قَالَSaidيَحْيَىYahyaبْنُbinالْحَسَنِ:al-Hasan:
Yahya ibn al-Hasan said:
وَحَدَّثَنِيAnd narrated to meأَبِيmy fatherقَالَ:who said:
And my father narrated to me, saying:
سَمِعْتُI heardخَالِصَةَKhlisahتَقُولُsayingلِلْعَبَّاسِto al-Abbasابْنِibnالْفَضْلِal-Fadlبْنِbinالرَّبِيعِ:al-Rabi':
I heard Khalisah saying to al-Abbas ibn al-Fadl ibn al-Rabi':
بَعَثَSentمُوسَىMusaالْهَادِيal-Hadiإِلَىtoأُمِّهِhis motherالْخَيْزُرَانِal-Khayzuranبِأُرُزَّةٍa rice dish
Musa al-Hadi sent a rice dish to his mother al-Khayzuran,
فَقَالَ:and said:اشْتَهَيْتُهَاI craved itفَأَكَلْتُهَاand I ate from itفَكُلِيso eatمِنْهَا.from it.
and said: 'I craved it and ate from it, so eat from it.'
قَالَتْSaidخَالِصَةُ:Khalisah:فَقُلْتُ:so I said:أَمْسِكِيHold onحَتَّىuntilنَنْظُرَwe lookفَإِنِّيfor indeed Iأَخَافُfearأَنْthatيَكُونَthere might beفِيهَاin itشَيْءٌ.something.
Khalisah said: So I said, 'Hold on until we examine it, for I fear there might be something in it.'
فَأَرْسَلَThen he sentإِلَيْهَاto herبَعْدَafterذَلِكَ:that:كَيْفَHowرَأَيْتِdid you findالْأُرُزَّةَ؟the rice dish?
Then he sent to her after that: 'How did you find the rice dish?'
قَالَتْ:She said:وَجَدْتُهَاI found itطَيِّبَةً.delicious.
She said: 'I found it delicious.'
فَقَالَ:So he said:لِمَWhyلَمْdid you notتَأْكُلِيeatمِنْهَا؟from it?
So he said: 'Why did you not eat from it?'
وَاللَّهِBy Allahلَوْifأَكَلْتِyou had eatenلَقَدْcertainlyكُنْتِyou would haveاسْتَرَحْتُgiven reliefمْنِكِ،from you,
'By Allah, if you had eaten, I would have been relieved of you!'
فَمَاand whatأَفْلَحَprosperedخَلِيفَةٌa caliphلَهُwho hasأُمٌّ!a mother!
And how unsuccessful is a caliph who has a mother!
قِيلَ:It was said:وَضَرَبَbeatإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimبْنُbinبَهْنَكَBihnakالْعَكِيُّal-Akkiابْنَهُhis son
It was said: Ibrahim ibn Bihnak al-Akki beat his son,
فَذَهَبَso wentالِابْنُthe sonفَوَشَىand informed againstبِأَبِيهِhis fatherإِلَىtoالرَّشِيدِal-Rashidوَذَكَرَand mentionedأَنَّهُthat heيُرِيدُwantsاغْتِيَالَهُ،to assassinate him,
so the son went and informed against his father to al-Rashid, stating that he intended to assassinate him.
فَدَفَعَهُSo he handed him overالرَّشِيدُal-Rashidإِلَىtoابْنِهِ،his son,فَقَيَّدَهُso he shackled himوَحَبَسَهُand imprisoned himفِيinبَيْتٍa house
So al-Rashid handed him over to his son, who shackled him and imprisoned him in a house,
وَدَعَاand invitedبِأُمَّهَاتِthe mothers ofأَوْلَادِهِhis childrenفَجَعَلَand beganيَشْرَبُdrinkingمَعَهُنَّwith themلِيَغِيظَto angerأَبَاهُ،his father,
and he invited his concubines and began drinking with them to anger his father.
فَاسْتَبْطَأَThen al-Rashid grew impatientالرَّشِيدُwith himفَدَعَاso he summonedبِهِhimوَقَالَand saidلَهُ:to him:
Al-Rashid grew impatient with the delay, so he summoned him and said to him:
إِنْIfكَذَبْتَyou liedعَلَىagainstأَبِيكَyour fatherاسْتَرْضَيْنَاهُwe will appease himلَكَfor youوَإِنْand ifكُنْتَyou wereصَدَقْتَtruthfulفَلَسْتُthen I am notأَرَىseeingأَفْعَالَكَyour actionsتُشَاكِلُresemblingأَفْعَالَthe actions ofالصَّادِقِينَ.the truthful ones.
