قَالَHe saidوَكَتَبَand wroteالْمُعْتَصِمُAl-Mu'tasimإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنِTahirطَاهِرٍTahir
He said: Al-Mu'tasim wrote to Abdullah bin Tahir:
أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafterفَإِنَّfor indeedالْمَأْمُونَAl-Ma'munأَحَلَّهُmay God settle himاللَّهُGodدَارَin the abode ofكَرَامَتِهِHis generosity
As for what follows: Indeed, Al-Ma'mun - may God settle him in the abode of His generosity -
رَآكَsaw youلِأَكْثَرِfor most ofالَّذِيthat whichأَنْتَyou areلَهُfor itفِيهِin itأَهْلًاworthy
saw you as worthy of most of what you held,
وَقَدْand indeedجَمَعَhas combinedاللَّهُGodلَكَfor youإِلَىalong withحُسْنِthe goodness ofرَأْيِهِhis opinion
and God has combined for you, along with the goodness of his opinion,
كَانَwhat wasفِيكَin youجَمِيلُthe beautifulرَأْيِيopinion of mineلِمَاdue to whatمَحَضْتَهُyou showed purelyمِنْofحُسْنِgoodالطَّاعَةِobedienceوَكَرَمِand nobility ofالْوَفَاءِloyaltyوَشُكْرِand gratitude forالْإِحْسَانِkindness
the beautiful opinion I held of you, due to what you sincerely showed of good obedience, noble loyalty, and gratitude for kindness.
وَقَدْAnd indeedاتَّصَلَتِhave reachedالْأَخْبَارُthe reportsبِأَنَّكَthat youفِيare inكِفَايَةٍsufficiencyمِنْfromأَوْلِيَاءِallies ofأَمِيرِCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَأَمْوَالِand wealth ofخُرَاسَانَKhorasan
Reports have reached us that you are secure regarding the allies of the Commander of the Faithful and the wealth of Khorasan,
وَفِيand inمَنَعَةٍprotectionمِنْfromخَاصَّتِكَyour intimatesوَعَامَّتِكَand common peopleعَنْagainstأَنْthatيَنَالَكَharm youعَدُوُّكَyour enemyأَوْorأَحَدٌanyoneمِمَّنْfrom those whoيُخَالِفُكَoppose youبِسُوءٍwith evil
and in protection by your intimates and common folk from any enemy or opponent harming you with evil.
فَاكْتُبْSo writeبِشَرْحِexplainingذَلِكَthatإِلَىtoأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulلِيَعْرِفَهُso that he may know itإِنْifشَاءَGodاللَّهُwills
So write explaining that to the Commander of the Faithful so that he may know, God willing.
فَلَمَّاWhenوَصَلَarrivedكِتَابُهُhis letterقَالَsaidعَبْدُAbdul-Malikالْمَلِكِbinلِكَاتِبِهِto his scribeإِسْمَاعِيلَIsmailبْنِbinحَمَّادٍHammad
When his letter arrived, Abdul-Malik said to his scribe Ismail bin Hammad:
مَاWhatتَقُولُdo you sayفِيaboutهَذَاthisالْكِتَابِ؟letter?
"What do you say about this letter?"
قَالَ:He saidكِتَابُA letterتَعْرِيضٍof insinuationبِأَنَّكَthat youخَارِجٌare outsideمِنْofطَاعَتِهِhis obedienceمَالِكٌmaster ofأَمْرِyour affairنَفْسِكَyourselfدُونَهُindependent of him
He said: "It is a letter insinuating that you have departed from his obedience and control your own affairs independently of him."
قَالَ:He saidفَأَجِبْهُSo answer himعَنْهُregarding it
He said: "Then answer it on his behalf."
