وَحَكَىAndجَعْفَرُJa'farابْنُthe son ofأُخْتِthe sister ofأَبِيAbuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbasقَالَ:said:
Ja'far, the son of the sister of Abu al-Abbas, narrated, saying:
دَخَلْتُI enteredعَلَىuponالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'mun
I entered upon al-Ma'mun
وَيَدَاهُwhile his hands wereمُعَلَّقَتَانِsuspendedمِنْbecause ofشَيْءٍsomethingرَطْبٍmoistأَكَلَهُhe ate
while his hands were suspended because of something moist he ate
قَدْwhichمَسَّتْهُhad touchedالنَّارُthe fire
which the fire had touched
وَهُوَand he wasيَصِيحُ:shouting:يَاOغُلَامُ.boy.
and he was shouting: O boy.
وَكُلُّهُمْAnd all of themيَسْمَعُhearصَوْتَهُhis voice
And all of them hear his voice
فَمَاand notمِنْهُمْfrom themأَحَدٌanyoneيُجِيبُهُ.answers him.
and not a single one of them answers him.
فَخَرَجْتُSo I went outإِلَيْهِمْto themوَأَنَاwhile I wasأَفُورُboiling withغَضَبًاanger.
So I went out to them while I was boiling with anger.
فَإِذَاThen lo,بَعْضُهُمْsome of themيَلْعَبُwere playingبِالشَّطْرَنْجِchess
Then lo, some of them were playing chess
وَبَعْضُهُمْand some of themبِالْكِعَابِwith diceوَبَعْضُهُمْand some of themيُهَارِشُwere inciting to fightالدُّيُوكَ.the roosters.
and some of them with dice, and some of them were setting roosters to fight.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:يَاOبَنِيsons ofالْفَوَاعِلِlaborers
So I said: O sons of laborers
أَمَاdo notتَسْمَعُونَyou hearأَمِيرَthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulيَدْعُوكُمْ؟calling you?
do you not hear the Commander of the Faithful calling you?
فَقَالَSo saidوَاحِدٌ:one:حَتَّىuntilأَقِيسَI measureهَذَاthisالْكَعْبَ.die.
So one said: Until I measure this die.
وَقَالَAnd saidالْآخَرُ:the other:قَدْI haveبَقِيتُremainedعَلَىuponضَرْبِهِ.hitting it.
And the other said: I have only one move left to strike it.
وَقَالَAnd saidآخَرُ:another:امْضِGo onفَإِنِّيfor indeed Iأَتْبَعُكَ.will follow you.
And another said: Go ahead, for I will follow you.
فَمَاSoعَلِمْتُI knewمَاwhatأُخَاطِبُهُمْto address themبِهِwithمِنَout ofالْحَنَقِfuryعَلَيْهِمْ،against them.
So I did not know what to address them with out of fury against them,
فَإِذَاwhen suddenlyالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munقَدْhadصَوَّتَcalledبِيmeوَأَنَاwhile I wasأَقْذِفُcursingأُمَّهَاتِهِمْ.their mothers.
when suddenly al-Ma'mun called me while I was cursing their mothers.
فَأَتَيْتُهُSo I came to himوَهُوَwhile he wasيَضْحَكُ.laughing.
So I came to him while he was laughing.
فَقَالَ:So he said:ارْفُقْBe gentleبِهِمْwith themفَإِنَّهُمْfor indeed they areبَشَرٌmortalsمِثْلُكَ.like you.
So he said: Be gentle with them, for indeed they are mortals like you.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:تَقُولُDo you sayهَذَاthisوَأَنْتَwhile you areمُعَلَّقُwith suspendedالْيَدِ؟hand?
So I said: Do you say this while your hand is suspended?
فَقَالَ:He said:وَهَذَاAnd is thisمُعَاشَرَتُكَyour way of consorting withخَدَمِكَ؟your servants?
He said: And is this your way of consorting with your servants?
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:وَاللَّهِBy Allahلَوْifفَعَلَhad doneبِيto meهَذَاthisوَلَدِيmy sonمِنْinstead ofدُونِmyخَدَمِيservantsلَقَتَلْتُهُ!I would have killed him!
