al-Ma'mun:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,إِنَّindeedأَهْلَthe peopleحَرَمِof the sanctuaryاللَّهِof Godوَجِيرَانَand the neighborsبَيْتِهِof His Houseوَأُلَّافَand the frequentersمَسْجِدِهِof His mosqueوَعُمَرَةِand the populationبِلَادِهِof His land
"O Commander of the Faithful, indeed the people of God's sanctuary, the neighbors of His House, the frequenters of His mosque, and the inhabitants of His land
قَدِhaveاسْتَجَارُواsought refugeبِفَيْءِin the shade/bountyمَعْرُوفِكَof your known kindnessمِنْfromسَيْلٍa floodتَرَاكَمَتْthat accumulatedأَحْدَاثُهُits disastersفِيinهَدْمِthe demolitionالْبُنْيَانِof buildingsوَقَتْلِand the killingالرِّجَالِof menوَالنِّسْوَانِand womenوَاجْتِيَاحِand the sweeping awayالأَمْوَالِof wealthوَجَرْفِand the washing awayالأَمْتِعَةِof goodsوَالأَثْقَالِ،and heavy luggage,
have sought refuge in the shade of your benevolence from a flood whose disasters compounded in destroying buildings, killing men and women, sweeping away wealth, and washing away goods and luggage,
حَتَّىto the extent thatمَاnotتَرَكَit leftطَارِفاًnew propertyوَلاnorتَالِداًinherited propertyيَرْجِعُto turn backإِلَيْهِمَاto bothفِيin terms ofمَطْعَمٍfoodوَمَلْبَسٍ،and clothing.
leaving neither new nor old wealth for them to rely on for food and clothing.
قَدْIndeedشَغَلَهُمْhas occupied themطَلَبُthe searchالْغِذَاءِfor sustenanceعَنِfromالاسْتِرَاحَةِtaking comfortإِلَىinالْبُكَاءِweepingعَلَىoverالأُمَّهَاتِmothersوَالأَوْلَادِand childrenوَالآبَاءِand fathersوَالأَجْدَادِ،and grandfathers.
The search for food has kept them from finding comfort in weeping over mothers, children, fathers, and grandfathers.
فَأَجِرْهُمْSo grant them asylumيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulبِعَطْفِكَwith your affectionعَلَيْهِمْtoward themوَإِحْسَانِكَand your kindnessإِلَيْهِمْto them,
So grant them asylum, O Commander of the Faithful, with your affection and kindness toward them,
تَجِدِyou will findاللَّهَGodمُكَافِئَكَrewarding youعَنْهُمْon their behalfوَمُثِيبَكَand recompensing youعِزَّwith the gloryالشُّكْرِof gratitudeلَكَto youمِنْهُمْ.from them.
and you will find God rewarding you on their behalf and recompensing you with the glory of their gratitude toward you."
قَالَ:He said:فَوَجَّهَSo directedإِلَيْهِمْto themالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munبِالأَمْوَالِwith wealthالْكَثِيرَةِ.abundant.
He said: So al-Ma'mun sent abundant wealth to them.
وَكَتَبَAnd he wroteإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdullah:اللَّهِ:And he wrote to Abdullah:أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafterward,
And he wrote to Abdullah: "As for what follows:
فَقَدْindeedوَصَلَتْhas reachedشَكِيَّتُكَyour complaintلِأَهْلِconcerning the peopleحَرَمِof the sanctuaryمَكَّةَof Meccaإِلَىtoأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,
Your complaint regarding the people of Mecca's sanctuary has reached the Commander of the Faithful,
فَتَلَافَاهُمُand God has rescued themاللَّهُbyبِفَضْلِthe graceرَحْمَتِهِof His mercyوَأَنْجَدَهُمْand aided themبِسَيْبِwith the outpouringنِعْمَتِهِof His bounty,
and God has rescued them through the grace of His mercy and aided them with the outpouring of His bounty,
وَهُوَand Heمُتَّبِعٌis following upمَاwhatأَسْلَفَهُHe has sent previouslyإِلَيْهِمْto themبِمَاwith whatيُخْلِفُهُHe will replace/succeedعَلَيْهِمْfor themعَاجِلاًimmediatelyوَآجِلاًand in the futureإِنْifأَذِنَpermitsاللَّهُGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyفِيinتَثْبِيتِfirmly establishingعَزْمِهِHis resolveعَلَىuponصِحَّةِthe soundnessنِيَّتِهِof his intentionفِيهِمْ.regarding them.
and He is following what He previously sent to them with what He will provide for them immediately and in the future, if God Majestic and Mighty permits in confirming his resolve regarding the soundness of his intention toward them."