فَكَتَبَSo he wroteإِلَيْهِ:to himأَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafterيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
So he wrote to him: "As for what follows, O Commander of the Faithful:
فَإِنَّindeedحِزْبَthe party ofاللَّهِGodوَإِنْeven ifقَلُّواthey are fewوَأَنْصَارَand the supporters ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe believersوَإِنْeven ifضَعُفُواthey are weakفَهُمُthey areالْغَالِبُونَthe victors
the party of God, even if they are few, and the supporters of the believers, even if they are weak, they are the victors.
وَمَاAnd I am notأَنَاIبِشَيْءٍanythingفِيinمُلَاقَاةِmeetingعَدُوٍّan enemyأَوْثَقَmore confidentمَنِّيthan myselfبِعِزِّin the might ofدَوْلَةِthe state ofأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
I am not considering anything when facing an enemy more assuring than the might of the state of the Commander of the Faithful.
فَأَمَّاAs forالْأَيْدِيhandsفَقَلِيلَةٌthey are fewوَالْأَمْوَالُand wealthفَنَزِرَةٌis meagerوَفِيand inاللَّهِGodوَفِيand inأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَعْظَمُis the greatestالْغِنَىsufficiency
As for manpower, it is few, and wealth is meager, but in God and in the Commander of the Faithful lies the greatest sufficiency."
فَقَبِلَSo he acceptedعُذْرَهُhis excuseوَحَسُنَand good wasمَوْقِعُthe impressionكِتَابِهِof his letterمِنْهُupon him
So he accepted his excuse, and the letter made a very favorable impression upon him.
قَالَ:He saidوَكَتَبَand wroteأَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُbinإِسْرَائِيلَIsraelإِلَىtoالْوَاثِقِAl-Wathiq
He said: Ahmad bin Israel wrote to Al-Wathiq,
وَقَدْwhileعَزَلَهُhe had dismissed himعَنْfromدِيفَانِthe bureau ofالْخَرَاجِland taxوَأَمَرَand orderedبِتَقْيِيدِهِhis being put in shacklesلِيُصَحِّحَso that he might auditحِسَابَاتِهِ:his accounts
when he had dismissed him from the bureau of land tax and ordered him to be put in irons so that his accounts could be audited:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulبِمَfor whatيَسْتَحِقُّdoes he deserveالْإِذْلَالَhumiliationمَنْone whoأَنْتَyou areبَعْدَafterاللَّهِGodوَرَسُولِهِand His Messengerمَوْئِلُthe refuge ofعِزِّهِhis gloryوَإِلَيْكَand to youمَفْزَعُthe sanctuary ofأَمَلِهِhis hope
"O Commander of the Faithful, why does one deserve humiliation whose refuge of glory, after God and His Messenger, is you, and to whom the sanctuary of his hope leads?
وَلَمْAnd neverتَزَلْhas ceasedنَفْسُهُhis soulرَاجِيَةًhoping forلِابْتِدَاءِthe initiation ofإِحْسَانِكَyour kindnessإِلَيْهِto himوَتَتَابُعِand the succession ofنِعَمِكَyour blessingsلَدَيْهِupon him
His soul has never ceased hoping for the initiation of your kindness to him, the succession of your blessings upon him,
وَعَيْنُهُand his eyeطَامِحَةٌgazingإِلَىtowardتَطَوُّلِكَyour bestowalعَلَيْهِupon himوَرَفْعِكَand your raisingمِنْهُof himوَالزِّيَادَةِand the increaseفِيinالضَّيْعَةِestateإِلَيْهِconcerning him
and his eye is gazing toward your bestowal upon him, your raising of him, and the increase of provision toward him.
فَهَبْSo grantلَهُto himيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulمَاwhatيُزَيِّنُكَadorns youوَاعْفُand pardonعَمَّاwhatلَاdoes notيُشِينُكَdisgrace you
So grant him, O Commander of the Faithful, what adorns you, and pardon what does not disgrace you,
فَمَاfor there isبِهِfor himعَنْكَfrom youمَعْدِلٌany diversionوَلَاand noعَلَىuponغَيْرِكَother than youمُعَوَّلٌreliance
for he has no diversion from you and no reliance upon anyone other than you."
