فَقَالَ:Heوَكَيْفَand howوَنَحْنُwhile weأَطْلَقْنَاhave freedبِإِحْسَانِنَاby our kindnessإِلَيْهِto himوَإِنْعَامِنَاand our bestowalعَلَيْهِupon himلِسَانَهُhis tongueفِينَا،about us,وَسَنْزِيدُهُand we will increase himمِنَinالثَّوَابِrewardلِثَنَائِهِfor his praiseعَلَيْنَا.of us.
He said: And how, while we have freed his tongue regarding us by our kindness and bestowal upon him, and we will increase him in reward for his praise of us.
قَالَ:He said:وَأَمَرَAnd orderedالرَّشِيدُal-RashidجَعْفَرَJa'farبْنَson ofيَحْيَىYahyaأَنْtoيَعْزِلَremoveأَخَاهُhis brotherالْفَضْلَal-Fadlبْنَson ofيَحْيَىYahyaعَنِfromالْخَاتَمِthe signet ringوَيَقْبِضَهُand take itإِلَيْهِto himselfقَبْضاًinلَطِيفاً،a gentle manner,فَكَتَبَso he wroteإِلَىtoأَخِيهِ:his brother:قَدْIndeedرَأَىhas seen fitأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَنْthatتَنْقُلَyou transferخَاتَمَthe ringخِلَافَتِهِof his caliphateعَنْfromيَمِينِكَyour right handإِلَىtoشَمَالِكَ،your left hand,فَكَتَبَso wroteإِلَيْهِto himالْفَضْلُ:al-Fadl:مَاHas notانْتَقَلَتْdepartedعَنِّيfrom meنِعْمَةٌa blessingصَارَتْthat becameإِلَيْكَyoursوَلَاnorخَصَّتْكَhas it singled you outدُونِي.to the exclusion of me.
He said: Al-Rashid ordered Ja'far ibn Yahya to remove his brother al-Fadl ibn Yahya from the signet ring and take it gently to himself. So he wrote to his brother: The Commander of the Faithful has deemed it fit that you transfer the ring of his caliphate from your right hand to your left. Al-Fadl wrote back to him: No blessing has departed from me to become yours, nor has it singled you out to the exclusion of me.
أَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُson ofيُوسُفَYusufالْكَاتِبُthe scribeقَالَ:said:أَمَرَنِيOrdered meالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munأَنْtoأَكْتُبَwriteإِلَىtoالْآفَاقِthe provincesفِيconcerningالِاسْتِكْثَارِincreasingمِنَofالْمَصَابِيحِlampsفِيinالْمَسَاجِدِ،the mosques,فَلَمْand I did notأَدْرِknowكَيْفَhowأَكْتُبُto writeلِأَنَّهُbecause itشَيْءٌwas somethingلَمْnotأُسْبَقْprecededإِلَيْهِin itفَأَسْلُكَso that I might followطَرِيقَتَهُits methodوَمَعْنَاهُ،and its meaning,فَأَتَانِيso there came to meآتٍa visitorفِيinمَنَامِيmy sleepوَقَالَand saidلِي:to me:اكْتُبْ:Write:فَإِنَّfor indeedفِيهَاin them isأُنْساًcomfortلِلْمُجْتَهِدِينَ،for those striving in worship,وَإِضَاءَةًand illuminationلِلسَّائِلِينَ،for those asking,وَنَفْياًand a banishmentلِتَكَامُنِof the lurkingالرَّيْبِ،doubts,وَتَنْزِيهاًand a sanctificationلِبُيُوتِof the housesاللَّهِof GodعَزَّMightyوَجَلَّand Majesticعَنْfromوَحْشَةِthe desolationالظُّلْمِ.of darkness.فَكَتَبَSo he wroteبِذَلِكَ.accordingly.
