ثُمَّThenوَثَبَleapedيَحْيَىYahyaعِنْدَuponفَرَاغِcompletionالْمَأْمُونِof al-Ma'munمِنْfromيَمِينِهِhis oath
Then Yahya leaped when al-Ma'mun finished his oath.
فَقَامَand stoodعَلَىonرِجْلَيْهِhis legs
And he stood on his legs.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munمَاWhatأَقَامَكَmade you stand?
Al-Ma'mun said to him: What made you stand?
فَقَالَHe saidإِنِّيIndeed Iكُنْتُwasفِيinحَقِّthe rightاللَّهِof GodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mighty
He said: I was in the right of God, Majestic and Mighty,
حَتَّىuntilأَخَذْتُهُI took itمِنْكَfrom youوَلَيْسَand it is notالْآنَnowمِنْofحَقِّكَyour rightأَنْthatأَتَصَدَّرَI sit aboveعَلَيْكَyou
until I took it from you, and it is not now your right that I preside over you.
وَقَبَضَAnd he graspedعَلَىonالرَّجُلِthe manلِئَلَّاlestيَخْرُجَhe leave
And he grasped the man lest he leave.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munارْفُقُواBe gentleبِهِwith him
Al-Ma'mun said: Be gentle with him.
ثُمَّThenقَالَhe saidيَاOغُلَامُboyأَحْضِرْنِيbring meمَاwhatادَّعَىhe claimedمِنَofالْمَالِthe wealth
Then he said: O boy, bring me what he claimed of the wealth.
فَلَمَّاSo whenأَحْضَرَhe brought itقَالَhe saidخُذْهُTake itإِلَيْكَto yourself
When it was brought, he said: Take it to yourself.
وَاللَّهِBy GodمَاnotكُنْتُI wasأَحْلِفُto swearعَلَىonفَجَرَةٍwicked onesثُمَّthenأَسْمَحُindulgeلَكَyouفَأُفْسِدَand corruptدِينِيmy religionوَدُنْيَايَand my worldly life
By God, I would not swear regarding wicked ones and then indulge you, corrupting my religion and my worldly life.
وَاللَّهُAnd GodيَعْلَمُknowsمَاthatدَفَعْتُI paidإِلَيْكَto youهَذَاthisالْمَالَwealthإِلَّاexceptخَوْفاًfearمِنْofهَذِهِthisالرَّعِيَّةِflock/subjectry
And God knows I did not pay this wealth to you except out of fear of this subjects
لَعَلَّهَاlest theyتَرَىseeأَنِّيthat Iتَنَاوَلْتُكَassailed youمِنْfromوَجْهِthe aspect ofالْقُدْرَةِpower
lest they see that I assailed you from a position of power
وَأَنِّيand that Iمَنَعْتُكَwithheld from youوَاجِبَكَyour dueبِالِاسْتِطَالَةِby lordingعَلَيْكَover you
and that I withheld your due from you by lording over you.
وَإِنَّهَاAnd theyلَتَعْلَمُsurely knowالْآنَnowمَاwhatكُنْتُI wasأَسْمَحُindulgingلَكَyouبِالْيَمِينِwith the oath
And they know now how I was indulging you with the oath.
فَقَالَSo saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَفَأُحَاطُshall I be escortedفِيinالْمَالِthe wealthحَتَّىuntilأَصِلَI reachإِلَىtoحَيْثُwhereآمَنُI am safeعَلَيْهِover it
He said: O Commander of the Faithful, shall I be escorted with the wealth until I reach where I am safe regarding it?
قَالَHe saidإِيYesوَاللَّهِby Godوَلَوْeven ifبِالتُّغْزْغُزِto Tughzghuzوَأَسْبِيجَابَand Isbijab
He said: Yes, by God, even to Tughzghuz and Isbijab.
فَأُخْرِجَSo was taken outالرَّجُلُthe manمَعَwithالْمَالِthe wealthوَبُذْرِقَand escortedبِهِwith himإِلَىuntilأَنْthatبَلَغَhe reachedمَأْمَنَهُ1his place of safety
The man was taken out with the wealth and escorted until he reached his place of safety.
