فَوَجِمَHe fell silent and distressedلَهَاat itثُمَّthenقَالَhe saidتَقَدَّمْنِيGo ahead of me
He fell silent and distressed at it, then he said: 'Go ahead of me.'
فَتَقَدَّمْتُهُSo I went ahead of himفَأُذِنَand permission was grantedلَهُto him
So I went ahead of him and permission was granted to him,
فَاعْتَنَقَand embracedكُلُّeachوَاحِدٍoneمِنْهُمَاof themصَاحِبَهُhis companion
and each of them embraced his companion,
وَأَقْبَلَand he approachedعَلَيَّmeعَلَىonيَدِهِhis handوَرِجْلِهِand his footيُقَبِّلُهُمَاkissing both of them
and he approached me, kissing my hand and foot,
وَيَقُولُand sayingيَاOعَمِّuncleارْضَbe pleasedعَنِّيwith meرَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْكَyou
and saying: 'O uncle, be pleased with me, may Allah be pleased with you!'
قَالَHe saidقَدْI have indeedرَضِيتُbeen pleasedعَنْكَwith you
He said: 'I am indeed pleased with you.'
ثُمَّThenقَالَhe saidيَاOابْنَsonأَخِيof my brother
Then he said: 'O son of my brother,
قَدْIكُنْتُhadأَشَرْتُadvisedعَلَيْكَyouبِأَشْيَاءَregarding things
I had advised you regarding certain things,
فَلَمْand you did notتَقْبَلْacceptمَنِّىfrom me
and you did not accept from me,
فَرَأَيْتَso you sawفِيinعَاقِبَتِهَاtheir outcomeمَاwhatكَرِهْتَyou disliked
so you saw in their outcome what you disliked.
وَهَاAnd hereأَنَاIأُشِيرُam advisingعَلَيْكَyouبِرَأْيٍwith anotherآخَرَopinion
And here I am advising you with another opinion,
فَإِنْso ifقَبِلْتَهُyou accept itوَإِلَّاand otherwiseنَالَكَwill befall youمَاwhatنَالَكَbefell you
so if you accept it, otherwise what befell you will befall you again.'
فَقَالَHe saidوَمَاAnd whatالَّذِيis that whichكُنْتَyou hadأَشَرْتَadvisedبِهِwithيَاOعَمِّ؟uncle?
He said: 'And what was it that you advised, O uncle?'
قَالَHe saidأَشَرْتُI advisedعَلَيْكَyouلَمَّاwhenقُبِضَwas takenرَسُولُthe Messenger ofاللَّهِAllah
He said: 'I advised you when the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,
صَلَّىmay Allahاللَّهُblessعَلَيْهِhimوَسَلَّمَand grant him peace
may Allah bless him and grant him peace,
أَنْthatتَسْأَلَهُyou ask himفَإِنْfor ifكَانَthe matterالْأَمْرُwasفِينَاfor usأَعْطَانَاهُhe would have given it to us
that you should ask him: if the matter belongs to us, he would give it to us,
وَإِنْand ifكَانَit wasفِيinغَيْرِنَاothersأَوْصَىhe would have made a bequestبِنَاconcerning us
and if it belongs to others, he would make a bequest concerning us.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidإِنْIfمَنَعْنَاهُhe denies usلَمْwill notيُعْطِنَاgive it to usأَحَدٌanyoneبَعْدَهُafter him
So I said: 'If he denies us, no one will ever give it to us after him.' Abu Sufyan said:
فَمَضَتْSo thatتِلْكَpassed
So that passed.