Ahmad ibn Yusuf the scribe said: Al-Ma'mun ordered me to write to the provinces instructing them to increase the lamps in the mosques. I did not know how to write it because it was something not done before me whose method and meaning I could follow. Then a visitor came to me in my sleep and said to me: Write: 'For indeed in them is comfort for those striving in worship, illumination for those asking, a banishment of lurking doubts, and a sanctification of the houses of God, Mighty and Majestic, from the desolation of darkness.' So he wrote accordingly.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَتَبَAnd wroteعَمْرُوAmrبْنُson ofمَسْعَدَةَMas'adahإِلَىtoالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munفِيconcerningرَجُلٍa manمِنْfromبَنِيthe tribe ofضَبَّةَDabbahيَسْتَشْفِعُseeking intercessionإِلَيْهِwith himفِيforزِيَادَةٍan increaseفِيinمَنْزِلَتِهِhis statusوَجَعَلَand he madeكِتَابَتَهُhis letterتَعْرِيضاً:indirect:أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafter,فَقَدْindeedاسْتَشْفَعَhas sought intercessionبِيthrough meفُلَانٌso-and-soيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulلِتَطُولَكَfor your favorفِيinإِلْحَاقِهِattaching himبِنَظَرَائِهِto his peersمِنَamongالْخَاصَّةِthe eliteفِيمَاin whatيَرْتَزِقُونَ،they receive as stipends,فَأَعْلَمْتُهُso I informed himأَنَّthatأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulلَمْhas notيَجْعَلْنِيmade meفِيamongمَرَاتِبِthe ranksالْمُسْتَشْفِعِينَ،of intercessors,وَفِيand inابْتِدَائِهِhis initiatingبِذَلِكَwith thatتَعَدِّيis a transgression ofطَاعَتِهِobedience to himوَالسَّلَامُ.and peace.فَكَتَبَSo wroteإِلَيْهِto himالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:قَدْWe haveعَرَفْنَاknownتَوْطِئَتَكَyour paving the wayلَهُfor himوَتَعْرِيضَكَand your indirect hintلِنَفْسِكَfor yourselfوَأَجَبْنَاكَand we have grantedإِلَيْهِمَاboth of themوَوَافَقْنَاكَand agreed with youعَلَيْهِمَا.upon them.
He said: Amr ibn Mas'adah wrote to al-Ma'mun regarding a man from the tribe of Dabbah who sought intercession with him for an increase in his status, and he made his writing indirect: 'As for after: So-and-so has sought intercession through me, O Commander of the Faithful, for your favor in attaching him to his peers among the elite in their stipends. I informed him that the Commander of the Faithful has not placed me among the ranks of intercessors, and his initiating with that is a transgression of obedience to him. Peace.' Al-Ma'mun wrote to him: 'We have recognized your paving the way for him and your hinting for yourself, and we have granted both and agreed with you upon them.'
وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd narrated to usعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنُMaimunمَيْمُونَsaid:قَالَ:Delayedتَأَخَّرَwas the allotmentالْجَارِيof stipendمِنَforالرِّزْقِIbrahimلِإِبْرَاهِيمَibnبْنِIshaqإِسْحَاقَal-Mوصليالْمَوْصِلِيِّduring the daysعَنْهُof al-Ma'munفِيso he wroteأَيَّامِto him:الْمَأْمُونِO Commanderفَكَتَبَof the Faithfulإِلَيْهِ:there is no heightيَاabove your generosityأَمِيرَin the immediate presentالْمُؤْمِنِينَfor our hopesمَاnor is thereفَوْقَtowards any state other than yoursجُودِكَan aspirationفِيfor our heartsالْعَاجِلَةِso why do the grantsمُرْتَقًىdelay from usلِآمَالِنَاand the attainmentوَلَاof what is lovedإِلَىbecome difficultغَيْرِfor us?دَوْلَتِكَAl-Ma'mun said:مُتَطَلَّعٌI have not heardلِقُلُوبِنَاin explicit termsفَلِمَand allusionتَتَأَخَّرُin requestالْإِفَادَاتُanything betterعَنَّاthan this,وَيَعْسُرُand he orderedنَيْلُthe disbursementالْمَحْبُوبِof his arrearsعَلَيْنَا.and a rewardفَقَالَof three hundredالْمَأْمُونُ:thousand dirhams.مَا...سَمِعْتُ...فِي...التَّصْرِيحِ...وَالْإِشَارَةِ...بِالطَّلَبِ...أَحْسَنَ...مِنْ...هَذَا،...وَأَمَرَ...بِإِخْرَاجِ...فَائِتِهِ...وَبِجَائِزَةِ...ثَلَاثُمِائَةِ...أَلْفِ...دِرْهَمٍ....