قَالَ:He said:فَكَانَSo wasكِتَابُهُhis letterهَذَاthisأَسَرَّmore pleasingإِلَىtoأَهْلِthe peopleمَكَّةَof Meccaمِنَthanالأَمْوَالِthe wealthالَّتِيwhichأَنْفَذَهَاhe dispatchedإِلَيْهِمْ.to them.
He said: This letter of his was more pleasing to the people of Mecca than the wealth he dispatched to them.
قَالَSaidأَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُbinيُوسُفَ:Yusuf:دَخَلْتُI enteredعَلَىuponالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munيَوْماًone dayوَمَعَهُand with himكِتَابٌwas a letterيُعْجَبُhe was admiringبِهِitكَتَبَهُwrittenإِلَيْهِto himعَمْرُby Amrبْنُbinمَسْعَدَةَ،Mas'adah,
Ahmad ibn Yusuf said: I entered upon al-Ma'mun one day while he had with him a letter he was admiring, written to him by Amr ibn Mas'adah,
فَالْتَفَتَso he turnedإِلَيَّto meوَقَالَ:and said:أَحْسَبُكَI suppose youمُفَكِّراًpensiveفِيمَاabout whatرَأَيْتَ.you saw.
and he turned to me and said: "I suppose you are pondering what you saw."
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ،Yes,وَقَىmay protectاللَّهُGodأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulالْمَكْرُوهَ.from any disliked thing.
I said: "Yes, may God protect the Commander of the Faithful from any disliked thing."
قَالَ:He said:إِنَّهُIndeed, itلَيْسَis notبِمَكْرُوهٍsomething dislikedوَلَكِنِّيbut Iقَرَأْتُreadكَلاماًwordsنَظِيرَsimilar toالْخَبَرِa reportخَبَرَنِيreported to meبِهِconcerning itالرَّشِيدُ،al-Rashid,
He said: "It is not something disliked, but I read words similar to a report that al-Rashid reported to me,
سَمِعْتُهُI heard himيَقُولُ:saying:الْبَلَاغَةُEloquence isالتَّقَرُّبُapproachingمِنْthe meaningمَعْنَىof the desired objectالْبُغْيَةِand distancing oneselfوَالتَّبَاعُدُfrom padded speechمِنْand indicatingحَشْوِwith the littleالْكَلامِthe much.وَدَلَالَةٌandبِالْقَلِيلِwithعَلَىtheالْكَثِيرِ،much,
as I heard him say: 'Eloquence is approaching the meaning of the desired object, distancing oneself from padded speech, and indicating much with a little.'
فَلَمْSo I neverأَتَوَهَّمْimaginedأَنَّthatهَذَاthisالْكَلامَspeechيُسْبَكُcould be mintedعَلَىinهَذِهِthisالصِّيغَةِformحَتَّىuntilقَرَأْتُI readهَذَاthisالْكِتَابَ،letter,
So I never imagined that this speech could be crafted in this form until I read this letter.
وَاللَّهِBy God,لَأَقْضِيَنَّI will surely fulfillحَقَّthe right ofهَذَاtheseالْكَلامِ،words,
By God, I will surely fulfill the right of these words!"
