أَخْبَرَنَاTold usابْنُIbnأَبِيAbiالسَّرْحِAl-Sarh
Ibn Abi al-Sarh told us that al-Hajjaj sent an army...
أَنَّthatالْحَجَّاجَal-Hajjajأَغْزَىsent on a military expeditionجَيْشاًan army
that al-Hajjaj sent an army on a raid
فَظَفِرُواand they were victorious
and they achieved victory
وَأَنَّand thatصَاحِبَcommanderجَيْشِهِof his armyكَتَبَwroteإِلَيْهِ:to him:
and that the commander of his army wrote to him:
الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to Godالَّذِيwhoجَعَلَmadeلِأَوْلِيَائِهِfor His alliesأَمَامَahead ofنَصْرِهِHis victoryمَوْعِداًa promise
Praise be to God who made for His allies, ahead of His victory, a promise
قَوَّىby which He strengthenedبِهِtherebyقُلُوبَهُمْtheir hearts
by which He strengthened their hearts
وَقَدَّمَand put forwardإِلَىtoأَعْدَائِهِHis enemiesبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْhands ofخِذْلَانِهِHis forsakingإِيَّاهُمْthemوَعِيداًa threat
and presented to His enemies, preceding His forsaking of them, a threat
أَرْعَبَthat terrifiedبِهِwith itمَفَاصِلَهُمْtheir jointsوَزَعْزَعَand shookمَعَهُwith itقُلُوبَهُمْ.their hearts.
that terrified their joints and shook their hearts with it.
فَلَمَّاSo whenبَلَغَreachedهَذَاthisالْمَوْضِعَplace
So when he reached this point
طَوَىhe foldedمَاwhatكَانَwasنَشَرَهُhe had unfoldedمِنَofالْكِتَابِthe letter
he folded what he had unfolded of the letter
وَلَمْand did notيَقْرَأْreadمَاwhatبَعْدَهُafter it
and did not read what came after it.
ثُمَّThenالتَفَتَhe turnedإِلَىtoالرَّسُولِthe messengerفَقَالَ:and said:
Then he turned to the messenger and said:
غَيِّرْنَاWe changeهَذَاthisالْكَلَامَspeechالْمُبْتَدَأَstartedبِهِ،with,
We should change this opening speech,
إِنَّindeedالْعَدُوَّthe enemyوَلَّىfledمِنْfromغَيْرِwithoutحَرْبٍ!war!
since the enemy fled without a fight!
فَقَالَ:So he said:صَدَقَThe princeالْأَمِيرُspoke the truth,صَدَّقَmay God confirmاللَّهُGodظَنَّهُhis assumption
So he said: The prince spoke the truth, may God confirm his assumption
وَأَصَابَand was correct,أَصَابَmay God guideاللَّهُGodرَأْيَهُ.his opinion.
and was correct, may God guide his opinion.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَتَبَAnd wroteمَرْوَانُMarwanبْنُson ofمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahبْنِson ofعَلِيٍّAliيُوصِيهِadvising himبِحُرْمَةٍ،concerning sanctity/family,
He said: Marwan ibn Muhammad wrote to Abdullah ibn Ali enjoining him regarding sanctity/family,
فَكَتَبَand wroteإِلَيْهِto himعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِ:ibn Ali:
and Abdullah wrote back to him:
يَاOمَائِقُfoolish one,إِنَّverilyالْحَقَّthe rightلَنَاis oursفِيinدَمِكَyour bloodوَالْحَقَّand the rightعَلَيْنَاis upon usفِيregardingحُرُمِكَ.your women/sanctuary.
O foolish one, we have the right to your blood, and we have an obligation regarding your women/sanctuary.
وَكَتَبَAnd wroteعَلِيٌّ،Ali,رِضْوَانُmay the pleasure ofاللَّهِGodعَلَيْهِ،be upon him,إِلَىtoزِيَادِZiyadابْنِson ofأَبِيهِ:his father:
And Ali, may God's pleasure be upon him, wrote to Ziyad ibn Abihi:
لَئِنْIfبَلَغَتْنِيreaches meعَنْكَfrom youخِيَانَةٌbetrayalلَأُشِدَّنَّI will surely press hardعَلَيْكَupon youشِدَّةًwith a severityأَدَعُكَleaving youفِيهَاin itقَلِيلَlittleالْوَفْرِwealthثَقِيلَheavyالظَّهْرِ.burden.
