وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd narrated to usيَعْقُوبُYa'qubبْنُson ofإِسْحَاقَIshaq,قَالَ:he said:
And Ya'qub ibn Ishaq narrated to us, saying:
رَأَىsawرَجُلٌa manمِنَfromالْمَوَالِيthe freedmenلِيَحْيَىof Yahyaرُؤْيَا،a dream,
A man from the freedmen of Yahya saw a dream,
وَكَانَand wasيَحْيَىYahyaعَلَىinحَالِa stateالْخَوْفِof fearوَالْوَجَلِand dreadمِنَfromالْهَادِي،Al-Hadi,
and Yahya was in a state of fear and dread from Al-Hadi,
فَقَصَّso he relatedالرُّؤْيَاthe dreamعَلَىtoأَبِيهِ،his father,
so he related the dream to his father,
فَقَالَ:who said:يَا"Oبُنَيَّmy son,هَذِهِthisوَاللَّهِby Allahرُؤْيَاis a dreamعَجِيبَةٌamazing
who said: "O my son, this by Allah is an amazing dream
وَأَخْلَقُand how likelyبِهِit isلِأَنَّbecauseالرَّشِيدَAl-Rashidفِيis inحُجْرِهِhis careوَوِلَايَةُand the allegianceالْعَهْدِof the covenantلَهُ،is to him,
and how likely it is, because Al-Rashid is in his care and the allegiance of the covenant is to him,"
قَالَ:he said:يَا"Oأَبَتِfather,أَفَتَرَىdo you thinkأَنْthatأُخْبِرَهُI should inform himبِهَا؟about it?"
he said: "O father, do you think that I should inform him about it?"
قَالَ:He said:يَا"Oبُنَيَّmy son,لَاdo notتَفْعَلْdo it,
He said: "O my son, do not do it,
فَإِنَّfor indeedالسُّلْطَانَthe rulerغَلِيظٌis harshعَلَيْهِtoward him
for indeed the ruler is harsh toward him
وَهُوَand heيَرْمِيهِaccuses himبِالزَّنْدَقَةِof heresyوَأَنَاand Iأُشْفِقُfearعَلَيْهِfor himمِنْfromإِتْيَانِهِvisiting him
and he accuses him of heresy, and I fear for him from visiting him
لِأَنَّهُbecause heلَاdoes notيَقْبَلُacceptمِثْلَthe likes ofهَذَاthisفِيinهَذَاthisوَقْتِ،time,"
because he does not accept the likes of this at this time,"
فَعَصَىso disobeyedالرَّجُلُthe manأَبَاهُhis fatherوَأَتَاهُ،and came to him.
so the man disobeyed his father and came to him.
قَالَSaidالرَّجُلُ:the man:فَلَمَّا"WhenدَخَلْتُI enteredعَلَيْهِupon him
Said the man: "When I entered upon him
رَأَيْتُI sawالْمُصْحَفَthe Mushafبَيْنَbetweenيَدَيْهِhis handsيَقْرَأُhe was readingفِيهِin it
I saw the Mushaf between his hands, he was reading in it,
فَعَجِبْتُso I was amazedمِمَّاat whatقِيلَwas saidفِيهِ،about him.
so I was amazed at what was said about him.
فَلَمَّاWhenخَفَّit grew lightمِنْfromعِنْدِهِhis presenceدَنَوْتُI drew nearمِنْهُto him
When people left his presence, I drew near to him
فَقَصَصْتُand I relatedعَلَيْهِto himالرُّؤْيَا،the dream,
and I related the dream to him,
فَقَالَ:so he said:يَا"Oابْنَsonأَخِيof my brother,مَاhowأَحْسَنَgoodبِالرَّجُلِfor a manأَنْtoيَلْتَمِسَseekالرِّزْقَprovisionبِالْأَحْسَنِby the bestالْأَجْمَلِand most beautiful,
so he said: "O son of my brother, how good it is for a man to seek provision by the best and most beautiful means,
وَأَقْبَحَand how foulبِهِit is for himأَنْtoيَلْتَمِسَهُseek itعَلَىinهَذَاthis way,وَرُبَّمَاand perhapsتَذَكَّرَهُyou remembered itمِمَّاfrom that whichيُشْبِهُهُ!resembles it!"
and how foul it is for him to seek it in this way, and perhaps you remembered it from something that resembles it!"