فَلَمَّاThen whenقُبِضَwas takenرَسُولُthe Messenger ofاللَّهِAllahصَلَّىmay Allahاللَّهُblessعَلَيْهِhimوَسَلَّمَand grant him peace
Then when the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was taken,
أَتَانَاcame to usسُفْيَانُSufyanبْنُson ofحَرْبٍHarbتِلْكَat thatالسَّاعَةَhour
Sufyan bin Harb came to us at that very hour
فَدَعَوْنَاكَand we called youإِلَىtoأَنْthatنُبَايِعَكَwe pledge allegiance to you
and we called you to pledge allegiance to you,
فَقُلْتَand you saidابْسُطْExtendيَدَكَyour handحَتَّىso thatنُبَايِعَكَwe pledge allegiance to you
and you said: 'Extend your hand so that we may pledge allegiance to you,'
فَإِنَّاfor indeedإِنْifبَايَعْنَاكَwe pledge allegiance to youلَمْwill notيَخْتَلِفْdifferعَلَيْكَconcerning youمَنَافِيٌّanyone from Manaf
for if we pledge allegiance to you, no one from the clan of Manaf will differ concerning you,
وَإِنْand ifبَايَعَكَpledges allegiance to youبَنُوthe sons ofعَبْدِAbdمَنَافٍManafلَمْwill notيَخْتَلِفْdifferعَلَيْكَconcerning youقُرَشِيٌّany Qurayshite
and if the sons of Abd Manaf pledge allegiance to you, no Qurayshite will differ concerning you,
وَإِنْand ifبَايَعَتْكَpledges allegiance to youقُرَيْشٌQurayshلَمْwill notيَخْتَلِفْdifferعَلَيْكَconcerning youأَحَدٌanyoneمِنَfromالْعَرَبِthe Arabs
and if Quraysh pledges allegiance to you, no one from the Arabs will differ concerning you.
فَقُلْتَSo you saidفِيInجِهَازِpreparation ofرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِAllahصَلَّىmay Allahاللَّهُblessعَلَيْهِhimوَسَلَّمَand grant him peaceشُغْلٌis occupation
You said: 'In the preparation of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, there is occupation,
وَلَيْسَand there is notعَلَيَّupon meفَوْتٌany missing out
and there is no missing out for me.'
فَلَمْThen weنَلْبَثْdid not tarryأَنْthatسَمِعْنَاwe heardالتَّكْبِيرَthe Takbirمِنْfromسَقِيفَةِthe Saqifah ofبَنِيBaniسَاعِدَةَSa'idah
Then we soon heard the Takbir from the Saqifah of Bani Sa'idah.
فَقُلْتُI saidمَاWhatهَذَاis thisيَاOعَمِّ؟uncle?
I said: 'What is this, O uncle?'
فَقُلْتَHe saidهَذَاThis isمَاwhatدَعَوْنَاكَwe called youإِلَيْهِto itفَأَبَيْتَهُand you refused it
He said: 'This is what we called you to, and you refused it!'
قُلْتُI saidسُبْحَانَGlory be toاللَّهِAllahوَيَكُونُand could this beهَذَا!happening!
I said: 'Glory be to Allah, and could this be happening!' And I said:
وَهَلْAnd canرُدَّbe rejectedمِثْلُsomething likeهَذَا؟this?
'And can something like this be rejected?'
ثُمَّThenأَشَرْتُI advisedعَلَيْكَyouحِينَwhenطُعِنَwas stabbedعُمَرُUmarرَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercyاللَّهُon him
Then I advised you when Umar, may Allah have mercy on him, was stabbed,
أَنْthatلَاnotتُدْخِلَyou bringنَفْسَكَyourselfفِيintoالشُّورَىthe consultative committee
that you should not involve yourself in the consultative committee (Shura),
فَإِنَّكَfor indeedإِنْifاعْتَزَلْتَهُمْyou stayed away from themقَدَّمُوكَthey would put you forward
for if you stayed away from them, they would put you forward,
وَإِنْand ifسَاوَيْتَهُمْyou equaled yourself with themتَقَدَّموكَthey would precede you
and if you equaled yourself with them, they would precede you.
فَدَخَلْتَSo you enteredمَعَهُمْwith themفَكَانَand there happenedمَاwhatرَأَيْتَyou saw
So you entered with them, and there happened what you saw.