If any betrayal reaches me from you, I will surely press so hard upon you that I leave you with little wealth and a heavy burden.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَتَبَAnd wroteرَجُلٌa manإِلَىtoأَبِيAbuمُسْلِمٍMuslimحِينَwhenخَرَجَ:he revolted:
He said: A man wrote to Abu Muslim when he revolted:
أَحْسَنَMay God grantاللَّهُGodلَكَyouالصُّحْبَةَgood companionship
May God grant you good companionship
وَعَصَمَكَand protect youبِالتَّقْوَىwith pietyوَأَلْهَمَكَand inspire you withالتَّوْفِيقَ،success.
and protect you with piety and inspire you with success.
إِنَّVerilyالْأَرْضَthe earthلِلَّهِbelongs to GodيُورِثُهَاHe causes to inherit itمَنْwhomeverيَشَاءُHe willsمِنْfromعِبَادِهِHis servants
Indeed, the earth belongs to God; He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants
وَالْعَاقِبَةُand the outcomeلِلْمُتَّقِينَ،is for the righteous.
and the outcome is for the righteous.
فَسِرْSo travelفِيهَاin itرَاغِباًseekingإِلَىwhat is withاللَّهِGodوَرَسُولِهِand His Messenger
So travel in it seeking what is with God and His Messenger
وَالرِّضَىand contentmentمِنْfromهَذِهِthisالْأُمَّةِnationبِالْكِتَابِthrough the Bookوَالسُّنَّةِ.and the Sunnah.
and the satisfaction of this nation through the Book and the Sunnah.
وَاعْلَمْAnd knowأَنَّthatالتَّقْوَىpietyأَسُّis the foundationمَاof whatتَبْنِيyou buildعَلَيْهِupon itأَمْرَكَ،your affair.
And know that piety is the foundation upon which you build your affair,
فَإِنْfor ifضَعُفَweakensالْأَسَاسُthe foundationتَدَاعَىcollapsesالْبُنْيَانُthe structure
for if the foundation weakens, the structure collapses
وَدَخَلَand enterالْأَعْدَاءُthe enemiesمِنْfromكُلِّeveryمَكَانٍ،place.
and enemies enter from every place.
فَتَأَلَّفِSo gatherالْأَعْلَامَthe prominent figuresمِنَofالرِّجَالِmenوَسْرَوَاتِهِمْand their nobles
So gather the prominent figures among men and their nobles,
وَتَصَفَّحْand examineعُقُولَهُمْtheir intellectsوَمُرُوءَاتِهِمْ،and their chivalry.
and examine their intellects and chivalry.
فَكُلَّمَاSo wheneverارْتَضَيْتَyou approve ofرَجُلاًa manفَفَرِّهْthen testعَنْregardingعَزَائِمِresolutions ofرَأْيِهِhis opinion
So whenever you approve of a man, test the resolution of his opinion
وَاصْرِفْand turnنَظَرَكَyour gazeإِلَىtoتَصَرُّفِfluctuation ofحَالِهِ،his condition.
and direct your gaze to the fluctuation of his condition.
وَإِنْAnd ifوَجَدْتَهُyou find himعَلَىuponخِلَافِcontrary toمَاwhatأَنْتَyouعَلَيْهِare upon
And if you find him contrary to what you are upon
فَلَاthen do notتَعْجَلْhastenبِإِلْقَاءِin casting/revealingأَمْرِكَyour affairإِلَيْهِto him
do not hasten to reveal your affair to him
فَتَدْخُلَlest there enterالْوَحْشَةُestrangementمِنْكَfrom youوَالنُّفُورُand aversionعَنْكَ،from you,
lest estrangement and aversion from you arise,
لَكِنِbut ratherاقْرَعْهُapproach himبِالْحُجَّةِwith argumentفِيinرِفْقٍgentleness
but rather approach him with argument in gentleness
وَسُقْهُand drive himإِلَىtoشِرَكِsnares/paths ofالْمَحَجَّةِthe clear pathفِيinلِينٍsoftness
and guide him to the paths of truth with softness
حَتَّىuntilيَتَكَشَّفَliftsلَكَfor youثَوْبُthe garment ofالظُّلْمَةِdarknessعَنِfromالنُّورِthe light
until the garment of darkness lifts from the light for you
وَتَظْهَرَand appearلَكَto youوُجُوهُthe faces/aspects ofالْأُمُورِ،matters.
and the true aspects of matters become apparent to you.
فَإِنَّهُFor indeedسَيَكْثُرُwill increaseأَعْوَانُكَyour helpersعَلَىforالْحَقِّthe truth
For indeed your helpers for the truth will increase
وَيَسْهُلُand will become easyلَكَfor youمِنْهَاجُthe method/path ofالطُّرُقِ.roads.
and the methods of roads will become easy for you.
