فَجَعَلَSo beganالْمُشْرِكُونَthe polytheistsيَتَبَاشَرُونَrejoicingبِذَلِكَat that
So the polytheists began to rejoice at that
وَيُؤْئِسُونَand causing to despairالْعَبَّاسَal-Abbasعَمَّthe uncle ofالنَّبِيِّ،the Prophet,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِand grant him peace,وَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,مِنْهُregarding him
and causing al-Abbas, the uncle of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to despair concerning him,
وَالْعَبَّاسُwhile al-Abbasيُرِيهِمُwas showing themالتَّجَلُّدَ.fortitude.
while al-Abbas was showing them fortitude.
وَأَخَذَAnd tookالرَّجُلُthe manوَدِيعَتَهُ،his deposit,فَاسْتَقْبَلَهُso met himالْعَبَّاسُal-Abbasفَقَالَ:and said:وَيْحَكَWoe to you,مَاwhatالَّذِيis it thatأُخْبِرْتَyou were informedبِهِ؟!.of?!
And the man took his deposit, so al-Abbas met him and said: Woe to you, what is it that you were informed of?!
فَأَعْلَمَهُSo he informed him ofالسَّبَبَthe reasonثُمَّthenأَخْبَرَهُhe informed himأَنَّthatرَسُولَthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِand grant him peace,وَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,قَدْhasفَتَحَconqueredخَيْبَرَKhaibar
So he informed him of the reason, then he informed him that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had conquered Khaibar
وَاسْتَنْكَحَand taken in marriageصَفِيَّةَSafiyyahبِنْتَdaughter ofحُيَيِّHuyayyبْنِson ofأَخْطَبَAkhtabوَقَتَلَand killedأَبَاهَاher fatherوَزَوْجَهَا،and her husband,
and taken in marriage Safiyyah the daughter of Huyayy ibn Akhtab and killed her father and her husband,
وَقَالَand he saidلَهُ:to him:اكْتُمْKeep secretعَلَيَّconcerning meالْيَوْمَtodayوَغَدًاand tomorrowحَتَّىuntilأَمْضِيَ،I depart,فَفَعَلَso he didذَلِكَ.that.
and said to him: Keep this secret concerning me today and tomorrow until I depart, so he did that.
فَلَمَّاSo whenمَضَىhe departedأَخْبَرَهُمُinformed themالْعَبَّاسُal-Abbasبِالَّذِيof that whichأَخْبَرَهُhe was informed ofفَكُبِتُوا.so they were confounded.
So when he departed, al-Abbas informed them of what he had been told, and they were confounded.
وَرُوِيَAnd it was narratedأَنَّthatرَجُلًاa manأَتَىcame toرَسُولَthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِand grant him peace,وَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,فَقَالَ:and said:
And it was narrated that a man came to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said:
يَاOرَسُولَMessenger ofاللَّهِAllah,إِنِّيverily Iأَسْتَسِرُّkeep secretبِخِلَالٍqualitiesأَرْبَعٍ:four:الزِّنَاءِadultery,وَالسَّرَقِtheft,وَشُرْبِdrinkingالْخَمْرِwineوَالْكِذْبِ،and lying,
O Messenger of Allah, verily I conceal four qualities: adultery, theft, drinking wine, and lying,
فَأَيَّتُهُنَّso whichever of themأَحْبَبْتَyou loveتَرَكْتُهُI will abandon itلَكَfor youسِرًّا.secretly.
so whichever of them you like, I will abandon it for you secretly.
فَقَالَ:So he said:دَعِAbandonالْكِذْبَ.lying.
So he said: Abandon lying.
فَمَضَىSo departedالرَّجُلُthe manفَهَمَّand he intendedبِالزِّنَاءِadulteryفَقَالَ:so he said:يَسْأَلُنِيWill ask meرَسُولُthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِand grant him peace,وَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,
So the man departed and intended to commit adultery, and he said: The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, will ask me,
فَإِنْso ifجَحَدْتُI denyنَقَضْتُI breakمَاwhatجَعَلْتُهُI madeلَهُfor himوَإِنْand ifأَقْرَرْتُI confessحُدِدْتُ،I will be punished,فَلَمْso he did notيَزْنِ،commit adultery,
so if I deny it, I break what I covenanted with him, and if I confess, I will be punished, so he did not commit adultery,
ثُمَّthenهَمَّhe intendedبِالسَّرِقَةِthe theftوَبِشُرْبِand drinkingالْخَمْرِwineفَفَكَّرَso he reflectedفِيinمِثْلِlikeذَلِكَthat
then he intended theft and drinking wine and reflected in the same manner,
فَرَجَعَso he returnedإِلَىtoرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِand grant him peace,وَسَلَّمَ،and grant him peace,
so he returned to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace,
فَقَالَand saidلَهُ،to him,عَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ:be peace:تَرَكْتُهُنَّYou have abandoned themأَجْمَعَ.all together.
and he, upon him be peace, said to him: You have abandoned them all together.
