قَالَSaidأَبُوAbuأَحْمَدَAhmadبْنُbinالْقَاسِمِal-Qasimبْنِbinوَاضِحٍ،Wadih,رَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercy onاللَّهُ:him:
Abu Ahmad bin al-Qasim bin Wadih, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
كَانَMuhammadمُحَمَّدُbinبْنُal-Wathiqالْوَاثِقِwasوَهُوَwhile he wasالْمُهْتَدِيal-Muhtadiبِاللَّهِbi-Allahقَبْلَbeforeالْخِلَافَةِthe caliphateيُكْثِرُfrequentعِنْدَatالْمُعْتَزِّal-Mu'tazz'sبِاللَّهِpresenceالْجُلُوسَsitting
Muhammad bin al-Wathiq, who was al-Muhtadi bi-Allah, before the caliphate, used to sit frequently with al-Mu'tazz bi-Allah,
وَالْخِلَافَةُand the caliphateيَوْمَئِذٍat that timeبِسُرَّwas in Samarraمَنْmanرَأَىra'a
while the caliphate at that time was in Samarra.
فَيَرْجِعُSo al-Mu'tazzالْمُعْتَزُّwould deferإِلَىtoقَوْلِthe opinion ofمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadفِيinأُمُورِهِhis affairsوَمَاand whatيُمْضِيهِhe executesوَيَبْرُمُهُ،and settles,
Al-Mu'tazz would defer to Muhammad's opinion in his affairs and in what he executed and settled.
وَكَانَAnd he wasكَثِيرَfrequentlyالْمُعَارَضَةِopposingلِأُمِّthe mother ofالْمُعْتَزِّal-Mu'tazzفِيمَاin whatتَأْمُرُshe commandsبِهِitوَتَنْهَى،and forbids,
He frequently opposed the mother of al-Mu'tazz in what she commanded and forbade.
فَلَمْSo sheتَزَلْcontinuedبِالْمُعْتَزِّurging al-Mu'tazzإِلَىuntilأَنْthatأَمَرَhe orderedبِإِحْدَارِهِhis banishmentإِلَىtoمَدِينَةِthe city ofالسَّلَامِPeaceعَلَىagainstكُرْهٍhis willمِنْهُ،reluctantly.
She continually pressured al-Mu'tazz until he ordered him to be brought to the City of Peace (Baghdad) against his will.
فَلَمَّاSo whenأَمَرَhe orderedبِذَلِكَthatكَانَwasوَزِيرُهُhis vizierأَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُbinإِسْرَائِيلَIsraelمُنْحَرِفاًhostileعَنْtowardمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِbinالْوَاثِقِal-Wathiq
When that was ordered, his vizier Ahmad bin Israel was hostile toward Muhammad bin al-Wathiq
وَأَحَبَّand desiredأَنْtoيُخْرِجَهُtake him outمَعَwithحُرْمِهِhis womenfolkنَهَاراًby dayلِيَسُوءَهُto distress himوَيَضَعَand humiliateمِنْهُ،him,
and wanted to parade him out with his womenfolk during the day to distress and humiliate him.
فَسَأَلَSo askedمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُbinالْوَاثِقِal-Wathiqالْقَاسِمَal-QasimبْنَbinوَاضِحٍWadih
So Muhammad bin al-Wathiq asked al-Qasim bin Wadih
لِحَالٍdue to a relationshipكَانَتْthat wasبَيْنَهُمَاbetween themوَزُلْفَةٍand closenessكَانَتْthat wasلَهُfor himعِنْدَهُwith himمُتَقَدِّمَةًlong-standing
due to their relationship and long-standing closeness to him,
أَنْtoيَدْخُلَenterمَعَwithصَاحِبِهِhis companionالْمَعْرُوفِknownبِالطُّوسِيِّas al-Tusi
that he go with his companion known as al-Tusi
وَيَسْأَلَهُand ask himأَنْtoيُخْرِجَهُtake him outوَحُرْمَهُand his womenfolkلَيْلاً،at night,
and ask him [Ahmad] to let him and his womenfolk leave at night.
