قَالَ:Heوَحَدَّثَنَاand narrated to usعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنُAmrعَمْرٍوal-BalkhiالْبَلْخِيُّfromعَنْIbnابْنِDubدَأْبٍthatأَنَّهُheكَانَused toيَأْكُلُeatمَعَwithالْهَادِيal-Hadiوَيُنَادِمُهُand be his companion in drinkingوَكَانَand heيَدْعُوused to inviteلَهُhimبِتِكَاءٍto reclineوَمَاand he did notكَانَdoيَفْعَلُthatذَلِكَinفِيhisمَجْلِسِهِassemblyبِغَيْرِهِ،with anyone else.
He said: Abdullah bin Amr al-Balkhi narrated to us from Ibn Dub that he used to eat with al-Hadi and be his drinking companion, and he would invite him to recline, and he did not do that in his assembly with anyone else.
وَكَانَAnd he wasلَذِيذَdelightful inالْمُفَاكَهَةِjestingطَيِّبَpleasant inالْمُسَامَرَةِnight conversationكَثِيرَabundant inالنَّادِرَةِrare anecdotesجَيِّدَexcellent inالشِّعْرِpoetryحَسَنَgood inالانتزاعِ،citing verses.
And he was delightful in jesting, pleasant in night conversation, abundant in rare anecdotes, excellent in poetry, and good at citing verses.
قَالَ:He said:فَأَمَرَSo he orderedلَهُfor himذَاتَoneلَيْلَةٍnightبِثَلَاثِينَthirtyأَلْفَthousandدِينَارٍ،dinars.
He said: So one night he ordered for him thirty thousand dinars.
فَلَمَّاWhenأَصْبَحَit became morningوَجَّهَhe sentقَهْرَمَانَهُhis stewardإِلَىtoبَابِthe door ofمُوسَىMusaوَقَالَand saidلَهُ:to him:الْقَMeetالْحَاجِبَthe chamberlainفَقُلْand sayلَهُto himيُوَجِّهَto directإِلَيْنَاto usبِهَذَاthisالْمَالِ،money.
When morning came, he sent his steward to the door of Musa and said to him: Meet the chamberlain and tell him to send this money to us.
فَلَقِيَSo he metالْحَاجِبَthe chamberlainفَأَتَاهُand came to himبِرِسَالَتِهِwith his messageفَتَبَسَّمَand smiledوَقَالَ:and said:هَذَاThisلَيْسَis notإِلَيَّ،up to me.
So he met the chamberlain, delivered his message, smiled, and said: This is not up to me.
فَانْطَلِقْSo goإِلَىtoصَاحِبِthe master ofالتَّوْقِيعِsignaturesلِيُخْرِجَso that he may issueإِلَيْكَto youكِتَاباًa documentإِلَىtoالدِّيرَانِthe bureauفَتَدَبَّرْهُthen manage itثُمَّthenتَفْعَلُyou doفِيهِin itكَذَاsuch and suchوَكَذَا،and so on.
So go to the official in charge of signatures so he can issue a document for you to the bureau, then process it and do such and such with it.
فَرَجَعَSo he returnedإِلَىtoابْنِIbnدَأْبٍDubفَأَخْبَرَهُ،and informed him.
So he returned to Ibn Dub and informed him.
فَقَالَ:He said:دَعْهَاLeave itوَلَاand do notتَعْرِضْexpose yourselfلَهَا،to it.
He said: Leave it and do not pursue it.
قَالَ:He said:فَبَيْنَمَاWhileمُوسَىMusaفِيwas inمُسْتَشْرَفٍa viewpointلَهُof hisإِذْwhenنَظَرَhe lookedإِلَىatابْنِIbnدَأْبٍDubقَدْhavingأَقْبَلَapproachedوَلَيْسَand there was notمَعَهُwith himإِلَّاexceptغُلَامٌone servantوَاحِدٌ،only.
He said: While Musa was in a viewpoint of his, he saw Ibn Dub approaching with only one servant.
فَقَالَHe saidلِإِبْرَاهِيمَto Ibrahimالْحَرَّانِيِّ:al-Harrani:أَمَاDo you notتَرَىseeابْنَIbnدَأْبٍDubمَاhow heغَيَّرَhas changedمِنْofحَالِهِhis conditionشَيْئاًanythingوَقَدْalthoughبَرَرْنَاهُwe favored himبِالْأَمْسِyesterdayلِنَرَىto seeأَثَرَthe effectذَلِكَof thatعَلَيْهِ؟upon him?
He said to Ibrahim al-Harrani: Do you not see Ibn Dub, how he has not changed anything of his condition, even though we favored him yesterday to see the effect of that upon him?
