قَالَ:He said:
He said:
وَقَالَAnd saidالرَّشِيدُAl-Rashidلِبِشْرِto Bishrبْنِson ofمَيْمُونٍMaymunلَمَّاwhenوَلَّاهُhe appointed himالْحَجْبَةَ:to chamberlainship:
And Al-Rashid said to Bishr ibn Maymun when he appointed him as chamberlain:
يَاOبِشْرُBishr,صُنْguardطَلَاقَةَthe cheerfulness ofاسْمِكَyour nameبِحُسْنِwith the goodness ofفِعْلِكَyour deed,
O Bishr, guard the cheerfulness of your name with the goodness of your deed,
وَاحْجُبْand screenعَنِّيfrom meمَنْwhoeverإِذَاwhenقَعَدَhe sitsأَطَالَhe prolongs
and screen from me whoever when he sits prolongs,
وَإِذَاand whenطَلَبَhe seeksأَجَالَhe sets in motionفِكْرَهُ،his thought,
and when he seeks he sets his thought in motion,
وَلَاand do notتَسْتَخِفَّنَّbelittleبذويthe people ofالْمُرُوءَةِchivalryوَالْحُرْمَةِand sanctity
and do not belittle those of chivalry and sanctity,
فَإِنَّهُمْfor indeed theyإِنْifمُدِحُواthey are praisedتَلَبَّوْاthey respondوَإِنْand ifذُمُّواthey are blamedأَزَالُوا.they remove.
for indeed if they are praised they respond, and if they are blamed they remove.
وَذَكَرُواAnd they mentionedعَنِaboutالرَّبِيعِAl-Rabi`الْحَاجِبِthe chamberlainأَنَّthatالْمَنْصُورَAl-MansurدَعَاinvitedمُحَمَّدَMuhammadبْنَson ofعِيسَىIsaبْنِson ofعَلِيٍّAliإِلَىtoالْغَذَاءِthe meal
And they mentioned about Al-Rabi` the chamberlain that Al-Mansur invited Muhammad ibn Isa ibn Ali to the meal,
فَقَالَ:so he said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,قَدْI haveأَكَلْتُ،eaten,
so he said: O Commander of the Faithful, I have already eaten,
فَلَمَّاso whenخَرَجَhe went outأَخَذَهُAl-Rabi` took himالرَّبِيعُAl-Rabi`وَحَمَلَهُand carried himعَلَىuponظَهْرِthe back ofرَجُلٍa manوَضَرَبَهُand beat himكَمَاasيُضْرَبُare beatenالصِّبْيَانُ،the boys,
so when he went out, Al-Rabi` took him and carried him on a man's back and beat him as boys are beaten,
فَظَنَّso thoughtأَهْلُthe people ofبَيْتِهِhis houseأَنَّthatالْمَنْصُورَAl-Mansurأَمَرَهُordered himبِذَلِكَ،with that,
so his household thought that Al-Mansur had ordered him to do that,
فَخَرَجَso he went outيَبْكِيweepingإِلَىtoأَبِيهِ،his father,
so he went out weeping to his father,
فَجَاءَso cameأَبُوهُhis fatherعِيسَىIsaبْنُson ofعَلِيٍّAliفَخَلَعَand took offسَيْفَهُhis swordبَيْنَbetweenيَدَيْthe hands ofالْمَنْصُورِAl-Mansurوَصَاحَ،and shouted,
so his father Isa ibn Ali came and placed his sword before Al-Mansur and shouted,
فَقَالَ:so he said:مَاI did notأَمَرْتُorderبِذَلِكَthatوَلَمْand Al-Rabi` did notيَفْعَلِdoالرَّبِيعُAl-Rabi`ذَلِكَthatإِلَّاexceptلِأَمْرٍ،for a matter,
saying: I did not order that, and Al-Rabi` did not do that except for a reason,
فَلَمَّاso whenسُئِلَwas askedالرَّبِيعُAl-Rabi`عَنْaboutذَلِكَthatقَالَ:he said:
so when Al-Rabi` was asked about that, he said:
أَمَرْتُهُI ordered himأَنْtoيَتَغَدَّىhave lunchمَعَكَwith youفَقَالَso he saidقَدْI haveأَكَلْتُ،eaten,
I ordered him to have lunch with you, and he said 'I have eaten',
وَإِنَّمَاand verilyدَعَوْتُهُyou invited himلِتُشَرِّفَهُto honor himوَتَرْفَعَand elevateمِنْهُhimوَلَمْand you did notتَدْعُهُinvite himلِتُشْبِعَهُ،to fill him,
and you only invited him to honor him and elevate him, and you did not invite him to fill him,
فَأَدَّبْتُهُso I disciplined himإِذْsinceلَمْnotيُؤَدِّبْهُdisciplined himأَبُوهُ،his father,
so I disciplined him since his father did not discipline him.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَنْصُورُ:Al-Mansur:أَحْسَنْتَ!Well done!قَدْI haveعَلِمْتُknownأَنَّكَthat youلَاdo notتُخْطِئُ.err.