وَهَاAnd hereأَنَاIأَقُولُam sayingلَكَto youالْآنَnow
And here I am saying to you now:
أَرَىI seeهَذَاthisالرَّجُلَmanيَعْنِيmeaningعُثْمَانَUthmanبْنَson ofعَفَّانَAffanرَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercyاللَّهُon him
I see this man—meaning Uthman bin Affan, may Allah have mercy on him—
يَأْخُذُembarkingفِيonأُمُورٍmatters
embarking on matters,
وَلَكَأَنِّيand it is as ifبِالْعَرَبِthe Arabsقَدْhaveسَارَتْmarchedإِلَيْهِtowards him
and it is as if the Arabs have marched towards him
حَتَّىuntilيُنْحَرَhe is slaughteredكَمَاjust asيُنْحَرُis slaughteredالْجَزُورُthe camel
until he is slaughtered just as a camel is slaughtered.
وَاللَّهِBy Allahلَئِنْifكَانَthatذَاكَhappensوَأَنْتَwhile youبِالْمَدِينَةِare in Medina
By Allah, if that happens while you are in Medina,
لَيَرْمِيَنَّكَthe people will surely throwالنَّاسُupon youبِدَمِهِthe blame for his blood
the people will surely blame you for his blood.
وَلَئِنْAnd ifفَعَلُواthey doلَاyou will notتَنَالُattainمِنْfromهَذَاthisالْأَمْرِmatterشَيْئاًanything
And if they do, you will not attain anything from this matter
إِلَّاexceptبِشَرٍّwith evilلَاthat has noخَيْرَgoodمَعَهُwith it
except with evil that has no good with it.'
قَالَSaidابْنُIbnعَبَّاسٍAbbas
Ibn Abbas said:
فَلَمَّاWhenقُتِلَwas killedعُثْمَانُUthmanرَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُhim
When Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, was killed,
خَرَجَAli came outعَلِيٌّAliوَهُوَwhile he wasعَلَىuponبَغْلَةِthe mule ofرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِAllahصَلَّىmay Allahاللَّهُblessعَلَيْهِhimوَسَلَّمَand grant him peace
Ali came out riding the mule of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.
وَأَنَاAnd Iعَنْwas onيَمِينِهِhis rightوَابْنُand the son ofالْقَارِئِAl-Qariعَنْwas onيَسَارِهِhis left
And I was on his right and the son of Al-Qari was on his left.
وَكَانَAnd there wasمِنْofأَمْرِthe affair ofطَلْحَةَTalhahوَالزُّبَيْرِand Al-Zubayrمَاwhatكَانَwas
And there occurred regarding the affair of Talhah and Al-Zubayr what occurred,
وَقُتِلَand was killedطَلْحَةُTalhahعَشِيَّةَon the evening ofذَلِكَthatالْيَوْمِday
and Talhah was killed on the evening of that day,
وَأَنَاwhile Iأَرَىsawالْكَرَاهِيَةَdislikeفِيinوَجْهِthe face ofعَلِيٍّAliرَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُhim
while I saw the sign of dislike in the face of Ali, may Allah be pleased with him.
فَقَالَHe saidأَمَّاAs forوَاللَّهِby AllahلَقَدْindeedكُنْتُI wasأَكْرَهُdislikingأَنْthatأَرَىI seeقُرَيْشاًQurayshصَرْعَىprostrateتَحْتَbeneathبُطُونِthe bellies ofالْكَوَاكِبِthe stars
He said: 'By Allah, I indeed disliked to see Quraysh lying prostrate beneath the bellies of the stars,
وَلَكِنْbutنَظَرْتُI lookedإِلَىatمَاwhatبَيْنَis betweenالدَّفَّتَيْنِthe two covers (of the Quran)
but I looked at what is between the two covers [of the Quran],
فَلَمْand I did notأَرَseeيَسَعْنِيit leaves for meإِلَّاexceptقِتَالَهُمْfighting themأَوْorالْكُفْرَdisbelief
and I saw that nothing is left for me except fighting them or disbelief.
