قَالَ:He said:
He said:
يَكْفِينِيIt is sufficient for meمِنْfromذَلِكَthatشَاهِدَيْtwo witnessesعَدْلٍ،of just character,اكْتُبُواwriteلَهُfor himإِلَىtoبِلَادِهِhis countryإِنْthat ifأَقَامَhe establishesشَاهِدَيْtwo witnessesعَدْلٍof just characterأَنَّthatالْأَرْضَthe landلَهُis for himوَلِآبَائِهِand his fathersفَادْفَعُوهَاthen hand it overإِلَيْهِ.to him.
It is sufficient for me as two just witnesses; write to his country that if he brings two just witnesses that the land is his and his fathers', then hand it over to him.
فَلَمَّاAnd whenوَلَّىhe turned awayالرَّجُلُthe manقَالَ:he said:انْظُرُواLookهَلْwhetherهَلَكَتْperishedلَهُfor himرَاحِلَةٌa riding mountأَمْorنَفِدَwas exhaustedلَهُfor himزَادٌprovisionsأَوْorتَخَرَّقَtore apartلَهُfor himمِنْfromحِذَاءٍ.a shoe.
And when the man turned away, he said: Look whether a riding beast of his perished, or his provisions were exhausted, or any of his shoes tore apart.
فَحَسَبُواSo they calculatedذَلِكَthatفَبَلَغَand it reachedثَلَاثِينَthirtyدِينَاراًdinarsفَأُتِيَand it was broughtبِهَاwith itفَعُدَّتْand it was countedفِيinيَدِهِ.his hand.
So they calculated that, and it amounted to thirty dinars, and it was brought and counted into his hand.
قَالَSaidابْنُIbnعَيَّاشٍ:Ayyash:وَخَرَجَAnd went outعُمَرُUmarذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayمِنْfromمَنْزِلِهِhis houseعَلَىuponبَغْلَةٍa muleلَهُbelonging to himوَعَلَيْهِand upon himقَمِيصٌwas a shirtوَمُلَاءَةٌand a cloakإِذْwhenجَاءَcameرَجُلٌa manعَلَىuponرَاحِلَةٍa riding mountحَتَّىuntilأَنَاخَهَاhe made it kneelوَسَأَلَand askedعَنْaboutعُمَرَUmarفَقِيلَso it was saidلَهُ:to him:قَدْHe hasخَرَجَgone outوَهُوَand heرَاجِعٌis returningالْآنَ.now.
Ibn Ayyash said: Umar went out one day from his house on a mule of his, wearing a shirt and a cloak, when a man came on a riding mount until he made it kneel and asked about Umar, so it was said to him: He has gone out and is returning now.
فَأَقْبَلَSo approachedعُمَرُUmarوَمَعَهُand with himرَجُلٌwas a manيُسَايِرُهُ،walking beside him,فَقِيلَso it was saidلِلرَّجُلِ:to the man:هَذَاThis isأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.of the Believers.
Then Umar approached with a man walking beside him, and it was said to the man: This is the Commander of the Believers.
فَقَامَSo he stood upفَشَكَاand complainedإِلَيْهِto himعَدِيَّagainst Adiبْنَson ofأَرْطَاةَArtahفِيconcerningأَرْضٍlandلَهُ،belonging to him,فَقَالَso saidعُمَرُ:Umar:قَاتَلَهُMay Allah fightاللَّهُ!him!أَمَاBeholdوَاللَّهِby Allahمَاdid notغَرَّنَاdeceive usإِلَّاexceptبِعِمَامَتِهِby his turbanالسَّوْدَاءِ،the black,أَمَاbeholdإِنِّيthat Iقَدْhaveكَتَبْتُwrittenإِلَيْهِto himفَضْلاًin additionعَنْtoوَصِيَّتِيmy instructionأَنَّthatمَنْwhoeverأَتَاكَcomes to youبِبَيِّنَةٍwith clear proofعَلَىregardingحَقٍّa rightلَهُbelonging to himفَسَلِّمْهُthen surrender itإِلَيْهِ،to him,ثُمَّand thenقَدْyou haveعَنَّاكَtroubledإِلَيَّ.to me.