So I said: By Allah, if my own son had done this to me instead of my servants, I would have killed him!
قَالَ:He said:هَذِهِThese areأَخْلَاقُthe morals ofالسُّوقَةِthe common folkوَأَخْلَاقُنَاand our moralsأَخْلَاقُare the morals ofالْمُلُوكِ.kings.
He said: These are the morals of the common folk, and our morals are the morals of kings.
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:لَاNoوَاللَّهِby Allahمَاthese are notهَذِهِthe morals ofأَخْلَاقُkingsالْمُلُوكِnor the morals ofوَلَاthe Prophetsأَخْلَاقُpeace be uponالْأَنْبِيَاءِthem.عَلَيْهِمُpeaceالسَّلَامُ.be upon them.
So I said: No, by Allah, these are neither the morals of kings nor the morals of the Prophets, peace be upon them.
وَقَالَAnd saidثُمَامَةُThumamahبْنُson ofأَشْرَسَ:Ashras:
And Thumamah ibn Ashras said:
وَاللَّهِBy Allahإِنِّيverily Iلَفِيwas inمَجْلِسِthe assembly ofالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'mun
By Allah, verily I was in the assembly of al-Ma'mun
وَعِنْدَهُand with him wereعَمْرُوAmrبْنُson ofمَسْعَدَةَMas'adahوَأَبُوand AbuعَبَّادٍAbbadوَالْعَبَّاسِيُّand al-Abbasiوَمُحَمَّدُand Muhammadبْنُson ofأَبِيAbuمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadالْيَزِيدِيُّal-Yazidi
and with him were Amr ibn Mas'adah, Abu Abbad, al-Abbasi, and Muhammad ibn Abu Muhammad al-Yazidi
إِذْwhenدَخَلَenteredعَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofصَالِحٍSalihفَقَالَ:and said:
when Ali ibn Salih entered and said:
مُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُson ofالْفَضْلِal-Fadlبْنِson ofسُلَيْمَانَSulaymanالطُّوسِيُّal-Tusiبِالْبَابِ.is at the door.
Muhammad ibn al-Fadl ibn Sulayman al-Tusi is at the door.
قَالَ:He said:يَدْخُلُ.Let him enter.
He said: Let him enter.
فَدَخَلَSo he enteredوَسَلَّمَand greetedوَفِيand inيَدِهِhis handكِتَابٌwas a letterفَأَشَارَso he pointedبِهِwith itإِلَىtowardالْمَأْمُونِ.al-Ma'mun.
So he entered and gave greetings, and in his hand was a letter, which he pointed toward al-Ma'mun.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَأْمُونُ:al-Ma'mun:اذْكُرْMentionمَاwhatفِيهِ.is in it.
So al-Ma'mun said: State what is in it.
فَقَالَ:So he said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulجَعَلَنِيmay Allah make meاللَّهُAllahفِدَاكَyour ransomسِرٌّit is a secretمِنْofأَسْرَارِthe secrets ofالْخَلِيفَةِthe Caliph
So he said: O Commander of the Faithful, may Allah make me your ransom! It is a secret among the secrets of the Caliph
لَاthat does notيَحْتَمِلُbearإِذَاعَتَهُ!its disclosure!
that cannot bear its disclosure!
قَالَ:He said:وَإِنْEven ifكَانَit beذَلِكَthatفَاذْكُرْهُ.mention it.
He said: Even if it be that, mention it.
قَالَ:He said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe FaithfulلَسْتُI am notفَاعِلًا!doing so!
He said: O Commander of the Faithful, I will not do it!
قَالَ:He said:يَاOهَذَاmanمَاthere is notبِحَضْرَتِنَاin our presenceمَنْanyone from whomنَكْتُمُهُwe concealأَسْرَارَنَاour secretsفَأَبْدِso discloseمَاwhatعِنْدَكَ.you have.
He said: O man, there is no one in our presence from whom we conceal our secrets, so disclose what you have.
فَأَعَادَSo repeatedمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُson ofالْفَضْلِal-Fadlمِثْلَthe like ofقَوْلِهِhis sayingالْأَوَّلِfirstوَالثَّانِي.and second.