وَمِنْهُAnd from itرِوَايَاتٌreports
And from it are reports
وُرُوِيَAnd it was narratedعَنِfromالنَّبِيِّthe Prophetصَلَّىmay God blessاللَّهُGodعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَand grant him peaceأَنَّهُthat heقَالَsaid
And it was narrated from the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, that he said:
إِنَّIndeedالرَّجُلَthe manإِذَاwhenظُلِمَhe is wrongedفَلَمْand does notيَنْتَصِرْtake revengeوَلَمْand does notيَجِدْfindمَنْsomeone whoيَنْصُرُهُhelps him
Indeed, when a man is wronged and does not take revenge and finds no one to help him,
فَرَفَعَand he raisesطَرْفَهُhis gazeإِلَىtoالسَّمَاءِthe skyوَدَعَاand supplicates
and he raises his gaze to the sky and supplicates,
قَالَsaidاللَّهُGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand MightyلَبَّيْكَAt your serviceعَبْدِيmy slaveأَنْصُرُكَI will help youعَاجِلاًpromptlyوَآجِلاًand later
God, Majestic and Mighty, says: At your service, My slave, I will help you promptly and later.
وَقَالَAnd saidرَسُولُMessenger ofاللَّهِGodصَلَّىmay God blessاللَّهُGodعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَand grant him peaceفِيregardingقَوْلِهِمْtheir sayingانْصُرْHelpأَخَاكَyour brotherظَالِماًwhile he is a wrongdoerأَوْorمَظْلُوماًwronged
And the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said regarding their saying: Help your brother, whether he is a wrongdoer or wronged.
قَالَHe saidتَمْنَعُهُYou prevent himمِنَfromالظُّلْمِwrongdoingفَذَلِكَso that isنَصْرُكَyour helpingإِيَّاهُof him
He said: You prevent him from wrongdoing, so that is your helping of him.
قَالَHe saidوَقَالَAnd saidالْفُضَيْلُal-Fudaylبْنُson ofعِيَاضٍIyadبَكَىweptابْنِيmy son
He said: Al-Fudayl ibn Iyad said: My son wept,
فَقُلْتُand I saidلَهُto himمَاwhatيُبْكِيكَmakes you weep?
and I said to him: What makes you weep?
فَقَالَHe saidأَبْكِيI weepعَلَىoverمَنْone whoظَلَمَنِيwronged meوَأَخَذَand tookمَالِيmy wealth
He said: I weep over the one who wronged me and took my wealth,
أَرْحَمُهُI have mercy on himغَداًtomorrowإِذَاwhenوَقَفَhe standsبَيْنَbetweenيَدَيْhands ofاللَّهِGodعَزَّMightyوَجَلَّand Majestic
I have mercy on him tomorrow when he stands before God, Mighty and Majestic,
وَسَأَلَهُand He asks himفَلَاand there is notتَكُونُto beلَهُfor himحُجَّةٌan argument/excuse
and He asks him, and he has no excuse.
قَالَHe saidوَقَالَAnd saidالْحَسَنُal-Hasanالْبَصْرِيُّal-BasriيَاOأَيُّهَاyouالْمُصَدِّقُwho gives charityعَلَىtoالسَّائِلِthe beggarتَرْحَمُهُyou have mercy on him
He said: Al-Hasan al-Basri said: O you who gives charity to the beggar, showing him mercy,
ارْحَمْhave mercyأَوَّلاًfirstمَنْon one whoظَلَمْتَyou wronged
have mercy first on the one whom you wronged.
وُرُوِيَAnd it was narratedعَنْfromعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنِSalamسَلَامٍthat he saidأَنَّهُthat heقَالَsaid
And it was narrated from Abdullah bin Salam that he said:
قَرَأْتُI readفِيinبَعْضِsomeالْكُتُبِbooksقَالَit saysتَبَارَكَBlessedوَتَعَالَىand Exalted
I read in some books, He, Blessed and Exalted, says:
إِذَاWhenعَصَانِيdisobeys meمَنْone whoيَعْرِفُنِيknows meسَلَّطْتُI empowerعَلَيْهِover himمَنْone whoلَاdoes notيَعْرِفُنِيknow me
When one who knows Me disobeys Me, I empower over him one who does not know Me.
وَقَالَAnd saidخَالِدٌKhalidإِيَّاكُمْBewareوَمَجَانِيقَcatapultsالضُّعَفَاءِof the weak
Khalid said: Beware of the catapults of the weak,
يُرِيدُmeaningالدُّعَاءَ2supplication
meaning supplication.