فَإِذَاSo whenكَثُرَتِmultipliesالْعُدَّةُthe equipment/preparationمِنْfromأَصْحَابِكَyour companions
So when the preparation from your companions multiplies
وَأَمْكَنَتْكَand enables youالشِّدَّةُseverityعَلَىagainstأَعْدَائِكَyour enemies
and enables you to be severe against your enemies
فَحَارِبِthen fightالْفِئَةَthe groupالْبَاغِيَةَtransgressingوَالْأَئِمَّةَand the leadersالطَّاغِيَةَtyrannical
then fight the transgressing group and the tyrannical leaders
الَّذِينَwhoأَبَاحُواmade lawfulحِمَىsanctuary ofالْمُسْلِمِينَthe Muslims
who violated the sanctuary of the Muslims
وَأَجْرَوْاand appliedعَلَيْهِمْupon themأَحْكَامَrulings ofالْفَاسِقِينَthe wicked
and subjected them to the rulings of the wicked
وَقَادُوهُمْand led themبِجَرَائِرِby crimes ofالْمِهَنِtrials/occupations
and led them through the crimes of trials
وَاسْتَذَلُوهُمْand humiliated themفِيinالْبَرِّthe landوَالْبَحْرِ.and the sea.
and humiliated them on land and sea.
وَاعْلَمْAnd knowأَنَّthatمَنْwhoeverعَرَفَknewاللَّهَGodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mighty
And know that whoever knows God, Majestic and Mighty,
لَمْdoes notيَرَseeلِأَهْلِfor the people ofالْبَغْيِtransgressionجَمَاعَةًa community/following
does not see for the people of transgression any following
وَلَاnorلِأَئِمَّةِfor the leaders ofالضَّلَالَةِmisguidanceطَاعَةً.obedience.
nor for the leaders of misguidance any obedience.
وَكُلَّمَاAnd wheneverغَلَبْتَyou conquerعَلَىoverبَلْدَةٍa town
And whenever you conquer a town
فَامْسِكْthen refrainعَنِfromالْقَتْلِkilling
refrain from killing
وَأَظْهِرْand manifestفِيamongأَهْلِهِits peopleالْعَدْلَjustice
and manifest justice among its people
لِتَسْكُنَso that may find peaceإِلَيْكَin youالنُّفُوسُsouls
so that souls may find peace in you
وَيَثُوبَand returnنَحْوَكَtoward youالنَّاسُpeople
and people return toward you
وَيَنْتَشِرَand spreadفِعْلُكَyour deedفِيamongالْخَاصَّةِthe eliteوَالْعَامَّةِand the common folk
and your good conduct spread among the elite and common folk
فَتَسْتَدْعِيso you attractأَهْوَاءَهَاtheir affectionsوَتَسْتَمِيلَand inclineآرَاءَهَاtheir opinions
thereby attracting their affections and inclining their opinions
وَتَهُشُّand yearnإِلَيْكَtoward youمِنَfromالْآفَاقِthe horizonsنُفُوسُsouls ofعَرَانِينِthe nobles ofالْكَرَمِgenerosity
and yearning toward you from the horizons are the souls of noble leaders
وَمَصَابِيحِand the lanterns ofالظَّلَمِdarknessمِنْfromذَوِيthose ofالْأَحْسَابِnoble lineagesالْكَرِيمَةِgenerous
and beacons in the dark from those of noble lineages
وَالْبُيُوتِand ancient housesالْقَدِيمَةِancientالَّتِيwhichشَرَّفَهَاhonored themالْإِسْلَامُIslamوَزَيَّنَهَاand adorned themالْإِيمَانُfaith
and ancient houses which Islam has honored and faith has adorned
لِتَزْرَعَso that you may plantبِذَلِكَtherebyلَكَfor yourselfالْمَحَبَّةَloveفِيinقُلُوبِhearts ofالْعِبَادِthe servants
so that you may thereby plant love for yourself in the hearts of the people
وَيَكُونُواand they will beلَكَfor youدَوَاعِيَadvocates/callersفِيinنَوَاحِيregions ofالْبِلَادِ.the lands.
and be your advocates across the regions of the lands.
تَمَّمَMay completeاللَّهُGodلَكَfor youأَمْرَكَyour affairوَأَعْلَىand elevateكَعْبَكَ.your status.
May God complete your affair and elevate your status.