فَخَرَجْتُSo I went outمِنْfromعِنْدِهِhis presenceوَقَدْandسَقَطَfellوَجْهِي،my face (in shame),
So I went out from his presence and my face fell in shame,
فَأَتَيْتُso I came toأَبِيmy fatherفَأَعْلَمْتُهُ،and informed him,
so I came to my father and informed him,
فَقَالَ:so he said:بُعْداً"Awayلَكَwith youوَسَحْقاً!and destruction!
so he said: "Away with you and destruction!
قَدْI hadنَصَحْتُadvisedلَكَyouفَلَمْbut you did notتَقْبَلْ،accept,"
I had advised you but you did not accept,"
ثُمَّthenأَقْبَلَhe beganيَشْتِمُهُcursing himوَتَشْتِمُهُand cursing himأُمُّهُhis motherوَأَهْلُهُand his family
then he began cursing him, and his mother and family cursed him
وَيَقُولُونَ:and they were saying:نَشْهَدُ"We bear witnessعَلَيْكَagainst youأَنَّكَthat you areمِنَfromالزَّنَادِقَةِthe hereticsالْمُعَطِّلِينَ!the atheists!"
and they were saying: "We bear witness against you that you are from the heretic atheists!"
قَالَ:He said:ثُمَّThenلَمْit was notيَلْبَثْlongأَنْthatتُوُفِيَdiedالْهَادِيAl-Hadiوَأَفْضَىand passedالْأَمْرُthe matterإِلَىtoالرَّشِيدِAl-Rashid
He said: Then it was not long before Al-Hadi died and the matter passed to Al-Rashid,
وَصَارَand Yahya cameيَحْيَىtoإِلَىwhatمَاhe came toصَارَof highإِلَيْهِ،status,
and Yahya came to what he came to (of high status),
فَبَيْنَاso whileهُوَheفِيwas inمَوْكِبِهِhis processionيَوْماًone dayإِذْsuddenlyبَصُرَhe caught sightبِيof me
so while he was in his procession one day, suddenly he caught sight of me
فَوَجَّهَso he sentإِلَيَّto meوَدَعَانِي،and called me,
so he sent to me and called me,
فَدَخَلْتُso I enteredعَلَيْهِupon himوَهُوَwhile heعَلَىwas onكُرْسِيٍّa chairقَدْhavingطَرَحَthrown offثَوْبَهُhis garmentوَجَعَلَand beganيَمْسَحُwipingوَجْهَهُ،his face,
so I entered upon him while he was on a chair, having thrown off his garment and began wiping his face,
فَلَمَّاwhenدَنَوْتُI drew nearمِنْهُto himقَالَ:he said:أَيْنَ"Whereكُنْتَhave you beenعَنَّا؟away from us?"
when I drew near to him, he said: "Where have you been away from us?"
قُلْتُ:I said:أَعَزَّكَ"May Allah give youاللَّهُ،honor,وَاللَّهِby AllahمَاwhatلَقِيتُI metمِنْكَfrom youمَاthat whichيَدْعُوcallsإِلَىtoإِتْيَانِكَ!coming to you!"
I said: "May Allah honor you, by Allah what I met from you is not such as to invite coming to you!"