فَقَالَSo saidإِبْرَاهِيمُ:Ibrahim:إِنْIfأَمَرَنِيcommands meأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulتَعَرَّضْتُI will approachلَهُhimبِشَيْءٍwith somethingمِنْofأَمْرِهِ،his affair.
Ibrahim said: If the Commander of the Faithful commands me, I will approach him regarding his affair.
قَالَ:He said:لَا،No,هُوَheأَعْلَمُknows bestبِأَمْرِهِ،about his own affair.
He said: No, he knows best about his own affair.
وَدَخَلَAnd Ibn Dub enteredابْنُandدَأْبٍweوَأَخَذْنَاbeganفِيinحَدِيثِهِhis conversationإِلَىuntilأَنْMusaعَرَضَbrought upلَهُto himمُوسَىbyبِذِكْرِmentioningذَلِكَthat.
Ibn Dub entered, and we engaged in his conversation until Musa brought up the mention of that to him.
فَقَالَ:He said:أَرَىI seeثَوْبَكَyour garmentغَسِيلاًwashedوَهَذَاand thisشِتَاءٌis winterيُحْتَاجُit is neededفِيهِin itإِلَىforالثَّوْبِthe garmentالْجَدِيدِnewاللَّيِّنِ،soft.
He said: I see your garment is washed, and this is winter, which requires a new and soft garment.
فَقَالَ:He said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulبَاعِيmy reachقَصِيرٌis shortعَمَّاregarding whatأَحْتَاجُI needإِلَيْهِ،it.
He said: O Commander of the Faithful, my reach is short regarding what I need.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَيْفَAnd howوَقَدْwhenصَرَفْنَاwe disbursedإِلَيْكَto youمِنْfromبِرِنَاour favorمَاwhatظَنَنَّاwe thoughtأَنَّthatفِيهِin itصَلَاحَthe well-beingشَأْنِكَ؟of your affair?
He said: And how is that, when we disbursed to you from our favor what we thought would ensure the well-being of your affairs?
قَالَ:He said:مَاNothingوَصَلَreachedإِلَيَّmeوَلَاnorقَبَضْتُهُ،did I receive it.
He said: Nothing reached me, nor did I receive it.
فَدَعَاSo he calledصَاحِبَthe master ofبَيْتِthe house ofمَالِwealthالْخَاصَّةِspecialوَقَالَ:and said:عَجِّلْHurryلَهُfor himالسَّاعَةَnowثَلَاثِينَthirtyأَلْفَthousandدِينَارٍ،dinars.
So he called the master of the private treasury and said: Hurry thirty thousand dinars to him right now.
فَأُحْضِرَتْSo they were broughtوَجُعِلَتْand placedبَيْنَbeforeיَدَيْهِ.his hands.
So they were brought and placed before him.
وَقَالَAnd saidالْحَسَنُal-HasanبْنُbinيَحْيَىYahyaبْنِbinعَبْدِAbdالْخَالِقِ:al-Khaliq:حَدَّثَنِيNarrated to meمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُbinالْقَاسِمِal-Qasimبْنِbinالرَّبِيعِal-Rabiقَالَ:he said:أَخْبَرَنِيInformed meمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُbinعَمْرٍوAmrالرُّومِيُّal-Rumiقَالَ:he said:حَدَّثَنِيNarrated to meأَبِيmy fatherقَالَ:he said:
Al-Hasan bin Yahya bin Abd al-Khaliq said: Muhammad bin al-Qasim bin al-Rabi narrated to me, saying: Muhammad bin Amr al-Rumi informed me, saying: My father narrated to me, saying:
جَلَسَSatالْهَادِيal-Hadiمَجْلِساًin an assemblyخَاصّاًprivateفَدَعَاand calledبِإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimبْنِbinجَعْفَرِJaafarبْنِbinأَبِيAbiجَعْفَرٍJaafarوَإِبْرَاهِيمَand IbrahimبْنِbinسَلْمِSalmبْنِbinقُتَيْبَةَQutaibahبْنِbinمُسْلِمٍMuslimوَالْحَرَّانِيِّand al-Harraniفَجَلَسُواso they satعَنْtoيَسَارِهِhis leftوَمَعَهُمْand with themخَادِمٌwas a servantلِلْهَادِيof al-Hadiأَسْوَدُblackيُقَالُwho is calledلَهُto himأَسْلَمُ،Aslam.
Al-Hadi sat in a private assembly and called for Ibrahim bin Jaafar bin Abi Jaafar, Ibrahim bin Salm bin Qutaibah bin Muslim, and al-Harrani, and they sat to his left, and with them was a black servant of al-Hadi called Aslam.
