وَقَعَIt happenedلَكَto youوَاجْتَزْتَand you passedبِهِby him
It happened to you and you passed by him.
فَنَزَلَso he dismountedإِلَيْكَtoward youوَسَلَّمَand greeted
So he dismounted toward you and greeted.
فَرَدَدْتَand you returnedعَلَيْهِto himكَرَدِّهِlike his returningعَلَيْكَto youفِيinهَذَاthisالْيَوْمِ،day.
And you returned the greeting to him like his returning it to you on this day.
قَالَ:He said:فَوَاللَّهِBy Allahإِنْit was notكَانَexceptإِلَّاthatأَنْI spokeقُلْتُuntilحَتَّىhis colorارْبَدَّgrew dustyلَوْنُهُand his salivaوَجَفَّdried upرِيقُهُand his tongueوَاعْتَقَلَbecame boundلِسَانُهُand he remainedوَبَقِيَnot speakingلَاa single letterيَتَكَلَّمُfor a long time.بِحَرْفٍThenمَلِيّاً،he said
He said: By Allah, it was only that I spoke until his color grew dusty, his saliva dried up, his tongue became bound, and he remained unable to speak a single letter for a long time.
ثُمَّThenقَالَhe saidبِلِسَانٍwith a heavyثَقِيلٍ:tongue:
Then he said with a heavy tongue:
لَكَأَنِّيIt is as if Iفِيinذَلِكَthatالْمَوْضِعِplaceفِيonذَلِكَthatالْيَوْمِ،day.
It is as if I were in that place on that day.
فَالْحَمْدُSo praiseلِلَّهِis to Allahلِلَّذِيfor the one whomرَأَيْتُهُI sawلِأَمِيرِfor the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful.
Praise be to Allah for the one whom I saw for the Commander of the Faithful.
فَعَلَMay Allah doاللَّهُto himبِهِand doوَفَعَلَ،(curses).
May Allah do to him and do (curses).
قَالَ:He said:فَتَغَنَّمْتُSo I seizedذَلِكَthatوَقُمْتُand stood upوَأَنَاwhile Iأَلْتَفِتُwas looking backوَنَهَضْتُand I roseحَتَّىuntilأَتَيْتُI cameالْمُعْتَصِمَ،to al-Mu'tasim.
He said: So I seized that opportunity, stood up looking back, and rose until I came to al-Mu'tasim.
فَقَالَHe saidلِي:to me:هَيْهWell now,يَاOحَمْدُونُ!Hamdun!
He said to me: Well now, O Hamdun!
فَقُلْتُ:I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,أَتَيْتُI cameإِبْرَاهِيمَto Ibrahimوَقُلْتُand saidلَهُto himمَاwhatأَمَرْتَنِيyou ordered meبِهِwithفَأَظْهَرَand he showedسُرُوراًjoyوَدُعَاءًand supplicationوَقَالَand saidكَيْتَsuch and suchوَكَيْتَ،and such and such.
I said: O Commander of the Faithful, I came to Ibrahim and told him what you ordered me to, and he showed joy and supplication and said such and such.
فَقَالَ:He said:وَاللَّهِBy Allah,قَالَdid he sayبِحَيَاتِي؟by my life?
He said: By Allah, did he say it by my life?
قُلْتُ:I said:وَحَيَاتِكَAnd by your lifeيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful.
I said: And by your life, O Commander of the Faithful.
قَالَ:He said:فَكَيْفَSo howرَأَيْتَdid you seeوَجْهَهُ؟his face?
He said: So how did you see his face?
فَلَمْSo I didأَدْرِnot knowمَاwhatأَقُولُto sayفَقُلْتُ:so I said:
So I did not know what to say, and I said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,بِاللَّهِby Allahلَمَّاspareتَرَكْتَنِيmeمِنْfromوَجْهِthe faceعَمِّكَof your uncleالَّذِيin whichلَاis notيَتَبَيَّنُapparentفِيهِin itفَرَحٌjoyوَلَاnorحُزْنٌ،grief.
O Commander of the Faithful, by Allah, spare me from the face of your uncle, in which neither joy nor grief is apparent.
فَاسْتَضْحَكَSo he laughedثُمَّthenأَمْسَكَstoppedوَتَخَلَّصَand Ibrahimإِبْرَاهِيمُ،was saved.
So he laughed, then stopped, and Ibrahim was saved.
وَدَعَاAnd he calledبِالطَّعَامِfor foodفَأَكَلْنَاand we ateثُمَّthenرَقَدَ،he slept.
And he called for food, we ate, then he slept.
فَلَمَّاWhenانْتَبَهَhe woke upوَجَلَسَand satدَعَاhe calledبِإِبْرَاهِيمَfor Ibrahimوَسَائِرِand the restالنُّدَمَاءِof the companionsفَشَرِبَand drankوَبَرَّand treated kindlyإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimوَأَلْطَفَهُ.and was gentle with him.
