قَالَ:He said:فَتَبَسَّمَso smiledالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munوَقَالَ:and said:أَحْسَنْتَYou have done wellوَاللَّهِby AllahيَاOأَسْوَارِيُّ،Aswari,فَلِمَنْso whose isهَذَاthisوَيْحَكَ؟woe to you?
He said: Al-Ma'mun smiled and said: 'You have done well by Allah, O Aswari, so whose is this, woe to you?'
قُلْتُ:I said:لِعَبْدِكَFor your slaveالنَّظَّامِ.an-Nazzam.
I said: 'For your slave an-Nazzam.'
فَقَالَ:He said:أَحْسَنَHe has done wellفِيمَاin whatوَصَفَhe describedوَأَحْسَنْتَand you have done wellفِيinتَعْبِيرِكَyour expressionعَنْهُ.of it.
He said: 'He has done well in what he described, and you have done well in your expression of it.'
ثُمَّThenسَقَانِيhe gave me to drinkوَأَمَرَand orderedلِيfor meبِخَمْسِينَfiftyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsوَأَمَرَand orderedلِلنَّظَّامِfor an-Nazzamبِمِثْلِهَا.the like of it.
Then he gave me to drink and ordered fifty thousand dirhams for me, and ordered the like of it for an-Nazzam.
أَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُson ofالْقَاسِمِal-Qasimقَالَ:said:كُنْتُI wasأَنَاIوَعَبْدُand Abdullahاللَّهِson ofبْنُTahirطَاهِرٍatعِنْدَAl-Ma'mun'sالْمَأْمُونِwhile heوَهُوَwas lyingمُسْتَلْقٍonعَلَىhisقَفَاهُback
Ahmad bin al-Qasim said: I and Abdullah bin Tahir were with al-Ma'mun while he was lying on his back
فَقَالَand he saidلِعَبْدِto Abdullahاللَّهِ:son of Tahir:يَاOأَبَاAbuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbasمَنْwho isأَشْعَرُthe most poeticalالنَّاسِof peopleفِيinزَمَانِنَا؟our time?
and said to Abdullah: 'O Abu al-Abbas, who is the most poetical of people in our time?'
فَقَالَ:He said:أَمِيرُThe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَعْرَفُis more knowledgeableبِهَذَاabout thisمِنِّي.than I.
He said: 'The Commander of the Faithful is more knowledgeable about this than I.'
قَالَ:He said:عَلَىOnحَالٍ.any condition.
He said: 'In any case.'
قَالَHe saidالَّذِيthe one whoيَقُولُ:says:
He said: 'The one who says:'
أَيَاOقَبْرَgrave ofمَعْنٍMa'nكُنْتَyou wereأَوَّلَthe firstحُفْرَةٍpit
O grave of Ma'n, you were the first pit
مِنَofالْأَرْضِthe earthخُطَّتْthat was dugلِلْمَكَارِمِfor noble deedsأَجْمَعَاall of them together.
of the earth that was dug for noble deeds all of them together.
قَالَAhmadأَحْمَدُ:said:فَقُلْتُSo I saidأَشْعَرُهُمْthe most poetical of them isالَّذِيthe one whoيَقُولُ:says:
Ahmad said: So I said, the most poetical of them is the one who says:
أَشْبَهْتُYou resembledأَعْدَائِيmy enemiesفَصِرْتُso I becameأُحِبُّهُمْloving them
You resembled my enemies so I came to love them
إِذْsinceكَانَwasحَظِّيmy shareمِنْكَfrom youحَظِّيthe shareمِنْهُمْfrom them.
since my share from you was their share.
فَقَالَAl-Ma'munالْمَأْمُونُ:said:أَيْنَWhereأَنْتُمَاare both of youعَنْfromقَوْلِthe saying ofأَبِيAbuنُوَاسٍ:Nawas:
Al-Ma'mun said: 'Where are both of you regarding the saying of Abu Nawas:'
يَاOشَقِيقَtwinالنَّفْسِof the soulمِنْfromحَكَمٍa ruler
O twin of the soul from a ruler
نِمْتَyou sleptعَنْwhileلَيْلِيmy night was longوَلَمْand I did notأَنَمْsleep.
you slept while my night was long and I did not sleep.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd al-Ma'munالْمَأْمُونُsaidلِعَبْدِto Abdullahاللَّهِson ofبْنِTahirطَاهِرٍinفِيthe arenaالْحَلْبَةِwhileوَقَدِhad risenارْتَفَعَتْthe voicesأَصْوَاتُof the commonالْعَامَّةِ:people:
He said: Al-Ma'mun said to Abdullah bin Tahir in the arena while the voices of the common people had risen:
يَاOأَبَاAbuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbasسَكِّنِquietالْعَامَّةَ.the common people.