وَمِنْهُAnd from itتَوْقِيعَاتٌroyal decrees/signatures
And from it are decrees
قَالَHe saidوَقَّعَdecreedالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munفِيonكِتَابِa petitionمُتَظَلِّمٍof a wronged personمِنْagainstأَحْمَدَAhmadبْنِbinهِشَامٍHisham
He said: Al-Ma'mun decreed on a petition of a wronged person against Ahmad bin Hisham:
اكْفِنِيSpare meأَمْرَthe matter ofهَذَاthisالرَّجُلِmanوَإِلَّاor elseكَفَيْتُهُI will spare youأَمْرَكَhis matter/your matter
Spare me the matter of this man, or else I will spare you his matter.
وَوَقَّعَAnd he decreedفِيonرُقْعَةِa noteرَجُلٍof a manمِنَfromالْعَامَّةِthe common folkتَظَلَّمَwho complainedمِنْagainstعَلِيِّAliبْنِbinهِشَامٍHisham
And he decreed on a note of a common man who complained against Ali bin Hisham:
يَاOأَبَاAbuالْحَسَنِal-Hasanالشَّرِيفَthe noble oneمَنْone whoيَظْلِمُwrongsمَنْwho isفَوْقَهُabove himوَيَظْلِمُهُand is wronged byمَنْwho isدُونَهُbelow himفَاعْلِمْنِيso let me knowأَيَّwhichالرَّجُلَيْنِof the two menأَنْتَyou are
O Abu al-Hasan the noble, one who wrongs who is above him and is wronged by who is below him, let me know which of the two men you are.
وَقَالَAnd saidعَمْرُوAmrبْنُbinمَسْعَدَةَMasadahكَتَبْتُI wroteإِلَىtoعَامِلٍan agentدَسْتَبَىof Dastabaكِتَاباًa letterأَطَلْتُهُwhich I lengthened
And Amr bin Masadah said: I wrote to an agent of Dastaba a letter which I lengthened.
فَأَخَذَهُSo took itالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munمِنْfromيَدِيmy handوَكَتَبَand wrote
Al-Ma'mun took it from my hand and wrote:
قَدْIndeedكَثُرَhave multipliedشَاكُوكَthose who complain against youفَإِمَّاso eitherعَدَلْتَyou act justlyوَإِمَّاorاعْتَزَلْتَyou step down
Those who complain against you have multiplied, so either you act justly or you step down.
وَوَقَّعَAnd he decreedفِيonرُقْعَةِa noteرَجُلٍof a manتَظَلَّمَwho complainedمِنَagainstالرُّسْتُمِيِّal-Rustumi
And he decreed on a note of a man who complained against al-Rustumi:
لَيْسَIt is notمِنَofالْبِرِّrighteousnessأَنْthatتَكُونَbeآنِيَتُكَyour vesselsذَهَباًgoldوَقُدُورُكَand your potsفِضَّةًsilverوَجَارُكَwhile your neighborيَطْوِيgoes hungryوَغَرِيمُكَand your debtorيَعْوِيhowls/cries out
It is not righteousness that your vessels be gold and your pots silver while your neighbor goes hungry and your debtor cries out.
قَالَHe saidوَوَقَّعَAnd decreedهِشَامُHishamبْنُbinعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malikفِيonرُقْعَةِa noteمُتَظَلِّمٍof a wronged personمِنَfromالْعَامَّةِthe common folk
He said: And Hisham bin Abd al-Malik decreed on a note of a wronged commoner:
أَتَاكَHas come to youالْغَوْثُsuccorإِنْifكُنْتَyou wereصَادِقاًtruthfulوَحَلَّand has befallenبِكَyouالنَّكَالُpunishmentإِنْifكُنْتَyou wereكَاذِباًlyingفَتَأَخَّرْso step backأَوْorتَقَدَّمْstep forward
Succor has come to you if you were truthful, and punishment has befallen you if you were lying, so step back or step forward.
قَالَHe saidوَرَفَعَAnd raisedرَجُلٌa manإِلَىtoالْمَنْصُورِal-Mansurقِصَّةًa petitionيَتَظَلَّمُcomplainingفِيهَاin itمِنْagainstعَامِلِagent ofفَارِسَFaris
He said: A man raised a petition to al-Mansur, complaining in it against the agent of Faris.
فَوَقَّعَSo he decreedلَهُfor himإِنْIfآثَرْتَyou preferالْعَدْلَjusticeصَحِبَتْكَshall accompany youالسَّلَامَةُsafety
So he decreed for him: If you prefer justice, safety shall accompany you.
