وَرُوِيَAndأَنَّitعَدِيَّAdiyyبْنَson ofحَاتِمٍHatimدَخَلَenteredعَلَىuponمُعَاوِيَةَMu'awiyahبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiسُفْيَانَSufyanفَقَالَ:and said:
And it is narrated that Adiyy ibn Hatim entered upon Mu'awiyah ibn Abi Sufyan and said:
يَاOعَدِيُّAdiyy,أَيْنَwhere areالطَّرَفَاتُ؟the Tarafat (sons)?
O Adiyy, where are the Tarafat?
يَعْنِيMeaningبَنِيهِhis sonsطَرِيفاًTarif,وَطَارِفاًand Tarif,وَطَرْفَةَ.and Tarfah.
Meaning his sons Tarif, Tarif, and Tarfah.
قَالَ:He said:قُتِلُواThey were killedيَوْمَon the day ofصِفِّينَSiffinبَيْنَin front ofيَدَيْhands ofعَلِيِّAliبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍ،Talib,رَضِيَmay Allah beاللَّهُpleasedعَنْهُ.with him.
He said: They were killed on the day of Siffin before Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him.
فَقَالَ:Then he said:مَاDid notأَنْصَفَكَtreat you fairlyابْنُthe son ofأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍTalibإِذْwhenقَدَّمَhe put forwardنَفْسَهُhimselfوَأَخَّرَand delayedبَنِيهِ!his sons!
He said: The son of Abi Talib did not treat you fairly when he put himself forward and kept his sons back!
قَالَ:He said:بَلْRather,مَاdid notأَنْصَفْتُtreat fairlyأَنَاIعَلِيّاًAli,إِذْwhenقُتِلَhe was killedوَبَقِيتُ!and I remained!
He said: Rather, I did not treat Ali fairly when he was killed and I remained!
قَالَ:He said:صِفْDescribeلِيto meعَلِيّاً.Ali.
He said: Describe Ali to me.
فَقَالَ:He said:إِنْIfرَأَيْتَyou see fitأَنْtoتُعْفِيَنِي.excuse me.
He said: If you would excuse me.
قَالَ:He said:لَاI will notأُعْفِيكَ.excuse you.
He said: I will not excuse you.
قَالَ:He said:كَانَHe was,وَاللَّهِby Allah,بَعِيدَfar-reachingالْمَدَىin ambition,وَشَدِيدَand strongالْقُوَى،in power,يَقُولُhe spokeعَدْلاًjusticeوَيَحْكُمُand judgedفَصْلاً،with decisiveness,تَتَفَجَّرُgushing forthالْحِكْمَةُwisdomمِنْfromجَوَانِبِهِhis sidesوَالْعِلْمُand knowledgeمِنْfromنَوَاحِيهِ،his directions,يَسْتَوْحِشُhe was alienatedمِنَfromالدُّنْيَاthe worldly lifeوَزَهْرَتِهَاand its splendor,وَيَسْتَأْنِسُand found comfortبِاللَّيْلِin the nightوَوَحْشَتِهِ،and its solitude,وَكَانَand he was,وَاللَّهِby Allah,غَزِيرَabundant inالدَّمْعَةِtears,طَوِيلَprolonged inالْفِكْرَةِ،thought,يُحَاسِبُhe heldنَفْسَهُhimself to accountإِذَاwhenخَلَاhe was aloneوَيُقَلِّبُand turnedكَفَّيْهِhis handsعَلَىoverمَاwhatمَضَى،had passed,يُعْجِبُهُhe pleasedمِنَfromاللِّبَاسِclothingالْقَصِيرُthe short oneوَمِنَand fromالْمَعَاشِsustenanceالْخَشِنُ،the rough one,وَكَانَand he wasفِينَاamong usكَأَحَدِنَاlike one of us,يُجِيبُنَاhe answered usإِذَاwhenسَأَلْنَاهُwe asked himوَيُدْنِينَاand brought us closeإِذَاwhenأَتَيْنَاهُ،we came to him,وَنَحْنُand we,مَعَdespiteتَقْرِيبِهِhis bringing closeلَنَاto usوَقُرْبِهِand his closenessمِنَّا،to us,لَاdo notنُكَلِّمُهُspeak to himلِهَيْبَتِهِdue to his awe-inspiring presenceوَلَاand do notنَرْفَعُraiseأَعْيُنَنَاour eyesإِلَيْهِto himلِعَظَمَتِهِ،due to his greatness.فَإِنْIfتَبَسَّمَhe smiledفَعَنْit was likeاللُّؤْلُؤِpearlsالْمَنْظُومِ،strung together.يُعَظِّمُHe honoredأَهْلَthe people ofالدِّينِ،religion,يَتَحَبَّبُhe endeared himselfإِلَىtoالْمَسَاكِينِ،the poor,لَاdid notيَخَافُfearالْقَوِيُّthe strongظُلْمَهُhis injusticeوَلَاnorيَيْأَسُdespairالضَّعِيفُthe weakمِنْofعَدْلِهِ،his justice.