حَمْدُونُHamdunبْنُson ofإِسْمَاعِيلَIsmailالنَّدِيمُan-Nadimقَالَ:said:
Hamdun bin Ismail an-Nadim said:
حَضَرَApproachedالْعِيدُthe festivalفَعَبَّاso al-Mu'tasimالْمُعْتَصِمُarrangedبِاللهِbillahخَيْلَهُhis horsesتَعْبِيَةًin an arrangementلَمْthe like of whichيُسْمَعْwas not heardبِمِثْلِهَاofوَلَمْand neitherيَرَwas seenلِأَحَدٍfor anyoneمِنْfromوُلْدِthe childrenالْعَبَّاسِof al-Abbasشَبِيهٌa likenessبِهَا،to it,
The festival approached, so al-Mu'tasim billah arranged his horses in an arrangement the like of which was neither heard of nor seen for anyone of the children of al-Abbas,
وَأَمَرَand he orderedبِالطَّرِيقِthe roadفَمُسِحَto be measuredمِنْfromبَابِthe doorقَصْرِهِof his palaceإِلَىtoالْمُصَلَّىthe prayer ground
and he ordered the road to be measured from the door of his palace to the prayer ground,
ثُمَّthenقَسَمَhe dividedذَلِكَthatعَلَىamongالْقُوَّادِthe commanders
then he divided that among the commanders
وَأَعْطَىand gaveكُلَّeachوَاحِدٍoneمِنْهُمْof themمَصَافَّهُ،his battle array position,
and gave each one of them his battle array position,
فَلَمَّاso whenكَانَit wasقَبْلَbeforeالْفِطْرِal-Fitrبِيَوْمٍby a day
so when it was the day before al-Fitr
حَضَرَattendedالْقُوَّادُthe commandersوَأَصْحَابُهُمْand their companionsفِيinأَجْمَلِthe most beautifulزِيٍّattireوَأَحْسَنِand bestهَيْأَةٍappearance
the commanders and their companions attended in the most beautiful attire and best appearance,
فَلَزِمُواso they adhered toمَصَافَّهُمْtheir positionsمُنْذُfromوَقْتِthe timeالظُّهْرِof Dhuhrإِلَىuntilأَنْthatرَكِبَrodeالْمُعْتَصِمُal-Mu'tasimبِاللهِbillahإِلَىtoالْمُصَلَّى،the prayer ground,
so they adhered to their positions from the time of Dhuhr until al-Mu'tasim billah rode to the prayer ground,
فَكَانَand wasالْمَوْضِعُthe placeالَّذِيwhichوَقَعَfellلِإِبْرَاهِيمَto Ibrahimبْنِbinالْمَهْدِيِّal-MahdiمِنْafterبَعْدِtheالْحَرَسِيِّHarasiبِحِذَاءِadjacent toمَسْجِدِthe mosqueالْخُوَارِزْمِيِّof al-Khwarizmi
and the place that fell to Ibrahim bin al-Mahdi after the Harasi was adjacent to the mosque of al-Khwarizmi,
وَإِبْرَاهِيمُwhile Ibrahimوَاقِفٌwas standingوَأَصْحَابُهُand his companionsفِيinالْمَصَافِّ،the battle array.
while Ibrahim and his companions were standing in the battle array.
