وَحَدَّثَAndأَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُson ofعَلِيٍّAliالشِّيْقِيُّAl-Shiqiوَغَيْرُهُand othersمِمَّنْfrom those whoيَنْزِلُresideبِنَهْرِat the canal ofالْمَهْدِيِّAl-Mahdi,قَالَ:he said:
And Ahmad ibn Ali Al-Shiqi and others who reside at the canal of Al-Mahdi narrated, saying:
أَقْبَلَCameالْفَضْلُAl-Fadlبْنُson ofيَحْيَىYahyaيَوْماًone dayعَلَىtoنَهْرِthe canal ofالْمَهْدِيِّAl-Mahdiيُرِيدُintendingمَنْزِلَهُhis houseبِبَابِat the gate ofالشَّمَّاسِيَّةِ،Al-Shammasiyyah,
Al-Fadl ibn Yahya came one day to the canal of Al-Mahdi, heading to his house at Bab Al-Shammasiyyah,
فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُand met himفَتًىa young manمِنَfromالْأَبْنَاءِthe Abna'قَدْwhoأَمْلَكَhad just marriedوَمَعَهُand with himجَمَاعَةٌa groupكَثِيرَةٌlargeقَدْwhoرَكِبُواrodeمَعَهُwith himفِيinالسَّوَادِblack garmentsوَالسُّيُوفِ،and swords,
and he was met by a young man from the Abna' who had recently married, accompanied by a large group who rode with him wearing black garments and carrying swords,
وَهَكَذَاand thusكَانُواthey used toيَفْعَلُونَ،do,
and this is what they used to do,
يَرْكَبُونَthey rideمَعَwithالرَّجُلِthe manعِنْدَuponإِمْلَاكِهِhis marriageوَيَسْتَعِيرُونَand borrowالدَّوَابَّmountsوَيَسِيرُونَand walkخَلْفَهُbehind himوَيُطَرِّقُونَand walk aheadبَيْنَbetweenيَدَيْهِ،his hands,
riding with the man upon his marriage, borrowing mounts, walking behind him, and clearing the way before him.
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
فَتَرَجَّلَSo dismountedالْفَتَىthe young manلِلْفَضْلِfor Al-Fadlوَقَبَّلَand kissedيَدَهُhis handوَرِجْلَهُ،and his foot,
So the young man dismounted for Al-Fadl and kissed his hand and foot.
فَسَأَلَهُSo he asked himعَنْaboutشَأْنِهِhis affairفَأَخْبَرَهُ،and he informed him,
Al-Fadl asked him about his situation, and he told him.
فَقَالَ:He said:كَمْHow muchأَصْدَقْتَdid you pledge as dower toأَهْلَكَ؟your wife?
He said, "How much did you pledge as dower to your wife?"
قَالَ:He said:أَرْبَعَةُFourآلافِthousandدِرْهَمٍ،dirhams,
He said, "Four thousand dirhams."
فَدَعَاSo he calledقَهْرَمَانَهُhis stewardوَقَالَ:and said:احْمِلْCarryإِلَيْهِto himالسَّاعَةَnowأَرْبَعَةَfourآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsلِصَدَاقِfor the dower ofأَهْلِهِhis wifeوَأَرْبَعَةَand fourآلَافٍthousandلِشِرَاءِto buyمَنْزِلٍa houseيَنْزِلُهُhe can live inوَأَرْبَعَةَand fourآلَافٍthousandلِنَفَقَةِfor the expense ofتَحْوِيلِmovingأَهْلِهِhis familyوَأَرْبَعَةَand fourآلَافٍthousandلِلنَّفَقَةِfor the expensesعَلَىofالْوَلِيمَةِthe wedding feastوَأَرْبَعَةَand fourآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsلِيَتَصَرَّفَto manageبِهَاwith themفِيinمَعِيشَتِهِ،his livelihood,
So he called his steward and said, "Carry to him right now four thousand dirhams for his wife's dower, four thousand dirhams to buy a house to live in, four thousand dirhams for the expense of moving his family, four thousand dirhams for the expenses of the wedding feast, and four thousand dirhams to manage his livelihood with."
قَالَSaidأَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُson ofعَلِيٍّ:Ali:
Ahmad ibn Ali said:
فَأَشَارُواSo they advisedعَلَىtheالْفَتَىyoung manأَنْtoيَسْأَلَهُask himأَنْtoيَأْمُرَcommandقُوَّادَهُhis commandersوَحَشَمَهُand retainersبِإِتْيَانِهِ،to visit him,
So they advised the young man to ask him to command his commanders and retainers to visit him,
فَأَمَرَهُمْso he commanded themبِذَلِكَwith thatفَأَتَوْهُand they came to himوَجَعَلُواand beganيَطْرَحُونَthrowingالْعَشَرَةَtenالْآلَافِthousandالدِّرْهَمِdirhamsوَالْخَمْسَةَand fiveالْآلَافِthousandالدِّرْهَمِdirhamsوَالْأَقَلَّand lessوَالْأَكْثَرَand moreفِيinمَجْلِسِهِhis gatheringحَتَّىuntilاجْتَمَعَthere gatheredلَهُfor himخَمْسُونَfiftyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsسِوَىaside fromمَاwhatأَعْطَاهُgave himالْفَضْلُ.Al-Fadl.
so he commanded them to do so, and they came to him, and began casting ten thousand dirhams, five thousand dirhams, less and more into his gathering, until fifty thousand dirhams had accumulated for him besides what Al-Fadl had given him.
وَحَدَّثَAnd narratedأَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُson ofعَلِيٍّAliقَالَ:saying:
And Ahmad ibn Ali narrated, saying:
حَدَّثَنَاNarrated to usرَجُلٌa manمِنْfromجِيرَانِنَاour neighborsأَنَّthatالْفَضْلَAl-Fadlبْنَson ofيَحْيَىYahyaمَرَّpassedبِهِby himفِيonيَوْمٍa dayصَائِفٍhot summerمُنْصَرِفاًreturningمِنَfromالْمَدِينَةِthe cityيُرِيدُintendingمَنْزِلَهُhis houseفَقَالَand saidالرَّجُلُ:the man:
A man from our neighbors narrated to us that Al-Fadl ibn Yahya passed by him on a hot summer day while returning from the city, heading to his house, and the man said:
لَاNoوَاللَّهِby Allahإِنَّindeedفِيinمَنْزِلِيmy houseقَلِيلٌlittleوَلَاnorكَثِيرٌ،much,
"No, by Allah, there is neither little nor much in my house!"
فَعَطَسَThen sneezedالْفَضْلُ،Al-Fadl,
Then Al-Fadl sneezed,
فَقُلْتُ:and I said:يَرْحَمُكَMay Allah have mercy uponاللَّهُ،you,
and I said, "May Allah have mercy upon you!"
وَقَدْAndكَانَhe hadسَمِعَheardيَمِينِيmy oathفَأَمَرَso he commandedبَعْضَsomeغِلْمَانِهِof his servantsأَنْtoيَحْمِلَنِيcarry meمَعَهُwith himعَلَىonدَابَّتِهِ،his mount,
and he had heard my oath, so he ordered one of his servants to carry me with him on his mount.
فَلَمَّاWhenصَارَhe broughtبِيmeإِلَىtoقَصْرِهِhis palaceأَخْرَجَhe brought outإِلَيَّto meخَمْسَةَfiveآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsوَعَشَرَةَand tenأَثْوَابٍ،garments,
When he brought me to his palace, he brought out to me five thousand dirhams and ten garments.