وَمِنْAnd fromمُلَحِthe witty anecdotes ofالْكِذْبِlyingقِيلَ:it is said:
And among the witty anecdotes of lying, it is said:
إِنَّهُThat itكَانَwasبَيْنَbetweenيَحْيَىYahyaبْنِson ofخَالِدٍKhalidالْبَرْمَكِيِّthe Barmakidوَبَيْنَand betweenعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِibnبْنِMalikمَالِكٍal-Khuza'iالْخُزَاعِيِّenmityعَدَاوَةٌand mutual envyوَتَحَاسُدٌand eachوَكَانَone of themكُلُّwas waitingوَاحِدٍfor the turns of fortuneمِنْهُمَاagainst his companion,يَنْتَظِرُwaitingلِصَاحِبِهِfor his companionالدَّوَائِرَ،the vicissitudes,
that there was enmity and mutual envy between Yahya ibn Khalid the Barmakid and Abdullah ibn Malik al-Khuza'i, and each of them was waiting for the turns of fortune against his companion,
فَلَمَّاso whenوَلِيَwas appointedعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِibnبْنُMalikمَالِكٍoverأَذْرَبِيجَانَAzerbaijanوَأَرْمِينِيَةَand Armenia,ضَاقَgrew narrowبِرَجُلٍupon a manمِنَfromالدَّهَاقِينِthe Dehqansبِالْعِرَاقِin Iraqالْأَمْرُthe matterوَتَعَذَّرَتْand became difficultعَلَيْهِupon himالْمَطَالِبُthe claims,
so when Abdullah ibn Malik was appointed over Azerbaijan and Armenia, the matter grew difficult for a man among the Dehqans in Iraq, and his claims became difficult to fulfill,
فَحَمَلَso he carriedنَفْسَهُhimselfعَلَىtoأَنْthatافْتَعَلَhe forgedعَلَىuponلِسَانِthe tongue ofيَحْيَىYahyaبْنِson ofخَالِدٍKhalidإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِibnبْنِMalikمَالِكٍa letterبِالْوَصَاةِrecommendingبِهِhimوَأَكَّدَand he emphasizedبِمَعَاونَتِهِassisting himكُلَّeveryالتَّأْكِيدِ،emphasis,
so he resolved to forge a letter in the name of Yahya ibn Khalid to Abdullah ibn Malik recommending him and strongly emphasizing assisting him,
وَلَمْand he did notيَعْلَمْknowمَاwhatبَيْنَهُمَاwas between themمِنَofالتَّبَاعُدِ،estrangement,
not knowing the estrangement that existed between them.
فَشَخَصَSo he set outمِنْfromمَدِينَةِthe City ofالسَّلَامِPeaceإِلَىtoأَذْرَبِيجَانَAzerbaijanوَصَارَand cameإِلَىtoبَابِthe door ofعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِibnبْنِMalikمَالِكٍwithبِالْكِتَابِ،the letter,فَأَوْصَلَهُso he delivered itالْحَاجِبُ،to the chamberlain,
So he set out from the City of Peace to Azerbaijan and came to the door of Abdullah ibn Malik with the letter, and the chamberlain delivered it,
فَقَالَso saidلَهُto himعَبْدُAbdullah:اللَّهِ:Bring inأَدْخِلْthe bearer ofصَاحِبَthisهَذَاletter.الْكِتَابِ.So he brought him in.فَأَدْخَلَهُ.So he brought him in.
and Abdullah said to him: Bring in the bearer of this letter. So he brought him in.