وَوَقَّعَAnd he decreedلِقَوْمٍfor peopleمُتَظَلِّمِينَcomplainingشَكَوْاwho complained ofسِيرَةَthe conduct ofوَالِيِهِمْtheir governorكَمَاAsتَكُونُونَyou areيُوَلَّىthere shall be appointed overعَلَيْكُمْyou
And he decreed for complaining people who complained of the conduct of their governor: As you are, so shall there be appointed over you.
وَوَقَّعَAnd decreedيَحْيَىYahyaبْنُbinخَالِدٍKhalidلِمُتَظَلِّمٍfor a wronged personمِنْagainstبَعْضِsomeالْوُلَاةِgovernors
And Yahya bin Khalid decreed for a wronged person against some governors:
أَنْصِفْDo justiceمَنْto whomوَلِيتَyou were put in charge ofأَمْرَهُhis affairوَإِلَّاor elseأَنْصَفَهُمْhe will do them justiceمَنْagainst whomوَلِيَis in charge ofأَمْرَكَyour affair
Do justice to whom you were put in charge of, or else he will do them justice against whom is in charge of your affair.
وَوَقَّعَAnd decreedبَعْضُهُمْsome of themإِلَىtoصَاحِبِmaster ofمَظَالِمَgrievances
And some of them decreed to a master of grievances:
مَاNotأَرَانِيdo I see myselfسَالِماًsafeمِنَfromالْمَآثِمِsinsبِتَوْلِيَتِيby my appointingإِيَّاكَyouالْمَظَالِمَover grievances
I do not see myself safe from sins by my appointing you over grievances.
يَاOرَدِيءَevilالْمُخْتَبَرِone in testingاعْتَزِلْstep downغَيْرَother thanمَحْمُودِpraisedالْأَثَرِin trace/legacy
O evil one upon testing, step down with an unpraised legacy.
قِيلَIt was saidوَقَالَand saidرَجُلٌa manلِلْمُعْتَصِمِto al-Mu'tasim
It was said: A man said to al-Mu'tasim:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulظَلَمَنِيhas wronged meمَنْone whoوَافَقَagreesاسْمُهُhis nameفِعْلَهُhis action
O Commander of the Faithful, one whose name matches his action has wronged me.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمُعْتَصِمُal-Mu'tasimلِبُغَاto BughaسَلْهُAsk himمِمَّنْfrom whomيَتَظَلَّمُhe is complainingفَإِنِّيfor indeed Iأَرَاهُsee himيَتَظَلَّمُcomplainingمِنْagainstظَلُومٍZalum
Al-Mu'tasim said to Bugha: Ask him from whom he is complaining, for indeed I see him complaining against Zalum.
فَسَأَلَهُSo he asked himفَقَالَand he saidمِنْFromظَلُومٍZalum
So he asked him, and he said: From Zalum.
فَتَبَسَّمَThen smiledالْمُعْتَصِمُal-Mu'tasimوَقَالَand saidلِابْنِto the son ofأَبِيAbuدُؤَادَDudad
Al-Mu'tasim smiled and said to Ibn Abi Duwad:
مَاHowأَبْعَدَfarالرَّجُلَthe manفِيinقَوْلِهِhis statementقُلْSayلَهَاto her/himبِحَيَاتِيby my lifeأَنْصِفِيهِdo him justice
How far the man is in his statement! Say to her by my life: Do him justice.
قَالَHe saidوَأَخْبَرَنَاAnd informed usإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimبْنُbinمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadقَالَsaying
He said: Ibrahim bin Muhammad informed us, saying:
كُنَّاWe wereمَعَwithالْمُتَوَكِّلِal-Mutawakkilفِيinبَعْضِsomeمَتَنَزَّهَاتِهِof his pleasure grounds
We were with al-Mutawakkil in some of his pleasure grounds,
فَوَقَفَand he stoppedعَلَىatتَلٍّa hillكُلِّهِall of itحَصًىpebblesقَدْwhichغَسَلَهُwashed itالْمَطَرُthe rain
and he stopped at a hill all of which was pebbles washed by the rain.
فَاسْتَحْسَنَهُSo he found it fineفَنَزَلَand he dismountedفَصَلَّىand prayedوَسَبَّحَand glorified God
He found it fine, so he dismounted, prayed, and glorified God.
ثُمَّThenقَالَhe saidفِيinدُعَائِهِhis supplicationاللَّهُمَّO GodإِنَّكَIndeed Youخَلَقْتَنِيcreated meوَلَمْand I was notأَكُanythingشَيْئاًa thing
Then he said in his supplication: O God, You created me when I was not a thing.