'If you lied about your father, we will appease him for you, and if you were truthful, I do not see your actions resembling the actions of the truthful.'
فَلَمَّاWhenانْصَرَفَhe departedمِنْfromعِنْدِهِhis presenceدَخَلَhe enteredعَلَىuponأَبِيهِhis fatherبِالسَّيْفِwith the swordفَضَرَبَهُand struck himحَتَّىuntilقَتَلَهُ.he killed him.
When he left his presence, he entered upon his father with a sword and struck him until he killed him.
وَلِذَلِكَAnd thereforeقِيلَ:it was said:شَرُّThe worst ofالْمَرْزِئَةِcalamities isسُوءُthe evilالْخَلَفِ.successor.
And therefore it was said: 'The worst of calamities is an evil successor.'
قَالَ:He said:وَلَمَّاAnd whenخَلَعَdeposedشِيرُوَيْهِSheroyehبْنُbinكِسْرَىKhosrowأَبَاهُhis fatherوَهَمَّand intendedبِقَتْلِهِto kill him
He said: When Sheroyeh bin Khosrow deposed his father and intended to kill him,
قَالَhe saidلِعَظِيمٍto a greatمِنْfromعُظَمَاءِthe nobles ofمَرَازِبَتِهِ:his satraps:ادْخُلْEnterعَلَىuponأَبِينَاour fatherفَاقْتُلْهُ.and kill him.
he said to one of the great nobles among his satraps: 'Enter upon our father and kill him.'
فَانْطَلَقَSo departedالْمَرْزُبَانُthe satrapحَتَّىuntilدَخَلَhe enteredعَلَىuponكِسْرَىKhosrowفَأَخْبَرَهُand informed himبِمَاof whatأُمِرَhe was commandedبِهِwithابْنُهُ.by his son.
So the satrap went until he entered upon Khosrow and informed him of what his son had commanded him to do.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himكِسْرَى:Khosrow:انْصَرِفْDepartفَلَسْتَfor you are notبِصَاحِبِي.my companion.
Khosrow said to him: 'Depart, for you are not my companion.'
فَانْصَرَفَSo departedالْمَرْزُبَانُthe satrapإِلَىtoشِيرُوَيْهِSheroyehفَأَخْبَرَهُand informed himبِمَقَالَةِof the statement ofكِسْرَى.Khosrow.
So the satrap departed to Sheroyeh and informed him of Khosrow's statement.
فَوَجَّهَSo he sentرَجُلًاanother manآخَرَanotherفَلَمَّاand whenدَخَلَhe enteredقَالَhe saidلَهُto himمِثْلَthe like ofمَقَالَتِهِhis statementلِلْأَوَّلِ،to the first,
So he sent another man. When he entered, he said to him the like of what he said to the first,
فَانْصَرَفَso he departedوَلَمْand did notيَصْنَعْdoشَيْئًاanythingوَاعْتَلَّand excused himselfعَلَىtoشِيرُوَيْهِSheroyehبِأَنَّهُthat heلَمْdid notيَطِبْfeelنَفْسًاinclinedبِقَتْلِهِ.to kill him.
so he departed without doing anything, and made the excuse to Sheroyeh that he could not bring himself to kill him.
فَالْتَفَتَThen turnedشِيرُوَيْهِSheroyehإِلَىtoفَتًىa youthيُسَمَّىnamedهُرْمُزَHormuzبْنَbinمَرْدَانَشَاهْMardan-shah
Then Sheroyeh turned to a youth named Hormuz bin Mardan-shah,
وَكَانَand whoseأَبُوهُfatherيُقَالُwas calledلَهُfor himفَاذُوسْبَانَFadhousbanبَابِلَof Babylonوَخَطَرْنِيَّةَ،and Khatrniyyah,
whose father was called Fadhousban of Babylon and Khatrniyyah.
وَقَدْAnd indeedكَانَhadكِسْرَىKhosrowسَأَلَaskedالْمُنَجِّمِينَthe astrologersقَبْلَbeforeذَلِكَthatبِعَامَيْنِby two yearsعَنْaboutمِيتَتِهِhis death
Khosrow had asked the astrologers two years prior about his death,
فَأَخْبَرُوهُand they informed himأَنَّهَاthat itعَلَىatيَدَيْthe hands ofرَجُلٍa manيَكُونُwho will beعَظِيمَthe great ofبَابِلَ.Babylon.
and they informed him that it would be at the hands of a man who would be the great one of Babylon.