فَانْصَرَفْتُSo I returnedبِهَاwith themإِلَىtoمَنْزِلِي،my house,
So I returned with them to my house,
فَقَالَتْand saidلِيto meامْرَأَتِي:my wife:وَاللَّهِBy Allahلَقَدْyouخَرَجْتَwent outمِنْfromعِنْدِنَاour presenceوَمَاwhile notتَمْلِكُowningقَلِيلاًa littleوَلَاnorكَثِيراً،much,فَمِنْso fromأَيْنَwhereسَرَقْتَdid you stealهَذَا؟this?
and my wife said to me, "By Allah, you left us owning neither little nor much, so where did you steal this from?"
قَالَ:He said:فَأَعْلَمْتُهَاSo I informed her ofالْقِصَّةَthe storyفَلَمْand she did notتُصَدِّقْنِيbelieve meقَوْلِيmy wordsوَاسْتَرَابَand grew suspiciousالْجِيرَانُthe neighborsبِحَالِيabout my conditionوَتَنَاهَىand the news reachedالْخَبَرُthe newsإِلَىtoالسُّلْطَانِthe authoritiesفَطَمِعَso he covetedفَيَّmeوَأَخَذَنِيand seized meفَحَبَسَنِي،and imprisoned me,
He said, "So I told her the story, but she did not believe my words, and the neighbors became suspicious of my condition, and the news reached the authorities, so he coveted what I had, seized me, and imprisoned me.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidلَهُ:to him:إِنَّهُIndeedكَانَit wasمِنْofأَمْرِيmy affairكَيْتَsuch and suchوَكَيْتَ،and such and such,
So I said to him, 'My story was such and such.'
فَوَقَعَSo reachedخَبَرِيmy newsإِلَىtoالْفَضْلِAl-Fadlفَأَمَرَand he orderedبِإِحْضَارِي،my presence,
My news reached Al-Fadl, and he ordered me to be brought.
فَلَمَّاWhenأُحْضِرْتُI was broughtوَرَآنِيand he saw meعَرَفَنِيhe recognized meوَأَمَرَand orderedبِإِطْلَاقِيmy releaseوَوَصَلَنِيand rewarded meبِخَمْسَةِwith fiveآلَافٍthousandأُخْرَىotherوَبِعَشَرَةِand with tenأَثْوَابٍgarmentsوَقَالَ:and said:تَعَهَّدْKeep in touchبِمَاwith whatنَنْفَعُكَ،we benefit you with,
When I was brought and he saw me, he recognized me and ordered my release, and rewarded me with another five thousand and ten garments, and said, "Keep in touch so we may benefit you."
فَلَمْSo he continuedيَزَلْtoيَنْفَعُهُbenefit himحَتَّىuntilحَدَثَthere occurredمِنْofأَمْرِهِمْtheir affairمَاwhatحَدَثَ.occurred.
So he continued to benefit him until what occurred of their affair occurred.
وَعَنْAnd on the authority ofأَحْمَدَAhmadبْنِson ofمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdالصَّمَدِAl-Samadأَنَّthatرَجُلاًa manكَانَused toيَنْزِلُresideعَلَىatنَهْرِthe canal ofالْمَهْدِيِّAl-Mahdiوَكَانَتْand he hadعَلَيْهِupon himنِعْمَةٌease and affluenceفَزَالَتْbut it vanishedفَلَمْso he was notيَقْدِرْableعَلَىto obtainشَيْءٍanythingفَمَطَرَand it rained uponالنَّاسُthe peopleثَلَاثَةَthreeأَيَّامٍdaysمُتَتَابِعَةًconsecutiveفَبَقِيَso he remainedفِيinمَنْزِلِهِhis houseلَاnotيَقْدِرُableعَلَىtoالْخُرُوجِ،go out,
And on the authority of Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abd Al-Samad, a man used to reside at the canal of Al-Mahdi, and he had enjoyed ease and affluence which then vanished, so he could not afford anything. It rained continuously upon the people for three days, so he remained in his house unable to go out.