'O Abu al-Abbas, quiet the common people.'
قَالَAbdullahعَبْدُsaid:اللَّهِ:So I jumped upفَوَثَبْتُI andأَنَاwhoever wasوَمَنْwith meمَعِيso there roseفَوَثَبَfrom our voicesارْتَفَعَand our clamorمِنْmore thanأَصْوَاتِنَاwhatوَضَجِيجِنَاit was.
Abdullah said: So I and whoever was with me jumped up, and our voices and clamor rose more than what it was.
فَقَالَSo he saidلِي:to me:أَتَدَلَّلُDo you relyبِالرِّيَاسَةِon leadershipوَلَاand have noبَصَرَinsightلَكَfor youبِالسِّيَاسَةِ،into politics?
So he said to me: 'Do you rely on leadership while you have no insight into politics?'
هَكَذَاIs this howتُسَكِّنُyou quietالْعَامَّةَ؟the common people?
'Is this how you quiet the common people?'
هَلَّاWhy did you notنَادَيْتَcallالْأَقْرَبِينَthe closest onesلِيُنَادِيَso thatالْأَقْرَبُونَthe closest onesالْأَبْعَدِينَ!might call the furthest ones!
'Why did you not call the closest ones so that the closest ones might call the furthest ones!'
قَالَ:He said:فَوَاللَّهِBy AllahمَاI could notمَيَّزْتُdistinguishبَيْنَbetweenتَأْدِيبِهِhis discipliningوَبَيْنَandنَغْرَانِهِ.his scolding.
He said: By Allah, I could not distinguish between his disciplining and his scolding.
قَالَ:He said:وَقَالَAnd al-Hasanالْحَسَنُson ofبْنُal-Fadlالْفَضْلِson ofبْنِal-Rabi'الرَّبِيعِ:said:خَرَجَcame outعَلَيْنَاto usالْمَهْدِيُّal-Mahdiمَتَنَكِّراًin disguiseوَمَعَهُand with himالرَّبِيعُal-Rabi'وَالْمُسَيَّبُand al-Musayyabبْنُson ofزُهَيْرٍZuhayrيَطُوفُroamingفِيinالْأَسْوَاقِthe marketsإِذْwhenنَظَرَhe lookedإِلَىatأَعْرَابِيٍّa Bedouinيُنْشِدُreciting poetry
He said: Al-Hasan bin al-Fadl bin al-Rabi' said: Al-Mahdi came out to us in disguise, with al-Rabi' and al-Musayyab bin Zuhayr roaming the markets, when he looked at a Bedouin reciting poetry.
فَقَالَSo al-Mahdiالْمَهْدِيُّsaidللرَّبِيعِ:to al-Rabi':أَخْبِرْنِيTell meعَنْaboutأَرَقِّthe most tenderبَيْتٍverseقَالَتْهُthatالْعَرَبُ،the Arabs said.
Al-Mahdi said to al-Rabi': 'Tell me about the most tender verse that the Arabs said.'
قَالَ:He said:بَيْتُThe verse ofامْرِئِImru' al-Qaysالْقَيْسِson ofبْنِHujr:حُجْرٍson of Hujr:
He said: 'The verse of Imru' al-Qays bin Hujr:'
وَمَاAndذَرَفَتْdid not shed tearsعَيْنَاكَyour two eyesإِلَّاexceptلِتَضْرِبِيto strike
And your two eyes did not shed tears except to strike
بِسَهْمَيْكَwith your two arrowsفِيinأَعْشَارِthe parts ofقَلْبٍa heartمُقَتَّلٍmuch-slain.
with your two arrows in the parts of a much-slain heart.
فَقَالَAl-Mahdiالْمَهْدِيُّ:said:بَيْتٌA verseقَدْthatدَاسَتْهُhas been trampled byالْعَامَّةُthe common peopleوَفِيهِand in it isغَلَطٌ.a mistake.
Al-Mahdi said: 'A verse that the common people have trampled and in it is a mistake.'
ثُمَّThenقَالَhe saidلِلْمُسَيَّبِ:to al-Musayyab:هَاتِBringمَاwhatعِنْدَكَ.you have.
Then he said to al-Musayyab: 'Bring what you have.'