فَلَمَّاWhenسَمِعَhe heardذَلِكَthatوََقَعَتْfellتُهْمَتُهُhis suspicionعَلَىuponمَرْدَانَشَاهْMardan-shahفَكَتَبَso he wroteإِلَيْهِto himيَأْمُرُهُordering himبِالْقُدُومِto comeعَلَيْهِ.to him.
When he heard that, his suspicion fell upon Mardan-shah, so he wrote to him ordering him to come to him.
فَلَمَّاWhenقَدِمَhe arrivedتَجَنَّىhe fabricated chargesعَلَيْهِagainst himثُمَّthenأَمَرَhe orderedبِقَطْعِthe cutting ofيَمِينِهِ،his right hand,فَقُطِعَتْ،so it was cut off,
When he arrived, Khosrow fabricated charges against him and ordered his right hand to be cut off, and it was cut off.
فَتَنَاوَلَهَاso he picked it upبِيَدِهِwith his other handالْأُخْرَىotherوَوَضَعَهَاand placed itفِيinحِجْرِهِhis lapوَجَعَلَand beganيَبْكِيweepingوَيَنْتَحِبُ.and lamenting.
He picked it up with his other hand, placed it in his lap, and began to weep and lament.
فَسَمِعَSo heardكِسْرَىKhosrowذَلِكَthatفَرَحِمَهُand had mercy on himوَرَقَّand felt softلَهُfor himفَأَرْسَلَso he sentإِلَيْهِto himأَنَّهُthat heقَدْhadنَدِمَregrettedعَلَىwhatمَاwhatكَانَhad happenedمِنْهُfrom him
When Khosrow heard that, he pitied him and felt compassion for him, and sent word to him that he regretted what he had done to him,
وَأَمَرَهُand commanded himأَنْtoيَسْأَلَهُask him forحَاجَةًa needتَكُونُto beلَهُfor himعِوَضًاas compensationمِنْforذَهَابِthe loss ofيَدِهِ.his hand.
and ordered him to ask for any favor to be a compensation for the loss of his hand.
فَأَرْسَلَSo he sentإِلَيْهِto himمَرْدَانَشَاهْMardan-shahإِنْIfوَثِقْتَyou give confidenceلِيto meبِالْأَيْمَانِwith the oathsالْمُحْرِجَةِ،binding,
Mardan-shah sent back to him: 'If you swear binding oaths to me...'
فَفَعَلَso didكِسْرَىKhosrowذَلِكَthatوَعَاهَدَهُand made a covenant with himأَنْthatيُجِيبَهُhe would grant himإِلَىtoجَمِيعِallمَاwhatسَأَلَ.he asked.
So Khosrow did that and covenanted with him to grant him all that he asked.
فَأَرْسَلَSo he sentإِلَيْهِto himأَنَّthatحَاجَتِيmy needأَنْis thatتَأْمُرَyou orderبِقَتْلِيmy killingفَلَاfor there is noخَيْرَgoodفِيinالْحَيَاةِlifeبَعْدَafterيَمِينِي.my right hand.
So he sent to him: 'My need is that you order my execution, for there is no good in life after my right hand.'
فَأَمَرَSo orderedكِسْرَىKhosrowبِهِregarding himفَضُرِبَتْand was struckعُنُقُهُ.his neck.
So Khosrow ordered regarding him, and his neck was struck.
فَلَمَّاWhenدَخَلَenteredابْنُهُhis sonهُرْمُزُHormuzعَلَىuponكِسْرَىKhosrowقَالَhe saidلَهُ:to him:مَنْWhoأَنْتَ؟are you?
When his son Hormuz entered upon Khosrow, he said to him: 'Who are you?'
قَالَ:He said:أَنَاI amابْنُthe son ofمَرْدَانَشَاهْMardan-shahفَاذُوسْبَانِFadhousban ofبَابِلَ.Babylon.
He said: 'I am the son of Mardan-shah, Fadhousban of Babylon.'
فَقَالَ:He said:أَنْتَYouلَعَمْرِيby my lifeصَاحِبِيare my companionكُنْتَyou wereقَتَلْتَhaving killedأَبَاكَyour fatherظُلْمًاunjustlyفَدُونَكَso takeوَمَاwhatأَمَرْتَyou were orderedبِهِ.with.
He said: 'By my life, you are my companion! You killed your father unjustly, so take what you have been commanded to do.'
