قَالَ:Heفَانْصَرَفْتُsaid: So I leftفَلَمَّاand whenكَانit wasيَوْمُdayالْأَحَدِSundayجَلَسَhe satفَكَانَand wasأَوَّلُfirstمَنْwhoدَعَاhe calledبِهِforالْمَرْأَةُ،the woman,فَسَلَّمَتْso she greetedفَرَدَّand returnedالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munعَلَيْهَاto herالسَّلَامَthe greetingوَقَالَ:and said:أَيْنَWhereالْخَصْمُ،is the opponent,رَحِمَكَmay Allah have mercy onاللَّهُ؟you?قَالَتْ:She said:هُوَHeوَاقِفٌis standingعَلَىatرَأْسِكَyour headوَقَدْand indeedحِيلَit has been putبَيْنِيbetween meوَبَيْنَهُ.and him.وَأَوْمَأَتْAnd she pointedإِلَىtoالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbasابْنِهِ.his son.فَقَالَ:So he said:يَاOأَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُson ofأَبِيAbiخَالِدٍKhalidخُذْtakeبِيَدِهِby his handفَأَقْعِدْهُand seat himمَعَهَا.with her.قَالَ:He said:فَفَعَلَSo he didذَلِكَ.that.فَجَعَلَتْAnd she beganتَعْلُوto raiseعَلَىoverالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbasبِصَوْتِهَاwith her voiceوَتَقُولُ:and saying:ظَلَمْتَنِيYou wronged meوَاعْتَدَيْتَand assaultedعَلَيَّmeوَأَخَذْتَand tookضَيْعَتِي.my estate.فَقَالَSo saidلَهَاto herأَحْمَدُ:Ahmad:مَاWhatهَذَاis thisالصِّيَاحُ؟shouting?إِنَّكَIndeed youبَيْنَare beforeيَدَيْthe hands ofأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulتُنَاظِرِينَcontending withالْأَمِيرَ!the Amir!فَقَالَSo saidالْمَأْمُونُ:Al-Ma'mun:دَعْهَاLeave herيَاOأَحْمَدُAhmadفَإِنَّfor indeedالْحَقَّthe truthأَنْطَقَهَاmade her speakوَالْبَاطِلَand falsehoodأَخْرَسَهُ.made him mute.فَلَمْSo they did notيَزَالَاceaseيَتَنَاظَرَانِdebating each otherحَتَّىuntilحَكَمَruledالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munلَهَاfor herبِرَدِّwith the return ofضَيْعَتِهَاher estateثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:يَاOأَحْمَدُAhmadارْدُدْreturnعَلَيْهَاto herمَاwhatجَبَاهُcollectedالْعَبَّاسُAl-Abbasمِنْfromضَيْعَتِهَاher estateوَدَفْعِand payإِلَيْهَاto herعَشَرَةَtenآلافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsتَرُمُّto repairبِهَاwith itمَاwhatأَرَاهُI seeمِنْofسُوءِbadحَالِهَاher conditionوَاكْتُبْand writeإِلَىtoوَالِينَاour governorوَقَاضِينَاand our judgeبِإِرْفَاقِهَاto treat her gentlyوَالنَّظَرِand lookفِيintoأَمْرِهَاher affairوَأَوْغِرْand settleلَهَاfor herخَرَاجَthe tax ofضَيْعَتِهَاher estateبِالشَّيْءِwith the thingالطَّفِيفِtrivial/slightوَلِيَكُنْand let that beذَلِكَthatفِيinيَوْمِنَاour dayهَذَا.this.فَمَاSo sheبَرِحَتْdid not leaveحَتَّىuntilقُضِيَتْwere fulfilledحَوَائِجُهَاher needsوَخَرَجَتْ.and she went out.
He said: So I left, and when Sunday came, he sat, and the first person he called for was the woman. She greeted him, and Al-Ma'mun returned the greeting and said, 'Where is the opponent, may Allah have mercy on you?' She said, 'He is standing over your head, and it has been put between me and him,' and she pointed to Al-Abbas, his son. So he said, 'O Ahmad ibn Abi Khalid, take him by his hand and seat him with her.' He said: So he did that. She began to raise her voice over Al-Abbas and say, 'You wronged me, assaulted me, and took my estate.' Ahmad said to her, 'What is this shouting? You are before the Commander of the Faithful, debating the Amir!' Al-Ma'mun said, 'Leave her, O Ahmad, for the truth made her speak and falsehood made him mute.' They continued debating until Al-Ma'mun ruled in her favor for the return of her estate, then said, 'O Ahmad, return to her what Al-Abbas collected from her estate, and pay her ten thousand dirhams to repair what I see of her bad condition, and write to our governor and our judge to treat her gently and look into her affair, and settle for her the tax of her estate with a slight amount, and let that be this very day.' So she did not leave until her needs were fulfilled and she went out.