وَكَانَAnd the letterالْكِتَابُwasاسْتِعْطَافاًan appeal for sympathyعَلَىforالْجُنْدِthe soldiers,فِيهِin itكِتَابِيMy letterإِلَىtoأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَمَنْand thoseقَبْلِيwith meمِنْfromأَجْنَادِهِhis soldiersوَقُوَّادِهِand commandersفِيinالطَّاعَةِobedienceوَالْمُوَالَاةِand loyaltyوَالانْقِيَادِand submissionعَلَىinأَحْسَنِthe bestمَاstateتَكُونُthat can beعَلَيْهِuponطَاعَةُthe obedience ofجُنْدٍ،an army,
Now the letter was an appeal for sympathy regarding the soldiers, stating: "My letter to the Commander of the Faithful is on behalf of those with me from his soldiers and commanders in obedience, loyalty, and submission in the best state that an army's obedience can be,
وَقَدْand indeedتَأَخَّرَتْhave been delayedأَرْزَاقُهُمْtheir provisionsوَاخْتَلَتْand have become disorderedأَحْوَالُهُمْ.their conditions.
yet their provisions have been delayed and their conditions have become disordered."
قَالَ:He said:فَأَمَرَSo he commandedبِإِعْطَائِهِمْthat they be givenلِثَمَانِيَةِfor eightأَشْهُرٍ.months.
He said: So he ordered that they be given [pay] for eight months.
قَالَ:He said:وَلَمَّاAnd whenبَعَثَsentطَاهِرُTahirبْنُbinالْحُسَيْنِal-Husaynبِرَأْسِwith the headمُحَمَّدِof Muhammadالأَمِينِal-Aminكَتَبَhe wroteإِلَيْهِ:to him:
He said: And when Tahir ibn al-Husayn sent the head of Muhammad al-Amin, he wrote to him:
آتَىMay He grantاللَّهُGodأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulمِنْofشُكْرِهِHis gratitudeمَاwhatيَزِيدُincreasesبِهِtherebyفِيinنِعْمَتِهِHis favorعَلَيْهِupon himوَأَيَادِيهِand His favorsلَدَيْهِ،with him,
"May God grant the Commander of the Faithful such gratitude to Him as will increase His favor upon him and His favors with him,
فَقَدْfor indeedكَانَit wasمِنْfromقَدَرِthe decreeاللَّهِof GodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyفِيinإِعَانَةِaidingأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulعَلَىuponالظَّفَرِtriumphingبِحَقِّهِover his rightوَسَلَامَةِand the safetyالأَوْلِيَاءِof the alliesوَوَفَاةِand the deathمُحَمَّدِof Muhammadبْنِbinالرَّشِيدِal-Rashidمَاwhatلَاno oneدَافِعَcan repelلَهُitمِنَfromالْقَضَاءِthe decreeفِيconcerningالْخَلْقِcreationوَالِاسْتِبْدَادِand the absolute authorityبِالأَمْرِover the matterلِنُفُوذِdue to the executionمَشِيئَتِهِof His willفِيمَاin whatأَحَبَّHe lovedمِنْofإِعْزَازٍgranting gloryوَإِجْلَالٍand majestyوَمَوْتٍand deathوَحَيَاةٍ،and life.
for it was part of the decree of God Majestic and Mighty in aiding the Commander of the Faithful to triumph over his right, ensuring the safety of the allies, and the death of Muhammad ibn al-Rashid—something of God's decree regarding creation that none can repel, and His absolute authority over the matter due to the execution of His will in what He willed of honor, majesty, death, and life.
فَلْيُهَنِّئْSo let him congratulateأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulفَوَائِدُthe benefitsتَطَوُّلِof the bestowalاللَّهِof Godعَلَيْهِupon himوَلْيُعَزِّهِand let him console himعَنْregardingأَخِيهِhis brotherالرِّضَىbeing contentبِمَاwith whatيَؤُولُturns out/leadsإِلَيْهِto itأَهْلُthe peopleالأَرْضِof the earthوَالسَّمَاءِand the heavensمِنَfromالانْقِرَاضِextinctionوَالْفَنَاءِ.and annihilation.
So let the Commander of the Faithful congratulate himself on the benefits of God's bestowal upon him, and let him console himself regarding his brother by being content with what the people of the earth and the heavens are destined to come to of extinction and annihilation."