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedبِإِطْلَاقِهِhis release
So he ordered his release.
قَالَ:He saidوَكَتَبَand wroteجَعْفَرُJa'farبْنُbinمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِbinالْأَشْعَثِAl-Ash'athإِلَىtoيَحْيَىYahyaبْنِbinخَالِدٍKhalidيَسْتَعْفِيهِasking to be excusedمِنَfromالْعَمَلِ:office
He said: Ja'far bin Muhammad bin Al-Ash'ath wrote to Yahya bin Khalid asking to be excused from office:
شُكْرِيMy gratitudeلَكَto youعَلَىforمَاwhatأُرِيدُI desireالْخُرُوجَto exitمِنْهُfrom itشُكْرُis the gratitude ofمَنْone whoنَالَattainedالدُّخُولَentryفِيهِinto it
"My gratitude to you for what I wish to exit from is the gratitude of one who has just attained entry into it."
وَكَتَبَAnd wroteعَلِيُّAliبْنُbinهِشَامٍHishamإِلَىtoإِسْحَاقَIshaqبْنِbinإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimالْمَوْصِلِيِّ:Al-Mوصili
And Ali bin Hisham wrote to Ishaq bin Ibrahim Al-Mوصili:
مَاI doأَدْرِيnot knowكَيْفَhowأَصْنَعُ،I actأَغِيبُI am absentفَأَشْتَاقُand I yearnوَأَلْتَقِيand I meetفَلَاand I am notأَشْتَفِيsatisfiedثُمَّthenيُحْدِثُproducesلِيfor meاللِّقَاءُthe meetingنَوْعًاa typeمِنَofالْحُرْقَةِburningلِوْعَةِdue to the pangs ofالْفُرْقَةِseparation
"I do not know how to act; when I am absent I yearn, and when we meet I am not satisfied, then the meeting produces in me a type of burning due to the pangs of separation."
وَكَتَبَAnd wroteمَعْقِلٌMa'qilإِلَىtoأَبِيAbuدُلَفٍ:Dulaf
And Ma'qil wrote to Abu Dulaf:
فُلَانٌSo-and-soجَمِيلُhas a fineالْحَالِstateعِنْدَwithكِرَامِthe nobleالرِّجَالِmenوَأَنْتَand youإِنْifلَمْyou do notتَرْتَبِطْهُbind himبِفَضْلِكَby your virtueعَلَيْهِover himغَلَبَكَwill overcome youفَضْلُthe virtue ofغَيْرِكَsomeone other than youعَلَيْهِover him
"So-and-so has a fine standing with noble men, and if you do not bind him to you with your favor, the favor of someone else over him will win him from you."
وَكَتَبَAnd wroteرَجُلٌa manإِلَىtoأَخٍa brotherلَهُ:of his
And a man wrote to a brother of his:
أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafterفَقَدْthen indeedبَانَhas become clearلَنَاto usمِنْofفَضْلِthe grace ofاللَّهِGodجَلَّmajesticوَعَزَّand mightyمَاwhatلَاwe cannotنُحْصِيهِcountلِكَثْرَةِdue to the abundance ofمَاwhatنَعْصِيهِwe disobey Him
"As for what follows: There has become clear to us of the grace of God, Majestic and Mighty, what we cannot count due to the abundance of our disobedience to Him,
وَمَاand we do notنَدْرِيknowمَاwhatنَشْكُرُ:we should thank forأَجَمِيلَthe beauty ofمَاwhatنَشَرَHe spreadأَمْorقَبِيحَthe ugliness ofمَاwhatسَتَرَHe concealedأَمْorعَظِيمَthe greatness ofمَاwhatأَبْلَىHe tested/bestowedأَمْorكَثِيرَthe abundance ofمَاwhatعَفَاHe pardoned
and we do not know what to thank: the beauty of what He spread open, or the ugliness of what He concealed, or the greatness of what He bestowed, or the abundance of what He pardoned.
