قَالَsaidابْنُIbnطَاهِرٍ:Tahir
Ibn Tahir said:
حَدَّثُونِيthey narrated to meعَنْaboutعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنِMalikمَالِكٍwhoقَالَ:said
They narrated to me from Abdullah bin Malik who said:
كُنْتُI used toأَتَوَلَّىmanageالشُّرْطَةَthe policeلِلْمَهْدِيِّfor al-Mahdi
I used to manage the police for al-Mahdi
وَكَانَand he wasيَبْعَثُsendingإِلَيَّto meفِيregardingنُدَمَاءِcompanionsالْهَادِيof al-Hadiوَمُغَنِّيهِand his singers
and he used to send to me regarding the companions of al-Hadi and his singers
أَنِّيthat Iأَضْرِبُهُمْbeat themوَأَحْبِسُهُمْand imprison them
that I should beat them and imprison them
صِيَانَةًprotectingلَهُhimعَنْهُمْ،from them
protecting him from them,
فَبَعَثَso sentالْهَادِيal-Hadiيَسْأَلُنِيasking meالرِّفْقَkindnessبِهِمْtowards themوَالتَّرْفِيهَand comfortعَنْهُمْ،for them
so al-Hadi sent asking me to be kind to them and provide comfort for them,
فَلَاand I did notأَلْتَفِتُpay attentionإِلَىtoذَلِكَthat
and I did not pay attention to that
وَأَمْضِيand I proceededإِلَىwithمَاwhatيَأْمُرُcommandsبِهِwith itالْمَهْدِيُّ،al-Mahdi
and carried out what al-Mahdi commanded.
فَلَمَّاwhenوَلِيَassumedالْهَادِيal-Hadiالْخِلَافَةَthe caliphate
When al-Hadi assumed the caliphate
أَيْقَنْتُI became certainبِالتَّلَفِof destruction
I became certain of destruction.
فَبَعَثَso he sentإِلَيَّto meيَوْماًone day
So he sent for me one day
فَدَخَلْتُand I enteredعَلَيْهِupon himمَتَكَفِّناًshroudedمُتَحَنِّطاً،embalmed
and I entered upon him wearing my shroud and embalmed,
فَإِذَاand beholdهُوَheعَلَىwas onكُرْسِيٍّa chair
and behold, he was on a chair
وَالنِّطْعُand the leather matوَالسَّيْفُand the swordبَيْنَwere betweenيَدَيْهِ،his hands
and the execution leather and the sword were before him.
فَسَلَّمْتُso I greetedفَقَالَ:and he said
So I gave my greeting, and he said:
لَاmayسَلَّمَgrantاللَّهُGodعَلَيْكَ!peace upon you
"May God not grant you peace!
تَذْكُرُdo you rememberيَوْمَthe dayبَعَثْتُI sentإِلَيْكَto youفِيregardingأَمْرِthe matter ofالْحَرَّانِيِّal-Harrani
Do you remember the day I sent to you regarding the matter of al-Harrani
لَمَّاwhenأَمَرَorderedأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful
when the Commander of the Faithful ordered
رَضِيَmay God beاللَّهُpleasedعَنْهُ،with him
may God be pleased with him,
بِضَرْبِهِhis beatingفَلَمْand you did notتُجِبْنِيanswer meفِيconcerningفُلَانٍso-and-soوَفِيand concerningفُلَانٍ،so-and-so
to beat him, and you did not grant my request concerning so-and-so and so-and-so,
وَجَعَلَand he beganيَعُدُّcountingنُدَمَاءَهُ،his companionsوَلَمْand withoutيَلْتَفِتْpaying attentionإِلَىtoقَوْلِي؟my saying?
and he began to count his companions, and you paid no attention to what I said?"
قُلْتُ:I saidنَعَمْyesيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful
I said: "Yes, O Commander of the Faithful.
أَفَتَأْذَنُdo you permitلِيmeفِيinاسْتِيفَاءِcompletingالْحُجَّةِ؟the argument?
Will you permit me to state my full argument?"
قَالَ:he saidنَعَمْ،yes
He said: "Yes."
قُلْتُ:I saidنَشَدْتُكَI implore you byاللَّهَGodيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
I said: "I implore you by God, O Commander of the Faithful,
أَيَسُرُّكَdoes it please youأَنْthatوَلَّيْتَنِيyou put me in charge ofمَاwhatوَلَّانِيput me in charge ofأَبُوكَyour father
would it please you if you put me in charge of what your father put me in charge of
وَأَمَرْتَنِيand you commanded meبِأَمْرٍwith a commandفَبَعَثَand sentإِلَيَّto meبَعْضُsome ofبَنِيكَyour sons
and you gave me an order, and then one of your sons sent to me
بِأَمْرٍwith an orderيُخَالِفُcontradictingأَمْرَكَyour orderفَاتَّبَعْتُand I followedأَمْرَهُhis orderوَعَصَيْتُand disobeyedأَمْرَكَ؟your order?
with an order that contradicted your order, and I followed his order and disobeyed your order?"