قَالَ:He said:وَيْحَكَ"Woe to you,إِنَّكَindeed youأَتَيْتِنَاcame to usوَنَحْنُwhile weفِيwere inحَالٍa stateكُنَّاwhere weنَتَخَوَّفُfearedالْجُدُرَthe wallsأَنْthatيَكُونَthere might beفِيهَاin themمَنْsomeoneيَسْعَىinformingبِنَاagainst us
He said: "Woe to you, indeed you came to us while we were in a state where we feared the very walls might conceal someone informing against us,
وَالْإِخْوَانَand that brethrenأَنْwouldيَسْعَوْاinformبِنَاagainst usوَيَحْتَالُواand schemeعَلَيْنَا،against us,
and that brethren would inform against us and scheme against us,
وَلَمْand it was notيَكُنِthe properالرَّأْيُjudgmentأَنْthatأُجِيبَكَI should answer youإِلَّاexceptبِمَاwith whatأَجَبْتُكَ،I answered you,
and it was not the proper judgment that I should answer you except with what I answered you,
وَوَاللَّهِand by Allahمَاdid notفَارَقَنِيleave meالْفِكْرُthe thoughtفِيofالْعِنَايَةِcareبِكَfor youوَالْإِيجَابِand obligationلَكَto youوَالْمَعْرِفَةِand recognitionبِحَقِّكَof your rightمُنْذُever sinceوَقَعَتْfellعَلَيْكَupon youعَيْنِي.my eye."
and by Allah, the thought of caring for you, owing obligation to you, and recognizing your right has never left me ever since my eyes fell upon you."
ثُمَّThenأَمَرَhe orderedسَلَّاماًSalamبِإِحْضَارِto bringعَشَرَةِtenآلافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsفَأُحْضِرَتْ،and they were brought,
Then he ordered Salam to bring ten thousand dirhams, and they were brought,
وَأَمَرَand he orderedبِالْكِتَابِa letter writtenإِلَىtoسُلَيْمَانَSulaymanبْنِson ofرَاشِدٍRashidبِأَرْمِينِيَّةَin Armenia,
and he ordered a letter to be written to Sulayman ibn Rashid in Armenia,
فَدُفِعَso was handedالْمَالُthe wealthإِلَيَّto meوَحَمَلَنِيand he provided me a mountوَخَلَعَand bestowed robesعَلَيَّupon meوَقَالَ:and said:
so the wealth was handed to me, and he provided me a mount, bestowed robes upon me, and said:
اذْهَبْ"Go,فَاصْلِحْsettleشَأْنَكَyour affairs,وَتَعَالَand come backفَتَسَلَّمْto receiveكُتُبَكَ،your letters,"
"Go, settle your affairs, and come back to receive your letters,"
وَأَمَرَand he orderedلِيfor meبِعَشْرٍtenمِنْofدَوَابِّthe beastsالْبَرِيدِ،of the postal service,
and he ordered for me ten beasts of the postal service,
فَانْصَرَفْتُso I departedإِلَىtoمَنْزِلِيmy homeوَتَحْتِيwhile beneath meدَابَّةٌwas a mountوَعَلَيَّand upon meخِلْعَةٌwas a robe of honorوَمَعِيand with meعَشَرَةُtenآلافِthousandدِرْهَمٍ،dirhams.
so I departed to my home with a mount beneath me, a robe of honor upon me, and ten thousand dirhams with me.
فَقَالَSaidأَبِي:my father:مَا"Whatهَذَاis thisيَاOبُنَيَّ؟my son?"
Said my father: "What is this, O my son?"
فَأَعْلَمْتُهُSo I informed himالْخَبَرَ،of the news,
So I informed him of the news,
فَمَاso ceased notزِلْتُIوَأَهْلِيand my familyوَأَبِيand my fatherنَدْعُوprayingلَهُfor himوَنَشْهَدُand bearing witnessأَنَّهُthat he isمِنَfromالصِّدِّيقِينَthe truthful onesوَالشُّهَدَاءِand the martyrsوَالصَّالِحِينَ،and the righteous.
so I, my family, and my father never ceased praying for him and bearing witness that he is from the truthful ones, the martyrs, and the righteous.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidلِبَعْضِto someجِيرَانِنَا:of our neighbors:مَا"Whatأَصْنَعُshall I doبِعَشْرِwith tenدَوَابِّbeastsالْبَرِيدِ؟of the postal service?"