فَلَمَّاSo whenأَصْبَحَit became morningالْمُعْتَصِمُal-Mu'tasimأَمَرَcommandedالْقُوَّادَthe commandersالَّذِينَwhoلَمْwere notيُرَتَّبُواarrangedفِيinالْمَصَافِّthe battle arrayبِالْمَصِيرِto proceedإِلَىtoالْمُصَلَّىthe prayer groundعَلَىuponالتَّعْبِيَةِthe arrangementالَّتِيwhichحَدَّهَا،he had specified,
So when morning came, al-Mu'tasim commanded the commanders who were not arranged in the battle array to proceed to the prayer ground upon the arrangement which he had specified,
وَلَبِسَand he put onثِيَابَهُhis clothesوَجَلَسَand satعَلَىuponكُرْسِيٍّa chairيَنْتَظِرُwaiting forمُضِيَّthe departureالْقُوَّادِ،of the commanders,
and he put on his clothes and sat upon a chair waiting for the departure of the commanders,
فَلَمَّاand whenانْقَضَىwas completedأَمْرُهُمْtheir affairتَقَدَّمَhe proceededإِلَىtoالرَّجَّالَةِthe foot soldiersفِيinالْمَسِيرِmarchingبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْهِhim
and when their affair was completed, he ordered the foot soldiers to march before him,
فَتَقَدَّمَso advancedمِنْهُمْfrom themسَبْعَةُsevenآلافِthousandنَاشِبٍarchersمِنَfromالْمَوَالِيthe clientsكُلُّeveryثَلَاثُمِائَةٍthree hundredمِنْهُمْof themفِيinزِيٍّattireمُخَالِفٍdifferentلِزِيٍّfrom the attireالْبَاقِينَof the rest
so there advanced from them seven thousand archers from the clients, every three hundred of them in attire different from the attire of the rest,
وَأَرْبَعَةُand fourآلافٍthousandمِنَfromالْمَغَارِبَةِthe Maghribis
and four thousand from the Maghribis,
وَأَمَرَand he commandedالشِّيعَةَthe Shiaفَكَانُواso they wereوَرَاءَهُbehind himبِالْأَعْمِدَةِwith the macesوَعُدَّتُهُمْand their numberأَرْبَعَةُfourآلافٍ،thousand,
and he commanded the Shia so they were behind him with the maces, and their number was four thousand,
وَرَكِبْتُand I rodeلَاnotأَدْرِيknowingمَنْزِلَتِيmy positionأَيْنَwhereهِيَit isوَلَاand notأَعْرِفُknowingمَرْتَبَتِيmy rankوَلَمْand notأَعْلَمْknowingأَيْنَwhereأَسِيرُI am proceedingمِنَinالْمَوْكِبِ،the procession,
and I rode not knowing where my position was nor knowing my rank, and not knowing where I was proceeding in the procession,
فَلَمَّاso whenوَضَعَhe placedرِجْلَهُhis footفِيinالرِّكَابِthe stirrupوَاسْتَوَىand settledعَلَىuponسَرْجِهِhis saddleالْتَفَتَhe turnedإِلَيَّto meوَقَالَ:and said:
so when he placed his foot in the stirrup and settled upon his saddle, he turned to me and said:
يَاOحَمْدُونُHamdunكُنْbeأَنْتَyouخَلْفِي،behind me,
"O Hamdun, be you behind me,"
فَلَزِمْتُso I adhered toمُؤَخَّرَthe rear ofدَابَّتِهِ،his mount,
so I adhered to the rear of his mount.
فَلَمَّاWhenخَرَجَhe went outمِنْfromبَابِthe doorالْقَصْرِof the palaceتَلَقَّاهُmet himالْقُوَّادُthe commandersوَأَصْحَابُand the companionsالْمَصَافِّ،of the battle array,
When he went out from the door of the palace, the commanders and the companions of the battle array met him,
يَخْرُجُcomes outالرَّجُلُthe manمِنْfromمَصَافِّهِhis positionفَإِذَاand whenقَرُبَhe drew nearنَزَلَhe dismountedوَسَلَّمَand greetedعَلَيْهِhimبِالْخِلَافَةِwith the title of the Caliphateفَيَأْمُرُهُand he orders himبِالرُّكُوبِto mountوَيَمْضِيand proceeds
a man comes out from his position and when he draws near, he dismounts and greets him with the title of the Caliphate, and he orders him to mount and proceeds,
حَتَّىuntilوَصَلَhe reachedإِلَىtoإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimبْنِbinالْمَهْدِيِّal-Mahdiفَنَزَلَso he dismountedوَسَلَّمَand greetedعَلَيْهِhimبِالْخِلَافَةِwith the Caliphateفَرَدَّand he returnedعَلَيْهِto himالسَّلَامَthe greeting
until he reached Ibrahim bin al-Mahdi, so he dismounted and greeted him with the Caliphate, and he returned the greeting to him,
فَقَالَ:and said:كَيْفَHowأَنْتَare youيَاOإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimوَكَيْفَand howحَالُكَis your conditionوَكَيْفَand howكُنْتَwere youفِيinأَيَّامِكَ؟your days?
and said: "How are you, O Ibrahim, and how is your condition, and how were you in your days?"