So he stood up and complained to him about Adi ibn Artah concerning land of his. Umar said: May Allah fight him! By Allah, nothing deceived us about him except his black turban. Behold, I have written to him—in addition to my general instruction—that whoever comes to you with clear proof of a right due to him, hand it over to him. Yet you have still troubled yourself to come to me.
فَكَتَبَSo he wroteإِلَىtoعَدِيٍّAdiبِرَدِّconcerning the return ofأَرْضِهِhis landوَقَالَand saidلِلرَّجُلِ:to the man:كَمْHow muchأَنْفَقْتَ؟did you spend?قَالَ:He said:تَسْأَلُنِيDo you ask meعَنْaboutنَفَقَتِيmy expensesوَقَدْwhen you haveرَدَدْتَreturnedعَلَيَّto meأَرْضاًlandهِيَthat isخَيْرٌbetterمِنْthanمِائَةِone hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍ!dirhams!قَالَ:He said:إِنَّمَاIt is only thatرَدَّهَاhe returned itعَلَيْكَto youحَقُّكَ،your right,أَخْبِرْنِيinform meكَمْhow muchأَنْفَقْتَ؟did you spend?قَالَ:He said:مَاI do notأَدْرِي.know.
So he wrote to Adi to return his land, and said to the man: How much did you spend? He said: Do you ask me about my expenses when you have returned to me land that is better than one hundred thousand dirhams? He said: He only returned your right to you; inform me, how much did you spend? He said: I do not know.
قَالَ:He said:احْرِزُوهُ،Calculate it,فَإِذَاso beholdهُوَit isسِتُّونَsixtyدِرْهَماً،dirhams,فَأَمَرَso he orderedلَهُfor himبِهَاwith itمِنْfromبَيْتِthe houseالْمَالِ،of wealth,فَلَمَّاand whenوَلَّىhe turned awayصَاحَhe called outبِهِto himفَرَجَعَso he returnedفَقَالَ:and said:وَهَذِهِAnd theseخَمْسَةُfiveدَرَاهِمَdirhamsمِنْfromمَالِيmy wealthفَكُلْso eatبِهَاwith themلَحْماًmeatحَتَّىuntilتَبْلُغَ.you reach (your destination).
He said: Calculate it. And behold, it was sixty dirhams, so he ordered it to be given to him from the treasury. And when he turned away, he called out to him, so he returned and said: And these five dirhams are from my own wealth, so buy meat with them to eat until you reach your destination.
الْأَعْمَشُAl-A'mashعَنْfromحَبِيبِHabibبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiثَابِتٍThabitقَالَ:said:أَخْبَرَنِيInformed meدِهْقَانُthe dehqanالسَّيْلَحِينِof Saliheenقَالَ:and said:كَانَThere wasلِسَعِيدِfor Saeedبْنِson ofمَالِكٍMalikإِلَىnext toجَنْبِيmy sideضَيْعَةٌan estateوَكَانَand he wasرَجُلاًa manحَدِيداًharsh/hot-temperedفَأَتَيْتُهُso I came to himفَقُلْتُand saidلَهُ:to him:أَعِدْنِيHelp meعَلَىagainstنَفْسِكَ.yourself.
Al-A'mash, from Habib ibn Abi Thabit, said: The dehqan of Saliheen informed me, saying: Saeed ibn Malik had an estate next to mine, and he was a harsh man. So I came to him and said to him: Do me justice against yourself.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedبِيregarding meفَوُجِئَتْand there was struckفِيatعُنُقِي،my neck,فَقُلْتُ:so I said:لَأَرْحَلَنَّI will certainly set outإِلَىtoعُمَرَ.Umar.
So he gave orders regarding me and I was struck in my neck, and I said: I will certainly journey to Umar.
فَدَخَلْتُSo I enteredعَلَىuponامْرَأَتِيmy wifeفَأَعْلَمْتُهَاand informed herذَلِكَof thatفَقَالَتْ:and she said:إِنِّيIndeed Iأَخَافُfearأَنْthatلَاyou will notتَصْنَعَaccomplishشَيْئاًanythingوَيَجْتَرِئَand he will become emboldenedعَلَيْكَ.against you.
So I entered upon my wife and informed her of that, and she said: Indeed, I fear that you will accomplish nothing and he will become emboldened against you.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:إِنِّيIndeed Iأَكْرَهُdislikeأَنْthatتُحَدِّثَspeakالْعَجَمُthe non-Arabsبِأَنِّيthat Iقُلْتُsaidشَيْئاًsomethingلَمْwhich I did notأَفْعَلْهُ.do.