So I said to some of our neighbors: "What shall I do with ten postal beasts?"
فَقَالَ:He said:أَكْرِهَا"Let them out for hire,فَإِنَّكَfor indeedتُصِيبُyou will findفِيalongالسَّكَكِthe roadsمَنْsomeoneتَقْصُرُfalls shortبِهِwith himدَابَّتُهُhis mountعَنْregardingحَاجَتِهِhis needفَيَكْتَرِيand he will hireمِنْكَ،from you,"
He said: "Let them out for hire, for indeed you will find along the roads someone whose mount falls short of his need, and he will hire from you,"
قَالَ:he said:فَلَمَّا"so whenكَانَit wasمِنَtheغَدِnext dayعُدْتُI returnedإِلَيْهِto himفَأَخَذْتُand tookكُتُبِيmy lettersوَجَوَازِي،and my travel permit,
he said: "so when it was the next day, I returned to him and took my letters and my travel permit,
فَلَمَّاand whenصِرْتُI cameإِلَىtoالسَّكَّةِthe road,وَجَدْتُI foundرَجُلاًa manكَبِيراًelderlyقَدْwho hadوَجَّهَset outإِلَىtowardتِلْكَthatالنَّاحِيَةِdirection
and when I came to the road, I found an elderly man who had set out toward that direction
وَلَمْand he had notيَكْتَفِsufficedبِمَاwith whatحُمِلَwas loadedعَلَيْهِupon itمِنَofالدَّوَابِّ،beasts,
and he had not been sufficed by what beasts were loaded with for him,
فَأَكْرَيْتُso I let for hireمِنْهُto himثَمَانِيَeightدَوَابَّbeastsوَخَرَجْتُand I set outعَلَىonدَابَّتَيْنِ،two beasts,
so I let eight beasts to hire to him and set out on two beasts,
أَنَاIعَلَىonدَابَّةٍa beastوَغُلَامِيand my servantعَلَىonأُخْرَى،another,
I on one beast and my servant on another,
وَلَمْand I did notأَزَلْceaseفِيinحَشَمِthe entourageالْمُكْتَرِيof the renterحَتَّىuntilصِرْنَاwe cameإِلَىtoأَوَّلِthe beginning ofالْعَمَلِthe province
and I remained in the company of the renter's entourage until we arrived at the beginning of the province
فَإِذَاwhen suddenlyيَحْيَىYahyaقَدْhadسَبَقَنِيpreceded meبِالْكِتَابِwith a letterإِلَىtoسُلَيْمَانَSulaymanأَنَّstating thatرَجُلاًa manمِنْwhoseحَالِهِsituationكَيْتَis such and suchوَكَيْتَand such
when suddenly Yahya had preceded me with a letter to Sulayman stating that a man whose situation is such and such
وَلَهُand he hasعِنْدِيwith meأَيَادٍfavors,فَاخْتَرْتُكَso I have chosen youلَهُfor himفَكُنْso beعِنْدَatظَنِّيmy expectationبِكَof youفِيregardingأَمْرِهِhis matterوَافْعَلْand doبِهِfor himوَافْعَلْ،and do."
and he has favors with me, so I have chosen you for him, so be at my expectation of you regarding his matter and do for him and do."
قَالَ:He said:فَوَجَّهَso sentسُلَيْمَانُSulaymanقَائِداًa commanderفِيwithجُنْدٍan armyعَظِيمٍgreatلِاسْتِقْبَالِيto receive me,
He said: So Sulayman sent a commander with a great army to receive me,
حَتَّىuntilإِذَاwhenاتَّصَلَdrew nearبِهِto himدُنُوِّيmy approach,اسْتَقْبَلَنِيhe met meفِيat the head ofوُجُوهِthe notablesأَهْلِof the peopleالْبَلَدِ،of the town,
until when my approach drew near to him, he met me at the head of the notables of the town.