فَقَالَAnd saidلَهُto himعَبْدُAbdullah:اللَّهِ:Verilyإِنَّyour letterكِتَابَكَthisهَذَاis forged,مَفْتَعَلٌbut youوَلَكِنَّكَhave undertakenقَدْthisتَجَشَّمْتَdistantهَذِهِjourneyالشُّقَّةَand we will notالْبَعِيدَةَdisappointوَلَسْنَاyou.نُخيبُكَ.you.
And Abdullah said to him: Verily this letter of yours is forged, but you have undertaken this distant journey, and we will not disappoint you.
فَقَالَSo saidالرَّجُلُ:the man:أَمَّاAs forكِتَابِيmy letter,فَلَيْسَit is notبِمَفْتَعَلٍforged,وَإِنْand ifكُنْتَyou areإِنَّمَاonlyتَقْصِدُهُintendingبِهَذِهِwith thisالتُّهْمَةِaccusationلِتَصْرِفَهُto dismiss himفَاللَّهُthen AllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mighty isحَسْبِيmy sufficiencyوَعَلَيْهِand upon Himأَتَوَكَّلُ.I rely.
So the man said: As for my letter, it is not forged, and if you are only intending this accusation to dismiss him, then Allah, Majestic and Mighty, is my sufficiency and upon Him I rely.
فَقَالَSo saidعَبْدُAbdullah:اللَّهِ:Do youأَفْتَرَىthinkأَنْthatتُحْبَسَyou should be imprisonedفِيinدَارٍa houseوَتُزَاحَand your needs be removedعِلَّتُكَuntilإِلَىI writeأَنْand seekأَكْتُبَopinionوَأَسْتَطْلِعَand learnالرَّأْيَthe newsوَأَعْرِفَof thisنَبَأَletter,هَذَاso ifالْكِتَابِit is forgedفَإِنْI will punish youكَانَand ifمُزَوَّرًاit is authenticعَاقَبْتُكَI will give you a choiceوَإِنْbetween giftsكَانَand provinces,صَحِيحًاso whicheverخَيَّرْتُكَyou chooseبَيْنَI will grantالصِّلَاتِit to you?وَالْوِلَايَاتِHe said:فَأَيُّهَاYes.اخْتَرْتَYes.سَوَّغْتُكَ؟Yes.قَالَ:Yes.نَعَمْ.Yes.
So Abdullah said: Do you think that you should be imprisoned in a house and your needs be provided for until I write and seek opinion and learn the news of this letter; so if it is forged I will punish you, and if it is authentic I will give you a choice between gifts and provinces, so whichever you choose I will grant it to you? He said: Yes.
فَأَمَرَSo orderedعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِto imprison himبِحَبْسِهِand provide forوَإِزَاحَةِhis needs,عِلَّتِهِand he wroteوَكَتَبَto his agentإِلَىin Iraq:وَكِيلِهِVerilyبِالْعِرَاقِ:a man namedإِنَّSo-and-so son of So-and-soرَجُلًاbrought to meيُسَمَّىa letter fromفُلَانَAbu AliبْنَYahya ibn Khalidفُلَانٍthe Barmakid,أَوْرَدَso inquire for meعَلَيَّinto the matterكِتَابًاof this letterمِنْand writeأَبِيto me immediatelyعَلِيٍّconcerning it.يَحْيَىconcerning it.بْنِconcerning it.خَالِدٍconcerning it.الْبَرْمَكِيِّconcerning it.فَتَعَرَّفْconcerning it.لِيconcerning it.أَمْرَconcerning it.هَذَاconcerning it.الْكِتَابِconcerning it.وَاكْتُبْconcerning it.إِلَيَّconcerning it.بِالْحَالِconcerning it.فِيهِ.concerning it.
So Abdullah ordered him to be imprisoned and his needs to be provided for, and he wrote to his agent in Iraq: Verily a man named So-and-so son of So-and-so brought to me a letter from Abu Ali Yahya ibn Khalid the Barmakid, so inquire for me into the matter of this letter and write to me immediately concerning it.