فَقَالَ:He said:
He said:
وَمِمَّاAnd among whatشَجَانِيgrieved meأَنَّهَاwas that sheيَوْمَon the dayأَعْرَضَتْshe turned away
And among what grieved me was that she on the day she turned away
تَوَلَّتْshe departedوَمَاءُwhile the water ofالْعَيْنِthe eyeفِيinالْجَفْنِthe eyelidحَائِرُwas bewildered
she departed while the water of the eye in the eyelid was bewildered
فَلَمَّاThen whenأَعَادَتْshe returnedمِنْfromبَعِيدٍafarبِنَظْرَةٍwith a glance
Then when she returned from afar with a glance
إِلَيَّat meالْتِفَاتاًas a turningأَسْلَمَتْهَاsurrendered herالْمَحَاجِرُtear-ducts
at me as a turning, the tear-ducts surrendered her
وَسَلَّمْتُهَاand I surrendered herأَيْضاً.also.
and I surrendered her also.
فَقَالَ:He said:وَإِنَّIndeedهَذَاthisقَرِيبٌis closeمِنْtoذَاكَ.that.
He said: 'And this is close to that.'
وَخَلْفَهُمْAnd behind themشَابٌّwas a youthمِنْfromأَهْلِthe people ofالْمَدِينَةِMedinaلَهُwho hadأَدَبٌcultureوَظَرْفٌand eleganceوَقَدِمَand he had comeمُتَظَلِّماًseeking redress
And behind them was a youth from the people of Medina who had culture and elegance, and he had come seeking redress
فَطَالَso his stayمَقَامُهُgrew longعَلَىatبَابِthe door ofالْمَهْدِيِّ،al-Mahdi.
so his stay grew long at the door of al-Mahdi.
فَلَمَّاThen whenسَمِعَhe heardذَلِكَthatمِنْهُمْfrom themحَمَلَهُprompted himظَرْفُthe elegance ofالْأَدَبِcultureعَلَىtoأَنْthatأَدْخَلَhe insertedنَفْسَهُhimselfبَيْنَهُمْamong themوَاتَّصَلَand joinedبِهِمْthemوَقَالَ:and said:
Then when he heard that from them, the elegance of culture prompted him to insert himself among them and join them and say:
أَتَأْذَنُونَDo you give permissionأَنْthatأَخُوضَI plungeمَعَكُمْwith youفِيمَاinto whatأَنْتُمْyouفِيهِ؟are in?
'Do you give permission that I plunge with you into what you are in?'
قَالُوا:They said:مَاذَا؟What?
They said: 'What?'
قَالَHe said:قَالَAl-Ahwasالْأَحْوَصُ:said:
He said: Al-Ahwas said:
إِذَاWhenقُلْتُI saidإِنِّيthat Iمُشْتَفٍam curedبِلِقَائِهَاby meeting her
When I said that I am cured by meeting her
فَحُمَّthen was destinedالتَّلاقِيthe meetingبَيْنَنَاbetween usزَادَنِيit increased meوَجْدَاin passion.
then the meeting between us was destined, it increased me in passion.
فَقَالَAl-Mahdiالْمَهْدِيُّ:said:أَحْسَنْتَYou have done wellيَاOفَتَى،young man,فَمَنْso whoأَنْتَ؟are you?
Al-Mahdi said: 'You have done well, O young man, so who are you?'
قَالَ:He said:أَنَاI amرَجُلٌa manمِنْfromأَهْلِthe people ofالْمَدِينَةِ.Medina.
He said: 'I am a man from the people of Medina.'
قَالَ:He said:وَمَاAnd whatأَقْدَمَكَbrought you toالْعِرَاقَ؟Iraq?
He said: 'And what brought you to Iraq?'
قَالَ:He said:مَظْلَمَةٌA wrongلِيdone to meأَنَاIمُقِيمٌam residingعَلَيْهَاregarding itبِبَابِat the door ofالْخَلِيفَةِthe Caliphمُنْذُsinceكَذَاsuch-and-suchوَكَذَاand such-and-suchوَقَدْandأَضَرَّhas harmedبِيmeذَلِكَ.that.
He said: 'A wrong done to me, I am residing regarding it at the door of the Caliph since such-and-such and that has harmed me.'
فَقَالَSo al-Mahdiللرَّبِيعِ:said to al-Rabi':عَلَيْكَTakeبِالرَّجُلِ.charge of the man.
So he said to al-Rabi': 'Take charge of the man.'