Al-Mansur said: Well done! I have known that you do not err.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd saidالْمَهْدِيُّAl-Mahdiلِلْفَضْلِto Al-Fadlبْنِson ofالرَّبِيعِAl-Rabi`حِينَwhenوَلَّاهُhe appointed himالْحَجْبَةَ:to chamberlainship:
He said: And Al-Mahdi said to Al-Fadl ibn Al-Rabi` when he appointed him as chamberlain:
إِنِّيVerily Iمُوَلِّيكَam appointing you toسَتْرَveilingوَجْهِيmy faceوَكَشْفَهُand unveiling it,فَلَاso do notتَجْعَلِmakeالسِّتْرَthe veilبَيْنِيbetween meوَبَيْنَandالنَّاسِthe peopleسَبَبَa cause forإِرَاقَةِsheddingدِمَائِهِمْtheir blood
Verily I am appointing you to veil my face and unveil it, so do not make the veil between me and the people a cause for shedding their blood
بِعُبُوسِby the scowling ofوَجْهِكَyour faceفِيinوُجُوهِهِمْtheir faces,فَإِنَّfor indeedلَهُمْthey haveدَالَٰلَةَthe right of familiarity ofالْحُرْمَةِsanctityوَحُرْمَةَand the sanctity ofالِاتِّصَالِconnection.
by scowling at them in their faces, for indeed they have the claim of sanctity and the sanctity of connection.
وَقَدِّمْAnd prioritizeأَبْنَاءَthe sons ofالدَّعْوَةِthe Callوَثَنِّand secondبِالْأَوْلِيَاءِwith the alliesوَاجْعَلْand makeلِلْعَامَّةِfor the general publicوَقْتًاa time
Prioritize the sons of the Call, second with the allies, and make a time for the general public
إِذَاwhenوَصَلُواthey arriveأَعْجَلَهُمْtheir narrowness hastens themضِيقُهُits tightnessعَنِfromالتَّلَبُّثِlingeringوَالتَّمَكُّثِ،and staying,
that when they arrive, its tightness hastens them away from lingering and staying.
وَكَانَAnd wasأَوَّلَthe firstمَنْwhoحَجَبَهُperformed chamberlainship for himالْحَسَنُAl-Hasanبْنُson ofعُثْمَانَUthmanثُمَّthenالْفَضْلُAl-Fadlبْنُson ofالرَّبِيعِ،Al-Rabi`,
And the first who served as his chamberlain was Al-Hasan ibn Uthman, then Al-Fadl ibn Al-Rabi`.
وَكَانَAnd wasالْهَادِيAl-Hadiوَلَّىwho appointedحَجْبَتَهُhis chamberlainshipالْفَضْلَAl-Fadlبْنَson ofالرَّبِيعِAl-Rabi`بَعْدَafterالرَّبِيعِAl-Rabi`وَقَالَand saidلَهُ:to him:
And Al-Hadi had appointed Al-Fadl ibn Al-Rabi` as his chamberlain after Al-Rabi`, and said to him:
لَاDo notتَحْجُبْscreenعَنِّيfrom meالنَّاسَthe peopleفَإِنَّfor indeedذَلِكَthatيُزِيلُremovesعَنِّيfrom meالتَّزْكِيَةَ،purification,
Do not screen the people from me, for indeed that removes purification from me,
وَلَاand do notتُلْقِpresentإِلَيَّto meأَمْرًاa matterإِذَاwhenكَشَفْتَهُyou uncovered itوَجَدْتَهُyou found itبَاطِلًاfalse,
and do not present to me a matter which, when you uncover it, you find to be false,
فَإِنَّfor indeedذَلِكَthatيُوهِنُweakensالْمُلْكَthe kingdomوَيَضُرُّand harmsبِالرَّعِيَّةِ.the subjects.
for indeed that weakens the kingdom and harms the subjects.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَقَالَAnd saidالْوَاثِقُAl-Wathiqلِابْنِto the son ofأَبِيAbiدُؤَادَ:Du'ad:مَنْWho isأَوْلَىmost deservingالنَّاسِof peopleبِالْحَجْبَةِ؟of chamberlainship?