غَيْرَExcept thatأَنَّهُitيَلْزَمُنَاis incumbent upon usفِيinالْأُمُورِmattersشُكْرُهُHis gratitudeوَيَجِبُand is obligatoryعَلَيْنَاupon usحَمْدُهُ،His praise
However, it is incumbent upon us in all matters to thank Him and obligatory upon us to praise Him.
فَاسْتَزِدِSo seek increase fromاللَّهَGodمِنْofحُسْنِthe goodness ofبَلَائِهِHis trial/favorبِشُكْرِكَthrough your gratitudeإِيَّاهُto Himعَلَىforحُسْنِthe goodness ofآلَائِهِHis bounties
So ask God for an increase in His fine favors by thanking Him for the goodness of His bounties."
وَكَتَبَAnd wroteرَجُلٌa manإِلَىtoأَخٍa brotherلَهُ:of his
And a man wrote to a brother of his:
أُوصِيكَI advise youبِتَقْوَىto fearاللَّهِGodالَّذِيwhoابْتَدَأَكَbegan youبِإِحْسَانِهِwith His kindnessوَأَتَمَّand completedعَلَيْكَupon youنِعَمَهُHis blessingsبِأَفْضَالِهِwith His graces
"I advise you to fear God, who initiated you with His kindness, completed His blessings upon you with His graces,
وَصَبَرَand was patientعَلَيْكَwith youمَعَdespiteاقْتِدَارِهِHis power over youوَلَاand do notيَغُرَّنَّكَdeceive youإِمْهَالُهُHis granting you respiteفَإِنَّهُfor indeed itرُبَّمَاperhapsكَانَit wasاسْتِدْرَاجًا،a gradual enticement
and bore with you despite His power over you. Do not let His respite deceive you, for perhaps it is a gradual enticement.
عَافَانَاMay God saveاللَّهُGodوَإِيَّاكَus and youمِنَfromالِغْتِرَارِbeing deceivedبِالْإِمْهَالِby respiteفَإِنَّهُfor indeed itرُبَّمَاperhapsكَانَit wasاسْتِدْرَاجًا،a gradual enticementعَافَانَاMay God saveاللَّهُGodوَإِيَّاكَus and youمِنَfromالِغْتِرَارِbeing deceivedبِالْإِمْهَالِby respiteوَالِاسْتِدْرَاجِand enticementبِالْإِحْسَانِthrough kindness
May God save us and you from being deceived by respite, for perhaps it is a gradual enticement. May God save us and you from being deceived by respite and enticement through kindness."
قَالَ:He saidوَكَتَبَand wroteأَبُوAbuهَاشِمٍHashimالْحَرَّانِيُّAl-Harraniإِلَىtoبَعْضِsome ofالْأُمَرَاءِ:the commanders
He said: Abu Hashim Al-Harrani wrote to some of the commanders:
عِوَضِيMy compensationمِنْfromأَمَلِthe hope ofالْأَمِيرِthe commanderمُتَأَخِّرٌ،is delayedوَالصَّبْرُand patienceعَلَىwithالْحِرْمَانِdeprivationمُتَعَذِّرٌis impossible
"My compensation for the commander's hope is delayed, and patience with deprivation is impossible."
وَكَتَبَAnd wroteرَجُلٌa manإِلَىtoمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِbinعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِ:Abdullah
And a man wrote to Muhammad bin Abdullah:
إِنَّIndeedمِنَamongالنِّعْمَةِthe blessingsعَلَىuponالْمُثْنِيthe one praisingعَلَيْكَyouأَنْis thatيَخَافَhe fearsالْإِفْرَاطَextremes/excessوَلَاand does notيَأْمَنَfeel secure againstالتَّقْصِيرَfalling short
"Indeed, among the blessings upon one who praises you is that he fears excess and does not feel secure against falling short,
وَلَاand does notيَحْذَرَfearأَنْthatتَلْحَقَهُmight attach to himنَقِيصَةُthe blemish ofالْكَذِبِfalsehoodوَلَاnorيَنْتَهِيَdoes he reachمِنَinالْمَدْحِpraiseإِلَىtoغَايَةٍan endإِلَّاexceptوَجَدَhe foundفِيinفَضْلِكَyour virtueعَوْنًاan aidعَلَىinتَجَاوُزِهَاsurpassing it
nor does he fear that the blemish of falsehood will attach to him, nor does he reach any limit in praise without finding in your virtue an aid to surpass it.