When he woke up and sat, he called for Ibrahim and the rest of the drinking companions, drank, and treated Ibrahim kindly and was gentle with him.
[مَسَاوِئُ[The evils ofالتَّيَقُّظِvigilanceوَتَرْكِهِ]and leaving it]
[The Evils of Vigilance and Neglecting It]
قِيلَIt was saidلِبَعْضِto someبَنِيof the Banuأُمَيَّةَ:Umayyah:
It was said to one of the Banu Umayyah:
مَاWhatكَانَwasسَبَبَthe causeزَوَالِof the demiseمُلْكِهِمْ؟of their kingdom?
What was the cause of the demise of their kingdom?
فَقَالَ:He said:قِلَّةُLack ofالتَّيَقُّظِvigilanceوَشُغْلُنَاand our preoccupationبِلَذَّاتِنَاwith our pleasuresعَنِfromالتَّفَرُّغِdevoting ourselvesلِمُهِمَّاتِنَاto our important matters,وَوَثَقْنَاand we trustedبِكُفَاتِنَاour competent officials,فَآثَرُواso they favoredمُوَافِقِيهِمْthose who agreed with themعَلَيْنَاover us,وَظُلْمُand the oppressionعُمَّالِنَاof our governorsرَعِيَّتَنَاupon our subjects,فَفَسَدَتْso their intentionsنِيَّاتُهُمْtowards usلَنَاbecame corrupt,وَحُمِلَand burdens were placedعَلَىuponأَهْلِthe peopleخَرَاجِنَاof our land tax,فَقَلَّso our income decreasedدَخْلُنَاand our revenues fell,وَبَطَلَand the payعَطَاءُof our soldiersجُنْدِنَاwas canceled,فَزَالَتْso their obedienceطَاعَتُهُمْto usلَنَاvanished,وَاسْتَدْعَاهُمْand our enemiesأَعْدَاؤُنَاsummoned themفَأَعَانُوهُمْand they aided themعَلَيْنَاagainst us,وَقَصَدَنَاand our rebelsبُغَاتُنَاtargeted usفَعَجَزْنَاand we were unableعَنْto repel themدَفْعِهِمْdue to the fewnessلِقِلَّةِof our supporters,نُصَّارِنَا،and the very firstوَكَانَthing in the demiseأَوَّلَof our kingdomزَوَالِwas the concealmentمُلْكِنَاof newsاسْتِتَارَfrom us,الْأَخْبَارِso our kingdomعَنَّاdisappeared from usفَزَالَby our ownمُلْكُنَاdoing.عَنَّاfrom usبِنَا.by us.
He said: Lack of vigilance, our preoccupation with pleasures from devoting ourselves to important matters, trusting our competent officials who favored those who agreed with them over us, the oppression of our subjects by our governors so their intentions toward us became corrupt, the heavy burdens placed on our taxpayers so our income decreased and the pay of our soldiers was canceled, the loss of their obedience to us, our enemies summoning them and their aiding them against us, and our rebels targeting us while we were unable to repel them due to the fewness of our supporters. The very first cause of the demise of our kingdom was the concealment of news from us, so our kingdom vanished from us because of ourselves.
[مَحَاسِنُ[The Virtues ofالرُّسُلِ]Messengers]
[The Virtues of Messengers]
يُقَالُIt is saidإِنَّthatمُلُوكَthe kingsالْعَجَمِof the Persiansكَانَتْusedإِذَاwhenاحْتَاجَتْthey neededإِلَىtoأَنْchooseتَخْتَارَfrom their subjectsمِنْsomeoneرَعِيَّتِهَاto makeمَنْa messenger,تَجْعَلُهُthey would test himرَسُولاًfirstتَمْتَحِنُهُby sending himأَوَّلاًto some ofبِأَنْtheir intimates,تُوَجِّهَهُthen advanceإِلَىa spyبَعْضِover the messengerخَاصَّتِهَاwho would attendثُمَّwhat he deliversتُقَدِّمُof the messageعَيْناًand write downعَلَىhis words.الرَّسُولِWhen the messengerيَحْضُرُreturnedمَاwith the message,يُؤَدِّيهِthe spy would comeمِنَwith what he wroteالرِّسَالَةِof his utterancesوَيَكْتُبُand answers,كَلاَمَهُ،and the kingفَإِذَاwould compareرَجَعَthe utterancesالرَّسُولُof that messengerبِالرِّسَالَةِwith them.جَاءَIf their meaningsالْعَيْنُagreed,بِمَاthe kingكَتَبَrecognizedمِنْtherebyأَلْفَاظِهِthe soundness of his intellectوَأَجْوِبَتِهِand the truthfulnessفَقَابَلَof his tongue,بِهَاthen he would make himالْمَلِكُa messengerأَلْفَاظَto his enemyذَلِكَand placeالرَّسُولِa spy over himفَإِنِto preserve his wordsاتَّفَقَتْand write them down,مَعَانِيهَاthen raise themعَرَفَto the king.