فَأُقْسِمُSo I swearلَقَدْthat indeedرَأَيْتُهُI saw himلَيْلَةًone nightوَقَدْwhileمَثَّلَhe stoodفِيinمِحْرَابِهِhis place of prayerوَأَرْخَىand loweredاللَّيْلُthe nightسِرْبَالَهُits curtainsوَغَارَتْand setنُجُومُهُits starsوَدُمُوعُهُwhile his tearsتَتَحَادَرُwere rolling downعَلَىuponلِحْيَتِهِhis beardوَهُوَand he wasيَتَمَلْمَلُwrithingتَمَلْمُلَlike the writhing ofالسَّلِيمِone bitten by a snakeوَيَبْكِيand weepingبُكَاءَthe weeping ofالْحَزِينِ،a grieved person.فَكَأَنِّيSo it is as ifالْآنَnowأَسْمَعُهُI hear himوَهُوَwhileيَقُولُ:he says:يَاOدُنْيَاworld,أَإِلَيَّis it to meتَعَرَّضْتِyou exposed yourselfأَمْorإِلَيَّto meأَقْبَلْتِ؟did you come?غُرِّيDeceiveغَيْرِي،someone other than me,لَاmayحَانَnot comeحِينُكِ،your time,قَدْindeedطَلَّقْتُكِI have divorced youثَلَاثاًthriceلَاwith noرَجْعَةَreturnلِيfor meفِيكِ،in you,فَعَيْشُكِfor your life isحَقِيرٌinsignificantوَخَطَرُكِand your status isيَسِيرٌ،low,آهٍahمِنْfromقِلَّةِthe scarcity ofالزَّادِprovisionsوَبُعْدِand the length ofالسَّفَرِthe journeyوَقِلَّةِand the scarcity ofالْأَنِيسِ!companions!
He said: By Allah, he was far-reaching in ambition, strong in power, speaking justice and judging with decisiveness. Wisdom gushed forth from his sides and knowledge from his directions. He was alienated from the world and its splendor, finding comfort in the night and its solitude. By Allah, he was abundant in tears and prolonged in thought, holding himself to account when alone and turning his hands over what had passed. He liked short clothing and rough sustenance. He was among us like one of us; he would answer us when we asked him and bring us close when we came to him. Yet despite his bringing us close and his closeness to us, we would not speak to him out of awe, nor would we raise our eyes to him out of respect. If he smiled, it was like strung pearls. He honored the people of religion and endeared himself to the poor. The strong person did not fear his injustice, and the weak person did not despair of his justice. I swear I saw him one night standing in his place of prayer while the night lowered its curtains and its stars set, with his tears rolling down his beard. He writhed like one bitten by a snake and wept the weeping of a grieved person. It is as if I hear him now saying: O world, is it to me you exposed yourself or to me you came? Deceive someone other than me, may your time not come! I have divorced you thrice with no return for me in you. Your life is insignificant and your status is low. Ah from the scarcity of provisions, the length of the journey, and the scarcity of companions!
قَالَ:He said:فَوَكَفَتْSo overflowedعَيْنَاthe eyes ofمُعَاوِيَةَMu'awiyahيُنَشِّفُهُمَاwhile he was wiping themبِكُمِّهِwith his sleeveثُمَّand thenقَالَ:he said:يَرْحَمُMay Allah have mercy onاللَّهُAbuأَبَاAl-Hasan!الْحَسَنِ!He wasكَانَthus.كَذَاSo howفَكَيْفَis your patienceصَبْرُكَconcerning him?عَنْهُ؟He said:
He said: Mu'awiyah's eyes overflowed and he wiped them with his sleeve, then said: May Allah have mercy on Abu Al-Hasan! He was thus. So how is your patience regarding him?