فَأَضَرَّSo it harmedبِهِhimذَلِكَthatوَأَبْلَغَand reachedإِلَيْهِhimالْجُوعُhungerوَإِلَىand toعِيَالِهِ،his family,
That harmed him greatly, and severe hunger reached him and his family.
فَلَمَّاWhenكَانَit wasفِيinآخِرِthe last part ofاللَّيْلِthe nightجَاءَhe cameإِلَىtoالْبَقَّالِthe grocerبِقَصْعَةٍwith a bowlلَهُof hisلِيَرْهَنَهَاto pawn itعِنْدَهُwith himعَلَىforخُبْزٍ،bread,
When the last part of the night came, he went to the grocer with a bowl of his to pawn it with him for bread.
فَانْتَهَرَهُSo he rebuffed himالْبَقَّالُthe grocerوَقَالَ:and said:مَاWhatأَصْنَعُshall I doبِهَذِهِwith thisالْقَصْعَةِ؟bowl?
The grocer rebuffed him and said, "What shall I do with this bowl?"
وَأَبَىand refusedأَنْtoيُعْطِيَهُgive himعَلَيْهَاfor itشَيْئاً،anything,
and refused to give him anything for it.
قَالَ:He said:فَعَادَSo he returnedإِلَىtoمَنْزِلِهِhis houseمَغْمُوماًgrievedلَاhaving noحِيلَةَresourceلَهُ،for himself,
He said, "So he returned to his house grieved, having no resource,
فَرَفَعَand he raisedيَدَهُhis handإِلَىtoالسَّمَاءِthe heavenوَقَالَ:and said:اللَّهُمَّO Allahسُقْdriveإِلَيَّto meفِيinهَذِهِthisاللَّيْلَةِnightعَبْداًa servantمِنْfromعِبَادِكَYour servantsتُحِبُّهُYou loveيُفَرِّجُto relieveعَنِّيme fromمَاwhatأَمْسَيْتُI becameفِيهِ،in,
and he raised his hand to the heaven and said, 'O Allah, drive to me this night a servant of Yours whom You love to relieve me from what I have fallen into!'
فَمَاSo Iشَعَرْتُperceivedإِلَّاnothing exceptوَالْبَابُthat the doorيُدَقُّwas being knockedعَلَيَّupon meفَإِذَاand beholdرَجُلٌa manعَلَىuponحِمَارٍa donkeyقَدْwhomحَفَّsurroundedبِهِhimخَدَمٌ،servants,
He said, "I had scarcely realized anything except that the door was being knocked upon, and behold, there was a man upon a donkey surrounded by servants,
فَقَالَand he saidلِي:to me:كَمْHow many areعِيَالُكَ؟your family?قُلْتُ:I said:كَذَاsuch andوَكَذَا،such,
and he said to me, 'How many are your family?' I said, 'Such and such.'
فَأَعْطَانِيSo he gave meكِيسَاًa bagقَدَرْتُI estimatedأَنَّthatفِيهِin itخَمْسَةَfiveآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍ،dirhams,
So he gave me a bag which I estimated contained five thousand dirhams.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to Allahالَّذِيwhoاسْتَجَابَansweredدُعَائِيmy supplicationوَفَرَّجَand relievedعَنِّي،me,
So I said, "Praise be to Allah who answered my supplication and relieved me!"
فَقَالَHe saidلِي:to me:وَمَاWhatكَانَwasقَوْلُكَyour sayingوَدُعَاؤُكَ؟and your supplication?
He said to me, "What was your saying and your supplication?"
فَخَبَّرْتُهُSo I informed him ofالْخَبَرَthe newsبِصَنِيعِregarding the behavior ofالْبَقَّالِthe grocerوَمَاand whatدَعَوْتُI invokedاللَّهَAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyبِهِ،with,
So I informed him of the story regarding the grocer's behavior and what I had invoked Allah, Majestic and Mighty is He, with.