فَأَخَذَهُSo he took himمَعَهُwith himوَسَامَرَهُand kept him company at nightأَيَّاماًfor daysثُمَّthenأَمَرَhe orderedبِرَدِّthe return ofمَظْلَمَتِهِhis grievanceوَقَضَىand fulfilledحَوَائِجَهُhis needsوَأَمَرَand orderedلَهُfor himبِصِلَةِa grant ofعَشَرَةِtenآلافِthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
So he took him with him and kept him company at night for days, then he ordered the return of his grievance and fulfilled his needs, and ordered for him a grant of ten thousand dirhams.
قَالَAn-Nadrالنَّضْرُson ofبْنُShumaylشُمَيْلٍ:said:حَدَّثَنِيNarrated to meالْفَرَّاءُAl-Farra'عَنِfromالْكِسَائِيِّAl-Kisa'iقَالَ:who said:دَعَانِيCalled meالرَّشِيدُAl-Rashidذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayوَمَاwhileعِنْدَهُwith himإِلَّاwere onlyحَاشِيَتُهُhis entourageفَقَالَ:so he said:
An-Nadr bin Shumayl said: Al-Farra' narrated to me from Al-Kisa'i, who said: Al-Rashid called me one day while there were only his entourage with him, and said:
يَاOعَلِيُّAliأَتُحِبُّdo you loveأَنْtoتَرَىseeمُحَمَّداًMuhammadوَعَبْدَand Abdullah?اللَّهِ؟I said:قُلْتُ:How eager am Iمَاto see themأَشْوَقَنِيO Commanderإِلَيْهِمَاof the Faithfulيَاand how eager I amأَمِيرَto witnessالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe blessing of Allahوَأَسَرَّmighty and majesticإِلَيَّupon the Commanderمُعَايَنَةَof the Faithfulنِعْمَةِin themاللَّهِand by themجَلَّso he orderedوَعَزَّtheir presenceعَلَىso they approachedأَمِيرِas though they wereالْمُؤْمِنِينَtwo stars of a horizonفِيهِمَاadorned by their guidanceوَبِهِمَا،and dignityفَأَمَرَhaving loweredبِإِحْضَارِهِمَا،their gazesفَأَقْبَلَاand shortenedكَأَنَّهُمَاtheir stridesكَوْكَبَاuntil they stoodأُفُقٍat the door of the assemblyيُزَيِّنُهُمَاand greeted with the greeting of the Caliphateهَدْيُهُمَاthen they said:وَوَقَارُهُمَا،May Allah completeقَدْupon the Commander of the FaithfulغَضَّاHis blessingsأَبْصَارَهُمَاand reward them with gratitudeوَقَارَبَاand make whatخُطُوهُمَا،He has entrusted to himحَتَّىof this matterوَقَفَاthe most praised in consequenceبِبَابِto which it leadsالْمَجْلِسِpraiseفَسَلَّمَاHe has chosen for Himselfبِالْخِلَافَةِand purified for Himselfثُمَّby remainingقَالَا:and multiplying it for Himتَمَّمَthrough growthاللَّهُand not cloudingعَلَىfor him of itأَمِيرِwhat was clearالْمُؤْمِنِينَnor mixingنِعَمَهُwhat pleased him with ruinوَشَفَعَهَاfor you have becomeبِشُكْرِهِa trust for the Muslimsوَجَعَلَand a place of restمَاto whom they take refugeقَلَّدَهُin their affairsمِنْand headهَذَاin their needsالْأَمْرِso he commanded themأَحْمَدَto draw nearعَاقِبَةِand placed Muhammadمَاon his rightيَؤولُand Abdullahإِلَيْهِon his leftأَمْرٌthen he turnedحَمْداًto me and said:اخْتَصَّهُ'O AliبِهِI have not ceasedوَأَخْلَصَهُstaying up at nightلَهُthinkingبِالْبَقَاءِabout the meanings of versesوَكَثَّرَهُthat were hiddenلَدَيْهِfrom me.'
O Ali, do you love to see Muhammad and Abdullah? I said: How eager am I to see them O Commander of the Faithful, and how eager I am to witness the blessing of Allah mighty and majestic upon the Commander of the Faithful in them and by them, so he ordered their presence, so they approached as though they were two stars of a horizon adorned by their guidance and dignity, having lowered their gazes and shortened their strides until they stood at the door of the assembly and greeted with the greeting of the Caliphate then they said: May Allah complete upon the Commander of the Faithful His blessings and reward them with gratitude and make what He has entrusted to him of this matter the most praised in consequence to which it leads praise He has chosen for Himself and purified for Himself by remaining and multiplying it for Him through growth and not clouding for him of it what was clear nor mixing what pleased him with ruin, for you have become a trust for the Muslims and a place of rest to whom they take refuge in their affairs and head in their needs, so he commanded them to draw near and placed Muhammad on his right and Abdullah on his left then he turned to me and said: 'O Ali, I have not ceased staying up at night thinking about the meanings of verses that were hidden from me.'