بِهَاIf the speechالْمَلِكُof the messengerصِحَّةَand the speechعَقْلِهِof the king's spyوَصِدْقَagreed,لَهْجَتِهِand he knewثُمَّthat his messengerجَعَلَهُhad spoken trulyرَسُولاًconcerning his enemyإِلَىand had not addedعَدُوِّهِto it,وَجَعَلَhe would make himعَلَيْهِa messengerعَيْناًto the kingsيَحْفَظُof the nationsأَلْفَاظَهُand trust him,وَيَكْتُبُهَاand after thatثُمَّhe would establishيَرْفَعُهَاhis reportإِلَىin the positionالْمَلِكِof proofفَإِنِand believeاتَّفَقَhis word.كَلاَمُAnd Ardashirالرَّسُولِused to say:وَكَلاَمُHow muchعَيْنِbloodالْمَلِكِhas a messenger shedوَعَلِمَwithout its legitimacyأَنَّor right,رَسُولَهُand how manyقَدْarmiesصَدَقَهُhave been killed,عَنْtroopsعَدُوِّهِviolated,وَلَمْwealthيَزِدْplundered,عَلَيْهِand covenantجَعَلَهُbrokenرَسُولاًdue to the crimeإِلَىof the messengerمُلُوكِand his lies.الْأُمَمِAnd he used to say:وَوَثَقَIt is incumbent uponبِهِthe kingثُمَّif he sendsبَعْدَa messengerذَلِكَto another kingيُقِيمُto have anotherخَبَرَهُfollow him,مَقَامَand if he sendsالْحُجَّةِtwo messengersوَيُصَدِّقُto follow them with two others,قَوْلَهُ.and if possible
It is said that the kings of the Persians, when they needed to choose from their subjects someone to make a messenger, would test him first by sending him to some of their intimates, then advance a spy over the messenger who would attend what he delivers of the message and write down his words. When the messenger returned with the message, the spy would come with what he wrote of his utterances and answers, and the king would compare the utterances of that messenger with them. If their meanings agreed, the king recognized thereby the soundness of his intellect and the truthfulness of his tongue, then he would make him a messenger to his enemy and place a spy over him to preserve his words and write them down, then raise them to the king. If the speech of the messenger and the speech of the king's spy agreed, and he knew that his messenger had spoken truly concerning his enemy and had not added to it, he would make him a messenger to the kings of the nations and trust him, and after that he would establish his report in the position of proof and believe his word. And Ardashir used to say: How much blood has a messenger shed without its legitimacy or right, and how many armies have been killed, troops violated, wealth plundered, and covenant broken due to the crime of the messenger and his lies. And he used to say: It is incumbent upon the king if he sends a messenger to another king to have another follow him, and if he sends two messengers to follow them with two others, and if possible for him not to bring them together on a road or meeting and not to let them know each other so they might agree and conspire on something, he should do so.
وَكَانَAndأَرْدَشِيرُArdashirيَقُولُ:used to say:كَمْHow manyمِنْaدَمٍbloodسَفَكَهُhas the messenger shedالرَّسُولُwithoutمِنْits legalityغَيْرِorحِلِّهِright,وَلَاand how manyحَقِّهِarmiesوَكَمْhave been killedمِنْand troopsجُيُوشٍviolatedقَدْand wealthقُتِلَتْplunderedوَعَسَاكِرَand covenantقَدِbrokenانْتُهِكَتْdue to the crimeوَمَالٍof the messengerقَدِand his lies.انْتُهِبَAnd heوَعَهْدٍused to say:قَدْIt is uponنُقِضَthe kingبِجِنَايَةِif he sendsالرَّسُولِa messengerوَأَكَاذِيبِهِ،to another kingوَكَانَto make anotherيَقُولُ:follow him,عَلَىand ifالْمَلِكِhe sends twoإِذَاmessengersوَجَّهَto follow themرَسُولاًwith two others,إِلَىand ifمَلِكٍpossibleآخَرَfor him notأَنْto gatherيُرْدِفَهُthemبِآخَرَon a roadوَإِنْor meetingوَجَّهَand notرَسُولَيْنِlet them knowأَتْبَعَهُمَاeach otherبِآخَرَيْنِ،so they agreeوَإِنْand conspireأَمْكَنَهُin something,أَنْhe should do so.لَاThen upon himيَجْمَعَif a messengerبَيْنَهُمَاbrings himفِيa book or messageطَرِيقٍfrom a kingوَلَاconcerning goodمُلَاقَاةٍor evilوَأَلَّاis not to causeيَتَعَارَفَاan eventفَيَتَّفِقَاin thatوَيَتَوَاطَأَاuntil he writesفِيto himشَيْءٍwith another messengerفَعَلَ،and recountsثُمَّto him his firstعَلَيْهِletterإِنْletter by letter.