إِذْWhenدَخَلَenteredصَالِحٌSalihصَاحِبُthe master ofالْمُصَلَّىthe prayer placeفَقَالَso saidهَارُونُHarunبْنُbinالْمَهْدِيِّ:al-Mahdi:ائْذَنْPermitلَهُ،him.
When Salih, the master of the prayer place, entered, Harun bin al-Mahdi said: Permit him.
فَدَخَلَSo he enteredوَسَلَّمَand greetedعَلَيْهِhimوَقَبَّلَand kissedيَدَهُhis handوَجَلَسَand satعَنْtoيَمِينِهِhis rightبَعِيداً،at a distance.
So he entered, greeted him, kissed his hand, and sat to his right at a distance.
فَأَطْرَقَThen lowered his headمُوسَىMusaثُمَّthenالْتَفَتَturnedإِلَيْهِto himوَقَالَ:and said:يَاOهَارُونُHarunكَأَنِّيas if Iبِكَsee youتُحَدِّثُtellingنَفْسَكَyourselfبِتَمَامِabout the completion ofالرُّؤْيَاthe visionوَتُؤَمِّلُand hoping forمَاwhatأَنْتَyouمِنْهُfrom itبَعِيدٌare farوَدُونَand beforeذَلِكَthatخَرْطُis the plucking ofالْقَتَادِ،acacia thorns (an impossible task).
Musa lowered his head, then turned to him and said: O Harun, it is as if I see you talking to yourself about the fulfillment of the vision, hoping for something far beyond your reach, and before that is the plucking of acacia thorns!
تُؤَمِّلُYou hope forالْخِلَافَةَ!the Caliphate!
You are hoping for the Caliphate!
قَالَ:He said:فَبَرَكَSo droppedهَارُونُHarunعَلَىonرُكْبَتَيْهِhis kneesوَقَالَ:and said:يَاOمُوسَىMusaإِنَّكَverily youإِنْifتَجَبَّرْتَyou act tyrannicallyوُضِعْتَ،you will be brought low,
He said: So Harun dropped to his knees and said: O Musa, if you act tyrannically you will be brought low,
وَإِنْand ifتَوَاضَعْتَyou are humbleرُفِعْتَ،you will be raised,
and if you are humble you will be raised,
وَإِنْand ifظَلَمْتَyou oppressخُذِلْتَ،you will be forsaken,
and if you oppress you will be forsaken,
وَإِنِّيand Iأَرْجُوhopeأَنْthatيَفْضِيَwill passإِلَيَّto meالْأَمْرُthe matterفَأُنْصِفَso I will do justiceمَنْto whomظَلَمْتَyou wrongedوَأَصِلَand I will maintain ties withمَنْwhomقَطَعْتَyou cut offوَأُصَيِّرَand I will makeأَوْلَادَكَyour childrenأَعْلَىhigher thanمِنْmyأَوْلَادِيchildrenوَأُزَوِّجَهُمْand marry themبَنَاتِيto my daughtersوَأُبْلِغَand fulfillمَاwhatيَجِبُis obligatoryمِنْofحَقِّthe right ofالْإِمَامِthe Imamالْمَهْدِيِّ،al-Mahdi.
and I hope that the matter will come to me so that I may render justice to those you wronged, maintain ties with those you cut off, make your children higher than my children, marry them to my daughters, and fulfill what is due of the right of the Imam al-Mahdi.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himمُوسَى:Musa:ذَلِكَThat isالظَّنُّthe expectationبِكَin youيَاOأَبَاAbuجَعْفَرٍ،Jaafar,ادْنُdraw nearمِنِّي،to me.
Musa said to him: That is the expectation of you, O Abu Jaafar, draw near to me.
فَدَنَاSo he drew nearوَقَبَّلَand kissedيَدَهُhis handثُمَّthenذَهَبَwentيَعُودُto returnإِلَىtoمَجْلِسِهِ،his assembly.
So he drew near, kissed his hand, then went to return to his assembly.
فَقَالَ:He said:لَاNo,وَالشَّيْخِby the old manالْجَلِيلِthe majesticوَالْمَلِكِand the kingالنَّبِيلِthe nobleأَعْنِيI meanأَبَاكَyour fatherالْمَنْصُورَal-Mansurلَاyou shall notجَلَسْتَsitإِلَّاexceptمَعِي،with me.
He said: No, by the majestic old man and noble king—I mean your father al-Mansur—you shall sit nowhere except with me.