قَالَ:He said:كَصَبْرِLike the patience ofمَنْone whoseذُبِحَwas slaughteredوَلَدُهَاher childفِيinحِجْرِهَاher lap,فَهِيَsoلَاdoes notتَرْقَأُceaseدَمْعَتُهَاher tearوَلَاnorتَسْكُنُcalmعَبْرَتُهَا.her lamentation.
He said: Like the patience of a mother whose child is slaughtered in her lap, her tears do not dry nor does her lamentation subside.
قَالَ:He said:فَكَيْفَSo how isذِكْرُكَyour remembranceلَهُ؟of him?
He said: How is your remembrance of him?
قَالَ:He said:وَهَلْAnd doesيَتْرُكُنِيleave meالدَّهْرُtimeأَنْtoأَنْسَاهُ!forget him!
He said: Does time ever allow me to forget him!
وَهَذَاAnd thisالْخَبَرُreportأَتَمُّis more completeمِنْthanخَبَرِthe report ofابْنِIbnعَبَّاسٍ،Abbas,رَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercy onاللَّهُ.him.
And this report is more complete than the report of Ibn Abbas, may Allah have mercy on him.
[مَحَاسِنُ[Virtues ofمَنْone whoأَمْسَكَrefrainedعَنِfromالْوُقُوعِspeaking illفِيofأَصْحَابِthe companions ofالنَّبِيِّ]the Prophet]
[Virtues of those who refrained from speaking ill of the companions of the Prophet]
[صَلَّى[May Allah bestow blessingsاللَّهُand peaceعَلَيْهِupon himوَسَلَّمَ]and his family]
[May Allah bestow blessings and peace upon him]
قَالَ:He said:قَدِمَArrivedعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِibnبْنُJa'farجَعْفَرٍuponعَلَىAbd al-MalikعَبْدِibnالْمَلِكِMarwan,بْنِsoمَرْوَانَYahyaفَقَالَibnلَهُal-Hakam,يَحْيَىthe paternal uncle ofبْنُAbd al-Malikالْحَكَمِibn Marwan,عَمُّsaid to him:عَبْدِWhatالْمَلِكِdo you sayبْنِregardingمَرْوَانَ،Aliقَالَ:and Uthman?مَاHe said:تَقُولُI sayفِيwhatعَلِيٍّhe who is better than meوَعُثْمَانَ؟saidقَالَ:concerning those who are worseأَقُولُthan them:مَاIf You punish them,قَالَverily they areمَنْYour servants;هُوَand if You forgive them,خَيْرٌverily You areمَنِّيthe All-Mighty,فِيمَنْthe Wise.
He said: Abdullah ibn Ja'far arrived upon Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, and Yahya ibn al-Hakam, the paternal uncle of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, said to him: What do you say regarding Ali and Uthman? He said: I say what he who is better than me said concerning those who are worse than them: If You punish them, verily they are Your servants; and if You forgive them, verily You are the All-Mighty, the Wise.
عِصَامُIsamبْنُson ofيَزِيدَYazidقَالَ:said:كُنْتُI wasعِنْدَwithحَمْزَةَHamzahحَتَّىuntilأَتَاهُthere came to himرَجُلٌa manفَسَأَلَهُand asked himعَنْaboutأَصْحَابِthe companions ofرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُhimعَلَيْهِand grant himوَسَلَّمَ،peace,فَقَالَ:so he said:تِلْكَThat isأُمَّةٌa nationقَدْthat hasخَلَتْpassed away;لَهَاfor it isمَاwhatكَسَبَتْit earnedوَلَكُمْand for you isمَاwhatكَسَبْتُمْyou earned,وَلَاand you will notتُسْأَلُونَbe askedعَمَّاabout whatكَانُواthey used toيَعْمَلُونَ.do.
Isam ibn Yazid said: I was with Hamzah until a man came to him and asked him about the companions of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. He said: That is a nation that has passed away; for it is what it earned, and for you is what you earned, and you will not be asked about what they used to do.
