ثُمَّThenقُلْتُ:I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,
Then I said: O Commander of the Faithful,
زَرْعٌa cropزَكَاwhose rootأَصْلُهُgrew pureوَطَابَand whose originمَغْرِسُهُwas good,
a crop whose root grew pure and whose origin was good,
وَتَمَكَّنَتْand whose rootsعُرُوقُهُbecame firmly established,وَعَذُبَتْand whose drinking placesمَشَارِبُهُ،became sweet,
and whose roots became firmly established, and whose drinking places became sweet,
غَذَّاهُمَاnourished byمَلِكٌa king,أَعَزُّmighty,نَافِذُeffectiveالْأَمْرِin command,وَاسِعُvastالْعِلْمِin knowledge,عَظِيمُimmenseالْحِلْمِin forbearanceوَالْقَدْرِ،and dignity,
nourished by a king, mighty, effective in command, vast in knowledge, immense in forbearance and dignity,
عَلَاهُمَاhe raised themفَعَلِيَا،and they became high,
he raised them and they became high,
وَحَكَّمَهُمَاand he gave them authorityفَتَحَاكَمَا،and they judged,
and he gave them authority and they judged,
وَعَلَّمَهُمَاand he taught themفَتَعَلَّمَا،and they learned,
and he taught them and they learned,
فَهُمَاso theyيَطُولَانِgrow tallبِطُولِهِwith his height,وَيَسْتَضِيئَانِand seek lightبِنُورِهِby his light,وَيَنْطِقَانِand speakبِلِسَانِهِ،with his tongue,
so they grow tall with his height, and seek light by his light, and speak with his tongue,
وَيَتَقَلَّبَانِand revelفِيinسَعَادَتِهِ،his happiness.
and revel in his happiness.
فَمَاSo I have notرَأَيْتُseenأَحَداًanyoneمِنْfromأَبْنَاءِthe sonsالْخُلَفَاءِof the caliphs
So I have not seen anyone from the sons of the caliphs
أَذْرَبَsharperمِنْهُمَاthan the two of themلِساناً،in tongue,
sharper than the two of them in tongue,
وَلَاnorأَعْذَبَsweeterكَلَاماً،in speech,
nor sweeter in speech,
وَلَاnorأَحْسَنَbetterأَلْفَاظاً،in phrasing,
nor better in phrasing,
وَلَاnorأَشَدَّmore capableاِقْتِدَاراًof powerعَلَىtoتَأْدِيَةِconveyمَاwhatحَفِظَاthey memorizedوَرَوِيَا،and narrated,
nor more capable of conveying what they memorized and narrated,
فَأَسْأَلُso I askاللَّهَGodأَنْtoيَزِيدَهُمَاincrease themبِالْإِيمَانِin faithتَأْيِيداًwith supportوَعِزّاً،and glory,
so I ask God to increase them in faith with support and glory,
وَيُمَتِّعَand to letأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulبِهِمَاenjoy themوَيُمَتِّعَهُمَاand let them enjoyبِدَوَامِthe permanence ofقُدْرَتِهِHis powerوَسُلْطَانِهِand His authorityمَاas long asبَقِيَremainsلَيْلٌa nightوَأَضَاءَand shinesنَهَارٌ.a day.
and to let the Commander of the Faithful enjoy them and let them enjoy the permanence of His power and authority as long as a night remains and a day shines.
فَضَمَّهُمَاSo he hugged themإِلَىtoصَدْرِهِhis chestوَجَمَعَand gatheredيَدَيْهِhis handsعَلَيْهِمَاupon them
So he hugged them to his chest and gathered his hands upon them
فَلَمْand he did notيَبْسُطْهُمَاspread themحَتَّىuntilرَأَيْتُI sawدُمُوعَهُhis tearsتَتَحَادَرُstreamingعَلَىdownصَدْرِهِhis chestرِقَّةًout of tendernessوَإِشْفَاقاً،and compassion,
and he did not spread them until I saw his tears streaming down his chest out of tenderness and compassion,
ثُمَّthenأَمَرَهُمَاhe ordered themبِالْخُرُوجِ.to leave.
then he ordered them to leave.