وَلَئِنْAnd ifقَالَsaidهَؤُلَاءِthese peopleمَاwhatسَمِعْتُI heardفِيregardingطَلْحَةَTalhah
And if these people said what I heard regarding Talhah,
لَقَدْhe was indeedكَانَasكَمَاthe brother ofقَالَJufiأَخُوsaidجُعْفِيٍّ...
he was indeed as the brother of Jufi said:
فَتًىA youthكَانَwhoيُدْنِيهِwas brought close byالْغِنَىwealthمِنْtoصَدِيقِهِhis friendإِذَاwheneverمَا...هُوَheاسْتَغْنَىbecame wealthyوَيُبْعِدُهُand impoverishedالْفَقْرُpoverty
'A youth whom wealth brought close to his friend whenever he was wealthy, and poverty distanced him.'
وَرَحِمَAnd may Allah have mercyاللَّهُonعَمِّيmy uncle
And may Allah have mercy on my uncle,
فَكَأَنَّمَاfor it is as ifيَطَّلِعُhe was lookingإِلَىatالْغَيْبِthe unseenمِنْfrom behindسِتْرٍa curtainرَقِيقٍthin
for it is as if he was looking at the unseen from behind a thin curtain.
صَدَقَHe spoke the truthوَاللَّهِby Allah
He spoke the truth, by Allah!
مَاI did notنِلْتُattainمِنْfromهَذَاthisالْأَمْرِmatterشَيْئاًanythingإِلَّاexceptبَعْدَafterشَرٍّevilلَاthat has noخَيْرَgoodمَعَهُwith it
I did not attain anything from this matter except after evil that has no good with it.
قَالَHe said
He said:
وَقَالَAnd Ibn Abbas saidابْنُto Aliعَبَّاسٍmay Allah be pleasedلِعَلِيٍّwith himرَضِيَ...اللَّهُ...عَنْهُ...
Ibn Abbas said to Ali, may Allah be pleased with him:
اجْعَلْنِيAppoint meالسَّفِيرَthe ambassadorبَيْنَكَbetween youوَبَيْنَandمُعَاوِيَةَMuawiyahفِيinالْحَكَمَيْنِthe matter of the two arbiters
'Appoint me as the ambassador between you and Muawiyah regarding the two arbiters,
فَوَاللَّهِfor by AllahلَأَفْتِلَنَّI will surely twistلَهُfor himحَبْلًاa ropeلَاneitherيَنْقَطِعُwill its middle breakوَسَطُهُ...وَلَاnorيَنْتَشِرُwill its ends untwistطَرَفَاهُ...
for by Allah, I will surely twist for him a rope whose middle will not break and whose ends will not untwist.'
قَالَSaidعَلِيٌّAliرَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercyاللَّهُon him
Ali, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
لَسْتُI am notمِنْinكَيْدِكَyour plottingوَكَيْدِand the plotting ofمُعَاوِيَةَMuawiyahفِيinشَيْءٍanything
'I am not in any need of your plotting and the plotting of Muawiyah.
وَاللَّهِBy AllahلَاI will notأُعْطِيهِgive himإِلَّاexceptالسَّيْفَthe swordحَتَّىuntilيَدْخُلَhe entersفِيintoالْحَقِّthe truth
By Allah, I will not give him anything except the sword until he enters into the truth.'
قَالَSaidابْنُIbnعَبَّاسٍAbbas
Ibn Abbas said:
وَهُوَAnd heوَاللَّهِby Allahلَاwill notيُعْطِيكَgive youإِلَّاexceptالسَّيْفَthe swordحَتَّىuntilيَغْلِبَhe overcomesبِبَاطِلِهِwith his falsehoodحَقَّكَyour truth
'And he, by Allah, will not give you anything except the sword until his falsehood overcomes your truth.'
قَالَSaidعَلِيٌّAliرَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercyاللَّهُon him
Ali, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
وَكَيْفَAnd howذَاكَ؟is that?
'And how is that?'