So Muhammad ibn al-Fadl repeated the like of his first and second statements.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munإِنِّيverily Iلَأَعْلَمُknow wellمَاwhatفِيis inكِتَابِكَ!your letter!
So al-Ma'mun said: Verily, I well know what is in your letter!
قَالَ:He said:هَذِهِThis isكِهَانَةٌ!divination!
He said: This is divination!
قَالَ:He said:فَنَزَلَSo descendedالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munعَنْfromفُرُشِهِhis cushions
He said: So al-Ma'mun stepped down from his cushions
وَرَفَعَand raisedسِتْرًاa curtainكَانَthat wasفِيinظَهْرِthe back ofمَجْلِسِهِhis assembly
and lifted a curtain that was at the back of his assembly
وَدَخَلَand enteredوَأَشَارَand motionedإِلَيْنَاto usوَقَالَ:and said:لَاDo notتَبْرَحُوا.budge.
and entered and motioned to us, saying: Do not budge.
فَجَاءَSo cameعَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofصَالِحٍSalihفَأَخَذَand tookبِيَدِthe hand ofالطُّوسِيِّal-Tusiوَقَالَ:and said:
So Ali ibn Salih came and took al-Tusi by the hand and said:
قُمْStand upفَأَنْتَfor you areأَشْأَمُmore ill-omenedمِنَthanالْبَسُوسِ.al-Basus.
Stand up, for you are more ill-omened than al-Basus.
فَأَقْعَدَهُSo he seated himخَلْفَbehindحَائِطٍa wallبِقُرْبِnearالْمَجْلِسِthe assembly
So he seated him behind a wall near the assembly
لِكَيْso thatإِنْifخَرَجَhe came outلَاhe would notيَرَاهُsee himوَإِنْand ifدَعَاهُhe called himأَحْضَرَهُ.he would bring him forth.
so that if he came out he would not see him, and if he called him, he would bring him forth.
قَالَ:He said:فَجَعَلَSo beganكُلُّeachوَاحِدٍoneمِنَّاof usيَرْجُفُtrembling withبِجِنْسٍa sortمِنَofالْمَكْرُوهِdreadوَكُلُّنَاand all of usخَائِفُونَwere fearfulعَلَيْهِ،for him.
He said: So each one of us began trembling with a sort of dread, and all of us were fearful for him.
فَوَاحِدٌFor oneيَقُولُ:says:يَأْخُذُHe will takeالسَّاعَةَat onceأَمْوَالَهُhis wealthوَيُنْفِيهِ.and exile him.
For one says: He will seize his wealth right now and exile him.
وَآخَرُAnd anotherيَقُولُ:says:يَضْرِبُHe will strikeعُنُقَهُ.his neck.
And another says: He will strike off his neck.
قَالَ:He said:فَأَبْطَأَThen tarriedعَلَيْنَاupon usالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munثُمَّthenخَرَجَhe came outوَوَجْهُهُwhile his face wasمُسْفِرٌradiantضَاحِكَةٌsmilingسِنُّهُ،his teeth,
He said: Then al-Ma'mun tarried away from us, after which he came out with his face radiant and his teeth smiling,
فَقَالَ:and said:سَمِعْتُمْDid you hearمَاwhatكَلَّمَنِيspoke to me withبِهِofهَذَاthisالْخَائِنُ،traitor?
and said: Did you hear what this traitor spoke to me with?
إِنَّهُVerilyوَاللَّهِby Allahلَمَّاwhenبَلَغَreachedمِنِّيmeكَلَامُهُhis speechلَمْI didأَجِدْfindبُدًّاan alternativeوَلَاnorدَوَاءًremedyإِلَّاexceptمُلَاعَبَةَdallying withالْجَوَارِيslave-girlsوَالنِّسَاءِand womenلِيَزُولَso that there might departعَنِّيfrom meمَاwhatقَدْhadتَادَاخَلَنِي،overcome me.
Verily, by Allah, when his speech reached me, I found no alternative or remedy except dallying with slave-girls and women so that what had overcome me might depart from me.