فَفَعَلَSo he didوَكَلَّمَand spoke toأَحْمَدَAhmadبْنَbinإِسْرَائِيلَIsraelوَرَقَّقَهُand softened himوَلَاطَفَهُ،and treated him kindly,
So he did and spoke to Ahmad bin Israel, softening him and treating him kindly.
فَغَضِبَSo he became angryأَحْمَدُAhmadوَاحْتَدَّ،and flared up,
Ahmad became angry and flared up,
وَكَانَand he wasغَيْرَnotحَافِظٍguardingلِسَانِهِhis tongueقَلِيلَlittleالْفِكْرِreflectiveفِيregardingالْعَوَاقِبِconsequencesمُتَهَوِّراً،reckless,
for he was careless with his tongue, rarely thinking of consequences, and reckless.
فَأَطْلَقَSo he let looseلِسَانَهُhis tongueبِكَلَامٍwith speechبَشِعٍhideousقَبِيحٍuglyوَقَالَ:and said:
He let loose his tongue with hideous, ugly speech, saying:
مَنْWhoهُوَis heوَمَنْand who areبَنَاتُهُhis daughtersوَحُرْمُهُand womenfolkالْكَذَاsuch-and-suchالْكَذَاsuch-and-suchحَتَّىthatلَاthey do notيَخْرُجُونَleaveنَهَاراً!by day!
"Who is he, and who are his such-and-such daughters and womenfolk, that they shouldn't leave by day!"
فَقَالَSo saidالْقَاسِمُ:al-Qasim:لَيْتَWould thatأَنَّthatرِجْلِيmy footانْكَسَرَتْhad brokenوَلَمْand I had notأَحْضُرْattendedهَذَاthisالْمَجْلِسَ.assembly.
Al-Qasim said, "Would that my foot had broken and I had not attended this assembly!"
وَقَامَAnd stood upمَعَهُwith himالطُّوسِيُّal-Tusiرَسُولُthe messenger ofمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِbinالْوَاثِقِal-Wathiq
Al-Tusi, the messenger of Muhammad bin al-Wathiq, stood up with him,
وَمَاand he keptزَالَceaselesslyيَسْأَلُهُasking himأَنْtoلَاnotيَرُدَّreturnخَبَرَnews ofالْمَجْلِسِthe assemblyوَلَاand notيَحْكِيَto recountالْكَلَامَthe wordsالَّذِيthatبَدَرَbadeمِنْfromأَحْمَدَAhmadبْنِbinإِسْرَائِيلَ،Israel,
and continually asked him not to report back the news of the meeting nor recount the words that came from Ahmad bin Israel.
فَوَعَدَهُSo he promised himوَخَالَفَهُand broke his promiseلَمَّاwhenفَارَقَهُhe parted from himوَلَمْand he did notيَصْبِرْhave patienceحَتَّىuntilمَضَىhe wentفَحَكَاهُand recounted itلِمُحَمَّدِto Muhammadبْنِbinالْوَاثِقِ،al-Wathiq,
He promised him [to keep quiet] but broke his promise when he left him; unable to wait, he went and recounted it to Muhammad bin al-Wathiq.
وَأُحْدِرَAnd was brought downمُحَمَّدٌMuhammadمَعَwithحُرْمِهِhis womenfolkنَهَاراًby dayإِلَىtoمَدِينَةِthe city ofالسَّلَامِ،Peace,
Muhammad was brought down with his womenfolk by day to the City of Peace,
فَوَقَرَso that weighed heavilyذَلِكَthatفِيinنَفْسِthe soul ofمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadوَحَقَدَهُand he harbored grudgeعَلَىagainstأَحْمَدَAhmadبْنِbinإِسْرَائِيلَ.Israel.
which weighed heavily upon Muhammad's soul, and he harbored a grudge against Ahmad bin Israel.