قَالَ:he saidلَا،no
He said: "No."
قُلْتُ:I saidفَكَذَلِكَso likewiseأَنَاI amلَكَto youوَكَذَاand likewiseلِأَبِيكَto your fatherوَأَخِيكَ.and your brother.
I said: "So likewise am I to you, and so was I to your father and your brother."
فَاسْتَدْنَانِيso he drew me nearفَقَبَّلْتُand I kissedيَدَهُhis hand
So he drew me near and I kissed his hand,
وَأَمَرَand he orderedبِخُلَعٍrobes of honorفَصُبَّتْand they were pouredعَلَيَّupon me
and he ordered robes of honor which were put upon me,
وَقَالَ:and he saidقَدْtrulyوَلَّيْتُكَI have appointed you toمَاwhatكُنْتَyou used toتَتَوَلاهُmanageفَامْضِso proceedرَاشِداً.rightly guided.
and said: "I have appointed you to what you used to manage, so go forth rightly guided."
فَخَرَجْتُso I went outمِنْfromعِنْدِهِhis presence
So I went out from his presence
وَصِرْتُand I returnedإِلَىtoمَنْزِلِيmy houseمُفَكِّراًponderingفِيuponأَمْرِهِhis affairوَأَمْرِيand my affair
and returned to my house, pondering his affair and my affair,
وَقُلْتُand I saidحَدَثٌan event
and I said: "An unexpected event!
وَالْقَوْمُand the peopleالَّذِينَwhoعَصَيْتُهُI disobeyed himفِيregardingأَمْرِهِمْtheir matterنُدَمَاؤُهُare his companionsوَوُزَرَاؤُهُand his ministersوَكُتَّابُهُand his scribes
And the people whose orders I disobeyed regarding them are his companions, his ministers, and his scribes.
فَكَأَنِّيit is as ifبِهِمْI see themحِينَwhenيَغْلِبُovercomesعَلَيْهِhimالشَّرَابُdrink
It is as if I see them when drink overcomes him
وَقَدْand they haveأَزَالُوهُturned him awayعَنْfromرَأْيِهِhis opinionفِيَّconcerning me
and they have turned him away from his good opinion of me
وَحَمَلُوهُand they carried himفِيregardingأَمْرِيmy matterمَاto whatكُنْتُI used toأَتَخَوَّفُهُ،fear
and incited him against me regarding what I used to fear."
قَالَ:he saidفَإِنِّيwhile I wasلَجَالِسٌsitting
He said: "While I was sitting
وَبَيْنَand beforeيَدَيَّmeبُنَيَّةٌa little daughter of mineلِيof mine
and before me was a little daughter of mine,
وَالْكَانُونُand the brazierبَيْنَwas beforeيَدَيَّme
and the brazier was before me,
وَرِقَاقٌand thin flatbreadأَشْطُرُهُI cut itبِكَامِخٍwith kamikhوَأُسَخِّنُهُand heat itوَأُطْعِمُهُand feed itالصَّبِيَّةَto the little girl
and flatbread which I was cutting into pieces with kamikh, heating it, and feeding it to the little girl,
حَتَّىuntilتَوَهَّمْتُI imaginedأَنَّthatالدُّنْيَاthe worldقَدِhasاقْتُلِعَتْbeen uprootedبِيwith me
until I imagined that the world was being uprooted with me
وَزَلْزَلَتْand shakenلِوَقْعِdue to the stamping ofحَوَافِرِhooves ofالدَّوَابِّthe beastsوَكَثْرَةِand the abundance ofالضَّوْضَاءِnoise
and shaken by the pounding of the horses' hooves and the loud uproar,
فَقُلْتُ:so I saidهَاهْahكَانَit has happenedوَاللَّهِby Godمَاwhatظَنَنْتُ!I thought!
so I said: "Ah, by God, what I thought has happened!"
فَإِذَاand beholdالْبَابُthe doorقَدْhasفُتِحَbeen opened
And behold, the door was opened,
وَإِذَاand beholdالْخَدَمُthe servantsقَدْhaveدَخَلُواentered
and behold, the servants had entered,
وَإِذَاand beholdأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulالْهَادِيal-Hadiعَلَىuponحِمَارٍa donkeyفِيinوَسَطِهِمْ،their midst
and behold, the Commander of the Faithful al-Hadi was on a donkey in their midst.
فَلَمَّاwhenرَأَيْتُهُمْI saw themوَثَبْتُI jumpedعَنْfromمَجْلِسِيmy seatمُبَادِراًhastily
When I saw them, I sprang up hastily from my seat
وَقَبَّلْتُand kissedيَدَهُhis handوَرِجْلَهُand his footوَحَافِرَand the hoof ofحِمَارِهِ،his donkey
and kissed his hand, his foot, and the hoof of his donkey.