فَاسْتَحْلَفَنِيSo he made me swear an oathأَنِّيthat Iدَعَوْتُhad supplicatedبِهَذَاwith thisالدُّعَاءِ،supplication,
So he made me swear an oath that I had indeed supplicated with this supplication,
فَحَلَفْتُand I sworeلَهُ،to him,
and I swore to him.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedلِيfor meبِمِائَةِone hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍ،dirhams,
So he ordered one hundred thousand dirhams for me.
فَسَأَلْتُSo I askedبَعْضَsomeأُولَئِكَof thoseالْخَدَمِservantsعَنْهُabout himلِأَعْلَمَso that I might knowهَلْwhetherيَقْدِرُhe is ableعَلَىto provideمَاwhatأَمَرَhe orderedلِيfor meبِهِof itأَمْorلَا،not,
So I asked some of those servants about him to know whether he was capable of providing what he had ordered for me or not.
فَقَالَ:He said:هُوَHe isالْفَضْلُAl-Fadlبْنُson ofيَحْيَىYahyaبْنِson ofخَالِدٍKhalidالْبَرْمَكِيُّ،Al-Barmaki,
He said, "He is Al-Fadl ibn Yahya ibn Khalid Al-Barmaki."
فَسَكَتُّSo I kept quietإِلَىuponذَلِكَthatوَانْصَرَفْتُand returnedإِلَىtoمَنْزِلِي،my house,
So I accepted that and returned to my house,
وَمَضَيْتُand wentإِلَىtoقَهْرَمَانِهِhis stewardلَمَّاwhenأَصْبَحْتُI became in the morningفَقَبَضْتُand receivedمِنْهُfrom himالْمَالَ.the money.
and when morning came, I went to his steward and received the money from him.
وَحَدَّثَAnd narratedخَلَفُKhalafبْنُson ofعُمَرَUmarالْمِصْرِيُّAl-Masriقَالَ:saying:
And Khalaf ibn Umar Al-Masri narrated, saying:
كُنَّاWe wereعِنْدَwithالْفَضْلِAl-Fadlذَاتَoneلَيْلَةٍnightفَقَالَ:and he said:أَتَعْرِفُونَDo you knowرَجُلاًa manكَانَتْwho hadعَلَيْهِupon himنِعْمَةٌeaseفَزَالَتْwhich vanishedعَنْهُfrom himحَتَّىso thatأَرُدَّهَاI may restore itعَلَيْهِ؟to him?
We were with Al-Fadl one night, and he said, "Do you know a man who had ease and affluence which vanished from him, so that I may restore it to him?"
فَقَالَSo saidالْأَشْعَرِيُّ،Al-Ash'ari,وَكَانَand he wasقَاضِياً:a judge:أَعْرِفُ،I know,أَصْلَحَكَmay Allah set you rightاللَّهُ،O,رَجُلاًa manشَرِيفاًnobleمِنْfromآلِthe family ofخَالِدِKhalidبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahالْقَسْرِيِّAl-Qasriبِالْكُوفَةِin Kufaقَدْwhomأَضَرَّتْharmedبِهِgreatlyالْحَاجَةُ،need,
Al-Ash'ari, who was a judge, said, "I know, may Allah set you right, a noble man from the family of Khalid ibn Abd Allah Al-Qasri in Kufa whom severe need has harmed,"
وَسَمَّاهُand he namedلَهُ،him to him,
and he named him to him.
فَكَتَبَSo he wroteإِلَىtoعَامِلِthe governor ofالْكُوفَةِ:Kufa:احْمِلْCarryإِلَيَّto meفُلاناًso-and-soعَلَىbyالْبَرِيدِpostفَقَدْfor indeedبَعَثْتُI have sentبِجَوَازِهِ،his travel permit,
So he wrote to the governor of Kufa, "Bring so-and-so to me by post, for I have already sent his travel permit."