قَالَ:He said:ثُمَّThenأَقْبَلَhe turnedعَلَيْنَاto usوَقَالَ:and said:
He said: Then he turned to us and said:
كَأَنَّكُمْIt is as if youبِهِمَاare with themوَقَدْwhenنَجَمَhas risenالْقَضَاءُthe decreeوَنَزَلَتْand descendedمَقَادِيرُthe destiniesالسَّمَاءِof heaven
It is as if you are with them when the decree has risen and the destinies of heaven have descended
وَبَلَغَand has reachedالْكِتَابُthe written termأَجَلَهُits appointed timeوَانْتَهَىand has endedالْأَمْرُthe matterإِلَىtoوَقْتِهِits limited timeالْمَحْدُودِboundedوَحِينِهِand its timeالْمَسْطُورِrecorded
and the written term has reached its appointed time and the matter has ended to its bounded limited time and its recorded time
الَّذِيwhichلَاnoيَدْفَعُهُrepels itدَافِعٌrepellerوَلَاnorيَمْنَعُpreventsمِنْهُfrom itمَانِعٌ،preventer,
which no repeller repels and no preventer prevents from it,
وَقَدْand hasتَشَتَّتَscatteredأَمْرُهُمَاtheir affairوَافْتَرَقَتْand separatedكَلِمَتُهُمَاtheir wordوَظَهَرَand appearedتَعَادِيهِمَاtheir hostilityوَانْقَطَعَتْand was cut offالرِّقَّةُthe tendernessبَيْنَهُمَاbetween them
and their affair has scattered, their word has separated, their hostility has appeared, and the tenderness between them has been cut off
حَتَّىuntilتُسْفَكَare shedالدِّمَاءُbloodsوَتَكْثُرَand multiplyالْقَتْلَىthe slainوَتُهْتَكَand are tornسُتُورُthe veilsالنِّسَاءِof womenوَيَتَمَنَّىand wishesكَثِيرٌmanyمِنْofالْأَحْيَاءِthe livingأَنَّهُمْthat theyبِمَنْزِلَةِin the place ofالْمَوْتَى.the dead.
until bloods are shed, the slain multiply, the veils of women are torn, and many of the living wish that they were in the place of the dead.
قُلْتُ:I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,أَوَكَائِنٌis that happeningذَلِكَ؟that?
I said: O Commander of the Faithful, is that happening?
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ.Yes.
He said: Yes.
قُلْتُ:I said:لِأَمْرٍFor a matterرَأَيْتَهُyou sawأَوْorرُؤْيَاa visionأُرِيتَهَاyou were shownأَوْorلِشَيْءٍfor a thingتَبَيَّنَmade clearلَكَto youفِيinأَصْلِthe originمَوْلِدِهِمَاof their birthأَمْorلِأَثَرٍfor a traditionوَقَعَthat fellلِأَمِيرِto the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulفِيregardingأَمْرِهِمَا؟their affair?
I said: For a matter you saw, or a vision you were shown, or for a thing made clear to you in the origin of their birth, or for a tradition that fell to the Commander of the Faithful regarding their affair?
قَالَ:He said:بَلْRather,أَثَرٌa traditionوَاجِبٌbindingصَحِيحٌauthenticحَمَلَتْهُcarried itالْعُلَمَاءُthe scholarsعَنِfromالْأَوْصِيَاءِthe successorsوَحَمَلَتْهُand carried itالْأَوْصِيَاءُthe successorsعَنِfromالْأَنْبِيَاءِ،the prophets,عَلَيْهِمُupon themالسَّلَامُ.be peace.
He said: Rather, a binding authentic tradition carried by the scholars from the successors, and carried by the successors from the prophets, peace be upon them.
قَالَ:He said:وَحَدَّثَand relatedالْأَصْمَعِيُّAl-Asma'iأَنَّهُthat heدَخَلَenteredذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayعَلَىuponأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulالرَّشِيدِAl-Rashid
He said: And Al-Asma'i related that he entered one day upon the Commander of the Faithful Al-Rashid
وَكَانَand he wasلَاnotيُحْجَبُveiledعَنْهُfrom himوَكَانَand he wasفِيinفَرْدِone ofرِجْلَيْهِhis legsخُفٌّa bootوَفِيand inالْأُخْرَىthe otherجَوْرَبٌa sockلِعِلَّةٍdue to an ailmentكَانَhe wasيَجِدُهَا،experiencing,
and he was not veiled from him, and he had a boot on one of his legs and a sock on the other due to an ailment he was experiencing,
فَسَامَرَهُso he conversed with himسَاعَةًfor a whileثُمَّthenنَهَضَhe got upلِيَخْرُجَto leaveفَقَالَand saidلَهُto himالرَّشِيدُ:Al-Rashid:
so he conversed with him for a while, then got up to leave, and Al-Rashid said to him:
يَاOأَصْمَعِيُّAsma'i,مَاذَاwhatتَشْتَهِيdo you desireأَنْthatيُتَّخَذَbe madeلَكَfor youلِيُتَقَدَّمَso that orders are givenفِيهِconcerning itوَتَتَغَدَّىand you have lunchمَعَنَا؟with us?