وَمِنْAnd amongسَعَادَةِthe good fortune ofجَدِّكَyour destinyأَنَّis thatالدَّاعِيَthe suppliantلَكَfor youلَاdoes notيَعْدَمُlackكَثْرَةَan abundance ofالْمَادِحِينَpraisersوَمُسَاعَدَةًand assistanceمِنَofالنِّيَّةِintentionعَلَىwithظَاهِرِthe outwardالْقَوْلِspeech
And among the good fortune of your destiny is that one who prays for you does not lack an abundance of praisers and the assistance of intention to match outward speech."
وَكَتَبَAnd wroteرَجُلٌa manإِلَىtoأَبِيAbuعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنِYahyaيَحْيَى:Yahya
And a man wrote to Abu Abdullah bin Yahya:
رَأَيْتُنِيI saw myselfفِيمَاin whatأَتَعَاطَاهُI undertakeمِنْofمَدْحِكَpraising youكَالْمُخْبِرِlike one reportingعَنْonضَوْءِthe light ofالنَّهَارِdayالْبَاهِرِthe dazzlingوَالْقَمَرِand the moonالْمُضِيءِluminousالزَّاهِرِradiantالَّذِيwhichلَاis notيَخْفَىhiddenعَلَىfromنَاظِرٍ،any observer
"I found myself in what I undertake of praising you like one reporting on the dazzling light of day and the luminous, radiant moon that is hidden from no observer.
وَأَيْقَنْتُAnd I became certainأَنِّيthat IحَيْثُwhereverأَنْتَهِيI reachمِنَinالْقَوْلِspeechمَنْسُوبٌam attributedإِلَىtoالْعَجْزِincapacityمُقَصِّرٌfalling shortعَنِofالْغَايَةِthe goal
I became certain that wherever I end up in my speech, I am attributed to incapacity and fall short of the goal,
فَانْصَرَفْتُso I turned awayعَنْfromإِثْنَاءٍpraisingعَلَيْكَyouإِلَىtoالدُّعَاءِsupplicatingلَكَ،for youوَوَكَلْتُand I entrustedالْإِخْبَارَthe reportingعَنْكَabout youإِلَىtoعِلْمِthe knowledge ofالنَّاسِpeopleبِكَconcerning you
so I turned away from praising you to supplicating for you, and I entrusted reporting about you to people's knowledge of you."
قَالَ:He saidوَكَتَبَand wroteالْمُهَلَّبُAl-MuhallabبْنُbinأَبِيAbiصُفْرَةَSufrahإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdul-MalikالْمَلِكِbinبْنِMarwanمَرْوَانَMarwanلَمَّاwhenهَزَمَhe defeatedالشُّرَاةَ:the Shurat
He said: Al-Muhallab bin Abi Sufrah wrote to Abdul-Malik bin Marwan when he defeated the Shurat:
أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafterفَفَإِنَّاfor indeed weلَقِينَاmetالْمَارِقَةَthe renegadesبِبِلَادِin the land ofالْأَهْوَازِAhwaz
"As for what follows: We met the renegades in the land of Ahwaz,
وَكَانَتْand there wasلِلنَّاسِfor the peopleجَوْلَةٌa retreatثُمَّthenثَابَralliedأَهْلُthe people ofالدِّينِreligionوَالْمُرُوءَةِand chivalry
and the people suffered a retreat, then the people of religion and chivalry rallied,
وَنَصَرَنَاand God granted us victoryاللَّهُGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyعَلَيْهِمْover themوَنَزَلَand descendedالْقَضَاءُthe decreeبِأَمْرٍwith a matterجَاوَزَتِsurpassedالنِّعْمَةُthe blessingفِيهِin itالْأَمَلَhope
and God, Majestic and Mighty, granted us victory over them, and the decree descended with a matter wherein the blessing surpassed all hope.