فَقَالَ:so he saidيَاOأَبَاAbuعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِbin
He said: "O Abu Abdullah,
إِنِّيverily Iفَكَرْتُreflectedفِيonأَمْرِكَyour matter
I reflected on your matter
فَقُلْتُand I saidيَسْبِقُit will occurإِلَىtoقَلْبِكَyour heart
and thought that it would occur to your heart
أَنِّيthat whenإِذَاIشَرِبْتُdrankوَجَاءَنِيand came to meأَعْدَاؤُكَyour enemies
that when I drank and your enemies came to me,
أَزَالُواthey would removeمَاwhatحَسُنَwas goodمِنْofرَأْيِيmy opinionفِيكَconcerning you
they would remove my good opinion of you
فَأُقْلِقُكَso I would agitate youوَأُوحِشُكَand frighten you
causing you anxiety and fear.
فَصِرْتُso I cameإِلَىtoمَنْزِلِكَyour houseلِأُؤْنِسَكَto comfort youوَأُعْلِمَكَand let you know
So I came to your house to comfort you and let you know
أَنَّthatالسَّخِيمَةَgrudgeقَدْhasزَالَتْdisappearedعَنْfromقَلْبِيmy heart
that any grudge has departed from my heart.
فَهَاتِso bringأَطْعِمْنِيfeed meمَاwhatكُنْتَyou used toتَأْكُلُeat
So bring and feed me what you used to eat,
وَافْعَلْand doفِيهِwith itمَاwhatكُنْتَyou used toتَفْعَلُdo
and do with it what you used to do,
لِتَعْلَمَso that you may knowأَنِّيthat Iقَدْhaveتَحَرَّمْتُsought blessingبِطَعَامِكَby your food
so that you may know that I have partaken of your food
وَأَنِسْتُand found comfortبِمَنْزِلِكَin your houseفَيَزُولُso departsخَوْفُكَyour fearوَوَحْشَتُكَ.and your loneliness.
and felt at home in your house, so that your fear and anxiety may vanish."
فَأَدْنَيْتُso I brought nearإِلَيْهِto himذَلِكَthatالرِّقَاقَflatbreadوَالسُّكُرَّجَةَand the small dishالَّتِيwhichفِيهَاin itالْكَامِخَis the kamikh
So I brought near to him that flatbread and the small dish containing the kamikh,
فَأَكَلَand he ateمِنْهَاfrom itثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said
and he ate from it, then said:
هَاتُواbringالزَّلَّةَthe compensation for the slipالَّتِيwhichزَلَلْتُهَاI slippedلِأَبِيregarding AbuعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِbinمِنْfromمَجْلِسِي،my assembly
"Bring the compensation for the slip I made toward Abu Abdullah from my assembly."
فَأُدْخِلَso there was brought inإِلَيَّto meأَرْبَعُمِائَةِfour hundredبَغْلٍmulesمُوَقَّرَةٍladen withدَرَاهِمَ،dirhams
And there were brought in to me four hundred mules laden with dirhams,
فَقَالَ:and he saidهَذِهِthis isزَلَّتُكَyour slip's compensationفَاسْتَعِنْso seek helpبِهَاwith itعَلَىinأَمْرِكَyour affair
and he said: "This is compensation for your slip, so seek help with it in your affairs,
وَاحْفَظْand keepهَذِهِtheseالْبِغَالَmulesعِنْدَكَwith you
and keep these mules with you,
فَلَعَلِّيfor perhaps Iأَحْتَاجُshall needإِلَيْهَاthemلِبَعْضِfor someأَسْفَارِي،of my journeys
for perhaps I will need them for some of my journeys,"
وَانْصَرَفَand he departedرَاجِعاً.returning.
and he turned back and departed.
فَأَخْبَرَنِيso informed meمُوسَىMusaبْنُbinعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِbinأَنَّthatأَبَاهُhis fatherأَعْطَاهُgave himبُسْتَانَهُhis orchardالَّذِيwhichكَانَwasوَسَطَin the middle ofدَارِهِhis house
Musa bin Abdullah informed me that his father gave him his orchard which was in the middle of his house,
فَبَنَىand he builtحَوْلَهُaround itمَعَالِفَstablesلِتِلْكَfor thoseالْبِغَالِmules
and he built stables around it for those mules,
وَكَانَand he wasهُوَheيَتَوَلَّىtaking charge ofالْقِيَامَtendingعَلَيْهَاto themمُدَّةَfor the duration ofحَيَاةِthe life ofالْهَادِي.al-Hadi
and he used to personally tend to them for the remainder of al-Hadi's life.