فَلَمْAnd notيَمْضِpassedإِلَّاexceptالْقَلِيلُa littleحَتَّىuntilقَعَدَassumedمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُbinالْوَاثِقِal-Wathiqفِيinالْخِلَافَةِthe caliphateبَعْدَafterقَتْلِthe killing ofالْمُعْتَزِّ.al-Mu'tazz.
Only a short time passed before Muhammad bin al-Wathiq assumed the caliphate after the killing of al-Mu'tazz.
وَكَانَAnd he wasرَجُلاًa manتَقِيّاًpiousمُتَأَلِّهاًdevoutيُؤْثِرُpreferringالْعَدْلَjusticeوَالْإِنْصَافَand equityوَيَتَحَرَّجُand scrupulousوَيُحِبُّand lovingإِظْهَارَthe manifestation ofالسُّنَنِthe good traditionsالْحَسَنَةِand beautifulوَإِقَامَةَand the establishment ofالدِّينِreligionعَلَىuponشَرَائِعِهِits lawsالْمُسْتَوِيَةِstraightوَأَعْلَامِهِand its bannersالْقَدِيمَةِancientمِنَamongالْخُلَفَاءِthe caliphsالَّذِينَwhoعَدَلُوا،were just,
He was a pious, devout man who preferred justice and equity, was scrupulous, and loved to display good traditions and establish religion upon its straight laws and ancient banners, like the caliphs who were just.
إِلَّاexceptأَنَّthatأَيَّامَهُhis daysقَصُرَتْwere shortوَكَانَand wereالْأْتْرَاكُthe Turksقَدْalreadyغَلَبُواovercomeعَلَىoverالْخِلَافَةِthe caliphateلِكَثْرَةِdue to the abundance ofمُعَارَضَتِهِمْtheir oppositionلِلْخُلَفَاءِto the caliphsوَإِضْعَافِهِمْand their weakeningأَيْدِيَهُمْtheir handsوَإِنْهَائِهِمْand their endingأَمْرَهُمْ.their authority.
However, his days were short, and the Turks had already gained dominance over the caliphate due to their frequent opposition to the caliphs, weakening their hands, and bringing an end to their authority.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedلَمَّاwhenوَلِيَhe assumedالْخِلَافَةَthe caliphateبِالْقَبْضِthe arrest ofعَلَىofأَحْمَدَAhmadبْنِbinإِسْرَائِيلَIsraelوَأَبِيand AbuنُوحٍNuhالْكَاتِبِthe secretaryوَالْحَسَنِand al-Hasanبْنِbinمَخْلَدٍ.Makhlad.
When he assumed the caliphate, he ordered the arrest of Ahmad bin Israel, Abu Nuh the secretary, and al-Hasan bin Makhlad.
وَكَانَتْAnd upon themعَلَيْهِمْwas revolvingتَدُورُthe administration ofدَوْلَةُthe state ofالْمُعْتَزِّal-Mu'tazzمِنْbeforeقَبْلُ.him.
The administration of al-Mu'tazz's state previously revolved around them.
وَرَسَمَAnd he decreedأَنْthatيُضْرَبَshould be beatenأَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُbinإِسْرَائِيلَIsraelبِبَابِat the Gate ofالْعَامَّةِthe Publicأَلْفَa thousandسَوْطٍlashesفَإِنْthen ifمَاتَhe diesوَإِلَّاotherwiseزِيدَit should be added toضَرْباًhis beatingحَتَّىuntilيَتْلَفَ،he perishes,
He decreed that Ahmad bin Israel be flogged at the Public Gate with a thousand lashes; if he died, well and good, otherwise his beating should be increased until he perished.