قَالَHe said
He said:
لِأَنَّكَBecauseتُطَاعُyou are obeyedالْيَوْمَtodayوَتُعْصَىand disobeyedغَداًtomorrowوَإِنَّهُwhile heيُطَاعُis obeyedفَلَاand notيُعْصَىdisobeyed
'Because you are obeyed today and disobeyed tomorrow, while he is obeyed and never disobeyed.'
فَلَمَّاWhenانْتَشَرَturned awayعَلَىfromعَلِيٍّAliرَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُhimأَصْحَابُهُhis companionsوَابْنُand IbnعَبَّاسٍAbbasبِالْبَصْرَةِin Basra
When Ali's companions and Ibn Abbas turned away from him in Basra,
قَالَhe saidلِلَّهِTo Allah belongsابْنُthe son ofعَبَّاسٍAbbasإِنَّهُhe indeedلَيَنْظُرُlooksإِلَىatالْغَيْبِthe unseenمِنْfrom behindسِتْرٍa curtainدَقِيقٍfine
he said: 'To Allah belongs Ibn Abbas, he indeed looks at the unseen from behind a fine curtain.'
وَمِثْلُهُAnd similar to itخَبَرُis the account ofعُمَرَUmarبْنِson ofالْخَطَّابِAl-Khattabرَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُhim
And similar to it is the account of Umar bin al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him,
حِينَwhenقَالَhe saidلِأَصْحَابِهِto his companionsدُلُونِيGuide meعَلَىtoرَجُلٍa manأَسْتَعْمِلُهُwhom I can employعَلَىoverأَمْرٍa matter thatقَدْhasأَهَمَّنِيworried me
when he said to his companions: 'Guide me to a man whom I can employ over a matter that has worried me.'
قَالُواThey saidفُلَانٌSo-and-so
They said: 'So-and-so.'
قَالَHe saidلَاNoحَاجَةَneedلَنَاfor usفِيهِin him
He said: 'We have no need of him.'
قَالُواThey saidفَمَنْThen whoتُرِيدُ؟do you want?
They said: 'Then who do you want?'
قَالَHe saidأُرِيدُI wantرَجُلًاa manإِذَاwho whenكَانَhe isفِيamongالْقَوْمِthe peopleوَلَيْسَand he is notأَمِيرَهُمْtheir leader
He said: 'I want a man who, when he is among the people and is not their leader,
كَانَhe isكَأَنَّهُas if he wereأَمِيرُهُمْtheir leader
is as if he were their leader,
وَإِذَاand whenكَانَhe isأَمِيرَهُمْtheir leaderكَانَhe isكَأَنَّهُas if he wereرَجُلٌa manمِنْهُمْfrom them
and when he is their leader, is as if he were a man from them.'
قَالُواThey saidمَاWe do notنَعْرِفُknowهَذِهِthisالصِّفَةَattributeإِلَّاexceptفِيinالرَّبِيعِRabiبْنِson ofزِيَادٍZiyadالْحَارِثِيِّAl-Harithi
They said: 'We do not know this attribute except in Rabi bin Ziyad Al-Harithi.'
قَالَHe saidصَدَقْتُمْYou have spoken the truth
He said: 'You have spoken the truth.' So he appointed him.
فَوَلَّاهُAnd he appointed him
And he appointed him.
وَمِنْهُAnd from itخَبَرُis the account ofصَاحِبِthe companion ofالْأَمِينِAl-Amin
And from it is the account of the companion of Al-Amin,
فَإِنَّهُfor itحُكِيَwas narratedأَنَّهُthat thereكَانَwasبِمَدِينَةِin the city ofالسَّلَامِPeace (Baghdad)شَيْخٌan old manمِنَamongالْكُتَّابِthe scribesمُسِنٌّelderly
for it was narrated that there was in the City of Peace [Baghdad] an elderly old man among the scribes
قَدْwho hadاعْتَزَلَwithdrawnلِأُمُورٍdue to mattersوَكَانَand he wasيُوَصَفُdescribedبِجَوْدَةِfor the excellence ofالرَّأْيِopinion
who had withdrawn due to matters, and he was described for the excellence of his opinion.