وَرُوِيَAnd it is narratedأَنَّهُthatكَتَبَwroteإِسْمَاعِيلُIsmailبْنُson ofعُلِيَّةَUlayyahإِلَىtoالْأَعْمَشِAl-A'mashأَنْasking him toاكْتُبْwriteإِلَيْنَاto usبِمَنَاقِبِregarding the virtues ofعَلِيٍّAliوَوُجُوهِand the ways ofالطَّعْنِcriticismعَلَىagainstعُثْمَانَ،Uthman,رَضِيَmay Allah beاللَّهُpleasedعَنْهُمَا،with both of them,فَكَتَبَ:so he wrote back:لَوْIfأَنَّthatعَلِيّاًAliلَقِيَmetاللَّهَAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyبِحَسَنَاتِwith the good deeds ofأَهْلِthe people ofالدُّنْيَاthe world,لَمْit would notيَزِدْincreaseذَلِكَthatفِيinحَسَنَاتِكَ،your good deeds;وَلَوْand ifلَقِيَهُmet Himعُثْمَانُ،Uthman,رَضِيَmay Allah beاللَّهُpleasedعَنْهُ،with him,بِسَيِّئَاتِwith the evil deeds ofأَهْلِthe people ofالْأَرْضِthe earth,لَمْit would notيَنْقُصْdecreaseذَلِكَthatمِنْfromسَيِّئَاتِكَ.your evil deeds.
And it is narrated that Ismail ibn Ulayyah wrote to Al-A'mash asking him to write to us regarding the virtues of Ali and the ways of criticizing Uthman, may Allah be pleased with both of them. He wrote back: If Ali met Allah, Majestic and Mighty, with the good deeds of the people of the world, that would not increase your good deeds; and if Uthman met Him, may Allah be pleased with him, with the evil deeds of the people of the earth, that would not decrease your evil deeds.
وَعَنْAnd on the authority ofعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِibnبْنِMu'awiyahمُعَاوِيَةَibnبْنِAbdullahعَبْدِibnاللَّهِJa'farبْنِhe said:جَعْفَرٍIyasقَالَ:ibnكَانَMu'awiyahإِيَاسُwas a friendبْنُto me,مُعَاوِيَةَso we enteredلِيuponصَدِيقاًAbd al-Rahmanفَدَخَلْنَاibnعَلَىal-QasimعَبْدِibnالرَّحْمَنِAbi Bakrبْنِal-Siddiq,الْقَاسِمِmay Allah be pleasedبْنِwith them both,أَبِيand with himبَكْرٍwas a groupالصِّدِّيقِ،from Qurayshرَضِيَmentioningاللَّهُthe predecessors.عَنْهُمَا،Some peopleوَعِنْدَهُfavored Abu Bakr,جَمَاعَةٌsome Umar,مِنْand othersقُرَيْشٍAli,يَتَذَاكَرُونَmay Allah be pleasedالسَّلَفَ،with all of them.فَفَضَّلَSo Iyas said:قَوْمٌAli, may Allah have mercy on him,أَبَاused to considerبَكْرٍhimself most deservingوَقَوْمٌof the matter.عُمَرَWhen the peopleوَآخَرُونَpledged allegiance to Abu Bakrعَلِيّاً،and he sawرَضِيَthat they had gatheredاللَّهُupon himعَنْهُمْand that thisأَجْمَعِينَ،reformed the general public,فَقَالَhe purchasedإِيَاسٌ:the reform of the publicإِنَّby setting asideعَلِيّاً،the opinion of the elite,رَحِمَهُmeaningاللَّهُ،Banuu Hashim.كَانَThen Umarيَرَىtook charge,أَنَّهُmay Allah have mercy on him,أَحَقُّand didالنَّاسِthe same regarding himبِالْأَمْرِ،and regarding Uthman,فَلَمَّاmay Allah be pleasedبَايَعَwith him.النَّاسُThen when Uthmanأَبَاwas killed,بَكْرٍmay Allah have mercy on him,وَرَأَىand the people disagreedأَنَّهُمْand both elite and publicقَدْbecame corrupted,اجْتَمَعُواhe foundعَلَيْهِsupportersوَأَنَّso he stood upذَلِكَfor the truthقَدْand calledأَصْلَحَto it.الْعَامَّةَ...اشْتَرَى...صَلَاحَ...الْعَامَّةِ...بِنَقْضِ...رَأْيِ...الْخَاصَّةِ،...يَعْنِي...بَنِي...هَاشِمٍ،...ثُمَّ...وَلِيَ...عُمَرُ،...رَحِمَهُ...اللَّهُ،...فَفَعَلَ...مِثْلَ...ذَلِكَ...بِهِ...وَبِعُثْمَانَ،...رَضِيَ...اللَّهُ...عَنْهُ،...فَلَمَّا...قُتِلَ...عُثْمَانُ،...رَحِمَهُ...اللَّهُ،...وَاخْتَلَفَ...النَّاسُ...وَفَسَدَتِ...الْخَاصَّةُ...وَالْعَامَّةُ...وَجَدَ...أَعْوَاناً...فَقَامَ...بِالْحَقِّ...وَدَعَا...إِلَيْهِ....