It was said: And Al-Wathiq said to Ibn Abi Du'ad: Who is the most deserving of people for chamberlainship?
فَقَالَ:So he said:مَوْلَىThe freedman ofشَفِيقٍShafiqيَصُونُwho guardsبِطَلَاقَةِwith the cheerfulness ofوَجْهِهِhis faceمَنْwhoeverوَلَّاهُappointed himوَيَسْتَعْبِدُand enslavesالنَّاسَpeopleلِمَوْلَاهُ،for his master,
He said: The freedman of Shafiq, who guards with the cheerfulness of his face the one who appointed him, and subjugates the people to his master,
فَنَظَرَso he lookedإِلَىatإِيتَاخَItakhوَكَانَand he wasوَاقِفًاstandingعَلَىatرَأْسِهِhis headفَقَالَ:and said:
so he looked at Itakh, who was standing at his head, and said:
قَدْI haveوَلَّاكَappointed youأَبُوAbuعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahالْحَجْبَةَ،as chamberlain,
Abu Abdullah has appointed you as chamberlain,
فَكَانَso wasإِيتَاخُItakhيَعْرِفُappreciatingذَلِكَthatلَهُto himوَيَتَقَدَّمُand advancingبَيْنَbetweenيَدَيْهِhis handsإِلَىuntilأَنْthatيَبْلُغَhe reachedمَرْتَبَتَهُ.his rank.
so Itakh appreciated that from him and preceded before him until he reached his rank.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd saidرَجُلٌa manلِزِيَادٍ:to Ziyad:إِنَّVerilyحَاجِبَكَyour chamberlainإِنَّمَاonlyيَبْدَأُbeginsبِالْإِذْنِwith granting permissionلِمَعَارِفِهِ،to his acquaintances,
He said: And a man said to Ziyad: Verily your chamberlain only gives permission first to his acquaintances,
فَقَالَ:so he said:قَدْHe hasأَحْسَنَ،done well,الْمَعْرِفَةُacquaintanceتَنْفَعُis usefulعِنْدَwithالْكَلْبِthe rabidالْعَقُورِdogوَالْأَسَدِand the fierceالْهَصُورِlionوَبَيْنَand betweenلَحْيَيِthe two jaws ofالْبَعِيرِthe camelالصَّؤُولِ،that bites,
so he said: He has done well. Acquaintance is useful with the rabid dog, the fierce lion, and between the jaws of the biting camel.
كُنْBeمِنْamongمَعَارِفِهِ،his acquaintances,فَقَدْfor indeedقِيلَ:it has been said:التَّعَارُفُMutual acquaintanceنَسَبٌis a lineageوَقَبَّحَand may Allah make uglyاللَّهُAllahمَعْرِفَةًan acquaintanceلَاthat does notتَنْفَعُ.benefit.
Be one of his acquaintances, for it has been said: Mutual acquaintance is a lineage, and may Allah make ugly an acquaintance that does not benefit.