فَصَارَSo wentالْوَكِيلُthe agentبِكِتَابِwith the letter ofعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِtoإِلَىYahyaيَحْيَىibnبْنِKhalid,خَالِدٍso he read itفَقَرَأَهُto him,عَلَيْهِ،so he called forفَدَعَاthe inkwellبِالدَّوَاةِand wroteوَكَتَبَto himإِلَيْهِin his handwriting:بِخَطِّهِ:So-and-soفُلَانٌis of the most specialمِنْof those close to meأَخَصِّand the most obligatoryمَنْupon me in right,يَلِينِيand your companionوَأَوْجَبِهِمْhas informed meحَقًّاof your doubtوَقَدْconcerning his matter,أَخْبَرَنِيso remove,صَاحِبُكَmay I beبِشَكِّكَyour ransom,فِيthe doubt,أَمْرِهِand letفَأَزِلْ،his dispatchجُعِلْتُto meفِدَاكَ،be hastenedالشَّكَّwith whatوَلِيَكُنْbefits you.صَرْفُهُbefits you.إِلَيَّbefits you.مُعَجَّلًاbefits you.بِمَاbefits you.يُشْبِهُكَ.befits you.
So the agent went with the letter of Abdullah to Yahya ibn Khalid, and he read it to him, so he called for the inkwell and wrote to him in his handwriting: So-and-so is of the most special of those close to me and the most obligatory upon me in right, and your companion has informed me of your doubt concerning his matter, so remove, may I be your ransom, the doubt, and let his dispatch to me be hastened with what befits you.
فَلَمَّاSo whenخَرَجَdepartedالْوَكِيلُthe agentقَالَsaidيَحْيَىYahyaلِأَصْحَابِهِ:to his companions:مَاWhatتَقُولُونَdo you sayفِيconcerningرَجُلٍa manافْتَعَلَwho forgedعَلَيَّupon meكِتَابًاa letterإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِibnبْنِMalikمَالِكٍand arrivedوَصَلَwith itبِهِfromمِنْthe City ofمَدِينَةِPeaceالسَّلَامِtoإِلَىAzerbaijan?أَذْرَبِيجَانَ؟Azerbaijan?
So when the agent departed, Yahya said to his companions: What do you say concerning a man who forged a letter upon me to Abdullah ibn Malik and arrived with it from the City of Peace to Azerbaijan?
فَقَالُواSo they saidجَمِيعًا:all of them:نَرَىWe seeأَنْthatتَفْضَحَهُyou should expose himوَتَكْشِفَand uncoverسِتْرَهُhis veilوَتُعْلِنَand announceأَمْرَهُhis matterلِيَرْتَدِعَso that may be deterredبِهِtherebyغَيْرُهُother than himوَيَصِيرَand he becomesنَكَالًاa deterrentوَأُحْدُوثَةًand a bywordلِلْعَالَمِينَ.for the worlds.
So they all said: We see that you should expose him and unveil his cover and announce his matter so that others may be deterred by it and he becomes a deterrent and a byword for the worlds.
قَالَ:He said:لَاNo,وَاللَّهِ،by Allah,وَهَذَاand is thisرَأْيُكُمْ؟your opinion?
He said: No, by Allah, and is this your opinion?
قَالُوا:They said:نَعَمْ.Yes.
They said: Yes.
فَقَالَ:So he said:قَبَحَMay Allah make uglyاللَّهُthisهَذَاfromمِنْan opinion,رَأْيٍfor howفَمَاlittleأَقَلَّهُand howوَأَنْذَلَهُ!vile it is!
So he said: May Allah make this opinion ugly, for how little and how vile it is!
وَيْحَكُمْWoe to you,هَذَاthis isرَجُلٌa manضَاقَbecame straitenedبِهِupon himالرِّزْقُprovisionفَأَمَّلَso he hopedفِيَّin meخَيْرًاgoodوَوَثِقَand trustedبِيin meوَشَخَصَand set outإِلَىtoأَذْرَبِيجَانَAzerbaijanمَعَdespiteبُعْدِthe distance ofشُقَّتِهَاits journeyوَصُعُوبَةِand the difficulty ofطَرِيقِهَاits road
Woe to you, this is a man whose provision became straitened, so he hoped for good in me and trusted in me and set out to Azerbaijan despite the distance of its journey and the difficulty of its road,
أَتُشِيرُونَdo you adviseعَلَيَّmeأَنْthatأَحْرِمَهُI deprive him ofمَاwhatأَمَّلَهُhe hoped forفِيَّin meحَتَّىuntilيُسِيءَhe thinksظَنَّهُevilبِيof meوَقَدْwhileعَرَفْتُمْyou have knownقَدْرَthe station ofعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِand his conditionوَحَالَهُwithعِنْدَthe Commander ofأَمِيرِthe Faithfulالْمُؤْمِنِينَand that Iوَأَنِّيdid not attainلَمْthis positionأَكُنْexcept byأَحْتَالُpreciousلِهَذِهِwealth?الْمَنْزِلَةِwealth?إِلَّاwealth?بِالْخَطِيرِwealth?مِنَwealth?الْمَالِ،wealth?
do you advise me that I deprive him of what he hoped for in me until he thinks evil of me, while you have known the station of Abdullah and his condition with the Commander of the Faithful and that I did not attain this position except by precious wealth?