And on the authority of Abdullah ibn Mu'awiyah ibn Abdullah ibn Ja'far, he said: Iyas ibn Mu'awiyah was a friend to me, so we entered upon Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Qasim ibn Abi Bakr al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with them both, and with him was a group from Quraysh mentioning the predecessors. Some people favored Abu Bakr, some Umar, and others Ali, may Allah be pleased with all of them. So Iyas said: Ali, may Allah have mercy on him, used to consider himself most deserving of the matter. When the people pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr and he saw that they had gathered upon him and that this reformed the general public, he purchased the reform of the public by setting aside the opinion of the elite, meaning Banuu Hashim. Then Umar took charge, may Allah have mercy on him, and did the same regarding him and regarding Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him. Then when Uthman was killed, may Allah have mercy on him, and the people disagreed and both elite and public became corrupted, he found supporters so he stood up for the truth and called to it.
وَقِيلَAnd it was saidإِنَّهُthatحَضَرَattendedمَجْلِسَthe gathering ofعُمَرَUmarبْنِson ofعَبْدِAbdالْعَزِيزِ،al-Aziz,رَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercy onاللَّهُ،him,جَمَاعَةٌa groupمِنْfromأَهْلِthe people ofالْعِلْمِknowledge,فَذَكَرُواand they mentionedعَلِيّاً،Ali,رَضِيَmay Allah beاللَّهُpleasedعَنْهُ،with him,وَعُثْمَانَand Uthmanوَطَلْحَةَand Talhahوَالزُّبَيْرَ،and al-Zubayr,رَضِيَmay Allah beاللَّهُpleasedعَنْهُمْwith themأَجْمَعِينَ،all,وَمَاand whatكَانَtook placeبَيْنَهُمْbetween them,فَأَكْثَرُواso they spoke at lengthوَعُمَرُwhile Umarسَاكِتٌ،was silent.قَالَThe peopleالْقَوْمُ:said:أَلَاWill you notتَتَكَلَّمُspeakيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟the Believers?فَقَالَ:So he said:لَاI will notأَقُولُsayشَيْئاً،anything.تِلْكَThose areدِمَاءٌspilt bloodsطَهَّرَpurifiedاللَّهُAllahمِنْهَاfrom themكَفِّيmy hand,فَلَاso I will notأَغْمِسُdipفِيهَاin themلِسَانِي.my tongue.
And it was said that a group of people of knowledge attended the gathering of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him, and they mentioned Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and Uthman, Talhah, and al-Zubayr, may Allah be pleased with them all, and what took place between them, speaking at length while Umar was silent. The people said: Will you not speak, O Commander of the Believers? He said: I will not say anything. Those are spilt bloods from which Allah purified my hand, so I will not dip my tongue in them.
[مَسَاوِئُ[Evils ofتِلْكَthoseالْحُرُوبِ]wars]
[Evils of those wars]
وَمَنْAnd fromتَنَقُّصِthe disparagement ofعَلِيِّAliبْنِson ofأَبِيAbiطَالِبٍTalib,رِضْوَانُmay the good pleasure ofاللَّهِAllahوَرَحْمَتُهُand His mercyوَبَرَكَاتُهُand His blessingsعَلَيْهِbe upon him
And from the disparagement of Ali ibn Abi Talib, may the good pleasure of Allah and His mercy and His blessings be upon him