ارْكَبْ،Mount,فَرَكِبَ،so he mounted,
"Mount," so he mounted.
فَلَمَّاWhenجَاوَزَهُhe passed beyond himالْتَفَتَhe turnedإِلَيَّto meفَقَالَ:and said:يَاOحَمْدُونُ!Hamdun!
When he passed beyond him, he turned to me and said: "O Hamdun!"
قُلْتُ:I said:لَبَّيْكَAt your serviceيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ!of the Faithful!
I said: "At your service, O Commander of the Faithful!"
قَالَ:He said:تَذْكُرُ؟"Do you remember?"
He said: "Do you remember?"
قُلْتُ:I said:أَيْYesوَاللهِby AllahيَاOسَيِّدِي،my master,وَأَمْسَكَ،and he remained silent,
I said: "Yes, by Allah, O my master," and he remained silent,
فَنَظَرْتُso I lookedفِيintoمَاwhatقَالَhe saidفَلَمْand I did notأَجِدْنِيfind myselfأَذْكُرُrememberingشَيْئاًanythingفِيinذَلِكَthatالْمَوْضِعِplaceمِمَّاof whatيُشْبِهُresemblesمَاwhatكُنَّاwe wereفِيهِ،in,
so I looked into what he said and I did not find myself remembering anything in that place of what resembles what we were in,
فَنَغَصَand it spoiledعَلَيَّupon meيَوْمِيmy dayوَمَاand whatرَأَيْتُI sawمِنْofحُسْنِهِits beautyوَسُرُورِيand my joyبِالْمَرْتَبَةِat the rankالَّتِيwith whichأَهَلَنِيhe deemed me worthyبِهَا،of it,
and it spoiled my day upon me, and what I saw of its beauty and my joy at the rank with which he deemed me worthy,
وَقُلْتُ:and I said:الْخُلَفَاءُ"The Caliphsلَاdo notيُعَامَلُونَbe treatedبِالْكَذِبِwith falsehoodوَلَاand it is notيَجُوزُpermissibleأَنْthatيَسْأَلَنِيhe asks meعِنْدَuponانْصِرَافِيmy departureعَنْaboutهَذَاthisالْأَمْرِmatterفَلَاso there will notيَكُونَbeلَهُfor himعِنْدِيwith meجَوَابٌan answerوَلَاnorحَقِيقَةٌ،a reality,"
and I said: "The Caliphs are not to be treated with falsehood, and it is not permissible that he asks me upon my departure about this matter so there will not be for him with me an answer nor a reality,"
وَتَخَوَّفْتُand I fearedأَنْthatيَنَالَنيthere reaches meمِنْهُfrom himمَكْرُوهٌ،something unpleasant,
and I feared that there might reach me from him something unpleasant.