وَكَانَAnd hadلِيَحْيَىYahyaبْنِson ofخَالِدٍKhalidحَاجِبٌa chamberlainقَبْلَbeforeالْوِزَارَةِ،the vizierate,
And Yahya ibn Khalid had a chamberlain before the vizierate,
فَلَمَّاso whenصَارَhe attainedإِلَىtoالْوِزَارَةِthe vizierateرَأَىhe sawكَأَنَّهُas though heتَثَاقَلَgrew sluggishعَنْregardingحِجَابَتِهِhis chamberlainshipفَقِيلَso it was saidلَهُ:to him:
and when he attained the vizierate, it seemed as though he grew sluggish regarding his chamberlainship, so it was said to him:
لَوْIfاتَّخَذْتَyou tookحَاجِبًاa chamberlainغَيْرَهُ،other than him,قَالَ:he said:كَلَّا،Never,
If you were to take a chamberlain other than him? He said: Never,
هَذَاthis oneيَعْرِفُknowsإِخْوَانِيmy brothersالْقُدَمَاءَ،of old,وَقَالَand saidالشَّاعِرُthe poetفِيconcerningمِثْلِهِ:the like of him:
this one knows my old brothers. And the poet said concerning the like of him:
هِشٌّCheerfulإِذَاwhenنَزَلَalightالْوُفُودُthe delegationsبِبَابِهِat his door......سَهْلُeasy ofالْحِجَابِaccessمُؤَدِّبُdiscipliningالْخُدَّامِthe servants
Cheerful when delegations alight at his door... easy of access, disciplining the servants,
وَإِذَاAnd ifرَأَيْتَyou sawشَقِيقَهُhis brotherوَصَدِيقَهُand his friend......لَمْyou would notتَدْرِknowأَيَّهُمَاwhich of themأَخُوis the brother ofالْأَرْحَامِblood relations.
And if you saw his brother and his friend... you would not know which of them is the blood-related brother.
وَقَالَAnd saidخَيْطُKhaytالْقِنْدِيلِAl-QindilفِيregardingمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahبْنِson ofطَاهِرٍ:Tahir:
And Khayt Al-Qindil said regarding Muhammad ibn Abdallah ibn Tahir:
يَاOأَيُّهَاyouالْمَلِكُKingالْمَحْجُوبُveiledآمِلُهُwhose hopeful......وَرَاءَbehindبَابِكَyour doorهَمٌّis a griefغَيْرُother thanمُشْتَرَكِshared.
O veiled King whose hopeful... behind your door is an unshared grief.
وَكَمْAnd how oftenأَقُولُdo I speakفَلَاyet it does notيُجْدِيavailفَيُنْجِدُنِيso he comes to my rescue......وَلَاand I do notأَرَىseeمَدَنِيًّاanyone from the cityمِنْfromقُبَّةِthe dome ofالْمَلِكِthe King.
And how often do I speak and it avails not to rescue me... and I see no one urban from the King's dome.
وَقَدْAnd indeedتَحَصَّنَhe has fortified himselfمَنِّيagainst meفِيinمُحَصَّنَةٍa fortified place......خَلْقَاءَsmoothخَلْفَbehindوَشِيجِthe interlacedالسَّمْرِspears of acaciaوَالْحَسَكِand thorns.
And indeed he has fortified himself against me in a smooth fortress... behind the interlaced acacia spears and thorns.
أَصْبَحْتُI have becomeكَالشَّمْسِlike the sunلَاnotتُخْفَىhiddenعَلَىfromأَحَدٍanyone......لَكِنَّbutمَطْلَعَهَاits rising placeفِيis inسُرَّةِthe navel ofالْفَلَكِthe sphere.
I have become like the sun, hidden from no one... but its rising place is in the navel of the sphere.
يَاOلَيْتَwould thatرِيحَthe wind ofسُلَيْمَانَSolomonمُسَخَّرَةًwas subjugated......إِلَيْهِto himتَحْمِلُنِيcarrying meأَوْorمَنْكِبِيmy shouldersمَلَكُan angel.
O would that Solomon's wind was subjugated... carrying me to him, or an angel on my shoulders.
فَلَسْتُFor I am notدُونَbeneathأُنَاسٍpeopleكَانَwhoseسَهْمُهُمْallotment was......سَهْمَthe allotment ofالنَّجِيحِthe successful oneفَنَالُواso they attainedغَايَةَthe utmostالدَّرَكِreach.
For I am not below people whose share was... the share of the successful, so they attained the utmost reach.
فَإِنْSo ifظُلِمْتُI am wrongedوَلَمْand notأُنْصَفْtreated fairlyفَقَدْthen indeedظُلِمَتْwas wronged......بِنْتُthe daughter ofالنَّبِيِّthe Prophetكَمَاjust asقِيلَit was saidفِيconcerningفَدَكِFadak.
So if I am wronged and not treated fairly, then indeed was wronged... the daughter of the Prophet, just as it was said concerning Fadak.
مَسَاوِئُThe vices ofالْحَجْبَةِchamberlains
The vices of chamberlains