وَعَنْAnd fromالْحَسَنِAl-Hasanبْنِson ofسَهْلٍSahlقَالَ:he said:جَلَسَsatالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munذَاتَoneيَوْمٍdayلِلْمَظَالِمِfor grievancesوَإِذَاand loهُوَhe wasبِرَجُلٍa manقَدْwho hadمَثُلَappearedبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْهِhis handsوَفِيand inيَدِهِhis handرُقْعَةٌwas a noteفِيهَاin itسَطْرَانِ:were two lines:بِسْمِIn the name ofاللَّهِAllahالرَّحْمَنِthe Most Graciousالرَّحِيمِ.the Most Merciful.مَظْلَمَةٌA grievanceمِنْfromأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَطَالَmay He prolongاللَّهُAllahبَقَاءَهُ.his stay.فَقَالَ:So he said:أَمَظْلَمَةٌA grievanceمَنِّي!against me!قَالَ:He said:أَفَأُخَاطِبُShall I addressبِالْخِلَافَةِwith the caliphateسِوَاكَ؟anyone other than you?قَالَHe saidلَهُ:to him:وَمَاAnd whatظُلَامَتُكَis this grievance of yoursهَذِهِ؟this?قَالَ:He said:ثَلَاثُونَThirtyأَلْفَthousandدِينَارٍ.dinars.قَالَ:He said:وَمَاAnd whatوَجْهُهَا؟is its basis/nature?قَالَ:He said:إِنَّIndeedسَعِيداًSaeedوَكِيلَكَyour agentاشْتَرَىboughtمِنِّيfrom meجَوْهَرَاًjewelsبِثَلَاثِينَfor thirtyأَلْفَthousandدِينَارٍdinarsوَحَمَلَهُand carried itإِلَىtoمَنْزِلِكَyour houseوَلَمْand did notيُوَفِّرْfulfill/pay in fullعَلَيَّto meالْمَالَ.the money.قَالَ:He said:فَإِذَاSo ifاشْتَرَىboughtسَعِيدٌSaeedمِنْكَfrom youالْجَوْهَرَthe jewelsتَشْكُوdo you complainالظُّلَامَةَof the grievanceمَنِّي!against me!قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْYesإِذَاifكَانَتِwasالْوَكَالَةُthe agencyقَدْindeedصَحَّتْproven validلَهُfor himمِنْكَ.from you.قَالَ:He said:إِنَّIndeedكَلَامَكَthis speech of yoursهَذَاthisيَحْتَمِلُbearsثَلَاثَthreeجِهَاتٍ:aspects:أَمَّاAs forأَوَّلُthe firstذَلِكَof thatفَلَعَلَّthen perhapsسَعِيداًSaeedقَدِindeedاشْتَرَىboughtهَذَاthisالْجَوْهَرَjewelمِنْكَfrom youكَمَاasزَعَمْتَyou claimedوَحَمَلَهُand carried itإِلَيْنَاto usوَأَخَذَand tookالْمَالَthe moneyمِنْfromبَيْتِthe house ofالْمَالِmoney/treasuryوَلَمْand did notيُوَفِّرْهُpay it in fullعَلَيْكَ،to you,أَوْorلَعَلَّهُperhaps heقَدْindeedوَفَّرَهُpaid it in fullوَادَّعَيْتَand you claimedبَاطِلَا،falsely,أَوْorاشْتَرَاهُhe bought itلِنَفْسِهِ.for himself.أَمَّاAs forفِيinالْعَاجِلِthe immediate presentفَلَاthen notيَلْزَمُنِيis it binding upon meلَكَfor youحَقٌّany rightوَلَاand norأَعْرِفُdo I knowلَكَfor youظُلَامَةً.any grievance.