فَلَمْSo I continuedأَزَلْnotوَاجِماًgloomyفِيonطَرِيقِيmy wayإِلَىuntilوَقْتِthe timeانْصِرَافِهِof his departure
So I continued gloomy on my way until the time of his departure,
ثُمَّthenأَجْمَعْتُI resolvedعَلَىuponمُغَالَطَتِهِmisleading himإِنْifأَمْكَنَنِيit is possible for meوَأَعْمَلُand I will employالْحِيلَةَtrickeryفِيinالتَّخَلُّصِescapingإِنْifسَأَلَنِي،he asks me,
then I resolved upon misleading him if it were possible for me and I would employ trickery in escaping if he asked me,
فَلَمَّاso whenاسْتَقَرَّhe settledفِيinمَجْلِسِهِhis assemblyوَبُسِطَand was spreadالسِّمَاطُthe dining spreadوَجَلَسَand satالْقُوَّادُthe commandersعَلَىuponمَرَاتِبِهِمْtheir ranksلِلطَّعَامِfor food
so when he settled in his assembly and the dining spread was laid out and the commanders sat upon their ranks for food,
أَقْبَلْتُI set aboutأَخْدُمُservingوَأَخْتَلِفُand moving back and forthلَيْسَتْthere being notلِيfor meهِمَّةٌany concernغَيْرُother thanمَاwhatكَانَwasقَالَهُsaid to meلِيto meلَاnotأَغْفُلُbeing heedlessعَنْofذَلِكَthat
I set about serving and moving back and forth, having no concern other than what he had said to me, not being heedless of that
حَتَّىuntilانْقَضَىwas completedأَمْرُthe matter ofالسِّمَاطِthe spreadوَرُفِعَand was raisedالسِّتْرُthe curtainوَنَهَضَand got upأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَدَخَلَand enteredالْحُجْرَةَthe roomوَمَضَىand proceededإِلَىtoالْمَرْقَدِ،the resting place,
until the matter of the spread was completed and the curtain was raised and the Commander of the Faithful got up and entered the room and proceeded to the resting place,
فَلَمْand I did notأَلْبَثْtarryأَنْthatجَاءَcameالْخَادِمُthe servantوَقَالَand saidلِي:to me:أَجِبْ"Answerأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,"
and I did not tarry before the servant came and said to me: "Answer the Commander of the Faithful,"
فَمَضَيْتُso I proceededفَلَمَّاand whenدَخَلْتُI enteredضَحِكَhe smiledإِلَيَّat meوَقَالَ:and said:
so I proceeded, and when I entered, he smiled at me and said:
يَا"OحَمْدُونُHamdun,رَأَيْتَ؟did you see?"
"O Hamdun, did you see?"
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ"YesيَاOسَيِّدِيmy master,قَدْverilyرَأَيْتُ،I have seen,
I said: "Yes, O my master, verily I have seen,
فَالْحَمْدُso praiseلِلهِbe to Allahالَّذِيwhoبَلَغَmade me reachبِيthrough meهَذَاthisالْيَوْمَdayوَأَرَانِيهِand showed it to me
so praise be to Allah who made me reach this day and showed it to me,
فَمَاfor I have notرَأَيْتُseenوَلَاnorسَمِعْتُheardلِأَحَدٍfor anyoneمِنَofالْخُلَفَاءِthe Caliphsوَالْمُلُوكِand kingsبِأَجَلَّof a more majesticمِنْهُthan itوَلَاnorأَبْهَىmore splendidوَلَاnorأَحْسَنَ،more beautiful,"
for I have neither seen nor heard for anyone of the Caliphs and kings of a state more majestic than it, nor more splendid, nor more beautiful,"
قَالَ:he said:وَيْحَكَ"Woe to you,رَأَيْتَdid you seeإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimبْنَbinالْمَهْدِيِّ؟al-Mahdi?"
he said: "Woe to you, did you see Ibrahim bin al-Mahdi?"
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ"YesيَاOسَيِّدِي،my master,"
I said: "Yes, O my master,"
قَالَ:he said:رَأَيْتَ"Did you seeسَلَامَهُhis greetingعَلَيَّto meوَرَدِّيand my returningعَلَيْهِto himوَنُزُولَهُand his dismountingإِلَيَّ؟to me?"
he said: "Did you see his greeting to me and my returning it to him and his dismounting to me?"