And Abdullah ibn Maimun narrated to us, saying: The regular stipend was delayed from Ibrahim ibn Ishaq al-Mawsili during the days of al-Ma'mun, so he wrote to him: 'O Commander of the Faithful, there is no height above your generosity in the immediate present for our hopes, nor is there any aspiration for our hearts towards any state other than yours. So why do the grants delay from us and the attainment of what is loved become difficult for us?' Al-Ma'mun said: 'I have not heard anything better than this in explicit statement and allusion in requesting,' and he ordered the disbursement of his arrears and a reward of three hundred thousand dirhams.
قَالَ:He said:وَأَوْلَمَAnd held a wedding feastالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munعَلَىforبَعْضِsomeوَلَدِهِof his childrenفَكَتَبَso wroteإِلَيْهِto himإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimبْنُson ofالْمَهْدِيِّ:al-Mahdi:لَوْلَاHad notالْبِضَاعَةُmy capitalتَقْصُرُfallen short ofعَنِtheالْهِمَّةِambitionلَأَتْعَبْتُI would have fatiguedالسَّابِقِينَthose who precededإِلَىinالْبِرِّrighteousnessوَخَفَتْand my record would have been lightصَحِيفَتُهَاof itوَلَيْسَwhile there isلِيfor meفِيهَاin itذِكْرٌany mentionفَبَعَثْتُso I have sentبِالْمُبْتَدَإِwhat is begun withبِهِfor its blessingلِيُمْنِهِand graceوَبَرَكَتِهِand what is concluded withوَالْمَخْتُومِfor its cleanlinessبِهِand fragrance:لِنَظَافَتِهِa pouch of saltوَطِيبِهِand a pouch of washing soda.جِرَابِ...مِلْحٍ...وَجِرَابِ...أُشْنَانٍ....
He said: Al-Ma'mun held a wedding feast for one of his children, so Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi wrote to him: 'Had my capital not fallen short of my ambition, I would have fatigued those who precede in righteousness, and my record would have been light while there is no mention for me in it. So I have sent what is begun with for its blessing and grace, and what is concluded with for its cleanliness and fragrance: a pouch of salt and a pouch of washing soda.'
وَكَتَبَAnd wroteإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimبْنُson ofالْمَهْدِيِّal-Mahdiإِلَىtoصَدِيقٍa friendلَهُof hisبَعَثَwho sentإِلَيْهِto himبِهَدِيَّةٍ:a gift:لَوْHadكَانَتِbeenالتُّحْفَةُthe giftعَلَىaccording toحَسَبِwhatمَاnecessitatesيُوجِبُهُyour rightحَقُّكَupon usبِنَاit would have beenأَدَاءَthe fulfillment of your rightحَقِّكَbut it isوَلَكِنَّهُaccording to whatعَلَىgoes beyondمَاthe limit of formalityيَخْرُجُand necessitatesمِنْfriendliness,حَدِّand I have sentالْحِشْمَةِto youوَيُوجِبُsuch and such.الْأُنْسَ،...وَقَدْ...بَعَثْتُ...إِلَيْكَ...بِكَذَا....