وَقَدْAnd indeedأَسْمَعَنِيhe made me hearمَاwhatأَكْرَهُI dislikeبِضْعَsomeعَشْرَةَtenمَرَّةًtimesوَاحْتَمَلْتُهُ.1and I bore it with patience.
And indeed he made me hear what I dislike some ten times, and I bore it with patience.
مَسَاوِئُEvils ofمَنْwhoeverسَخِطَis displeased withعَلَيْهِhimوَحُبِسَand is imprisoned
Evils of whoever is displeased with him and is imprisoned
فِيInالْحَدِيثِthe traditionالْمَرْفُوعِelevated to the Prophetقَالَ:it is said:
In the elevated tradition it is said:
شَكَاcomplainedيُوسُفُ،Joseph,عَلَيْهِupon himالسَّلَامُ،peace,إِلَىtoرَبِّهِhis LordجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyطُولَthe length ofالْحَبْسِimprisonment
Joseph, peace be upon him, complained to his Lord, Majestic and Mighty, of the length of his imprisonment,
وَأَوْحَىand revealedاللَّهُAllahتَبَارَكَBlessedوَتَعَالَىand Exalted be Heإِلَيْهِ:to him:
and Allah, Blessed and Exalted be He, revealed to him:
أَنْتَYouحَبَسْتَimprisonedنَفْسَكَyourselfحَيْثُwhenقُلْتَyou saidرَبِّMy Lordالسِّجْنُthe prisonأَحَبُّis more belovedإِلَيَّto meمِمَّاthan that whichيَدْعُونَنِيthey call meإِلَيْهِ،to,
You imprisoned yourself when you said: My Lord, the prison is more beloved to me than that which they call me to,
وَلَوْand hadقُلْتَyou saidالْعَافِيَةُwell-beingأَحَبُّis more belovedإِلَيَّto meعُوفيْتَ.you would have been granted well-being.
and had you said: Well-being is more beloved to me, you would have been granted well-being.
قَالَ:He said:وَكَتَبَAnd wroteيُوسُفُJosephعَلَىonبَابِthe door ofالسِّجْنِ:the prison:
He said: And Joseph wrote on the door of the prison:
هَذِهِThese areمَنَازِلُthe abodes ofالْبَلْوَىtrialsوَقُبُورُand the graves ofالْأَحْيَاءِthe livingوَشَمَاتَةُand the gloating ofالْأَعْدَاءِenemiesوَتَجْرِبَةُand the testing ofالْأَصْدِقَاءِ.friends.
These are the abodes of trials, the graves of the living, the gloating of enemies, and the testing of friends.
وَدَعَاAnd he prayedلِأَهْلِfor the people ofالْحَبْسِimprisonmentبِدَعْوَتَيْنِwith two supplicationsهُمَاthat areمَعْرُوفَتَانِknownفِيهِمْamong themإِلَىuntilالْيَوْمِ:today:
And he prayed for the prisoners with two supplications that remain known among them to this day:
اللَّهُمَّO Allahاعْطِفْturnعَلَيْهِمْtoward themقُلُوبَthe hearts ofالْأَخْيَارِthe righteousوَلَاand do notتَعْمَblindعَلَيْهِمُto themالْأَخْبَارَ.the news.
O Allah, turn the hearts of the righteous toward them and do not keep the news hidden from them.
فَكُلُّSo allالنَّاسِpeopleيَرْحَمُونَهُمْhave mercy on themوَالْأَخْبَارُand newsمِنْfromكُلِّeveryجِهَةٍdirectionعِنْدَهُمْ.is with them.
So all people have mercy on them, and news from every direction reaches them.