So I said: I dislike that the non-Arabs should say that I said something and did not do it.
قَالَ:He said:فَخَرَجْتُSo I set outحَتَّىuntilقَدِمْتُI arrivedالْمَدِينَةَin Medinaفَسَأَلْتُand askedعَنْaboutعُمَرَ،Umar,رَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercyاللَّهُ،on him,فَدُلِلْتُso I was directedعَلَيْهِto himوَأُرْشِدْتُand guidedإِلَيْهِ.to him.
He said: So I set out until I arrived in Medina and asked about Umar, may Allah have mercy on him, and I was directed and guided to him.
فَلَمَّاSo whenأَتَيْتُI cameمَنْزِلَهُto his houseدَخَلْتُI enteredفَإِذَاand beholdعُمَرُ،Umar,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُ،him,جَالِسٌsittingعَلَىonعَبَاءَةٍ،a woolen cloak,فَرَفَعَso he raisedرَأْسَهُhis headإِلَيَّtowards meوَقَالَ:and said:كَأَنَّكَIt is as if youلَسْتَare notمِنْofأَهْلِthe peopleالْمِلَّةِ.of the religion.
So when I came to his house and entered, behold, Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was sitting on a woolen cloak. He raised his head towards me and said: It is as if you are not from the people of the religion.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:أَنَاI amرَجُلٌa manمِنْfromأَهْلِthe peopleالذِّمَّةِ.of the dhimmah.
So I said: I am a man from the people of the dhimmah.
قَالَ:He said:فَمَاThen what isحَاجُتُكَ؟your need?قُلْتُ:I said:لِسَعِيدِFor Saeedبْنِson ofمَالِكٍMalikضَيْعَةٌis an estateإِلَىnext toجَانِبِيmy sideوَإِنِّيand indeed Iأَتَيْتُهُcame to himأَسْتَعْدِيهِseeking his help/justice againstعَلَىhimselfنَفْسِهِhimselfفَأَمَرَso he orderedبِيregarding meفَوُجِئَتْand there was struckفِيatعُنُقِيmy neckفَقُلْتُand I saidلِأَرْحَلَنَّI will certainly journeyإِلَىtoعُمَرَ.Umar.
He said: Then what is your need? I said: Saeed ibn Malik has an estate next to my side, and I came to him seeking justice against him, so he ordered regarding me and my neck was struck, and I said: I will certainly journey to Umar.
فَقَالَ:So he said:يَاOيَرْفَأُYarfa'ائْتِنِيbring meبِالدَّوَاةِthe inkwellوَالْمَكْتَبِ.and the writing board.
So he said: O Yarfa', bring me the inkwell and the writing board.
فَأَتَاهُSo he brought himبِجِرَابٍ،a pouch,فَأَدْخَلَand he insertedيَدَهُhis handوَأَخْرَجَand brought outصَحِيفَةًa sheet of paper/parchmentفَكَتَبَand wroteفِيهَا،in it,ثُمَّthenأَخْرَجَhe brought outسَيْراًa leather strapيَشُدُّهَاto tie itبِهِwithفَلَمْand he was notيَقْدِرْableعَلَيْهِto do soفَتَنَاوَلَso he reachedخَيْطاًfor a threadمِنْfromالْعَبَاءِthe woolen cloakالَّتِيwhichتَحْتَهُwas beneath himوَقَدْandتَنَشَّرَتْfrayedجَوَانِبُهَاits sidesفَشَدَّهَاand he tied itبِهِ،with it,فَأَرَدْتُand I wantedأَنْtoلَاnotآخُذَهَاtake itثُمَّthenتَنَاوَلْتُهَاI took itمُتَثَاقِلاً،reluctantly,فَكَأَنَّهُand it was as ifعَرَفَhe recognizedمَاwhatفِيwas inنَفْسِيmy soulفَقَالَ:so he said:ائْتِهِGo to himفَإِنْfor ifكَفَاكَhe suffices youوَإِلَّاand otherwiseفَأَقُمْstayوَاكْتُبْand writeإِلَيَّ.to me.