قَالَ:He said:وَلَمَّاAnd whenاسْتَقَامَتِbecame stableالْمَمْلَكَةُthe kingdomلِأَبْرَوِيزَfor Abruwiz
He said: When the kingdom became stable for Abruwiz
وَانْقَضَىand elapsedمَاwhatبَيْنَهُwas between himوَبَيْنَandبَهْرَامَBahramجُوبِينَChobin
and what was between him and Bahram Chobin came to an end
أَمَرَhe orderedأَنْthatتُكْتَبَbe writtenتِلْكَthoseالْحُرُوبُwarsوَالْوَقَائِعُand eventsإِلَىtoمُنْتَهَاهَاtheir conclusion
he ordered that those wars and events be written down to their conclusion
فَفَعَلَتِand didالْكَتَبَةُthe scribesذَلِكَthat
and the scribes did so
وَعَرَضَتْهُand presented itعَلَىtoأَبْرَوِيزَAbruwizفَلَمْbut did notيَرْضَsatisfyصَدْرَهُ.his chest/mind.
and presented it to Abruwiz, but it did not satisfy his mind.
فَقَالَSo saidغُلَامٌa young manمِنْfromأَوْلَادِsons ofالْكُتَّابِ:the scribes:
So a young man among the sons of the scribes said:
إِنَّIfأَمْرَthe affair ofالْمَلِكِthe kingكَتَبْتُI writeصَدْرَهُ.its beginning.
I shall write the beginning of the king's affair.
فَقَالَ:He said:شَأْنُكَ.Proceed (do as you wish).
He said: Proceed.
فَتَنَاوَلَSo he tookالْقَلَمَthe penوَكَتَبَ:and wrote:
So he took the pen and wrote:
إِنَّIndeedالدَّهْرَtimeلَمْdid notيَخْلُleave emptyفِيinتَارَاتِintervals ofعَقِبِهِits succession
Indeed, time has not been devoid, in the intervals of its succession
وَتَصَرُّفِهِand its fluctuationوَوُجُوهِand aspects ofتَنَقُّلِهِits transitionفِيinحَالَاتٍstatesمِنَofالْعَجَائِبِwonders
and fluctuation and the aspects of its transition, of states of wonders
وَلَمْand have notتَنْصَرِمْceased/elapsedفِيهِin itفُنُونُهَاits typesعَلَىoverطُولِthe length ofمَدَاهُits extent
and its various types have not ceased over the length of its span
وَلَمْand norيَزَلْhas it ceasedفِيinتَقَلُّبِthe turning ofعَصْرَيْهِits two erasوَصَفَحَاتِand pages ofأَزْمِنَتِهِits times
and in the turning of its two eras and the pages of its times
وَطَبَقَاتِand layers ofأَحَايِينِهِits epochsتَحْدُثُoccurفِيهِin itجَلَائِلُgrandالْأُمُورِmattersوَغَرَائِبُand strangeالْأَنْبَاءِnews
and layers of its epochs, grand matters and strange news continuously occur in it
وَتَنْجُمُand sprout/ariseفِيهِin itقُرُونٌgenerationsوَتُعْقِبُand succeedفِيهِin itأَعْقَابٌsuccessorsبَعْدَafterأَسْلَافٍpredecessorsوَتَعْفُوand fade awayآثَارٌ،traces,
generations arise in it, successors follow predecessors, and traces fade away,
وَلَهُand it hasفِيinتَلَوُّنِهِits coloring/changeabilityتَصْرِيفُdisposal ofأَنْبَاءٍnewsمُعْجِبَةٍwondrous
and in its variability it has the manifestation of wondrous news
وَأَحَادِيثَand accountsفِيهَاin whichمُعْتَبَرٌis a lessonوَعِظَةٌand admonitionوَمُخْتَبَرٌ،and test.
and accounts containing a lesson, admonition, and test.
وَمِنْAnd amongأَعَاجِيبِwonders ofذَلِكَthatأَمْرُis the matter ofبَهْرَامَBahramبْنِson ofبَهْرَامَBahramوَلَقَبُهُand his title wasجُوبِينَ،Chobin.
And among the wonders of that is the affair of Bahram ibn Bahram, whose title was Chobin.
فَعَرَضَهُSo he presented itعَلَىtoأَبْرَوِيزَAbruwizفَأَعْجَبَهُand it pleased himذَلِكَthat
So he presented it to Abruwiz, and it pleased him
وَأَمَرَand he orderedبِرَفْعِthe elevation ofدَرَجَتِهِhis rankوَتَقْدِيمِهِand his advancementوَتَعْظِيمِهِ.and his aggrandizement.
and he ordered that his rank be elevated, and that he be advanced and honored.