فَكَانَAnd usedالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munيَقُولُ:to say:وَاللَّهِBy God,لَسُرُورِيmy joyبِتَعْزِيَتِهِat his condolenceأَوْقَعُmade a deeper impactبِقَلْبِيin my heartمِنْthanتَهْنِئَتِهِ.his congratulation.
al-Ma'mun used to say: "By God, my joy at his condolence made a deeper impact on my heart than his congratulation."
قَالَ:He said:وَكَتَبَAnd wroteإِلَيْهِto himالْفَضْلُal-Fadlبْنُbinسَهْلٍ:Sahl:أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafterward,
He said: And al-Fadl ibn Sahl wrote to him: "As for what follows:
فَإِنَّindeedالْمَخْلُوعَthe deposed oneوَإِنْeven thoughكَانَhe wasقَسِيمَa sharerأَمِيرِwith the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulفِيinالنَّسَبِlineageوَاللَّحْمَةِand kinship,فَقَدْyetفَرَّقَhas separatedالْكِتَابُthe Book (Quran)بَيْنَهُbetween himوَبَيْنَهُand himفِيinالْوِلَايَةِguardianshipوَالْحُرْمَةِand sanctity
Even though the deposed one was a sharer with the Commander of the Faithful in lineage and kinship, the Book [of God] has separated between him and him regarding guardianship and sanctity
لِقَوْلِdue to the sayingاللَّهِof GodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyفِيمَاin whatاقْتَصَّHe relatedعَلَيْنَاto usمِنْofنَبَإِthe storyنُوحٍof Noahحَيْثُwhenيَقُولُ:He says:إِنَّهُ'Indeed, heلَيْسَis notمِنْofأَهْلِكَyour family;إِنَّهُindeed, heعَمَلٌis a deedغَيْرُother thanصَالِحٍ'،righteous,'[1]
based on the statement of God Majestic and Mighty in what He related to us of the story of Noah when He says: 'Indeed, he is not of your family; indeed, he is a deed other than righteous,'
وَلَاand there isصِلَةَno connectionلِأَحَدٍfor anyoneفِيinمَعْصِيَةِdisobedience toاللَّهِGodوَلَاnorقَطِيعَةَseveranceفِيمَاin whatكَانَتِwasالْقَطِيعَةُseveranceفِيforذَاتِthe sake ofاللَّهِ.God.
and there is no ties of kinship for anyone in disobedience to God, nor is there any severance in what severance is for the sake of God.
وَكَتَبْتُAnd I have writtenإِلَىtoأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ:of the Faithful:وَقَدْAnd indeedقَتَلَhas killedاللَّهُGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyالْمَخْلُوعَthe deposed oneوَرَدَاهُand cast him downرِدَاءَin the cloak ofنِكْثِهِhis treaty-breakingوَعَجَّلَand hastenedلِأَمِيرِfor the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulمَاwhatكَانَhe wasيَنْتَظِرُexpectingمِنْofوَعْدِهِ،His promise,
And I wrote to the Commander of the Faithful: 'Indeed God Majestic and Mighty has killed the deposed one, cast him down into the cloak of his covenant-breaking, and hastened for the Commander of the Faithful what he was expecting of His promise.
فَالْحَمْدُSo praise isلِلَّهِto Godالَّذِيwhoرَدَّreturnedإِلَىtoأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulمَعْلُومَthe knownحَقِّهِ،of his right,وَكَبَتَand humiliatedالْمَكَايِدَthe plotsلَهُagainst himفِيinخَفَرِviolatingعَهْدِهِhis covenantوَنَقْضِand breakingعَقْدِهِhis contractحَتَّىuntilرَدَّHe returnedبِذَلِكَtherebyأَعْلَامَthe bannersالدِّينِof religionإِلَىtoسَبِيلِهَاits pathبَعْدَafterدُرُوسِهَاits fading awayوَالسَّلَامُ.and peace.'
So praise be to God, who restored to the Commander of the Faithful his rightful due, and frustrated the plots against him in violating his covenant and breaking his contract, until He thereby returned the banners of religion to their path after they had faded. And peace.'
Footnotes
- 1.سورة هود، الآية 46.
Surah Hud, Verse 46.