وَذَلِكَAnd thatلِمَاwas because ofكَانَwhatمِنْهُcame from himمِنَofالْقَوْلِthe statementالَّذِيthatكَانَwasسَبَبَthe cause ofتَلَفِهِ.his demise.
That was because of the statement he had made which was the cause of his demise.
فَرَاسَلَSo sent messagesأَحْمَدُAhmadالْقَاسِمَto al-QasimبْنَbinوَاضِحٍWadihفِيregardingأَنْthatيَشْفَعَhe intercedeلَهُfor himإِلَىwithالْمُهْتَدِي،al-Muhtadi,
Ahmad sent word to al-Qasim bin Wadih asking him to intercede for him with al-Muhtadi.
فَفَعَلَSo he didوَكَتَبَand wroteإِلَيْهِto himرُقْعَةًa noteوَصَلَتْthat arrivedمَعَwithخَادِمٍa servantلَهُof hisاسْمُهُnamedمُسْتَطْرَفٌ،Mustatraf,
So he did and wrote a note to him, which arrived with a servant of his named Mustatraf.
فَوَقَّعَSo endorsedالْمُهْتَدِي:al-Muhtadi:هَذَاThis isرَجُلٌa manلَنَاfor usفِيregardingجَنْبِهِhis sideحُدُودٌpunishments (hudud)أَنْتَyouشَاهِدٌare a witnessبِبَعْضِهَاto some of themوَلَاand there is noسَبِيلَwayإِلَىtoالصَّفْحِforgivingعَنْهُ.him.
Al-Muhtadi wrote in response: "This is a man who owes us rights/punishments regarding his person, of which you are a witness to some, and there is no way to pardon him."
وَكَانَAnd thatذَلِكَwasتَذْكِيراًa reminderلَهُto himبِأَمْرِof the matter ofالْمَجْلِسِthe assemblyوَقَوْلِand the statement ofأَحْمَدَAhmadمَاwhatقَالَهُhe saidفِيهِabout himوَفِيand aboutحُرْمِهِ.his womenfolk.
That was a reminder to him of the incident at the assembly and Ahmad's statement about him and his womenfolk.
وَضُرِبَAnd was beatenأَحْمَدُAhmadإِلَىuntilأَنْthatتَلِفَ.he perished.
Ahmad was beaten until he died.
ثُمَّThenكُلِّمَhe was spoken toالْمُهْتَدِيal-Muhtadiفِيregardingأَمْرِthe matter ofأَبِيAbuنُوحٍNuhالْكَاتِبِthe secretaryوَالْحَسَنِand al-HasanبْنِbinمَخْلَدٍMakhladفَقَالَ:so he said:
Then al-Muhtadi was spoken to regarding the matter of Abu Nuh the secretary and al-Hasan bin Makhlad, so he said:
لِأَبِيFor AbuنُوحٍNuhحُرْمَةٌthere is a rightوَهِيَand it isأَنَّthatأُمَّهُhis motherكَانَتْused toتُهْدِيgiftإِلَيْنَاto usكَامِخاًkamikh (condiment)كَالنَّاطِفِlike the thick syrupالْمَعْقُودِconcoctedوَزَيْتُوناًand olivesكَأَمْثَالِlike the size ofالْبَيْضِeggsفَاطْلِقُواso releaseعَنْهُ،him,
"Abu Nuh has a claim to our favor, which is that his mother used to gift us kamikh like thick boiled syrup and olives the size of eggs, so release him.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forالْحَسَنُal-HasanبْنُbinمَخْلَدٍMakhladفَقَدْwe haveبَلَوْنَاtestedمِنْهُfrom himنُصْحاًloyaltyوَمَيْلاًand inclinationفَرُدُوهُso return himإِلَىtoمَنْزِلَتِهِ.his position.
As for al-Hasan bin Makhlad, we have experienced from him loyalty and inclination, so restore him to his position."
وَتَخَلَّصَاAnd they were both freedجَمِيعاًtogetherوَعَادَاand they returnedفِيtoالْأَمْرِ.authority.