Ibrahim ibn al-Mahdi wrote to a friend of his who sent him a gift: 'Had the gift been according to what your right upon us necessitates, it would have been the fulfillment of your right; but it is according to what goes beyond the limit of formality and necessitates friendliness, and I have sent to you such and such.'
وَحَدَّثَنَاAnd narrated to usأَبُوAbuالْوَدْغِal-Wadghقَالَ:said:أَوَّلُThe firstكِتَابٍletterوَرَدَthat arrivedعَلَىtoالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munبِالْخِلَافَةِconcerning the caliphateكِتَابُwas the letter ofالْحَارِثِal-Harithبْنِson ofسَبَّاعٍSabba'الْخُرَاسَانِيِّ،al-Khurasani,فَإِنَّهُfor indeedكَتَبَhe wroteإِلَيْهِ:to him:قَدْHasأَظَلَّنَاshaded usأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulبِخِلَافَتِهِwith his caliphateتَحْتَbeneathجَنَاحِthe wingالطُّمَأْنِينَةِof tranquilityوَبَلَغْنَاand reached for usبِهَاthrough itمَدَىthe utmost limitالْأُمْنِيَّةِ،of our desires,فَأَدَامَso may God perpetuateاللَّهُfor himلَهُof His generosityمِنْwhatكَرامَتِهِwith whichمَاthe farthestيَتَطَأْمَنُand nearestلَهُof his subjectsأَقَاصِيmay humble themselves,وَأَدَانِيand make himرَعِيَّتِهِthe mightiest caliphوَجَعَلَهُand make usأَعَزَّthe most obedientخَلِيفَةٍand hearing ofوَجَعَلَنَاhis subjects.أَسْمَعَAl-Ma'mun saidوَأَطْوَعَto al-Fadlرَعِيَّتِهِ.ibn Sahl:فَقَالَDo you knowالْمَأْمُونُthe valueلِلْفَضْلِof this speech?بْنِHe said:سَهْلٍ:Yes,أَتَعْرِفُO Commanderمَاof the Faithful.قِيمَةُHe said:هَذَاAnd what is it?الْكَلَامِ؟He said:قَالَ:Your receiving itنَعَمْwith joy.يَاSo his statementأَمِيرَpleased himالْمُؤْمِنِينَ.and he approved of it.قَالَ:...وَمَا...هِيَ؟...قَالَ:...تَلَقِّيكَ...بِهِ...بِالسُّرُورِ....فَأَعْجَبَهُ...قَوْلُهُ...وَاسْتَحْسَنَهُ....
Abu al-Wadgh said: The first letter that arrived to al-Ma'mun concerning the caliphate was the letter of al-Harith ibn Sabba' al-Khurasani. He wrote to him: 'The Commander of the Faithful has shaded us with his caliphate beneath the wing of tranquility and reached for us through it the utmost limit of our desires. May God perpetuate for him of His generosity that with which the farthest and nearest of his subjects may humble themselves, and make him the mightiest caliph, and make us the most hearing and obedient of his subjects.' Al-Ma'mun said to al-Fadl ibn Sahl: 'Do you know the value of this speech?' He said: 'Yes, O Commander of the Faithful.' He said: 'And what is it?' He said: 'Your receiving it with joy.' So his statement pleased him and he approved of it.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَتَبَAnd wroteعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِson ofبْنُTahirطَاهِرٍto al-Ma'munإِلَىfromالْمَأْمُونِKhurasan:مِنْMy abodeخُرَاسَانَ:has grown distantبَعُدَتْfrom the Commanderدَارِيof the Faithful,عَنْand from the shadowأَمِيرِof his wing,الْمُؤْمِنِينَand from his service,وَعَنْeven thoughظِلِّwherever I turnجَنَاحِهِI seek shadeوَعَنْonly by him.