O Asma'i, what do you desire to be made for you so that orders are given concerning it and you have lunch with us?
فَقَالَ:He said:أَشْتَهِيI desireرِقَاقاًthin breadوَجَوْزَلاًand a squabشَخْصاً.a person.
He said: I desire thin bread and a plump squab.
فَلَمْSo did notيَعْرِفِknowالرَّشِيدُAl-Rashidمَاwhatقَالَهُhe saidالْأَصْمَعِيُّAl-Asma'iوَكَرِهَand he dislikedأَنْthatيَسْأَلَهُhe ask himعَنْهُabout it
So Al-Rashid did not know what Al-Asma'i said, and he disliked to ask him about it,
فَتَقَدَّمَso he instructedإِلَىtheالطَّبَّاخِcookأَنْtoيَتَبَّعَهُfollow himوَيَسْأَلَهُand ask himمِنْfromتِلْقَاءِhis own accordنَفْسِهِhimselfوَيُوهِمَهُand make him believeأَنَّهُthat heتَقَدَّمَhad instructedإِلَيْهِhimفِيهِregarding itفَلَمْand he did notيَعْرِفْهُ،know it,
so he instructed the cook to follow him and ask him from his own accord himself and make him believe that he had instructed him regarding it and he did not know it,
فَقَالَso he saidلَهُ:to him:الرِّقَاقُThe thin breadمَعْرُوفٌis knownوَالْجَوْزَلُand the squabالْفَرْخُis the chickالسَّمِينُ.fat.
so he said to him: The thin bread is known, and the squab is the fat chick.
فَمَضَىSo wentالطَّبَّاخُthe cookوَعَرَفَand knewالرَّشِيدُAl-Rashidذَلِكَthatوَأَصْلَحَand preparedلِلْأَصْمَعِيِّfor Al-Asma'iمَاwhatطَلَبَهُhe requestedوَعَادَand returnedفَتَغَدَّىto have lunchمَعَwithالرَّشِيدِ.Al-Rashid.
So the cook went, and Al-Rashid knew that, and prepared for Al-Asma'i what he requested, and he returned to have lunch with Al-Rashid.
فَلَمَّاWhenأَكَلَhe ateأَمَرَhe orderedبِأَنْthatيُحْمَلَbe carriedمَعَهُwith himعِشْرُونَtwentyأَلْفَthousandدِرْهَمٍ.dirhams.
When he ate, he ordered that twenty thousand dirhams be carried with him.
وَحَدَّثَAnd relatedالْأَصْمَعِيُّAl-Asma'iقَالَ:saying:دَخَلْتُI enteredذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayعَلَىuponالرَّشِيدِAl-Rashidفَقَالَand he saidلِي:to me:
And Al-Asma'i related, saying: I entered one day upon Al-Rashid and he said to me:
اُكْتُبْWriteيَاOأَصْمَعِيُّAsma'iوَلَوْeven ifعَلَىonتِكَّتِكَyour waistbandأَوْorطَرَفِedgeثَوْبِكَ:of your garment:
Write O Asma'i, even if on your waistband or the edge of your garment:
كُنْBeمُوْسِراًwealthyإِنْifشِئْتَyou wishأَوْorمُعْسِراًdestitute
Be wealthy if you wish or destitute
لَاnoبُدَّescapingفِيinالدُّنْيَاthe worldمِنَfromالْهَمِّworry
there is no escaping worry in the world
وَكُلَّمَاAnd wheneverزَادَكَit increased youفِيinنِعْمَةٍblessing
And whenever it increased you in blessing
زَادَit increasedالَّذِيthat whichزَادَكَincreased youفِيinالْغَمِّgrief
that which increased you increased you in grief
قَالَ:He said:فَكَتَبْتُso I wroteالْبَيْتَيْنِ.the two verses.
He said: So I wrote the two verses.