And from Al-Hasan bin Sahl, he said: Al-Ma'mun sat one day for grievances, and lo, a man appeared before him with a note in his hand containing two lines: 'In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. A grievance from the Commander of the Faithful, may Allah prolong his stay.' He said: 'A grievance against me!' He said: 'Shall I address with the caliphate anyone other than you?' He said to him: 'And what is this grievance of yours?' He said: 'Thirty thousand dinars.' He said: 'And what is its basis?' He said: 'Indeed, Saeed, your agent, bought jewels from me for thirty thousand dinars and carried them to your house and did not pay me the money in full.' He said: 'So if Saeed bought the jewels from you, do you complain of the grievance against me!' He said: 'Yes, if the agency has been proven valid for him from you.' He said: 'This speech of yours bears three aspects: As for the first of that, perhaps Saeed bought this jewel from you as you claimed and carried it to us and took the money from the treasury and did not pay it to you in full, or perhaps he did pay it in full and you claimed falsely, or he bought it for himself. As for the immediate present, no right is binding upon you from me nor do I recognize any grievance for you.'
فَقَالَSo saidالرَّجُلُ:the man:إِنَّIndeedاللَّهَAllahجَلَّGlorifiedوَعَزَّand Mightyقَدْhasأَهَلَّكَmade you worthyلِمَوْضِعٍof a positionرَفِيعٍelevatedوَاخْتَصَكَand singled you outبِنَسَبٍwith a lineageجَعَلَكَthat made youأَوْلَىmost worthyالْخَلْقِof creationمَعَهُwith Himبِالْإِنْصَافِfor justiceفَإِنَّكَfor indeed youمُنَاسِبٌare relatedلِرَسُولِto the Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِand grant him peace,وَوَسَلَّمَ،and peace,وَاسْتَرْعَاكَand made you shepherdعَلَىoverخَلْقِهِHis creationفَهَلَّاso why notتَحْمِلُنِيcarry me/hold meعَلَىtoكِتَابِthe Book ofاللَّهِAllahجَلَّGlorifiedوَعَزَّand Mightyوَسُنَّةِand the Sunnah ofابْنِthe son ofعَمِّكَyour paternal uncleرَسُولِthe Messenger ofاللَّهِ،Allah,صَلَّىmay Allah blessاللَّهُHimعَلَيْهِand grant him peace,وَسَلَّمَ،and peace,وَسُنَّةِand the Sunnah ofعُمَرَUmarبْنِson ofالْخَطَّابِ،Al-Khattab,رَضِيَmay Allah be pleasedاللَّهُwithعَنْهُ،him,فِيinرِسَالَتِهِhis letterإِلَىtoأَبِيAbiمُوسَىMusaالْأَشْعَرِيِّAl-Ash'ariوَهِيَand it isالَّتِيwhichاتَّخَذْتُمُوهَاyou have takenصُدُورَas the forefront/basis ofأَحْكَامِكُمْyour rulingsوَوَصِيَّةًand a testamentلِقُضَاتِكُمْfor your judgesإِذْwhenيَقُولُ:he says:الْبَيِّنَةُThe proofعَلَىis uponمَنْwhoادَّعَىclaimsوَالْيَمِينُand the oathعَلَىis uponمَنْwhoأَنْكَرَ.denies.
The man said: 'Indeed, Allah, Glorified and Mighty, has made you worthy of an elevated position and singled you out with a lineage that made you the most worthy of creation to uphold justice with Him, for you are related to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and He made you shepherd over His creation. So why not hold me to the Book of Allah, Glorified and Mighty, and the Sunnah of your paternal uncle, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the Sunnah of Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, in his letter to Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari, which is what you have taken as the basis of your rulings and a testament to your judges when he says: The proof is upon the claimant and the oath is upon the denier.'
قَالَSaidالْمَأْمُونُ:Al-Ma'mun:فَإِنَّكَFor indeed youوَاللَّهِby Allahقَدْhaveعَدِمْتَlackedالْبَيِّنَةَthe proofفَمَاso whatيَجِبُis dueلَكَfor youإِلَّاexceptحَلِفَةٌan oathوَلَئِنْand ifحَلَفْتَهَاyou swore itلَأَنَاthen indeed I amصَادِقٌtruthfulإِذْsinceكُنْتُI wasلَاnotأَعْرِفُknowingلَكَfor youحَقّاًany rightيَلْزَمُنِي.binding upon me.