Both of them were freed and returned to their official positions.
وَكَانَAnd wasالْمُهْتَدِيal-Muhtadiفَصِيحاًeloquentشُجَاعاًbraveفَطِناًshrewdعَارِفاًknowledgeableبِالتَّدْبِيرِin administrationلَوْifأُمِهِلَhe had been given respiteوَلَمْand the Turks had notتُعَجِّلِhastenedالْأْتْرَاكُthe Turksإِلَىtoقَتْلِهِ.kill him.
Al-Muhtadi was eloquent, brave, shrewd, and knowledgeable in administration, had he been given respite and the Turks had not hastened to kill him.
وَكَانَAnd heخَرَجَwent outيَوْماًone dayفِيduringهَيْجٍan uproarلَهُمْfor themوَبِيَدِهِand in his handالْعَقْرَبُal-Aqrabسَيْفُthe sword ofعُمَرَUmarبْنِbinالْخَطَّابِ،al-Khattab,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleased withاللَّهُHimعَنْهُ،him,
One day he went out during an uproar by them, carrying in his hand 'Al-Aqrab' (The Scorpion), the sword of Umar bin al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him.
وَحَمَلَAnd he chargedعَلَىatالْأْتْرَاكِthe Turksوَوَسَطَand penetrated into the midst ofمِنْهُمْthemجَمَاعَةًa groupقَدَّهُمْcutting them in twoوَقَطَعَهُمْ.and slashing them.
He charged at the Turks, penetrated a group of them, and cut them in two and slashed them.
وَكَانَAnd he wasإِذَاwhenجَلَسَhe satلِلْمَظَالِمِfor grievances (litigations)أَمَرَhe would orderبِأَنْthatتُوضَعَbe placedكَوَانِينُbraziers ofالْفَحْمِcoalفِيinالْأَرْوِقَةِthe porticosوَالْمَنَازِلِand roomsعِنْدَuponتَحَرُّكِthe onset ofالْبَرْدِ،cold weather,
When he sat to hear grievances, he would order coal braziers to be placed in the porticos and rooms upon the onset of cold weather.
فَإِذَاSo whenدَخَلَenteredالْمُتَظَلِّمُthe aggrieved personأَمَرَhe would orderبِأَنْthatيُدَفَّئَhe be warmedوَيَجْلِسَand sitلِيَسْكُنَso that he might calm downوَيَثُوبَand recoverإِلَيْهِto himعَقْلُهُhis witsوَيَتَذَكَّرَand rememberحُجَّتَهُhis argumentثُمَّthenيُدْنِيَهُhe would bring him closeوَيَسْمَعَand listenمِنْهُ،to him,
When an aggrieved person entered, he would order that he be warmed and made to sit so that he might calm down, recover his wits, and remember his argument, and then he would bring him close and listen to him.
وَيَقُولُ:And he would say:كَيْفَHowيُدْلِيcan presentالْمُتَظَلِّمُthe aggrieved personبِحُجَّتِهِhis argumentإِذَاifلَمْnotيُفْعَلْis doneبِهِto himهَذَاthisوَقَدْwhenتَدَاخَلَتْهُhas overcome himرَهْبَةُthe awe ofالْخِلَافَةِthe caliphateوَأَلَمُand the pain ofالْبَرْدِ؟the cold?
And he would say, "How can an aggrieved person present his argument if this is not done for him, when the awe of the caliphate and the pain of the cold have overcome him?"
وَكَانَAnd wasالْغَالِبُdominantعَلَىoverأَمْرِthe affair ofالْخِلَافَةِthe caliphateفِيinأَيَّامِهِhis daysوَصِيفٌWasifالْكَبِيرُthe Elderوَدَارُهُand his houseمَعْرُوفَةٌis knownبِمَدِينَةِin the city ofالسَّلَامِPeaceفِيinمُرَبَّعَةِthe square ofالْخُرْسِيِّal-Khursiإِلَىtoالْيَوْمِ.this day.