قَالَHe saidوَقَالَand saidالْأَصْمَعِيُّ:Al-Asma'i:بَيْنَاwhileأَنَاIذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayقَدْhadخَرَجْتُgone outفِيinالْهَاجِرَةِthe midday heat
He said and Al-Asma'i said: While I was one day having gone out in the midday heat
وَالْجَوُّand the atmosphereيَلْتَهِبُwas blazingوَيَتَوَقَّدُand burningحَرّاًwith heatإِذْwhenأَبْصَرْتُI caught sight ofجَارِيَةًa slave girlسَوْدَاءَblackقَدْhadخَرَجَتْcome outمِنْfromدَارِthe houseالْمَأْمُونِof Al-Ma'mun
and the atmosphere was blazing and burning with heat, when I caught sight of a black slave girl who had come out from the house of Al-Ma'mun
وَمَعَهَاand with herجَرَّةُa jugفِضَّةٍof silverتَسْتَقِيshe was drawingفِيهَاin itمَاءًwaterوَهِيَwhile sheتُرَدِّدُwas repeatingهَذَاthisالْبَيْتَverseبَحَلَاوَةِwith the sweetness ofلَفْظٍutteranceوَذَرَابَةِand sharpness ofلِسَانٍ:tongue:
and with her was a silver jug, she was drawing water in it while she was repeating this verse with the sweetness of utterance and sharpness of tongue:
حَرُّHeat ofوَجْدٍpassionوَحَرُّand heat ofهَجْرٍestrangementوَحَرُّand heat of
Heat of passion, heat of estrangement, and heat of
أَيُّwhatعَيْشٍlifeيَكُونُcan beمِنْfromذَاthisأَمَرُّmore bitter?
what life can be more bitter than this?
قَالَHe saidفَقُلْتُso I saidلَهَا:to her:يَاOجَارِيَةُslave girlمَاwhatشَأْنُكِ؟is your matter?
He said: So I said to her: O slave girl, what is your matter?
فَقَالَتْ:She said:إِنِّيIndeed, Iمِنْam fromدَارِthe houseأَمِيرِof the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulالْمَأْمُونِAl-Ma'mun
She said: Indeed, I am from the house of the Commander of the Faithful Al-Ma'mun
وَأَنَاand Iأُحِبُّloveعَبْداًa slaveلَهُbelonging to himأَسْوَدَblackوَإِنَّهُand indeed heقَدْhasهَجَرَنِيforsaken meوَلَاand I do notأُحْسِنُknow wellأَنْtoأُخْرِجَbring outسِرِّيmy secretإِلَىtoأَحَدٍ.anyone.
and I love a black slave belonging to him, and indeed he has forsaken me, and I do not know well how to bring out my secret to anyone.
قَالَ:He said:فَمَضَيْتُSo I wentوَاسْتَأْذَنْتُand asked permissionعَلَىuponالْمَأْمُونِ،Al-Ma'mun,
He said: So I went and asked permission upon Al-Ma'mun,
وَإِذَاand lo,هُوَheنَائِمٌwas sleepingفَأَذِنَand he gave permissionلِي،to me,
and lo, he was sleeping and he gave permission to me,
وَقَدْand he hadكَانَbeenأَمَرَorderingأَنْthatلَاnotأُحْجَبَI be veiledعَنْهُfrom himعَلَىonأَيِّanyحَالٍconditionكَانَ.he was.
and he had been ordering that I not be veiled from him on any condition he was.
فَدَخَلْتُSo I enteredعَلَيْهِupon himوَهُوَwhile heفِيwas inمَرْقَدِهِhis sleeping placeفَقَالَ:and he said:
So I entered upon him while he was in his sleeping place and he said:
مَاwhatجَاءَbroughtبِكَyouيَاOأَصْمَعِيُّAsma'iفِيinهَذَاthisالْوَقْتِ؟time?
What brought you O Asma'i in this time?
قُلْتُ:I said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,تَهَبُdo you giftلِيto meجَارِيَتَكَyour slave girlالسَّوْدَاءَthe blackوَعَبْدَكَand your slaveالْأَسْوَدَthe blackفُلاناً؟so-and-so?
I said: O Commander of the Faithful, do you gift to me your black slave girl and your black slave so-and-so?
فَقَالَ:He said:قَدْI haveفَعَلْتُdoneذَلِكَthatوَهُمَاand they bothلَكَare yoursافْعَلْdoبِهِمَاwith themمَاwhatشِئْتَ.you wish.
He said: I have done that and they both are yours, do with them what you wish.