Al-Ma'mun said: 'For indeed, by Allah, you lack proof, so nothing is due to you except an oath, and if you swore it, I am certainly truthful since I do not know of any right for you binding upon me.'
قَالَ:He said:فَإِذْاًThenأَدْعُوكَI call youإِلَىtoالْحَاكِمِthe judgeالَّذِيwhomنَصَبْتَهُyou appointedلِرَعِيَّتِكَ.for your subjects.قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ،Yes,يَاOغُلَامُboy/servantعَلَيَّbring meبيَحْيَىYahyaبْنِson ofأَكْثَمَ.Aktham.فَإِذَاAnd loهُوَhe wasقَدْalreadyمَثُلَappearingبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْهِ.his hands.فَقَالَ:So he said:يَاOيَحْيَى!Yahya!قَالَ:He said:لَبَّيْكَAt your serviceيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ!of the Faithful!قَالَ:He said:اقْضِJudgeبَيْنَنَا.between us.قَالَ:He said:فِيInحُكْمٍa judgmentوَقَضِيَّةٍ!and a case!قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْ.Yes.قَالَ:He said:لَاI will notأَفْعَلُ.do it.قَالَ:He said:وَلِمَ؟And why?قَالَ:He said:لِأَنَّBecauseأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulلَمْdid notيَجْعَلْmakeدَارَهُhis houseمَجْلِسَa session ofقَضَاءٍ.adjudication.قَالَ:He said:قَدْI haveفَعَلْتُ.done so.قَالَ:He said:فَإِنِّيThen I willأَبْدَأُbeginبِالْعَامَّةِwith the general publicأَوَّلًاfirstلِيَصْبِحَso that becomesالْمَجْلِسُthe sessionلِلْقَضَاءِ.for judgment.قَالَ:He said:افْعَلْ.Do so.
He said: 'Then I call you to the judge whom you appointed for your subjects.' He said: 'Yes, O boy, bring me Yahya bin Aktham.' And lo, he appeared before him. He said: 'O Yahya!' He said: 'At your service, O Commander of the Faithful!' He said: 'Judge between us.' He said: 'In a judgment and a case!' He said: 'Yes.' He said: 'I will not do it.' He said: 'And why?' He said: 'Because the Commander of the Faithful did not make his house a session of adjudication.' He said: 'I have done so.' He said: 'Then I will begin with the general public first so that the session becomes for judgment.' He said: 'Do so.'
فَفَتَحَSo he openedالْبَابَthe doorوَقَعَدَand satفِيinنَاحِيَةٍa cornerمِنَofالدَّارِthe houseوَأَذِنَand gave permissionلِلْعَامَّةِto the publicوَنَادَىand calledالْمُنَادِيthe crierوَأَخَذَand tookالرِّقَاعَthe petitionsوَدَعَاand calledبِالنَّاسِthe peopleثُمَّthenدَعَاhe calledالرَّجُلَthe manالْمُتَظَلِّمَthe aggrievedفَقَالَso saidلَهُto himيَحْيَى:Yahya:مَاWhatتَقُولُ؟do you say?قَالَ:He said:أَقُولُI sayأَنْthatتَدْعُوَyou callبِخَصْمِيfor my opponentأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulالْمَأْمُونِ.Al-Ma'mun.فَنَادَىSo calledالْمُنَادِيthe crierفَإِذَاand loالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munقَدْhadخَرَجَcome outفِيinرِدَاءٍan upper garmentوَقَمِيصٍand a shirtوَسَرَاوِيلَand trousersقَدْwhichأَرْسَلَهَاhe let looseعَلَىoverعَقِبَيْهَاhis heelsفِيinنَعْلٍsandalsرَقِيقٍthinوَمَعَهُand with himغُلَامٌwas a boyيَحْمِلُcarryingمُصَلًّىa prayer matحَتَّىuntilوَقَفَhe stoodعَلَىatيَحْيَىYahyaوَهُوَwhile heجَالِسٌ.was sitting.فَقَالَSo saidلَهُ:to him:اجْلِسْ.Sit down.فَطَرَحَSo he threw downالْمُصَلَّىthe prayer matلِيَقْعُدَso that he might sitعَلَيْهِ.on it.فَقَالَSo saidلَهُto himيَحْيَى:Yahya:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulلَاdo notتَأْخُذْtakeعَلَىoverخَصْمِكَyour opponentشَرَفَthe honor ofالْمَجْلِسِ.the session.