The dominant figure over the affairs of the caliphate in his days was Wasif the Elder, and his house is known in the City of Peace in the square of al-Khursi to this day.
[مَحَاسِنِ[The Virtues ofالْحَبْسِ]Imprisonment]
[The Virtues of Imprisonment]
لِعَلِيِّBy Aliبْنِbinالْجَهْمِ:al-Jahm:
By Ali bin al-Jahm:
قَالَتْShe saidحُبِسْتَyou are imprisonedفَقُلْتُso I saidلَيْسَit is notبِضَائِرِيharmful to me......حَبْسِيmy imprisonmentوَأَيُّand whichمُهَنَّدٍIndian swordلَاis notيُغْمَدُsheathed
She said, "You are imprisoned." I said, "My imprisonment is not harmful to me; and which Indian sword is not sheathed?"
أَوَمَاHave you notرَأَيْتَseenاللَّيْثَthe lionيَحْمِيdefendingغِيلَهُhis lair......كِبْراًout of prideوَأَوْبَاشُwhile the rabble ofالسِّبَاعِbeastsتَرَدَّدُprowl around
Have you not seen the lion defending his lair out of pride, while the rabble of beasts prowl around?
وَالنَّارُAnd fireفِيinأَحْجَارِهَاits stonesمَخْبُوءَةٌis hidden......لَاit does notتَصْطَلِيprovide warmthإِنْifلَمْyou do notتُثِرْهَاarouse itالْأَزْنَدُthe flint-strikers
Fire is hidden within its stones; it provides no warmth if the flint-strikers do not arouse it.
وَالْبَدْرُAnd the full moonيُدْرِكُهُovertakes itالسِّرَارُthe hidden phase (conjunction)فَتَنْجَلِيthen passes......أَيَّامُهُits daysوَكَأَنَّهُand as if itمُتَجَدِّدُis renewed
The full moon is overtaken by its hidden phase, then its days pass and it is as if it is renewed.
وَالزَّاعْبِيَّةُAnd the Za'biyyah spearsلَاdo notيُقِيمُstraightenكُعُوبَهَاtheir joints......إِلَّاexceptالثِّقَافُthe straightenerوَجَذْوَةٌand a burningتَتَوَقَّدُflame
The joints of the Za'biyyah spears are straightened by nothing except the straightener and a burning flame.
غَيْرَOther thanاللَّيَالِيnightsبَادِئَاتٌare initiatingعُوَّدٌand returning......وَالْمَالُAnd wealthعَارِيَةٌis a borrowed loanيُفَادُit is givenوَيُنْفَدُand spent
Nights are ever beginning and returning, and wealth is a borrowed loan, given and spent.
وَلِكُلِّAnd for everyحَالٍstateمُعَقِّبٌis a successorوَلَرُبَّمَاand perhaps......أَجْلَىclears awayلَكَfor youالْمَكْرُوهَthe disliked thingعَمَّاregarding whatتَحْمَدُyou praise
Every state has a successor, and perhaps hardship clears away for you into what you praise.
لَاDo notيُؤْيِسَنَّكَlet make you despairمِنْofتَفَرُّجِrelief fromكُرْبَةٍanguish......خَطْبٌan eventأَتَاكَthat came to youبِهِwith itالزَّمَانُtimeالْأَنْكَدُthe wretched
Let not an adversity brought upon you by wretched time make you despair of relief from anguish.
كَمْHow manyمِنْaعَلِيلٍsick personقَدْhasتَخَطَّاهُbypassed himالرَّدَىdestruction......فَنَجَاso he survivedوَمَاتَand diedطَبِيبُهُhis physicianوَالْعُوَّدُand the visitors
How many a sick person has destruction bypassed, so he survived while his physician and visitors died!