فَخَرَجْتُSo I went outمِنْfromعِنْدِهِhis presenceوَأَحْضَرْتُهُمَاand brought themوَجَمَعْتُand gatheredمِنْfromأَهْلِthe peopleالدَّارِof the houseمَنْwhoحَضَرَwas presentوَأَعْتَقْتُهُمَاand freed themوَزَوَّجْتُand marriedالْجَارِيَةَthe slave girlمِنَtoالْعَبْدِthe slave
So I went out from his presence and brought them and gathered who was present from the people of the house and freed them and married the slave girl to the slave
ثُمَّthenعُدْتُI returnedإِلَىtoالْمَأْمُونِAl-Ma'munفَقُلْتُ:and said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,إِنِّيindeed Iفَعَلْتُdidكَيْتَsuch and suchوَكَيْتَand suchوَإِنِّيand indeed IأُرِيدُwantالْآنَnowمَاwhatأُجَهِّزُهُمَاI equip themبِهِ.with.
then I returned to Al-Ma'mun and said: O Commander of the Faithful, indeed I did such and such, and indeed I want now what I equip them with.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedلِكُلِّfor eachوَاحِدٍoneمِنْهُمَاof themبِعَشَرَةِtenآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsوَأَمَرَand he orderedلِيfor meبِمِثْلِthe like ofذَلِكَthatوَخَرَجْتُand I went outمِنْfromعِنْدِهِhis presenceوَعَادَand he returnedهُوَheإِلَىtoنَوْمِهِ.his sleep.
So he ordered for each one of them ten thousand dirhams and he ordered for me the like of that, and I went out from his presence and he returned to his sleep.
وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd related to usعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنُSalamسَلَّامٍhe said:قَالَ:Whenلَمَّاwas bornوُلِدَAl-AbbasالْعَبَّاسُbinبْنُAl-Fadlالْفَضْلِenteredدَخَلَthe peopleالنَّاسُuponعَلَىAl-FadlالْفَضْلِbinبْنِYahyaيَحْيَىcongratulating himيُهَنِّئُونَهُconcerning himبِهِand among themوَفِيهِمْwas AbuأَبُوAl-Nadir,النَّضِيرِ،so he stood
And Abdullah bin Salam related to us, saying: When Al-Abbas bin Al-Fadl was born, the people entered upon Al-Fadl bin Yahya congratulating him concerning him, and among them was Abu Al-Nadir,
فَوَقَفَso he stoodبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْهِhimوَهُوَwhile heيَقُولُ:was saying:
so he stood before him while he was saying:
وَيَفْرَحُAnd rejoicesبِالْمَوْلُودِat the newbornمِنْofآلِthe familyبَرَمَكٍof Barmak
And rejoices at the newborn of the family of Barmak
بُغَاةُseekersالنَّدَىof generosityوَالسَّيْفِand the swordوَالرُّمْحِand the spearوَالنَّصْلِand the blade
seekers of generosity and the sword and the spear and the blade
وَتَنْبَسِطُAnd expandالْآمَالُthe hopesفِيهِin himلِفَضْلِهِdue to his virtue
And the hopes expand in him due to his virtue
....................
...
فَأُرْتِجَSo it was blockedعَلَيْهِupon himفَوَقَفَso he stoppedلَاnotيُمْكِنُهُableأَنْtoيُجِيزَهُ.complete it.
So his mind went blank, and he stopped, unable to complete it.
فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himالْفَضْلُ:Al-Fadl:يَاOأَبَاAbuالنَّضِيرِAl-Nadirتَمِّمْ،complete it,
So Al-Fadl said to him: O Abu Al-Nadir, complete it,
قَالَ:he said:أَعَزَّMay God honorاللَّهُGodالْأَمِيرَ.the Prince.
he said: May God honor the Prince.
قَالَ:He said:وَيْحَكَWoe to youفَقُلْ:so say:
He said: Woe to you, so say:
........................
...
وَلَاand especiallyسِيَّمَاifإِنْhe isكَانَfromمِنْthe offspringوَلَدِof Al-Fadlالْفَضْلِand especially if he is from the offspring of Al-Fadl
and especially if he is from the offspring of Al-Fadl
قَالَ:He said:هَذَاThisوَاللَّهِ،by God,أَصْلَحَmay God rectifyاللَّهُGodالْأَمِيرَ،the Prince,طَلَبْتُهُI sought itفَلَمْand did notأَقْدِرْbe ableعَلَيْهِto find itوَتَعَلَّلْتُand I busied myselfبِغَيْرِهِ.with something else.
He said: This, by God, may God rectify the Prince, I sought it and was not able to find it, and I busied myself with something else.