قَالَ:He said:وَلَمَّاAnd whenخَرَجَcame outجَعْفَرٌJa'farالْأَحْمَرِيُّal-Ahmariمِنَfromالْحَبْسِprison
He said: And when Ja'far al-Ahmari came out of prison
وَأُدْخِلَand was brought inعَلَىbeforeالْمَهْدِيِّal-Mahdiفِيinالْحَدِيدِironsقَالَhe saidلَهُ:to him:
and was brought before al-Mahdi in irons, he said to him:
يَاOفَاسِقُdissolute oneأَزَلَّكَcaused you to slipالشَّيْطَانُSatanوَأَغْوَاكَ،and led you astray,
O dissolute one, Satan caused you to slip and led you astray,
وَفِيand intoغَمْرَةِthe depths ofالْجَهْلِignoranceأَرْدَاكَ،he cast you down,
and into the depths of ignorance he cast you down,
وَعَنِand fromالْهُدَىguidanceبَعْدَafterالْبَصِيرَةِinsightأَعْمَاكَ،he blinded you,
and from guidance after insight he blinded you,
حَتَّىuntilتَرَكْتَyou abandonedالطَّرِيقَةَthe pathوَدَخَلْتَand enteredفِيمَاinto that whichلَاhas noأَصْلَfoundationلَهُfor itوَلَاnorحَقِيقَةَ،reality,
until you abandoned the path and entered into that which has no foundation or reality,
كَيْفَhowرَأَيْتَdid you seeاللَّهَAllahكَشَفَexposeأَمْرَكَyour affairوَأَعْلَنَand publicizeفِسْقَكَyour wickednessوَأَضْهَرَand revealمَاwhatكُنْتَyou wereتُخْفِيconcealingمِنْofسَقَمِthe sickness ofسَرِيرَتِكَyour inner selfوَخُبْثِand the malice ofنِيَّتِكَyour intention
how did you see Allah expose your affair, publicize your wickedness, and reveal what you were concealing of the sickness of your inner self and the malice of your intention,
فَأَوْرَدَكَso He led you down toحَوْضَthe pool ofمَنِيَّتِكَyour doomوَذَلِكَand that isبِمَاbecause of whatقَدَّمَتْsent forthيَدَاكَyour handsوَمَاand Allah is notاللَّهُAllahبِظَلَّامٍunjustلِلْعَبِيدِ!to the servants!
leading you down to the pool of your doom? That is because of what your hands sent forth, and Allah is not unjust to the servants!
قَالَSaidجَعْفَرٌ:Ja'far:لَاNoوَالَّذِيby the One whoلَمْhas notيَزَلْceased toبِعِبَادِهِwith His servantsخَبِيرًا،be All-Aware,
Ja'far said: No, by the One who has ever been All-Aware of His servants,
وَبَعَثَand who sent forthمُحَمَّدًا،Muhammad,عَلَيْهِupon himوَعَلَىand uponآلِهِhis familyالسَّلَامُ،peace,بِالْحَقِّwith the truthبَشِيرًا،as a bearer of glad tidings,
and sent forth Muhammad, peace be upon him and his family, with the truth as a bearer of glad tidings,
طَهَّرَwho purifiedأَهْلَهُhis householdمِنْfromدَنَسِthe defilement ofالرَّيْبِdoubtتَطْهِيرًا،a thorough purification,
who purified his household from the defilement of doubt with a thorough purification,
وَوَقَفَنِيand made me standبَيْنَbetweenيَدَيْكَyour handsأَسِيرًا،as a captive,
and made me stand as a captive between your hands,
وَجَعَلَكَand made youعَلَيْنَاover usسُلْطَانًاa sovereignأَمِيرًا،ruler,
and made you a sovereign ruler over us,
مَاI have notخُنْتُbetrayedالْإِسْلَامَIslamنَقِيرًا،even to the speck on a date-stone,
I have not betrayed Islam even to the speck on a date-stone,
وَلَاnorأَضْلَلْتُled astrayالْهُدَىguidanceمُنْذُsinceكُنْتُI have beenبَصِيرًا،endowed with sight,
nor have I led guidance astray since I have been endowed with sight,
فَلَاso do notتُقَدِّمْadvanceعَلَيَّagainst meبِالشُّبْهَةِupon suspicionتَقْدِيرًا،arbitrarily,
so do not proceed against me arbitrarily upon suspicion,
بِسَعْيِdue to the effort ofسَاعٍan instigatorسَوْفَwho willيَجْزِيrepayبِسَعْيِهِfor his effortسَعِيرًا.with the Blaze.
due to the effort of an instigator who will be repaid for his effort with the Blaze.