فَأَجْلَسَهُSo he seated himفِيinصَدْرِthe head ofالْمَجْلِسِthe assemblyمَعَهُwith himثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:يَاOحَرَّانِيُّHarraniاحْمِلْcarryإِلَىtoأَخِيmy brotherأَلْفَthousandأَلْفِthousandدِينَارٍdinars
So he seated him at the head of the assembly with him, then said: O Harrani, carry to my brother a million dinars,
وَإِذَاand whenافْتُتِحَis openedالْخَرَاجُthe land taxفَاحْمِلْthen carryإِلَيْهِto himالنِّصْفَthe halfوَاعْرِضْand offerعَلَيْهِto himمَاwhatفِيis inالْخِزَانَةِthe treasuryالْخَاصَّةِprivateوَسَائِرِand the rest ofالْخَزَائِنِthe treasuriesمِنْofمَالِنَاour wealthوَمَاand whatأُخِذَwas takenمِنْfromأَهْلِthe people ofبَيْتِthe house ofاللَّعْنَةِthe curseفَيَأْخُذَso that he may takeمِنْهُfrom itمَاwhatأَرَادَ،he wants.
and when the land tax is collected, carry half of it to him, and offer him what is in the private treasury and all other treasuries of our wealth and what was taken from the accursed family so that he may take from it whatever he wants.
قَالَ:He said:فَفَعَلَSo he didذَلِكَ،that.
He said: So he did that.
فَلَمَّاWhenقَامَhe stood upقَالَhe saidلِصَالِحٍ:to Salih:أَدْنِBring nearدَابَّتَهُhis mountإِلَىtoالْبِسَاطِ،the carpet.
When he got up, he said to Salih: Bring his mount near to the carpet.
قَالَSaidعَمْرٌوAmrالرُّومِيُّ:al-Rumi:وَكَانَAnd Harun wasهَارُونُfamiliar withيَأْنَسُhimبِهِ،(Amr al-Rumi said this).
Amr al-Rumi said: And Harun used to be familiar with him.
قُلْتُ:I said:يَاOسَيِّدِيmy masterمَاwhatالرُّؤْيَاis the visionالَّتِيthatقَالَhe saidلَكَ؟to you?
I said: O my master, what was the vision that he mentioned to you?
قَالَHe saidالْمَهْدِيُّ:al-Mahdi:رَأَيْتُI sawفِيinمَنَامِيmy sleepكَأَنِّيas if IدَفَعْتُhandedإِلَىtoمُوسَىMusaقَضِيباًa staffوَإِلَىand toهَارُونَHarunقَضِيباًa staffأَوْرَقَgreenerمِنْthanقَضِيبِthe staff ofمُوسَىMusaوَأَعْلَىand higherمِنْهُ،than it.
Al-Mahdi said: I saw in my sleep as if I handed a staff to Musa, and a staff to Harun that was greener and higher than the staff of Musa.
فَأَمَّاAs forقَضِيبُthe staff ofهَارُونَHarunفَأَوْرَقَit turned greenمِنْfromأَوَّلِهِits beginningإِلَىtoآخِرِهِits endوَكَانَandقَضِيبُthe staff ofمُوسَىMusaدُونَless thanقَضِيبِthe staff ofذَلِكَ،that.
As for Harun's staff, it was green from beginning to end, while Musa's staff was less than that.
فَدَعَاSo calledالْمَهْدِيُّal-Mahdiالْحَكَمَal-HakamبْنَbinمُوسَىMusaالْعَنَزِيَّal-Anaziوَهُوَand he is the oneالَّذِيwhoseبَنَىfather builtأَبُوهُWasitوَاسِطاًforلِلْحَجَّاجِal-Hajjajفَقَالَso he saidلَهُ:to him:عَبِّرْInterpretهَذِهِthisالرُّؤْيَا،vision.
Al-Mahdi called al-Hakam bin Musa al-Anazi—whose father built Wasit for al-Hajjaj—and said to him: Interpret this vision.
قَالَ:He said:يَمْلِكَانِThey both will ruleجَميعاًtogetherفَأَمَّاas forمُوسَىMusaفَتَقِلُّhis days will be fewأَيَّامُهُand as forوَأَمَّاHarunهَارُونُhe will reachفَيَبْلُغُthe limit ofمَدَىthe end ofآخِرِwhat he livedمَاasعَاشَcaliphخَلِيفَةًand his daysوَتَكُونُwill be the bestأَيَّامُهُdaysأَحْسَنَand the most radiantأَيَّامٍand his timeوَأَنْضَرَهَاwill be the bestوَدَهْرُهُtime.أَحْسَنَbestدَهْرٍ،time.