فَلَمْSo didيَعْلَمِnot knowالْخَالِدِيُّthe Khaldid descendantحَتَّىuntilحَمَلَهُcarried himالْعَامِلُthe governorعَلَىbyالْبَرِيدِpostوَوَجَّهَهُand directed himإِلَيْهِ،to him,
The Khaldid descendant did not even realize until the governor carried him by post and directed him toward Al-Fadl.
فَلَمَّاWhenقَدِمَhe arrivedعَلَيْهِbefore himدَعَاهُhe called himوَسَأَلَهُand asked himعَنْaboutحَالِهِhis conditionوَأَمَرَand orderedلَهُfor himبِمِائَةِone hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsوَقَالَ:and said:أَقِمْEstablishبِهَاwith themمُرُوءَتَكَyour chivalry and standingحَتَّىuntilأَنْظُرَI lookفِيintoأَمْرِكَyour affairوَأُدَبِّرَand arrangeلَكَfor youمَاwhatيُصْلِحُwill set rightحَالَكَ،your condition,
When he arrived before him, he called him and asked about his condition, and ordered one hundred thousand dirhams for him, saying, "Re-establish your standing with this until I look into your affair and arrange what will set your condition right."
ثُمَّThenوَلَّاهُhe appointed him overكِرْمَانَ،Kirman,
Then he appointed him governor of Kirman,
فَصَارَso he wentإِلَيْهَاthereوَحَسُنَتْand improvedحَالُهُ،his condition,
so he went there and his condition improved.
ثُمَّThenإِنَّindeedكِتَابَthe letter ofصَاحِبِthe master ofالْبَرِيدِthe postبِهَاtherefromوَرَدَarrivedعَلَىtoالْفَضْلِAl-Fadlبْنِson ofيَحْيَىYahyaبِوَفَاةِannouncing the death ofالْكُوفِيِّthe man from Kufa
Then a letter from the post master there reached Al-Fadl ibn Yahya announcing the death of the Kufan man.
فَقَالَSo he saidلَنَا:to us:أَتَدْرُونَDo you knowمَاwhatقَالَsaidالْفَارِسِيُّthe Persianفِيinمَثَلٍa proverbلَهُ؟of his?
So he said to us, "Do you know what the Persian said in a proverb of his?"
فَذَكَرَThen he mentionedالْمَثَلَthe proverbبِالْفَارِسِيَّةِin Persianثُمَّthenفَسَّرَهُhe explained itبِالْعَرَبِيَّةِin Arabicفَقَالَ:and said:
Then he recited the proverb in Persian, and then explained it in Arabic, saying:
إِلَىUntilأَنْthatيُدْرَكَgrowالْحَشِيشُthe grassقَدْalreadyمَاتَhas diedالْحِمَارُ،the donkey;
"By the time the grass grows, the donkey has already died."
أَرَدْتُI intendedبِهَذَاfor thisالرَّجُلِmanالْغِنَىwealthفَمَاتَand he diedقَبْلَbeforeذَلِكَ،that,
"I intended wealth for this man, but he died before that."
وَاغْتَمَّAnd he grievedلِوَفَاتِهِfor his deathوَلِمَاand for whatفَاتَهُhad missed himمِنَofالْإِحْسَانِdoing goodإِلَيْهِto himبَعْدَafterالَّذِيwhatقَدْhe hadأَعْطَاهُgiven himوَأَكْبَسَهُand bestowed upon himمِنْofمَرَافِقِrevenues/benefits ofالْعَمَلِthe postالَّذِيwhichوَلَّاهُ،he appointed him to,
And he grieved for his death and for what had missed him of treating him kindly after what he had already given him and bestowed upon him of the benefits of the office to which he appointed him.
وَتَقَدَّمَAnd he orderedبِحَمْلِthe transport ofجَمِيعِallمَاwhatخَلَّفَهُhe left behindإِلَىtoأَهْلِهِhis familyفَحُمِلَso it was carriedإِلَيْهِمْ.to them.
And he ordered that all that he left behind be transported to his family, so it was carried to them.