[مَسَاوِئِ[Evils ofالْمُكَاتَبَاتِ]correspondences]
[Evils of Correspondences]
قَالَSaidالْجَاحِظُ:al-Jahiz:كَتَبَWroteابْنُIbnالْمَرَاكِبِيِّal-Marakibiإِلَىtoبَعْضِsomeمُلُوكِkings ofبَغْدَادَ:Baghdad:جُعِلْتُMay I be madeفِدَاكَyour ransomبِرَحْمَتِهِ.with His mercy.
Al-Jahiz said: Ibn al-Marakibi wrote to one of the kings of Baghdad: May I be made your ransom with His mercy.
وَقَرَأْتُAnd I readعَلَىonعُنْوَانِthe address ofكِتَابٍa letterلِأَبِيof Abuالْحُسَيْنِal-Husaynالسَّمَّرِيِّ:al-Samari:لِلْمَوْتِFor deathأَنَاIقَبْلَهُ.before it.
And I read on the address of a letter by Abu al-Husayn al-Samari: For death am I, before it.
وَقَرَأْتُAnd I readأَيْضاًalsoعَلَىonعُنْوَانِthe address ofكِتَابٍ:a letter:إِلَىToذَاكَthatالَّذِيone whoكَتَبَwroteإِلَيَّ.to me.
And I also read on the address of a letter: To that one who wrote to me.
وَكَتَبَAnd wroteبَعْضُهُمْsome of themإِلَىtoابْنٍa sonلَهُof hisعَلِيلٍ:who was ill:يَاOبُنَيَّmy little sonاكْتُبْwriteإِلَيَّto meبِمَاwith whatتَشْتَهِي.you desire.
And one of them wrote to an ill son of his: O my little son, write to me with what you desire.
فَكَتَبَSo he wroteإِلَيْهِ:to him:أَشْتَهِيI desireقَلَنْسُوَةً.a cap.
So he wrote back to him: I desire a cap.
فَكَتَبَSo he wroteإِلَيْهِ:to him:إِنَّمَاI onlyسَأَلْتُكَasked youأَنْtoتُخْبِرَنِيinform meبِمَاof whatتَشْتَهِيyou desireمِنَofالْغَدَاءِ.lunch.
So he wrote to him: I only asked you to inform me of what you desire of lunch.
فَكَتَبَSo he wroteإِلَيْهِ:to him:أَشْتَهِيI desireدُهْنَfat/dressing ofخَلٍّvinegarوَزَيْتٍ.and oil.
So he wrote to him: I desire vinegar and oil dressing.
فَكَتَبَSo he wroteإِلَيْهِ:to him:أَنْزَلَMay send downاللَّهُGodعَلَيْكَupon youالْمَوْتَdeathفَإِنَّكَfor indeed you areثَقِيلٌ!dull/tiresome!
So he wrote to him: May God send down death upon you, for indeed you are tiresome!
قَالَ:He said:وَنَقَشَAnd engravedبِشْرُBishrبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahعَلَىonخَاتَمِهِ:his ring:بِشْرُBishrبْنُson ofعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahبِالرَّحْمَنِin the Most Mercifulلَاdoes notيُشْرِكُ.associate partners.
He said: Bishr ibn Abd Allah engraved on his signet ring: Bishr ibn Abd Allah associates none with the Most Merciful.
فَقَالَSo saidأَبُوهُ:his father:هَذَاThisوَاللَّهِby Godأَقْبَحُis uglierمِنَthanالشِّرْكِ!associating partners!
So his father said: By God, this is uglier than associating partners!
[مَحَاسِنِ[Beauties ofالْخُطَبِ]speeches]
[Beauties of Speeches]
قَالَ:He said:خَطَبَDeliveredخَالِدُKhalidبْنُson ofصَفْوَانَSafwanخُطْبَةَa sermon ofنِكَاحٍmarriageفَقَالَ:and said:
He said: Khalid ibn Safwan delivered a marriage proposal sermon and said:
الْحَمْدُPraiseلِلَّهِbe to Godجَامِعاًgatheringلِلْحَمْدِpraiseكُلِّهِall of itوَصَلَّىand may God bestow blessingsاللَّهُGodعَلَىuponمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadوَآلِهِ.and his family.
Praise be to God, encompassing all praise, and may God bless Muhammad and his family.
أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafterفَقَدْindeedقُلْتُمْyou spokeمَاwhatسَمِعْنَاwe heard
Now then, you have spoken what we heard
وَبَذَلْتُمْand you offeredفَقَبِلْنَاso we accepted
and offered so we accepted
وَخَطَبْتُمْand you proposedفَأَنْكَحْنَاso we gave in marriage
and proposed so we married
فَبَارَكَso may blessاللَّهُGodلَنَاfor usوَلَكُمْ.and for you.
so may God bless us and you.