فَطَرَحَSo he threw downلَهُfor himمُصَلًّىa prayer matآخَرَanotherفَجَلَسَand he satعَلَيْهِ.on it.وَقَالَAnd saidلَهُto himيَحْيَى:Yahya:مَاWhatتَقُولُ؟do you say?فَقَالَ:So he said:لِيI haveعَلَىagainstهَذَاthis personثَلَاثُونَthirtyأَلْفَthousandدِينَارٍ.dinars.قَالَ:He said:وَمَنْAnd whoهَذَا؟is this?قَالَ:He said:أَمِيرُThe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munبِاللَّهِ.by Allah.قَالَSaidلَهُto himيَحْيَى:Yahya:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulقَدْyou haveسَمِعْتَheardمَاwhatيَقُولُ؟he says?قَالَ:He said:سَلْهُAsk himمَاwhatوَجْهُهَا.its basis is.فَأَعَادَSo he repeatedخَبَرَthe story ofالْوَكِيلِ.the agent.فَقَالَSo saidالْمَأْمُونُ:Al-Ma'mun:مَاI do notأَعْرِفُknowلَهُfor himحَقّاً.any right.فَأَقْبَلَSo he turnedعَلَىtoالرَّجُلِthe manفَقَالَ:and said:قَدْYou haveسَمِعْتَ،heard,أَلَكَdo you haveبَيِّنَةٌ؟any proof?قَالَ:He said:لَا.No.قَالَ:He said:فَمَاSo whatتُرِيدُ؟do you want?قَالَ:He said:مَاWhatيُوجِبُهُmakes obligatoryالْحُكْمُthe judgmentلِمَنْfor one whoعَدِمَlacksالْبَيِّنَةَ.the proof.قَالَSaidالْمَأْمُونُ:Al-Ma'mun:وَيْحَكَWoe to youقَدْyou haveلَجَجْتَpersistedفِيinالْيَمِينِ!the oath!قَالَ:He said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَتَحْلِفُ؟will you swear an oath?قَالَ:He said:إِيYesوَاللَّهِby Allahوَلَاand I will notأُوطِئُsubjectنَفْسِيmyselfالْعَشْوَةَto blind hazard/recklessnessفِيinإِعْطَاءِgivingرَجُلٍa manمَاwhatلَاdoes notيَجِبُbecome dueلَهُto himظُلْماً.unjustly.فَقَالَ:So he said:قُلْSayوَاللَّهِ.By Allah.فَاسْتَحْلَفَهُSo he asked him to swearغَمُوساً.a perjury/binding oath.
So he opened the door and sat in a corner of the house and gave permission to the public, and the crier called out, and he took the petitions and called the people, then he called the aggrieved man. Yahya said to him: 'What do you say?' He said: 'I say that you call for my opponent, the Commander of the Faithful, Al-Ma'mun.' So the crier called out, and lo, Al-Ma'mun came out in an upper garment, a shirt, and trousers that he let loose over his heels, in thin sandals, and with him was a boy carrying a prayer mat, until he stood over Yahya while he was sitting. He said to him: 'Sit down.' He threw down the prayer mat so that he might sit on it. Yahya said to him: 'O Commander of the Faithful, do not take over your opponent the honor of the session.' So he threw down another prayer mat for him and he sat on it. Yahya said to him: 'What do you say?' He said: 'I have thirty thousand dinars against this person.' He said: 'And who is this?' He said: 'The Commander of the Faithful, Al-Ma'mun.' Yahya said to him: 'O Commander of the Faithful, you have heard what he says?' He said: 'Ask him what its basis is.' So he repeated the story of the agent. Al-Ma'mun said: 'I do not know of any right for him.' He turned to the man and said: 'You have heard, do you have a proof?' He said: 'No.' He said: 'Then what do you want?' He said: 'What the judgment makes obligatory for one who lacks proof.' Al-Ma'mun said: 'Woe to you, you have persisted in the oath!' He said: 'O Commander of the Faithful, will you swear an oath?' He said: 'Yes, by Allah, and I will not subject myself to blind hazard in giving a man what is not due to him unjustly.' So he said: 'Say: By Allah.' So he asked him to swear a binding oath.