أَفْتُرِيدُونَDo you wantأَنْthatأَرُدَّI returnالْأَمْرَthe matterبَيْنِيbetween meوَبَيْنَهُand himبَعْدَafterالْأُلْفَةِthe harmonyالْوَاقِعَةِthat has occurredإِلَىtoالْحِشْمَةِ؟strained relations?
Do you want that I return the matter between me and him after the harmony that has occurred to strained relations?
هَذَاThisوَاللَّهِby Allahالنَّكَدُis miseryطُولَfor the length ofالْأَبَدِeternityوَغَايَةُand the utmost limit ofالضَّعْفِweaknessوَنِهَايَةُand the end ofأَسْبَابِthe causes ofالِانْتِكَاسِ!relapse!
This, by Allah, is lifelong misery, the utmost limit of weakness, and the end of the causes of relapse!
ثُمَّThenأَخْبَرَهُمْhe informed themبِمَاof whatكَتَبَhe wroteبِهِthereinإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِso they marveledفَتَعَجَّبُواat his generosityمِنْand his endurance ofكَرَمِهِthe lie.وَاحْتِمَالِهِthe lie.الْكَذِبَ.the lie.
Then he informed them of what he had written to Abdullah, so they marveled at his generosity and his endurance of the lie.
وَوَرَدَAnd arrivedالْكِتَابُthe letterبِخَطِّهِin his handwritingعَلَىtoعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِso he calledفَدَعَاforبِالرَّجُلِthe manوَقَدْwhileسَقَطَhad fallenفِيinيَدِهِhis handلِاعْتِرَاضِdue to the occurrence ofسُوءِevilالظَّنِّsuspicionبِقَلْبِهِ،in his heart,
And the letter in his handwriting arrived to Abdullah, so he called for the man while he was bewildered due to the occurrence of evil suspicion in his heart,
فَلَمَّاso whenدَخَلَhe enteredعَلَيْهِupon himقَالَ:he said:هَذَاThis isكِتَابُthe letter ofأَخِيmy brotherقَدْhas indeedوَرَدَarrivedعَلَيَّto meبِصِحَّةِconfirmingأَمْرِكَyour matterوَسَأَلَنِيand he asked meتَعْجِيلَto hastenصَرْفِكَyour dispatchإِلَيْهِ.to him.
so when he entered upon him, he said: This is the letter of my brother which has indeed arrived to me confirming your matter and he asked me to hasten your dispatch to him.
فَدَعَاSo he orderedلَهُfor himبِمِئَاتِtwo hundred thousandأَلْفِdirhamsدِرْهَمٍand whatوَبِمَاfollows itيَتْبَعُهَاof beasts,مِنَmules,الدَّوَابِّslave girls,وَالْبِغَالِyoung men,وَالْجَوَارِيrobes of honor,وَالْغِلْمَانِand allوَالْخِلَعِequipment,وَسَائِرِthenالْآلَةِhe sent him forth.ثُمَّthenأَصْدَرَهُ.he sent him forth.
So he ordered for him two hundred thousand dirhams and whatever follows it of beasts, mules, slave girls, young men, robes of honor, and all equipment, then he sent him forth.
فَلَمَّاSo whenحَضَرَhe attendedبَابَthe door ofيَحْيَىYahyaبْنِson ofخَالِدٍKhalid,أُدْخِلَwas brought inذَلِكَall of thatأَجْمَعُto himإِلَيْهِand displayedوَعُرِضَto him,عَلَيْهِ،so Yahya orderedفَأَمَرَfor himلَهُthe like of thatيَحْيَىand confirmed himبِمِثْلِamong his intimate circle.ذَلِكَamong his intimate circle.وَأَثْبَتَهُamong his intimate circle.فِيamong his intimate circle.خَاصَّتِهِ.among his intimate circle.
So when he attended the door of Yahya ibn Khalid, all of that was brought in to him and displayed to him, so Yahya ordered for him the like of that and confirmed him among his intimate circle.