وَكَانَAnd there wasمَعَهُwith himطَبَرْزِينٌ،a battle-axe,فَضَرَبَso he struckبِهِwith itكِسْرَىKhosrowعَلَىonعَضُدِهِhis upper armفَلَمْand it did notيَحُكَّpenetrateفِيهِin him
He had a battle-axe with him, and he struck Khosrow with it on his upper arm, but it did not penetrate him
لِأَنَّbecauseكِسْرَىKhosrowكَانَwasفِيinعَضُدِهِhis upper armخَرَزَةٌa beadلَاdoes notيَعْمَلُaffectالْحَدِيدُironفِيهِin itمِنْbecause ofأَجْلِهَا،it,
because Khosrow had a bead in his upper arm that iron could not affect on account of it.
فَضَرَبَSo struckالشَّابُّthe youthبِيَدِهِwith his handإِلَىatعَضُدِهِhis armوَقَطَعَand cutتِلْكَthatالْخَرَزَةَbead
So the youth reached with his hand to his arm and cut out that bead,
ثُمَّthenضَرَبَهُhe struck himبِالطَّبَرْزِينِwith the battle-axeحَتَّىuntilمَاتَ،he died,وَانْصَرَفَand he turnedإِلَىtoشِيرُوَيْهِSheroyehفَأَخْبَرَهُ،and informed him,
then struck him with the battle-axe until he died, and returned to Sheroyeh and informed him.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedبِقَتْلِهِ،his execution,ثُمَّthenهَلَكَperishedشِيرُوَيْهِSheroyehبَعْدَafterقَتْلِthe killing ofأَبِيهِhis fatherبِثَمَانِيَةِby eightأَشْهُرٍ.months.
So he ordered his execution. Then Sheroyeh perished eight months after killing his father.
وَقَدْAnd indeedقَالَتِsaidالْحُكَمَاءُ:the wise:وَمَنْAnd whoeverجَرَّبَexperiencedمِنَfromالْأَوَائِلِthe ancientsأَنَّthatالرَّجُلَthe manإِذَاwhenقَتَلَhe killsأَبَاهُhis fatherوَأَخَاهُand his brother
The wise have said: Experience from the ancients shows that if a man kills his father and his brother,
لَمْhe is notيُمَتَّعْallowed to enjoyبَعْدَهُمَاafter themإِلَّاexceptأَرْبَعَةَfourأَشْهُرٍmonthsأَوْorمَاwhatهُوَit isفَوْقَaboveذَلِكَthatبَيَسِيرٍby a little
he is not granted enjoyment after them except for four months or slightly more than that,
وَرُبَّمَاand perhapsسُلِّطَis inflictedعَلَيْهِupon himالسَّهَرُinsomniaفَلَاso he continuesيَزَالُnot ceasingكَذَلِكَlike thatحَتَّىuntilيَتْلَفَ.he perishes.
and perhaps insomnia is inflicted upon him, so he remains like that until he perishes.
قَالَ:He said:وَقِيلَAnd it was saidلِلْمَأْمُونِ:to al-Ma'mun:إِنَّIndeedبَنِيthe sons ofعَلِيِّAliبْنِbinصَالِحٍSalihمُجَّانٌare buffoonsسُفَهَاءُ.foolish.
He said: It was said to al-Ma'mun: 'Indeed, the sons of Ali ibn Salih are buffoons and foolish.'
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:يَاOعَلِيُّAliأَحْضِرْbringوَلَدَكَyour childrenالْأَكَابِرَthe eldersوَالْأَصَاغِرَand the youngsters
Al-Ma'mun said: 'O Ali, bring your children, the elders and the youngsters,
فَإِنِّيfor indeed Iأُرِيدُwantأَنْtoأُرَتِّبَهُمْrank themوَأُرَشِّحَهُمْand prepare themلِلْأَمْرِfor the matterالَّذِيwhichيَصْلُحُونَthey are suitedلَهُ.for.
for I want to rank them and prepare them for the tasks they are suited for.'
فَانْصَرَفَSo departedعَلِيٌّAliفَأَخْبَرَand informedوَلَدَهُhis childrenبِذَلِكَof thatوَأَمَرَهُمْand commanded themبِالرُّكُوبِ.to ride.
Ali departed, informed his children of that, and commanded them to ride.
فَاسْتَعَدُّواSo they preparedوَتَزَيَّنُواand adorned themselvesبِأَحْسَنِwith the bestهَيْأَةٍappearanceوَاسْتَأْذَنَand he asked permissionلَهُمْfor themفَدَخَلُواso they enteredوَسَلَّمُوا.and greeted.
They prepared and adorned themselves in the best appearance, and he asked permission for them, so they entered and gave greetings.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُمُto themالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:تَرَكْتُمُYou leftالْأَدَبَgood mannersوَاطَّرَحْتُمُوهُand cast them asideوَآثَرْتُمُand preferredالْمُجُونَfollyوَالسَّفَهَ،and stupidity,
Al-Ma'mun said to them: 'You have abandoned good manners, cast them aside, and preferred folly and stupidity,
هَذَاwhile thisوَأَبُوكُمْyour fatherأَحَدُis one ofالْفُقَهَاءِthe juristsوَالْعُلَمَاءِand scholarsيُسْتَضَاءُwhose light is soughtبِرَأْيِهِby his opinionوَيُحْمَدُand is praisedمَذْهَبُهُ.his way.
while your father is one of the jurists and scholars whose opinion is sought and whose path is praised.'
فَأَقْبَلَThen he turnedعَلَىtoعَلِيٍّAliفَقَالَ:and said:أَمَّاAs forعَلَىinذَلِكَthat caseفَمَاthen there is noالذَّنْبُfaultإِلَّاexceptلَكَyours
He turned to Ali and said: 'As for that, the fault is none other than yours,
إِذْsinceتَرَكْتَهُمْyou left themيَتَتَابَعُونَto follow one anotherفِيinالْمُجُونِfollyوَتَرَكُواand they leftمَاwhatكَانَwasأَوْلَىmore properبِكَfor youوَبِهِمْand for themأَنْthatتَأْخُذَهُمْyou hold themبِهِ.to it.
since you let them indulge continuously in folly and neglected what was more proper for you and them to hold them to.'
فَقَالَSo saidعَلِيٌّ:Ali:وَلَاAnd notسِيَّمَاleast of allيَاOسَيِّدِيmy masterهَذَاthisالْكَبِيرُeldest one
Ali said: 'And especially, O my master, this eldest one,
فَإِنَّهُfor indeed heبَاقِعَةٌis a calamityلَاnoوَاللَّهِby Allahمَاnotلِيfor meبِهِمْover themقُوَّةٌpowerوَلَاnorيَدٌcontrol
for he is a true calamity! By Allah, I have no power over them nor control,
وَهَذَاand thisالْكَبِيرُeldest oneأَفْسَدَهُمْcorrupted themوَهَتَكَهُمْand disgraced themوَزَيَّنَand made fairلَهُمْto themسُوءَthe evil ofأَعْمَالِهِمْtheir deedsفَصَدَّهُمْso he turned themعَنِfromالسَّبِيلِthe pathفَهُمْso theyلَاdo notيَهْتَدُونَ.find guidance.
and this eldest one corrupted them, disgraced them, made their evil deeds seem fair to them, and turned them away from the path so they are not guided.
فَأَطْرَقَSo lowered his headالْأَكْبَرُthe eldestمَاwithoutيَتَرَمْرَمُmutteringبِحَرْفٍ.a single letter.
The eldest lowered his head without muttering a single word.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:تَكَلَّمْ.Speak.
Al-Ma'mun said: 'Speak.'
قَالَ:He said:يَاOسَيِّدِيmy masterبِلِسَانِيwith my tongueكُلِّهِentirelyأَوْorكَمَاasيَتَكَلَّمُspeaksالذَّلِيلُthe humbled oneبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْthe presence ofمَوْلَاهُhis master
He said: 'O my master, with all my tongue, or as the humbled one speaks before his master,
حَتَّىuntilيَتْرُكَhe abandonsحُجَّتَهُhis argumentوَيَسْكُتَand falls silentعَنْfromإِيضَاحِclarifyingجَوَابِهِhis responseمَهَابَةًout of aweلِسَيِّدِهِ؟for his master?'
so that he abandons his argument and falls silent from clarifying his response out of awe for his master?'
قَالَ:He said:تَكَلَّمْSpeakبِمَاwith whatعِنْدَكَ.you have.
He said: 'Speak with what you have.'
فَقَالَ:He said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulهَلْdidحَمِدْتَyou praiseرَأْيَthe opinion ofأَبِينَاour fatherوَحَمِدْتَand did you praiseمَذْهَبَهُhis wayوَعِلْمَهُ؟and his knowledge?
He said: 'O Commander of the Faithful, did you praise our father's opinion and did you praise his way and his knowledge?'
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ.Yes.
He said: 'Yes.'