فَقَالَSo saidالْمَهْدِيُّ:al-Mahdi:مَاWhatيُغْنِيdoes availعَنْكَyouوَسْوَاسُكَ،your whispering,
So al-Mahdi said: What does your whispering avail you,
فَمَاand what isتَهْذِيthis ravingمِنْfromأُمِّthe crown ofرَأْسِكَ،your head,
and what is this raving from the crown of your head,
قَدْalreadyتَنَاهَتْhave reachedإِلَيَّmeأَخْبَارُكَ،your reports,
already your reports have reached me,
وَأَدَّاهَاand delivered themمَنْone whoكَانَwasيَقْفُوtracingآثَارَكَ،your footsteps,
and delivered them one who was tracing your footsteps,
وَيَعْرِفُand knowsأَسْرَارَكَ،your secrets,
and knows your secrets,
وَمَنْand whoeverبَايَعَكَswore allegiance to youمِنْamongأَعْوَانِكَyour helpersالَّذِينَwhoوَازَرُوكَsupported youعَلَىinضَلَالِكَ،your straying,
and whoever swore allegiance to you among your helpers who supported you in your straying?
فَأَقْلِلْ،So lessenلَاmayأُمَّyour motherلَكَ،have no mother,تَشَجُّعَكَ،your bravado,
So lessen your bravado, may your mother have no mother,
فَقَدْfor indeedحَلَّhas befallenقَضَاؤُكَ،your decree,وَحَانَand has drawn nearحَصَادُكَ.your harvest.
for indeed your decree has befallen, and your harvest has drawn near.
فَقَالَSo saidجَعْفَرٌ:Ja'far:إِنْIfتَقْتُلْنِيyou kill meتَقْتُلْyou killمِنِّيin meعِلْمًاknowledgeفَلَاso do notتَجْعَلْmakeلِيfor meعَلَىuponظَهْرِكَyour backوِزْرًاa burdenفَأَصِيرَthat I may becomeلَكَfor youيَوْمَon the Day ofالْقِيَامَةِResurrectionخَصْمًا،an adversary,
So Ja'far said: If you kill me, you kill knowledge in me, so do not take upon your back a burden that I may become an adversary for you on the Day of Resurrection,
وَأَنْتَwhile youتَعْلَمُknowأَنَّكَthat youلَاdo notتَجِيءُbringبِقَتْلِيby killing meعَدْلًاjusticeوَلَاnorتَنَالُattainبِهِtherebyفَضْلًا،virtue,
while you know that by killing me you do not bring justice nor attain virtue thereby.
فَاتَّقِSo fearالَّذِيthe One whoخَلَقَكَcreated youوَأَمَرَand commandedعِبَادَهُHis servantsمُلْكَكَwith your sovereigntyوَبِالْعَدْلِand with justiceفِيهِمْamong themأَمَرَكَ،He commanded you,
So fear the One who created you, and commanded His servants regarding your sovereignty, and commanded you with justice among them.
وَلَاAnd do notتَحْكُمْjudgeعَلَيَّagainst meبِحُكْمٍwith a judgmentعَنِfromالْهُدَىguidanceمَائِلٍ،deviating,
And do not judge against me with a judgment deviating from guidance,
فَإِنَّكَfor indeed you areلِلدُّنْيَاto the worldمُفَارِقٌa parting oneوَعَنْهَاand from itرَاحِلٌ،a departing one,
for indeed you are parting from the world and departing from it,
وَكُلُّand everythingمَاthatأَنْتَyouفِيهِare inفَمَضْمَحِلٌّis perishingزَائِلٌ.and vanishing.
and everything that you are in is perishing and vanishing.
Footnotes
- 1.هَذَا الْعُنْوَانُ مَنْقُولٌ مِنْ نُسْخَةِ الْكِتَابِ الْأَصْلِيَّةِ وَيُعَبِّرُ عَنْ مَضْمُونِ مَا تَقَدَّمَ.
This title is transcribed from the original manuscript of the book and expresses the content of the preceding text.