بِالنَّمَاءِwith growthوَلَاand did notكَدَّرَcloudعَلَيْهِupon himمِنْهُof itمَاwhatصَفَاwas clearوَلَاnorخَالَطَmixedمَسْرُورَهُhis joyالرَّدَى،with ruin.
with growth and did not cloud upon him of it what was clear nor mixed his joy with ruin.
فَقَدْFor indeedصِرْتَyou have becomeلِلْمُسْلِمِينَfor the Muslimsثِقَةًa trustوَمُسْتَرَاحاًand a resting placeإِلَيْكَto youيَفْزَعُونَthey resortفِيinأُمُورِهِمْtheir affairsوَيَقْصِدُونَand headفِيinحَوَائِجِهِمْ،their needs.
For indeed you have become for the Muslims a trust and a resting place to you they resort in their affairs and head in their needs.
فَأَمَرَهُمَاSo he commanded themبِالدُّنُوِّto draw nearوَصَيَّرَand placedمُحَمَّداًMuhammadعَنْonيَمِينِهِhis rightوَعَبْدَand Abdullahاللَّهِson ofعَنْonيَسَارِهِhis leftثُمَّthenالْتَفَتَhe turnedإِلَيَّto meفَقَالَ:and said:
So he commanded them to draw near and placed Muhammad on his right and Abdullah on his left then he turned to me and said:
يَاOعَلِيُّAliمَاI have notزِلْتُceasedسَاهِراًstaying awakeمُفَكِّراًthinkingفِيinمَعَانِيthe meanings ofأَبْيَاتٍversesقَدْthatخَفِيَتْwere hiddenعَلَيَّ.from me.
'O Ali, I have not ceased staying awake thinking in the meanings of verses that were hidden from me.'
قُلْتُ:I said:إِنْIfرَأَىseesأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَنْtoيُنْشِدَنِيهَا؟recite them to me?
I said: 'If the Commander of the Faithful sees fit to recite them to me?'
فَأَنْشَدَنِي:So he recited to me:
So he recited to me:
قَدْI haveقُلْتُsaidقَوْلاًa sayingلِلْغُرَابِto the crowإِذْwhenحَجَلْit hopped:
I have said a saying to the crow when it hopped:
عَلَيْكَUpon you isبِالْقَوْدِthe long-necked camelsالْمَسَانِيفِthe leading onesالْأُوَلْthe first ones
Upon you is the long-necked camels, the leading, the first ones
تَغَدَّHave lunchمَاon whateverشِئْتَyou wishعَلَىwithoutغَيْرِanyعَجَلْhurry.
Have lunch on whatever you wish without any hurry.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:نَعَمْYesيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,إِنَّindeedالْعِيرَthe caravanإِذَاwhenفُصِلَتْit sets offمِنْfromخَيْبَرَKhaybarوَعَلَيْهَاand upon itالتَّمْرُis datesيَقَعُfallsالْغُرَابُthe crowعَلَىonآخِرِthe last ofالْعِيرِthe caravanفَيَطْرُدُهَاso drives itالسَّوَّاقُ،the driver,يَقُولُsayingهَذَا:this:تَقَدَّمْ'Proceedإِلَىtoأَوَائِلِthe vanguard ofالْعِيرِthe caravanفَكُلْand eatعَلَىwithoutغَيْرِanyعَجَلٍ،hurry.'وَالْقَوْدُAnd al-Qawd areالطِّوَالُthe longالْأَعْنَاقِ،necked ones,وَالْمَسَانِيفُand al-Masanif areالْمُقَدِّمَةُ.the foremost ones.
So I said: 'Yes, O Commander of the Faithful, indeed the caravan when it sets off from Khaybar and upon it is dates, the crow falls on the last of the caravan so the driver drives it, saying this: 'Proceed to the vanguard of the caravan and eat without any hurry.' And al-Qawd are the long-necked ones, and al-Masanif are the foremost ones.'
ثُمَّThenأَنْشَدَنِي:he recited to me:
Then he recited to me:
لَعَمْرِيBy my lifeلَئِنْifعَشَّرْتَwas counted among tenمِنْout ofخَشْيَةِfear ofالرَّدَىruin
By my life if you were counted among ten out of fear of ruin
نَهَاقُthe braying ofالْحِمَارِthe donkeyإِنَّنِيverily Iلَجَهُولُam indeed very ignorant.
the braying of the donkey, verily I am indeed very ignorant.