He said: They both will rule together. As for Musa, his days will be few; as for Harun, he will reach the end of his life as a caliph, and his days will be the best and most radiant days, and his era will be the best era.
قَالَ:He said:فَلَمْSoيَلْبَثْit was not longإِلَّاexceptأَيَّاماًa few daysيَسِيرَةًuntilحَتَّىMusa diedمَاتَand Harunمُوسَىtook chargeوَتَوَلَّىof the matterالْأَمْرَso he marriedهَارُونُHamdunahفَزَوَجَto Jaafarحَمْدُونَةَbin Musaمِنْand Fatimahجَعْفَرِto Ismailبْنِand fulfilledمُوسَىeverythingوَفَاطِمَةَhe saidمِنْso his eraإِسْمَاعِيلَwas the bestوَوَفَىof eras.بِكُلِّeveryمَاwhatقَالَ،he said,فَكَانَso his eraدَهْرُهُwasأَحْسَنَthe bestالدُّهُورِ.of eras.
He said: Only a few days passed until Musa died and Harun took charge of the matter, so he married Hamdunah to Jaafar bin Musa and Fatimah to Ismail, and he fulfilled everything he said, so his era was the best of eras.
حَدَّثَنَاNarrated to usمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُbinعَلِيِّAliبْنِbinالْحُسَيْنِal-Husseinالْعَلَوِيُّal-Alawiقَالَ:he said:كُنْتُI wasعِنْدَatعُمَرَUmarبْنِbinالْفَرَجِal-Farajالرُّخَجِيِّal-Rukhaji'sفِيonالْيَوْمِthe dayالَّذِيthatعَقَدَappointedفِيهِin itالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munلِأَخِيهِhis brotherأَبِيAbuإِسْحَاقَIshaqعَلَىoverثَغْرِthe frontier ofالْمَغْرِبِal-Maghribوَلِابْنِهِand his sonالْعَبَّاسِal-AbbasعَلَىoverالشَّامِGreater Syriaوَالْجَزِيرَةِand al-Jazirahوَلِعَبْدِand AbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنِTahirطَاهِرٍoverعَلَىthe troopsالْجُنْدِand fightingوَمُحَارَبَةِBabakبَابَكَand with Umarوَعِنْدَwas a groupعُمَرَof the Hashimitesجَمَاعَةٌso we discussedمِنَthe affair ofالْهَاشِمِيِّينَthese threeفَتَاذَكَرْنَاso Umar said:أَمْرَThe Commanderهَؤُلَاءِof the Faithfulالثَّلَاثَةِdistributedفَقَالَamong these threeعُمَرُ:what no oneفَرَّقَhas distributedأَمِيرُlike itالْمُؤْمِنِينَsince the worldفِيbeganهَؤُلَاءِhe orderedالثَّلَاثَةِfor his brotherمَاAbu Ishaqلَمْfive hundredيُفَرِّقْthousandمِثْلَهُdinarsأَحَدٌand for his sonمُنْذُAl-Abbasكَانَتِfive hundredالدُّنْيَا،thousand dinarsأَمَرَand for Abdullahلِأَخِيهِbin Tahirأَبِيfive hundredإِسْحَاقَthousandبِخَمْسِdinarsمِائَةِso whose soulأَلْفِis generousدِينَارٍwith the like of this?وَلِابْنِهِand his sonالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbasبِخَمْسِfive hundredمِائَةِthousandأَلْفِdinarsدِينَارٍand for Abdullahوَلِعَبْدِbin Tahirاللَّهِfive hundredبْنِthousandطَاهِرٍdinarsبِخَمْسِso whose soulمِائَةِis generousأَلْفِwith the likeدِينَارٍ،of this?فَمَنْso whoseسَخَتْsoulنَفْسُهُis generousبِمِثْلِwith the like ofهَذَا؟this?
Muhammad bin Ali bin al-Hussein al-Alawi narrated to us, saying: I was with Umar bin al-Faraj al-Rukhaji on the day al-Ma'mun appointed his brother Abu Ishaq over the frontier of al-Maghrib, his son al-Abbas over Greater Syria and al-Jazirah, and Abdullah bin Tahir over the troops and fighting Babak. With Umar was a group of the Hashimites, so we discussed the affair of these three. Umar said: The Commander of the Faithful distributed among these three what no one has distributed the like of since the world began; he ordered for his brother Abu Ishaq five hundred thousand dinars, for his son al-Abbas five hundred thousand dinars, and for Abdullah bin Tahir five hundred thousand dinars. So whose soul is generous with the like of this?