فَدَعَاهُSo MuhammadمُحَمَّدٌAl-Aminالْأَمِينُcalled himوَشَاوَرَهُand consulted himفِيregardingأَمْرِthe affair ofأَخِيهِhis brotherالْمَأْمُونِAl-Ma'mun
Muhammad Al-Amin called him and consulted him regarding the affair of his brother Al-Ma'mun
وَمَاand whatيَنْبَغِيhe oughtأَنْtoيُعَامِلَهُtreat himحَتَّىuntilيَقَعَfallsفِيintoيَدِهِhis hand
and how he ought to treat him until he falls into his hand.
فَقَالَHe saidإِنْIfاسْتَعْجَلْتَyou are hastyلَمْyou will notتَنْتَفِعْbenefitبِفِعْلٍby actionوَلَاnorرَأْيٍopinion
He said: 'If you are hasty, you will not benefit from action or opinion,
وَإِنْand ifتَمَهَّلْتَyou take your timeوَقَبِلْتَand acceptمَشُورَتِيmy counselتَمَكَّنْتَyou will gain controlمِنْoverأَخِيكَyour brother
and if you take your time and accept my counsel, you will gain control over your brother.
وَذَاكَAnd that isأَنَّكَthatتَدْعُوyou callبِحُجَّاجِthe pilgrims ofخُرَاسَانَKhorasan
And that is that you summon the pilgrims of Khorasan
إِذَاwhenقَدِمُواthey arrive atمَدِينَةَthe city ofالسَّلَامِPeaceوَتَجْلِسُand you sit inمَجْلِسًاa gatheringحَافِلًاwell-attended
when they arrive at the City of Peace, and you sit in a well-attended gathering
وَتَقُولُand sayلَهُمْto themإِنَّIndeedأَخِيmy brotherكَتَبَwroteإِلَيَّto meيَحْمَدُكُمْpraising you
and say to them: 'Indeed, my brother wrote to me praising you
وَيَذْكُرُand mentioningسَمْعَكُمْyour hearingوَطَاعَتَكُمْand your obedienceوَجَمِيلَand your beautifulمَاهِبِكُمْways
and mentioning your hearing, your obedience, and your beautiful ways.'
وَتُجْزِيهِمُAnd you reward them withالْخَيْرَgood
And you reward them with good,
ثُمَّthenتَقُولُyou sayقَدْI have indeedأَسْقَطْتُdroppedعَنْكُمْfrom youخَرَاجَthe tax ofسَنَةٍone year
then you say: 'I have indeed remitted from you the tax of one year.'
وَأَخُوكَWhile your brotherفِيis inبَلَدٍa land ofرِجَالٍmenبِلَاwithoutمَالٍmoney
While your brother is in a land of men without money,
وَلَيْسَand he has notلَهُfor himفِيinنَقْضِnullifyingقَوْلِكَyour statementحِيلَةٌany trick
and he has no trick to nullify your statement.
وَسَيْنَالُهُAnd there will befall himمِنْfromذَلِكَthatخَلَلٌsevere disruptionشَدِيدٌ...
And there will befall him from that severe disruption
حَتَّىuntilيَنْتَقِضَis undoneأَكْثَرُmostأَمْرِهِof his affair
until most of his affair is undone.
ثُمَّThenتَفْعَلُyou doمِثْلَlikeذَلِكَthatفِيinالسَّنَةِthe yearالْمُقْبِلَةِcoming
Then you do like that in the coming year
وَتَرْفَعُand you liftعَنْهُمْfrom themخَرَاجَthe tax ofسَنَتَيْنِtwo years
and lift from them the tax of two years.
فَإِنْSo ifلَمْthey do notيَأْتُوكَbring youبِأَخِيكَyour brotherفِيinوَثَاقٍbonds
So if they do not bring you your brother in bonds,
وَكُنْتَwhile youحَيًّاare aliveفَاضْرِبْthen strikeعُنُقِيmy neck
and you are alive, then strike my neck!'