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ،"Yes,"
I said: "Yes,"
فَقَالَ:so he said:إِنَّهُ"Verily,لَمَّاwhenكَانَthere wasمِنْofأَمْرِهِhis affairمَاwhatكَانَ،was,
so he said: "Verily, when there occurred regarding his affair what occurred,
يَعْنِيmeaningالْخِلَافَةَ،the Caliphate,
meaning the Caliphate,
قَسَمَhe dividedالطَّرِيقَthe roadفِيonيَوْمِthe dayعِيدٍof a festivalمِنْfromمَنْزِلِهِhis dwellingإِلَىtoالْمُصَلَّىthe prayer groundكَقَسْمِيjust like my divisionإِيَّاهُof itفِيinهَذَاthisالْيَوْمِdayبَيْنَamongقُوَّادِهِ،his commanders,
he divided the road on the day of a festival from his dwelling to the prayer ground just like my division of it in this day among his commanders,
فَوَقَعَso fellمَوْضِعِيmy placeمِنْهُfrom itالْمَوْضِعَthe placeالَّذِيwhichكَانَwasبِهِat itهَذَاthisالْيَوْمَ،day,
so my place from it fell upon the place which was at it this day,
فَلَمَّاso whenحَاذَانِيhe drew abreast of meنَزَلْتُI dismountedفَسَلَّمْتُand greetedعَلَيْهِhimفَرَدَّand he returnedعَلَيَّto meمِثْلَthe like ofمَاwhatرَدَدْتُهُI returned to himحَرْفاًletterحَرْفاًby letterعَلَىaccording toمَاwhatقَالَhe saidلِي،to me,
so when he drew abreast of me, I dismounted and greeted him and he returned to me the like of what I returned to him, letter by letter, according to what he said to me,"
قَالَ:he said:فَدَعَوْتُ"so I prayedلَهُfor himوَانْفَرَجَand liftedعَنِّيfrom meمَاwhatكُنْتُI wasفِيهِinوَتَخَلَّىand departedعَنِّيfrom meالْغَمُّthe griefوَالْكَرْبُ،and anguish,"
he said: "so I prayed for him and what I was in lifted from me, and grief and anguish departed from me."
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:يَا"OحَمْدُونُHamdun,إِنِّيverily Iلَمْhave notآكُلْeatenشَيْئاًanythingوَأَنَاwhile Iأَنْتَظِرُam waitingأَنْthatتَأْكُلَyou eatمَعِيwith me,
Then he said: "O Hamdun, verily I have not eaten anything while I am waiting that you eat with me,
فَامْضِso proceedإِلَىtoحُجْرَةِthe roomالنُّدَمَاءِof the boon companionsفَإِنَّكَfor verily youتَجِدُwill findإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimهُنَالِكَthere,
so proceed to the room of the boon companions, for verily you will find Ibrahim there,
فَاجْلِسْso sitإِلَيْهِwith himوَعَابِثْهُand jest with himوَضَاحِكْهُand make him laughوَأَجْرِand bring upلَهُfor himهَذَاthisالْحَدِيثَaccount
so sit with him, jest with him, make him laugh, and bring up this account for him,
وَقُلْand sayلَهُto himإِنَّكَthat youرَأَيْتَهُsaw himفِيinذَلِكَthatالْيَوْمِdayفَعَلَdidبِيto meفِعْلِيmy actionبِهِto himفِيinهَذَاthisالْيَوْمِday
and say to him that you saw him in that day doing to me what I did to him in this day,
وَانْظُرْand observeإِلَىhisوَجْهِهِfaceوَكَلَامِهِand his speechوَمَاand whatيَكُونُcomesمِنْهُfrom himفَعَرِّفْنِيهِso inform me of itعَلَىwithحَقِيقَتِهِits realityوَاصْدُقْنِيand tell me the truthعَنْهُabout himوَعَجِّلْand hastenوَلَاand do notتَحْتَبِسْ،linger,"
and observe his face, his speech, and what comes from him, so inform me of its reality, tell me the truth about him, and hasten and do not linger,"
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ"YesيَاOسَيِّدِي،my master,"
I said: "Yes, O my master,"
فَمَضَيْتُso I proceededوَقَدْwhileدُفِعْتُI was thrustإِلَىintoأَغْلَظَa harsherمِمَّاthan whatكُنْتُI wasفِيهِinلِعِلْمِيdue to my knowledgeبِأَنَّthatإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimلَوْeven ifكَانَhe wereمِنْofحَجَرٍstoneلَأَثَّرَwould have affectedفِيهِhimهَذَاthisالْقَوْلُstatementوَتَغَيَّرَand he would have changedوَظَهَرَand there would have appearedمِنْهُfrom himمَاwhatيَكْرَهُ،he dislikes,
so I proceeded while I was thrust into a harsher [situation] than what I was in, due to my knowledge that even if Ibrahim were of stone, this statement would have affected him and he would have changed and there would have appeared from him what he dislikes,
وَخِفْتُand I fearedأَنْthatيَأْتِيَhe might utterبِمَاwhatيَسْفِكُwould shedبِهِtherebyدَمَهُhis blood
and I feared that he might utter what would thereby shed his blood.