فَلَمَّاWhenدَنَاhe drew nearمِنَّاto usبَادَرَhe hastenedإِلَىtoالرَّجُلِthe manالْمُكْتَرِيwho rentedمِنِيfrom me
When he drew near to us, he hastened to the man who rented from me
وَلَمْand he did notيَشُكَّdoubtأَنِّيthat Iهُوَwas heوَسَأَلَهُ،and asked him,
not doubting that I was him, and asked him,
فَأَعْلَمَهُso informed himالْمُكْتَرِيthe renterأَنَّهُthat heفُلَانُwas so-and-soبْنُson ofفُلَانٍ،so-and-so,
so the renter informed him that he was so-and-so son of so-and-so,
فَقَالَso saidسُلَيْمَانُ:Sulayman:تَوَهَّمْتُكَ"I mistook you forفُلاناً!so-and-so!"
so Sulayman said: "I mistook you for so-and-so!"
قَالَ:He said:لَسْتُ"I am notهُوَhimوَلَكِنَّهُbut rather he isذَاكَ،that one,"
He said: "I am not him, but rather he is that one,"
وَأَشَارَand pointedإِلَيَّ،to me,
and pointed to me,
فَأَقْبَلَso cameسُلَيْمَانُSulaymanرَكْضاًrunningإِلَيَّto meوَتَضَاءَلْتُand I shrankمِنْهُfrom himحَيَاءًout of shynessلِرَثَاثَةِdue to the raggednessحَالِي،of my state,
so Sulayman came running to me, and I shrank from him out of shyness due to the raggedness of my state,
فَسَأَلَنِيso he asked meوَأَعْلَمَنِيand informed meأَنَّهُthat heوَجَّهَhad sentإِلَيَّto meوَكِيلَهُhis agentوَحَمَلَcarryingمَعَهُwith himهَدَايَا،gifts,
so he asked me and informed me that he had sent his agent to me carrying gifts with him,
فَقُلْتُ:so I said:مَا"Thatوَصَلَdid not reachذَلِكَmeإِلَيَّ،at all."
so I said: "That did not reach me."
فَلَمَّاWhenنَزَلْنَاwe alightedوَحَطَطْنَاand put down our baggageفِيatبَعْضِsomeتِلْكَof thoseالْمَنَازِلِlodging places,
When we alighted and put down our baggage at some of those lodging places,
إِذَاsuddenlyوَكِيلُهُhis agentقَدْhadوَافَىarrivedبِهَدَايَاهُwith his giftsوَإِذَاand lo,دَوَابُّbeastsوَبِغَالٌand mulesمُوَقَّرَةٌladenوَتُخُوتٌand chestsوَثِيَابٌ،and garments,
suddenly his agent arrived with his gifts, and lo, laden beasts and mules, chests, and garments were there,
فَدَخَلْتُso I enteredالْبَلَدَthe townوَقَدْwhileحَسُنَتْhad improvedحَالِيmy state
so I entered the town while my state had improved
وَوُكِّدَand was stressedعَلَيَّto meفِيinكِتَابِهِhis letterوَلَيْسَand there is notعِنْدِيwith meإِلَّاexceptإِطْلَاقُthe assignment ofالْعَمَلِthe workلَكَ،to you,
and it was stressed in his letter to me: "There is nothing with me except the assignment of the work to you,
وَهَاهُنَاand hereنَشْوَىNashwaالْكُبْرَىthe Greaterوَنَشْوَىand Nashwaالصُّغْرَىthe Lesser,
and here are Nashwa the Greater and Nashwa the Lesser,
وَهُمَاand they areمِنْamongأَجَلِّthe grandestالْأَعْمَالِprovincesبِأَرْمِينِيَّةَin Armeniaوَنَوَاحِيهَاand its districts,
and they are among the grandest provinces in Armenia and its districts,
وَإِنْand ifشِئْتَyou wishأَنْtoتَخْرُجَgo outإِلَيْهَاto themفَاخْرُجْthen go out,
and if you wish to go out to them then go out,