So he brought him a pouch, and he put in his hand and brought out a sheet and wrote on it. Then he brought out a leather strap to tie it with, but he could not manage it. So he reached for a thread from the cloak beneath him—its sides having frayed—and tied it with it. I wanted not to take it, then I took it reluctantly. It was as if he recognized what was in my mind, so he said: Go to him; if he satisfies your right, well and good, otherwise stay and write to me.
قَالَ:He said:فَخَرَجْتُSo I went outحَتَّىuntilقَدِمْتُI arrivedعَلَىatأَهْلِيmy familyفَقَالُوا:and they said:مَاWhatصَنَعْتَ؟did you accomplish?قُلْتُ:I said:أَتَيْتُI came toرَجُلاًa manلَمْwho did notيَقْدِرْmanageعَلَىto findسَيْرٍa leather strapيَشُدُّto tieبِهِwith itصَحِيفَتَهُhis documentحَتَّىuntilتَنَاوَلَhe reachedخَيْطاًfor a threadمِنْfromعَبَاءَةٍa woolen cloakكَانَتْthat wasتَحْتَهُbeneath himقَدْwhich hadتَفَزَّزَتْfrayedوَتَنَشَّرَتْand unraveledجَوَانِبُهَاits sidesفَشَدَّهَاand he tiedبِهِ.it with it.
He said: So I set out until I arrived at my family, and they said: What have you accomplished? I said: I came to a man who could not find a strap to tie his document with, until he reached for a thread from a woolen cloak beneath him which had frayed and whose sides had unraveled, and he tied it with it.
قَالُوا:They said:وَمَاAnd whatعَلَيْكَis it to youمِنْofذَلِكَthatإِنْifنَفَذَwas carried outأَمْرُهُ؟his command?قَالَ:He said:فَأَتَيْتُSo I cameسَعِيداًto Saeedفَنَاوْلْتُهُand handed himالْكِتَابَ،the letter,فَلَمَّاand whenقَرَأَهُhe read itأُرْعِدَتْtrembledفَرَائِصُهُhis limbs/musclesحَتَّىuntilسَقَطَfellالْكِتَابُthe letterمِنْfromيَدِهِhis handوَقَالَ:and he said:وَيْحَكَWoe to youمَاwhatصَنَعْتَ؟have you done?اذْهَبْGoفَالْأَرْضُfor the landلَكَ.is yours.
They said: What does that matter to you as long as his command is executed? He said: So I went to Saeed and handed him the letter, and when he read it, his limbs trembled until the letter fell from his hand, and he said: Woe to you, what have you done? Go, the land is yours.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:لَاI will notأَقْبَلُهَا.accept it.فَقَالَ:So he said:لَاNoوَاللَّهِby Allahلَاyou will notأَخَذْتُهَاtake itأَبَداً.ever.
So I said: I will not accept it. He said: No, by Allah, I will never take it back.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَانَAnd wasنُسْخَةُthe textالْكِتَابِ:of the letter:بِسْمِIn the name ofاللَّهِAllahالرَّحْمَنِthe Most Graciousالرَّحِيمِ.the Most Merciful.مِنْFromعَبْدِthe servantاللَّهِof AllahعُمَرَUmarأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the BelieversإِلَىtoسَعِيدِSaeedبْنِson ofمَالِكٍ.Malik.سَلَامٌPeaceعَلَيْكَ.be upon you.أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafterفَإِنَّthat indeedمَهْرَزَادَMehrzadدِهْقَانَthe dehqanالسَّيْلَحِينِof Saliheenذَكَرَmentionedأَنَّthatلَهُfor himضَيْعَةًis an estateإِلَىnext toجَانِبِكَyour sideوَأَنَّهُand that heأَتَاكَcame to youيَسْتَعْدِيكَseeking justice againstعَلَىyouنَفْسِكَyourselfفَأَمَرْتَso you orderedبِهِregarding himفَوُجِئَتْand there was struckعُنُقُهُhis neckفَإِذَاso whenجَاءَكَcomes to youكِتَابِيmy letterهَذَاthisفَأَرْضِهِthen satisfyمِنْregardingحَقِّهِhis rightوَإِلَّاand otherwiseفَأَقْبِلْcomeإِلَيَّto meرَاحِلاً،riding,وَالسَّلَامُ.and peace.