فَمَضَيْتُSo I proceededحَتَّىuntilدَخَلْتُI enteredالْحُجْرَةَthe roomفَجَلَسْتُand satإِلَىwithإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimوَفَعَلْتُand didمَاwhatأَمَرَنِيcommanded meبِهِto doوَأَنَاwhile Iمُبَادِرٌwas hurryingخَوْفاًfearingمِنْlestخَادِمٍa servantيَلْحَقُنِيmight overtake meأَوْorرَسُولٍa messengerفَلَاso it would notيُمْكِنُنِيbe possible for meمَعَهُwith himتَحْسِينُto make pleasantالْأَمْرِthe matterوَمَاand whatيَظْهَرُappearsلِيto meمِنْهُfrom him
So I proceeded until I entered the room and sat with Ibrahim and did what he commanded me to do while I was hurrying, fearing lest a servant might overtake me or a messenger, so it would not be possible for me with him to make the matter pleasant and [manage] what appears to me from him,
فَقُلْتُso I saidلِإِبْرَاهِيمَ:to Ibrahim:كَيْفَ"Howرَأَيْتَdid you seeيَاOسَيِّدِيmy masterهَذَاthisالْيَوْمَ،day,
so I said to Ibrahim: "How did you see, O my master, this day,
أَمَاdid notأَعْجَبَكَamaze youحُسْنُهُits beautyوَمَاand whatكَانَthere wasمِنْofتَعْبِيَةِarrangementأَمِيرِof the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟of the Faithful?"
did not its beauty amaze you, and what there was of the arrangement of the Commander of the Faithful?"
قَالَ:He said:بَلَى"Indeedوَاللهِby Allahإِنَّهُverily itأَعْجَبَنِيamazed meفَالْحَمْدُso praiseلِلهِbe to Allahالَّذِيwhoبَلَّغَنِيهِmade me reach itوَأَرَانِيهِ،and showed it to me,"
He said: "Indeed, by Allah, verily it amazed me, so praise be to Allah who made me reach it and showed it to me,"
وَأَطْنَبَand he spoke at lengthفِيinالدُّعَاءِprayingلِلْمُعْتَصِمِ،for al-Mu'tasim,
and he spoke at length in praying for al-Mu'tasim,
فَلَمَّاso whenأَمْسَكَhe pausedقُلْتُ:I said:يَا"Oسَيِّدِيmy master,أُذَكِّرُكَI remind youفِيofأَيَّامِكَyour daysوَقَدْwhenرَكِبْتَyou rodeفَعَبَّيْتَand arrangedشَبِيهَthe like ofهَذِهِthisالتَّعْبِيَةِarrangementوَقَسَمْتَand dividedالطَّرِيقَthe roadمِثْلَlikeهَذِهِthisالْقَسْمَةِdivisionفَوَقَعَso fellلِأَمِيرِto the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulالْمَوْضِعُthe placeالَّذِيwhich
so when he paused, I said: "O my master, I remind you of your days when you rode and arranged the like of this arrangement and divided the road like this division, so there fell to the Commander of the Faithful the place which