وَإِنْand ifشِئْتَyou wishفَهَاهُنَاthen here isمَنْsomeoneيَبْذُلُwho offersعَنْهُمَاfor themخَمْسَfiveمِئَةِhundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍ،dirhams,"
and if you wish, then here is someone who offers five hundred thousand dirhams for them,"
قُلْتُ:I said:لَا"Noوَاللَّهِby Allahأَبْقَاكَmay Allah preserve youاللَّهُAllahإِلَّاexceptالْخَمْسَthe fiveمِئَةَhundredأَلْفٍthousand,
I said: "No, by Allah, may Allah preserve you, give me nothing but the five hundred thousand,
عَجِّلْهَاhasten itلِيfor meفَأَنْصَرِفَso that I may returnإِلَىtoأَبٍa fatherشَيْخٍwho is an old manكَبِيرٍelderlyوَعِيَالٍand dependentsقَدْwhomخَلَّفْتُهُمْI leftوَرَائِي،behind me,"
hasten it for me so that I may return to an elderly father and dependents whom I left behind me,"
قَالَsaidسُلَيْمَانُ:Sulayman:ذَاكَ"Thatإِلَيْكَ،is up to you,"
said Sulayman: "That is up to you,"
فَلَمَّاso whenخَرَجَdepartedسُلَيْمَانُSulaymanسَأَلْتُI askedعَنْaboutنَشْوَىNashwaوَنَشْوَىand Nashwaقَالَhe saidفَقِيلَso it was said
so when Sulayman departed, I asked about Nashwa and Nashwa, and it was said:
مُقَاطَعَتُهُمَا"Their tax farming feeخَمْسُis fiveمِئَةِhundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsوَيَصِيرُand there accruesإِلَىtoالْمُقَاطِعِthe tax farmerمِثْلُهَا،the like of it,"
"Their tax farming fee is five hundred thousand dirhams and the like of it accrues to the tax farmer,"
ثُمَّthenلَمْit was notأَلْبَثْlongمِنَfromالْغَدِthe next dayأَنْthatأَتَىcameرَسُولُهُhis messengerبِالْمَالِwith the wealth
Then it was not long from the next day before his messenger came with the wealth,
فَخَرَجْتُso I went outوَأَهْدَيْتُand I sent as giftsإِلَىtoيَحْيَىYahyaهَدَايَاgiftsكَثِيرَةًnumerousوَأَلْطَافاًand fine presentsجَلِيلَةًgrandمِمَّاfrom that whichبَرَّنِيhad bestowed upon meبِهِwith itسُلَيْمَانُ،Sulayman.
so I went out and sent numerous gifts and grand presents to Yahya from that which Sulayman had bestowed upon me.
فَلَمَّاWhenدَخَلْتُI enteredإِلَيْهِto himتَبَسَّمَhe smiledلِيat meوَقَالَ:and said:
When I entered to him, he smiled at me and said:
إِنَّا"Indeed weلَمْdid notنُوَجِّهْكَsend youلِنَنْتَفِعَso that we might benefitبِكَfrom youوَإِنَّمَاbut ratherوَجَّهْنَاكَwe sent youلِتَنْتَفِعَso that you might benefitبِنَاfrom us,
"Indeed we did not send you so that we might benefit from you, but rather we sent you so that you might benefit from us,
وَسَيَتَصِلُand will continueمَعْرُوفُنَاour favorإِلَيْكَto youفَالْزَمْنَا،so stick close to us,"
and our favor will continue to reach you, so stick close to us,"
فَكَسَبْتُso I acquired wealthتِجَاهَهُin his presenceمَعَalong withمَاwhatوَصَلَreachedإِلَيَّmeمِنْهُfrom himوَلَمْand did notيَزَلْceaseيَصِلُنِيreaching meبِهِthrough himعِشْرُونَtwentyأَلْفَthousandأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
so I acquired wealth in his presence along with what reached me from him, and twenty million dirhams did not cease reaching me through him.