He said: And the text of the letter was: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. From the servant of Allah, Umar, Commander of the Believers, to Saeed ibn Malik. Peace be upon you. As for what follows: Indeed Mehrzad, the dehqan of Saliheen, mentioned that he has an estate next to your side and that he came to you seeking justice against yourself, and you ordered regarding him and his neck was struck. So when this letter of mine reaches you, satisfy his right, or else come to me riding. And peace.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَلَمَّاAnd whenوَلِيَassumedالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munالْخِلَافَةَthe caliphateعُرِضَتْthere was presentedعَلَيْهِto himسِيرَةُthe biography/conduct ofأَبِيAbuبَكْرٍ،Bakr,رَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercyاللَّهُ،on him,وَفِيand inآخِرِهَا:its end:وَكَانَAnd he used toيَأْخُذُtakeالْأَمْوَالَthe wealthمِنْfromوُجُوهِهَاits lawful sourcesوَيَضَعُهَاand place itفِيinحُقُوقِهَا.its rightful places.
It was said: When Al-Ma'mun assumed the caliphate, the biography of Abu Bakr, may Allah have mercy on him, was presented to him, and at the end of it: He used to take wealth from its lawful sources and place it in its rightful places.
فَقَالَ:So he said:أَمِيرُThe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Believersلَاcannotيُطِيقُendure/affordذَلِكَ.that.
So he said: The Commander of the Believers cannot endure that.
ثُمَّThenعُرِضَتْthere was presentedعَلَيْهِto himسِيرَةُthe biography ofعُمَرَ،Umar,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُ،him,وَفِيand inآخِرِهَا:its end:وَكَانَAnd he used toيَأْخُذُtakeالْأَمْوَالَthe wealthمِنْfromوُجُوهِهَاits lawful sourcesوَيَضَعُهَاand place itفِيinحُقُوقِهَاits rightful placesفَقَالَ:so he said:أَمِيرُThe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Believersلَاcannotيُطِيقُendureهَذَا.this.
Then the biography of Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was presented to him, and at the end of it: And he used to take wealth from its lawful sources and place it in its rightful places. So he said: The Commander of the Believers cannot endure this.
ثُمَّThenعُرِضَتْthere was presentedعَلَيْهِto himسِيرَةُthe biography ofعُثْمَانَ،Uthman,رَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercyاللَّهُ،on him,وَفِيand inآخِرِهَا:its end:وَكَانَAnd he used toيَأْخُذُtakeالْأَمْوَالَthe wealthمِنْfromوُجُوهِهَاits lawful sourcesوَيَضَعُهَاand place itفِيinحُقُوقِهَا.its rightful places.فَقَالَ:So he said:أَمِيرُThe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Believersلَاcannotيُطِيقُendureهَذَا.this.
Then the biography of Uthman, may Allah have mercy on him, was presented to him, and at the end of it: And he used to take wealth from its lawful sources and place it in its rightful places. So he said: The Commander of the Believers cannot endure this.
ثُمَّThenعُرِضَتْthere was presentedعَلَيْهِto himسِيرَةُthe biography ofعَلِيٍّ،Ali,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُ،him,وَفِيand inآخِرِهَا:its end:وَكَانَAnd he used toيَأْخُذُtakeالْأَمْوَالَthe wealthمِنْfromوُجُوهِهَاits lawful sourcesوَيَضَعُهَاand place itفِيinحُقُوقِهَا.its rightful places.فَقَالَ:So he said:أَمِيرُThe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Believersلَاcannotيُطِيقُendureهَذَا.this.
Then the biography of Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, was presented to him, and at the end of it: And he used to take wealth from its lawful sources and place it in its rightful places. So he said: The Commander of the Believers cannot endure this.
ثُمَّThenعُرِضَتْthere was presentedعَلَيْهِto himسِيرَةُthe biography ofمُعَاوِيَةَMuawiyahبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiسُفْيَانَSufyanوَفِيand inآخِرِهَا:its end:وَكَانَAnd he used toيَأْخُذُtakeالْأَمْوَالَthe wealthمِنْfromوُجُوهِهَاits lawful sourcesوَيَضَعُهَاand place itكَيْفَhoweverشَاءَ.he willed.فَقَالَ:So he said:إِنْIfكَانَit wasفَهَذَا.so this is it.
Then the biography of Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan was presented to him, and at the end of it: And he used to take wealth from its lawful sources and place it however he willed. So he said: If [any] was, then this is it.