خِدْمَتِهِMy longingوَإِنْhas intensifiedكُنْتُto gazeحَيْثُat his blessed vision,تَصَرَّفْتُto adorn myselfلَاby attendingأَتَفَيَّأُhis gathering,إِلَّاand to impregnateبِهِmy intellectوَقَدِwith the goodnessاشْتَدَّof his opinion.شَوْقِيNothing isإِلَىmore preferred by meالنَّظَرِthan being near him,إِلَىeven thoughرُؤْيَتِهِI am in abundanceالْمُبَارَكَةِof lifeوَالتَّزَيُنِwhich GodبِحُضُورِGlorified be His mentionمَجْلِسِهِhas bestowed upon meوَتَلْقِيحِthrough him.عَقْلِيSo if the Commanderبِحُسْنِof the Faithfulرَأْيِهِ،sees fitفَلَاto grant me permissionشَيْءَto proceedعِنْدِيto the Abodeآثَرُof Peaceمِنْso that I may renewقُرْبِهِ،my contact with the blessingsوَإِنْupon meكُنْتُand rejoiceفِيin the blessingسَعَةٍwhich He has establishedمِنْfor me,عَيْشٍhe should do so.وَهَبَهُAl-Ma'mun answered him:اللَّهُYour nearness to me,جَلَّO Abu al-Abbas,ذِكْرُهُis beloved,لِيand I amبِهِ،longing for you.فَإِنْYour abodeرَأَىwas only distancedأَمِيرُfrom the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَنْout of consideration for youيَأْذَنَand selectionلِيfor the good outcome.فِيSo keepالْمَصِيرِyour placeإِلَىand followدَارِthe sayingالسَّلَامِof the poet:لِأُحْدِثَI saw that the nearness of the abode is of no benefit ... if what is between hearts is distant.عَهْداً...بِالنِّعَمِ...عَلَيَّ...وَأَتَهَنَّأَ...بِالنِّعْمَةِ...الَّتِي...أَقَرَّهَا...لَدَيَّ...فَعَلَ....فَأَجَابَهُ...الْمَأْمُونُ:...قُرْبُكَ...إِلَيَّ...يَا...أَبَا...الْعَبَّاسِ...حَبِيبٌ...وَأَنَا...إِلَيْكَ...مُشْتَاقٌ...وَإِنَّمَا...بَعُدَتْ...دَارُكَ...عَنْ...أَمِيرِ...الْمُؤْمِنِينَ...بِالنَّظَرِ...لَكَ...وَالتَّخَيُّرِ...لِحُسْنِ...الْعَاقِبَةِ،...فَالْزَمْ...مَكَانَكَ...وَاتَّبِعْ...قَوْلَ...الشَّاعِرِ:...رَأَيْتُ...دُنُوَّ...الدَّارِ...لَيْسَ...بِنَافِعِي.........إِذَا...كَانَ...مَا...بَيْنَ...الْقُلُوبِ...بَعِيداً...
He said: Abdullah ibn Tahir wrote to al-Ma'mun from Khurasan: 'My abode has grown distant from the Commander of the Faithful, from the shadow of his wing, and from his service, even though wherever I turn I seek shade only by him. My longing has intensified to gaze at his blessed vision, to adorn myself by attending his gathering, and to impregnate my intellect with the goodness of his opinion. Nothing is more preferred by me than being near him, even though I am in abundance of life which God, Glorified be His mention, has bestowed upon me through him. So if the Commander of the Faithful sees fit to grant me permission to proceed to the Abode of Peace so that I may renew my contact with the blessings upon me and rejoice in the blessing which He has established for me, he should do so.' Al-Ma'mun answered him: 'Your nearness to me, O Abu al-Abbas, is beloved, and I am longing for you. Your abode was only distanced from the Commander of the Faithful out of consideration for you and selection for the good outcome. So keep your place and follow the saying of the poet: I saw that the nearness of the abode is of no benefit... if what is between hearts is distant.'