ثُمَّThenصَيَّرْتَنِيYou made meفَوْقَaboveهَذَاthisالْخَلْقِcreation
Then You made me above this creation,
وَأَنْتَand You areقَادِرٌcapableأَنْthatتُزِيلَYou removeهَذَاthisكُلَّهُall of it
and You are capable of removing all of this.
فَارْزُقْنِيSo grant meالْعَدْلَjusticeوَالنَّصَفَةَand fairnessوَأَلْقِand castفِيinقَلْبِيmy heartلَهُمْfor themالرَّأْفَةَcompassionوَالرَّحْمَةَand mercy
So grant me justice and fairness, and cast in my heart compassion and mercy for them.
ثُمَّThenبَكَىhe weptوَأَخَذَand tookكَفّاًa palmfulمِنْofذَلِكَthatالْحَصَىpebbles
Then he wept and took a palmful of those pebbles,
فَجَعَلَهُand placed itعَلَىonرَأْسِهِhis head
and placed it on his head,
وَجَعَلَand beganيُقَلِّبُto turnخَدَّهُhis cheekوَوَجْهَهُand his faceعَلَىonالْأَرْضِthe earth
and began to turn his cheek and his face on the earth.
ثُمَّThenقَامَhe stood upفَرَكِبَ3and mounted
Then he stood up and mounted.
مَسَاوِئُEvils ofأَخْذِtakingالْجَارِthe neighborبِالْجَارِfor the neighbor
Evils of taking the neighbor for the neighbor
قَالَHe saidقَالَsaidالْحَجَّاجُal-HajjajبْنُbinيُوسُفَYusuf
He said: Al-Hajjaj bin Yusuf said:
لَأُخِذَنَّI shall surely takeالسَّمِيَّthe namesakeبِالسَّمِيِّfor the namesakeوَالْوَلِيَّand the close friendبِالْوَلِيِّfor the close friendوَالْجَارَand the neighborبِالْجَارِfor the neighbor
I shall surely take the namesake for the namesake, the close friend for the close friend, and the neighbor for the neighbor.
وَقَدْAndلَعَنَcursedالنَّاسُpeopleقَائِلَthe utterer ofهَذَاthisالْبَيْتِverse
And people have cursed the utterer of this verse:
أَرَىI seeأَخْذَtakingالْبَرِيِّthe innocentبِغَيْرِwithoutجُرْمٍcrime
I see taking the innocent without a crime...
تَجَنُّبَavoidingمَاwhatيُحَاذِرُهُfearsالسَّقِيمُthe sick person
avoiding what the sick person fears.
وَقَالَAnd saidالْحَارِثُal-HarithبْنُbinعَبَّادٍAbbadفِيinهَذَاthisالْمَعْنَىmeaning
And al-Harith bin Abbad said in this meaning:
لَمْI was notأَكُنْfromمِنْits perpetratorsجُنَاتِهَاby GodعَلِمَHe knewاللَّهُand I
I was not from its perpetrators, God knew, and I...
وَإِنِّيAnd indeed Iبِحَرِّهَاby its heatالْيَوْمَtodayصَالِيam burning
And indeed I am burning by its heat today.
وَقِيلَAnd it was said
And it was said:
لَعَلَّPerhapsلَهُfor himعُذْراًis an excuseوَأَنْتَwhile youتَلُومُblame
Perhaps he has an excuse while you blame.
وَأَنْشَدَAnd recitedفِيinمِثْلِهِits likenessالنَّابِغَةُal-Nabighah
Al-Nabighah recited in its likeness:
فَحَمَّلْتَنِيSo you burdened me withذَنْبَthe sin ofامْرِئٍa manوَتَرَكْتَهُand left him
So you burdened me with the sin of a man and left him,
كَذِيlike the oneالْعَرِّwith mangeيُكْوَىis brandedغَيْرُهُother than himوَهُوَwhile heرَاتِعٌis grazing
like the one with mange; another is branded while he is grazing.
Footnotes
- 1.تُؤخذ هذه الروايات من سياق حكايات العدل والإنصاف في الآداب السلطانية.
These narratives are taken from the context of stories of justice and equity in political literature.
- 2.التوقيعات هي عبارات موجزة بليغة كان الخلفاء يكتبونها على الرقاع والكتب.
Tawqi'at are concise, eloquent phrases that caliphs used to write on petitions and books.
- 3.هذا الباب يعالج مسألة من أهم مسائل العدل والمسؤولية الفردية في الحكم.
This chapter addresses one of the most important issues of justice and individual responsibility in governance.