أَتَاهُFor the messengerرَسُولٌmight alterبِكِتَابٍwhat was dictatedأَوْto himرِسَالَةٍand fabricateمِنْbooksمَلِكٍand inciteفِيthe senderخَيْرٍagainstأَوْthe recipientشَرٍّand provoke himأَنْand lieلَاabout him.يُحْدِثَAnd from thatحَدَثاًAbu al-Aswadفِيsaidذَلِكَwhen he heardحَتَّىa manيَكْتُبَreciting poetry:إِلَيْهِIf you areمَعَin needرَسُولٍsending a messengerآخَرَthen sendوَيَحْكِيَa wise manبِهِand do notكِتَابَهُinstruct him.الْأَوَّلَHe said:حَرْفاًHe has spokenحَرْفاً،badly.فَإِنَّDoes he knowالرَّسُولَthe unseen?رُبَّمَاIf he does notخَرَمَinstruct himمَاhow does he knowأُمْلِيَwhat is inعَلَيْهِhis own soul?وَافْتَعَلَWhy did he not say:الْكُتُبَIf you sendوَحَرَّضَa messenger in a matterالْمُرْسَلَthen make him understandعَلَىand send himالْمُرْسَلِas an educated person,إِلَيْهِand do not leaveوَأَغْرَاهُhis instructionبِهِfor anythingوَكَذَبَeven if he isعَلَيْهِ،intelligent and astute.وَمِنْهَاAnd if you wasteقَالَthatأَبُوthen do not blame himالْأَسْوَدِfor notوَقَدْknowingسَمِعَthe unseen.
And Ardashir used to say: How much blood has a messenger shed without its legality or right, and how many armies have been killed, troops violated, wealth plundered, and covenant broken due to the crime of the messenger and his lies. And he used to say: It is incumbent upon the king if he sends a messenger to another king to have another follow him, and if he sends two messengers to follow them with two others, and if possible for him not to bring them together on a road or meeting and not to let them know each other so they might agree and conspire on something, he should do so. Then upon him if a messenger brings him a book or message from a king concerning good or evil is not to cause an event in that until he writes to him with another messenger and recounts to him his first letter letter by letter. For the messenger might alter what was dictated to him and fabricate books and incite the sender against the recipient and provoke him and lie about him. And from that Abu al-Aswad said when he heard a man reciting poetry: If you are in need sending a messenger then send a wise man and do not instruct him. He said: He has spoken badly. Does he know the unseen? If he does not instruct him how does he know what is in his own soul? Why did he not say: If you send a messenger in a matter then make him understand and send him as an educated person, and do not leave his instruction for anything even if he is intelligent and astute. And if you waste that then do not blame him for not knowing the unseen.
رَجُلاًa manيُنْشِدُ:reciting poetry:
reciting poetry:
إِذَاIfكُنْتَyou areفِيinحَاجَةٍneedمُرْسِلاًof sending......فَأَرْسِلْthen sendحَكِيماًa wise manوَلَاand do notتُوصِهِinstruct him
If you are in need of sending... then send a wise man and do not instruct him
فَقَالَ:He said:قَدْHe hasأَسَاءَspokenالْقَوْلَ،badly,أَيَعْلَمُdoes he knowالْغَيْبَ؟the unseen?إِذاًIfلَمْhe doesيُوصِهِnot instruct himكَيْفَhowيَعْلَمُdoes he knowمَاwhatفِيis inنَفْسِهِ؟his soul?أَلَاWhy did he notقَالَ:say:
He said: He has spoken badly, does he know the unseen? If he does not instruct him, how does he know what is in his soul? Why did he not say:
إِذَاIfأَرْسَلْتَyou sendفِيinأَمْرٍa matterرَسُولاًa messenger......فَأَفْهِمْهُthen make him understandوَأَرْسِلْهُand send himأَدِيباًas educated
If you send a messenger in a matter... then make him understand and send him as educated
وَلَاAnd do notتَتْرُكْleaveوَصِيَّتَهُhis instructionلِشَيْءٍfor anything......وَإِنْeven ifهُوَheكَانَisذاendowed withعَقْلٍintellectأَرِيباًastute
And do not leave his instruction for anything... even if he is endowed with intellect and astute
وَإِنْAnd ifضَيَّعْتَyou wasteذَاكَthatفَلَاthen do notتَلُمْهُblame him......عَلَىforأَنْthatلَمْhe did notيَكُنْknowعَلِمَtheالْغُيُوبَاunseen
And if you waste that then do not blame him... for that he did not know the unseen