فَصَارُواSo they becameرَدِيَّةَthe fodder ofرِمَاحِنَاour spearsوَضَرَائِبَand targets ofسُيُوفِنَاour swordsوَقُتِلَand was killedرَئِيسُهُمْtheir leaderفِيamidstجَمَاعَةٍa groupمِنْofحُمَاتِهِمْtheir defendersوَذَوِيand the people ofالنِّيَّاتِintentionsمِنْهُمْamong them
They became the fodder of our spears and the targets of our swords, and their leader was killed along with a group of their defenders and prominent men among them.
وَجَلَاAnd fledالْبَاقُونَthe survivorsعَنْfromعَسْكَرِهِمْ،their campوَأَرْجُوand I hopeأَنْthatيَكُونَwill beآخِرُthe end ofهَذِهِthisالنِّعْمَةِblessingكَأَوَّلِهَاlike its beginningتَمَامًاin completenessوَكَمَالًا،and perfectionوَالسَّلَامُand peace
The survivors fled from their camp, and I hope the end of this blessing will be like its beginning, complete and perfect. Peace be upon you."
وَكَتَبَAnd wroteالْمُهَلَّبُAl-MuhallabإِلَىtoالْحَجَّاجِAl-Hajjajفِيregardingفَتْحِthe conquest ofالْأَزَارِقَةِ:the Azariqa
And Al-Muhallab wrote to Al-Hajjaj regarding the conquest of the Azariqa:
الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to Godالْكَافِيwho sufficesبِالْإِسْلَامِthrough Islamمَاwhat isوَرَاءَهُbeyond itالَّذِيwhoلَاdoes notتَنْقَطِعُceaseمَوَادُّthe sources ofنِعْمَتِهِHis blessingحَتَّىuntilيَنْقَطِعَceaseمِنْfromخَلْقِهِHis creationمَوَادُّthe sources ofالشُّكْرِgratitude
"Praise be to God, who suffices through Islam against what lies beyond it, whose sources of blessing do not cease until the sources of gratitude cease from His creation.
وَإِنَّاAnd indeed weكُنَّاwereأُعْطِينَاgrantedمِنَbyاللَّهِGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyعَلَىregardingعَدُوِّنَاour enemyحَالَيْنِtwo statesيَسُرُنَاpleases usمِنْهُمْof themأَكْثَرُmoreمِمَّاthan whatيَسُوءُنَاdispleases us
God, Majestic and Mighty, granted us two states regarding our enemy, where more of what they did pleased us than displeased us,
وَيَسُوءُهُمْand displeases themمِنَّاfrom usأَكْثَرُmoreمِمَّاthan whatيَسُرُهُمْpleases themفَلَمْand continuouslyيَزَلِdidاللَّهُGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyيَزِيدُنَاincrease usوَيَنْقُصُهُمْand decrease themوَيُعِزُّنَاand give us mightوَيَخْذُلُهُمْand forsake them
and more of what we did displeased them than pleased them. God, Majestic and Mighty, continued to increase us and decrease them, grant us might and forsake them,
حَتَّىuntilبَلَغَreachedالْكِتَابُthe decreeأَجَلَهُits termوَقُطِعَand was cut offدَابِرُthe root ofالْقَوْمِthe peopleالَّذِينَwhoظَلَمُواwrongedوَالْحَمْدُand praiseلِلَّهِbe to GodرَبِّLord ofالْعَالَمِينَthe worlds
until the decree reached its term, and the root of the people who did wrong was cut off. Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds."