وَيُقَالُ:And it is said:
And it is said:
إِنَّthatالْأُمَمَthe nationsكُلَّهَا،all of them,
that all the nations,
أَوَّلَهَاtheir firstوَآخِرَهَا،and their last,
their first and last,
قَدِيمَهَاtheir ancientوَحَدِيثَهَا،and modern,
ancient and modern,
لَمْdid notتَخَفْfearمُلُوكُهَاtheir kingsخَوْفَهَاtheir fearأَرْدَشِيرَof Ardashir
their kings did not fear [anyone] as they feared Ardashir
مِنْamongمُلُوكِthe kingsالْعَجَمِof the non-Arabsوَعُمَرَand Umarبْنَbinالْخَطَّابِ،Al-Khattab,
among the kings of the Persians, and Umar ibn Al-Khattab,
رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwith him,عَنْهُ،from him,مِنْamongمُلُوكِthe kingsالْعَرَبِof the Arabsوَالْإِسْلَامِ،and Islam,
may Allah be pleased with him, among the kings of the Arabs and Islam,
فَإِنَّfor indeedعُمَرَ،Umar,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwith him,عَنْهُ،from him,
for indeed Umar, may Allah be pleased with him,
كَانَwasعِلْمُهُhis knowledgeبِمَنْof those whoنَأَىwere farمِنْamongعُمَّالِهِhis governorsوَرَعِيَّتِهِand his subjects
his knowledge of those of his governors and subjects who were far away
كَعِلْمِهِwas like his knowledgeبِمَنْof the one whoبَاتَspent the nightمَعَهُwith himعَلَىuponمِهَادٍ،a bed,
was like his knowledge of the one who spent the night with him on a bed.
فَلَمْSo thereيَكُنْwas notلَهُfor himفِيinقُطْرٍany regionمِنَofالْأَقْطَارِthe regions
There was not in any of the regions
وَلَاand notنَاحِيَةٍany districtمِنَofالنَّوَاحِيthe districtsأَمِيرٌa governorوَلَاorعَامِلٌan agent
or any of the districts an emir or agent
إِلَّاexceptوَلَهُthat for himعَلَيْهِover himعَيْنٌwas a spyلَاwho did notيُفَارِقُهُ،leave him,
except that he had an informant over him who did not leave him,
فَكَانَso wereأَخْبَارُthe newsالنَّوَاحِيof the districtsكُلِّهَاall of itعِنْدَهُwith himكُلَّeveryصَبَاحٍmorningوَمَسَاءٍ،and evening,
so all the news of the districts reached him every morning and evening,
حَتَّىso much so thatإِنَّindeedالْعَامِلَthe governorكَانَused toيَتَوَهَّمُsuspectعَلَىagainstأَقْرَبِthe closestالْخَلْقِof creationإِلَيْهِto himوَأَخَصِّهِمْand most specificبِهِ،to him,
to the extent that the governor would suspect the person closest and most intimate to him,
فَسَاسَso he managedالرَّعِيَّةَthe subjectsسِيَاسَةَwith the policyأَرْدَشِيرَof Ardashirفِيinالْفَحْصِinvestigatingعَنْهَاthemوَعَنْand aboutأَسْرَارِهَا،their secrets,
so he governed the subjects with Ardashir's policy of investigating them and their secrets,
ثُمَّthenاِقْتَفَىfollowedمُعَاوِيَةُMuawiyahفِعْلَهُhis actionوَطَلَبَand soughtأَثَرَهُ،his footsteps,
then Muawiyah followed his action and sought his footsteps,
فَانْتَظَمَso became orderlyلَهُfor himأَمْرُهُhis affairوَطَالَتْand prolongedفِيinالْمُلْكِthe kingdomمُدَّتُهُ.his term.
so his rule became organized and his term in kingship was prolonged.
وَكَذَاAnd likewiseكَانَwasزِيَادُZiyadبْنُbinأَبِيAbiسُفْيَانَSufyanيَحْتَذِيemulatingفِعْلَthe actionمُعَاوِيَةَof Muawiyah
And similarly, Ziyad bin Abi Sufyan would emulate the action of Muawiyah
كَاحْتِذَاءِlike the emulationمُعَاوِيَةَof Muawiyahفِعْلَof the actionعُمَرَ،of Umar,رَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercyاللَّهُ،on him,
just as Muawiyah emulated the action of Umar, may Allah have mercy on him,
فِيinتَعَرُّفِknowingأُمُورِthe affairsرَعِيَّتِهِof his subjectsوَمَمَالِكِهِ،and his kingdoms,
in inquiring about the affairs of his subjects and his realms,
وَفِيand amongمَاwhatيُحْكَىis narratedعَنْهُabout himأَنَّthatرَجُلًاa manكَلَّمَهُspoke to himفِيregardingحَاجَةٍa needلَهُhe had
and among what is narrated about him is that a man spoke to him regarding a need of his
فَتَعَرَّفَand introducedإِلَيْهِhimself to himوَهُوَwhile heيَظُنُّthoughtأَنَّهُthat heلَاdid notيَعْرِفُهُknow him
and introduced himself to him, thinking that he did not know him.
فَقَالَ:So he said:أَصْلَحَMay Allah rectifyاللَّهُAllahالْأَمِيرَ،the emir,أَنَاI amفُلَانُso-and-soبْنُson ofفُلَانٍ،so-and-so,
He said: "May Allah rectify the emir, I am so-and-so son of so-and-so."
فَتَبَسَّمَSo Ziyad smiledزِيَادٌand said:وَقَالَ:and said:أَتَتَعَرَّفُDo you introduceإِلَيَّyourself to meوَأَنَاwhile Iأَعْرَفُknowمِنْكَbetter than youبِنَفْسِكَ؟know yourself?
Ziyad smiled and said: "Do you introduce yourself to me while I know you better than you know yourself?"
وَاللَّهِBy Allah,إِنِّيverily Iلَأَعْرِفُكَtruly know youوَأَعْرِفُand knowأَبَاكَyour fatherوَأُمَّكَand your motherوَجَدَّكَand your grandfatherوَجَدَّتَكَand your grandmother
"By Allah, I truly know you, and I know your father, your mother, your grandfather, your grandmother,
وَأَعْرِفُand I knowهَذَاthisالْبُرْدَcloakالَّذِيthatعَلَيْكَis upon youوَهُوَand it isلِفُلَانٍ!for so-and-so!"
and I know this cloak that is upon you, and it belongs to so-and-so!"
فَبُهِتَSo the man was dumbfoundedالرَّجُلُand made to trembleوَأُرْعِدَuntilحَتَّىhe almostكَادَfaintedيُغْشَىaway.عَلَيْهِ.on him.
The man was stunned and trembled until he almost swooned.
وَعَلَىAnd uponهَذَاthisكَانَwasعَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِAl-MalikبْنُbinمَرْوَانَMarwanوَالْحَجَّاجُand Al-Hajjaj.
Upon this way were Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan and Al-Hajjaj.
وَلَمْAnd there was notيَكُنْafterبَعْدَtheseهَؤُلَاءِthreeالثَّلَاثَةِanyoneأَحَدٌin the likeفِيof thisمِثْلِpolicyهَذِهِuntilالسِّيَاسَةِruledحَتَّىAl-Mansur.مَلَكَruledالْمَنْصُورُAl-Mansur.
And after these three, no one was upon the like of this policy until Al-Mansur ruled.
فَكَانَSo the greatestأَكْبَرُmatterالْأُمُورِwith himعِنْدَهُwas knowingمَعْرِفَةُmen,الرِّجَالِuntilحَتَّىhe knewعَرَفَthe enemyالْعَدُوَّfromمِنَthe allyالْوَلِيِّand the peacefulوَالْمُوَادِعِand conciliatoryوَالْمُسَالِمِfromمِنَthe troublemaker,الْمُشَاغِبِso he governedفَسَاسَthe subjectsالرَّعِيَّةَbasedعَلَىon that.ذَلِكَ،on that.
The most important matter to him was knowing men, until he knew the enemy from the ally, and the peaceful and conciliatory from the troublemaker, and he governed the subjects accordingly.
ثُمَّThenدَرَسَتْthis policy fadedهَذِهِuntilالسِّيَاسَةُAl-Rashidحَتَّىruled,مَلَكَso he wasالرَّشِيدُthe sternestفَكَانَof kingsأَشَدَّin searchingالْمُلُوكِinto the secretsبَحْثاًof his subjects,عَنْand the mostأَسْرَارِattentiveرَعِيَّتِهِto them,وَأَكْثَرَهُمْand the most resoluteبِهَاin his commandعِنَايَةًregarding them.وَأَحْزَمَهُمْand the most resoluteفِيهَاin his commandأَمْراً.regarding them.
Then this policy declined until Al-Rashid ruled, and he was the most rigorous of kings in searching into the secrets of his subjects, the most attentive to them, and the most resolute in his command regarding them.
وَعَلَىAnd uponهَذَاthis wayكَانَwasالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munفِيinأَيَّامِهِ،his days,
And upon this way was Al-Ma'mun in his days,
وَالدَّلِيلُand the proofعَلَىofأَمْرِthe matterالْمَأْمُونِof Al-Ma'munرِسَالَتُهُis his letterإِلَىtoإِسْحَاقَIshaqبْنِbinإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahim
and the proof of Al-Ma'mun's mastery is his letter to Ishaq ibn Ibrahim
فِيconcerningالْفُقَهَاءِthe juristsوَأَصْحَابِand the companionsالْحَدِيثِof Hadithوَهُوَwhile heبِالشَّامِwas in ash-Sham
concerning the jurists and Hadith scholars while he was in ash-Sham,
خَبَّرَin which he reportedفِيهَاaboutعَنْevery singleعَيْبٍflawوَاحِدٍand aboutوَاحِدٍtheir doctrineوَعَنْand their affairsنَحْلَتِهِwhich were hiddenوَعَنْor most of themأُمُورِهِfrom those nearالَّتِيand far.خَفِيَتْhiddenأَوْorأَكْثَرُهَاmost of itعَلَىuponالْقَرِيبِthe nearوَالْبَعِيدِ،and far,
in which he informed about every single flaw, their doctrine, and their affairs which were hidden, or most of them, from both near and far.
وَلَمْAnd there was notيَكُنْanyoneأَحَدٌamongمِنْthe possessorsذَوِيof supremeالسُّلْطَانِauthorityالْأَعْظَمِmore rigorousأَشَدَّin investigationفَحْصاًand searchingوَبَحْثاًinto the affairsعَنْof the peopleأُمُورِuntil he reachedالنَّاسِthis extentحَتَّىin thoroughnessبَلَغَand made itهَذَاhis greatestالْمَبْلَغَpreoccupationفِيand most of itالْاسْتِقْصَاءِin his nightوَجَعَلَهُand dayأَكْبَرَfrom Ishaqشُغْلِهِbin Ibrahim.وَأَكْثَرِهِmost of itفِيinلَيْلِهِhis nightوَنَهَارِهِand dayمِنْfromإِسْحَاقَIshaqبْنِbinإِبْرَاهِيمَ.Ibrahim.
And none of the possessors of supreme authority was more rigorous in investigating and searching into the affairs of the people until he reached this extreme in thoroughness, making it his greatest and most constant occupation night and day, [differing] from Ishaq ibn Ibrahim.
حَدَّثَنِيMusa ibn Salihمُوسَىibn Shaykhبْنُnarrated to me,صَالِحِsaying:بْنِI spoke to himشَيْخٍconcerning a womanقَالَ:from some of our familyكَلَّمْتُهُand asked himفِيto look into her matter,امْرَأَةٍand he said:مِنْ"O Abu Muhammad,بَعْضِregarding the storyأَهْلِنَاof this womanوَسَأَلْتُهُand her deed?"النَّظَرَHe said:لَهَا"By Allah,فَقَالَ:he did not ceaseيَاnarrating to meأَبَاand telling meمُحَمَّدٍabout her storyمِنْand describingقِصَّةِher conditionsهَذَاuntilالْمَرْأَةِI was stunned."وَمِنْand fromفِعْلِهَا،her action,قَالَ:he said:فَوَاللَّهِso by Allahمَاdid notزَالَceaseيُحَدِّثُنِيtalking to meوَيُخْبِرُنِيand informing meعَنْaboutقِصَّتِهَاher storyوَيَصِفُand describingأَحْوَالَهَاher conditionsحَتَّىuntilبُهِتُّ.I was stunned.
Musa ibn Salih ibn Shaykh narrated to me, saying: I spoke to him about a woman from some of our family and asked him to look into her matter. He said: "O Abu Muhammad, what about the story of this woman and her deed?" He said: By Allah, he continued to narrate to me and tell me about her story and describe her conditions until I was stunned.
وَحَدَّثَAnd AbuأَبُوAl-Burqالْبَرْقِthe poetالشَّاعِرُnarrated,قَالَ:saying:كَانَprovisionsيَجْرِيused to beعَلَيَّflowingأَرْزاقاًto me,فَدَخَلْتُso I enteredعَلَيْهِupon himفَقَالَand he saidبَعْدَafterأَنْthatأَنْشَدْتُهُ:I recited to him:كَمْ"How manyعِيَالُكَ؟is your family?تَحْتَاجُYou needفِيevery monthكُلِّof flourشَهْرٍsuch and suchمِنَand ofالدَّقِيقِfirewoodإِلَىsuch and such."كَذَاSo he informed meوَمِنَof somethingالْحَطَبِconcerningإِلَىmy householdكَذَا،of which I was ignorantفَأَخْبَرَنِيand he knewبِشَيْءٍall of it.مِنْofأَمْرِmatterمَنْزِلِيof my houseجَهِلْتُI was ignorant ofبَعْضَهُpart of itوَعَلِمَهُand he knew itكُلَّهُ.all of it.
And Abu Al-Burq the poet narrated, saying: Provisions used to flow to me, so I entered upon him, and after I recited [poetry] to him, he said: "How many are your dependents? You need each month such-and-such of flour, and such-and-such of firewood." So he informed me of some of my household matters which I was ignorant of part of, and he knew all of it.
وَحَدَّثَAnd some of thoseبَعْضُwho were in his regionمَنْnarrated,كَانَsaying:فِيI raisedنَاحِيَتِهِto him a petitionقَالَ:asking himرَفَعْتُin itإِلَيْهِfor a stipendقِصَّةًand provisions,أَسْأَلُهُso he said:فِيهَا"How manyأَجْراًare your dependents?"وَأَرْزاقاً،So I increasedفَقَالَ:the number,كَمْand he said:عِيَالُكَ؟"You lied."فَزَدْتُSo I was stunnedفِيand said:الْعَدَدِ،"O soul,فَقَالَ:from whereكَذَبْتَ،did he knowفَبُهِتُّthat I lied?!"وَقُلْتُ:So I stayedيَاanother yearنَفْسُnot daringمِنْto speak to him,أَيْنَthen I raisedعَلِمَthe petitionأَنِّيto him,كَذَبْتُ!and he said:فَأَقَمْتُ"How manyسَنَةًare your dependents?"أُخْرَىSo I said:لَا"Such-and-such."أَجْسِرُHe said:عَلَى"You spoke the truth,"كَلَامِهِand he wroteثُمَّon the petition:رَفَعْتُ"Let there flowإِلَيْهِto his dependentsالْقِصَّةَ،such-and-suchفَقَالَ:and such-and-such."كَمْSo I said:عِيَالُكَ؟"Such-and-such."فَقُلْتُ:He said:كَذَا،"You spoke the truth,"قَالَ:and he wroteصَدَقْتَ،on the petition:وَوَقَعَ"Let there flowفِيto his dependentsالْقِصَّةِ:such-and-suchيُجْرَىand such-and-such."عَلَىon the petition:عِيَالِهِ"Let there flowكَذَاto his dependentsوَكَذَا.such-and-such and such-and-such."
And some of those who were in his region narrated, saying: I submitted a petition to him asking for a wage and provisions. He said: "How many are your dependents?" So I exaggerated the number, and he said: "You lied." I was stunned and said to myself: "How did he know that I lied?!" So I spent another year not daring to speak to him, then I submitted the petition to him. He said: "How many are your dependents?" I said: "Such-and-such." He said: "You spoke the truth," and he endorsed the petition: "Let such-and-such and such-and-such be provided for his dependents."