قَالَSaidلَهُto himالْمَهْدِيُّAl-Mahdiتُطَالِبُنِيyou demand from meوَأَنْتَwhile you areالْمَطْلُوبُthe one sought
Al-Mahdi said to him: You demand from me while you are the one sought,
وَبِبَاطِلِكَand with your falsehoodتَغْلِبُyou overcomeحَقِّيmy rightوَأَنْتَwhile you areالْمَغْلُوبُthe defeated
and with your falsehood you overcome my right while you are the defeated.
الْآنَNowظَهَرَhas appearedفَسَادُكَyour corruption
Now your corruption has appeared,
وَبَلَغَand has maturedغَرْسُكَyour planting
and your planting has matured,
وَدَبَّتْand have crawledعَقَارِبُكَyour scorpions
and your scorpions have crawled,
اللَّهُمَّO Allahإِلَّاexceptأَنْthatتُقِرَّyou confessبِذَنْبِكَto your sin
unless you confess to your sin,
وَتَعْتَرِفَand acknowledgeبِجُرْمِكَyour crime
acknowledge your crime,
وَتَتُوبَand repentإِلَىtoرَبِّكَyour Lord
repent to your Lord,
وَتَحْقُنَand spareبِالْإِنَابَةِby turning back in repentanceدَمَكَyour blood
and spare your blood through repentance.
فَإِنْFor ifفَعَلْتَyou didذَلِكَthatأَمَهْلَنَاwe would delayأَمْرَكَyour matter
If you do that, we will delay your matter,
وَأَطَلْنَاand prolongحَبْسَكَyour imprisonment
prolong your imprisonment,
وَإِلَّاand otherwiseفَاحْتَسِبْthen reckonنَفْسَكَyour soul
and otherwise reckon your soul [as lost],
وَلَاand do notتَلُمْblameإِلَّاexceptجَهْلَكَyour ignorance
and blame no one except your ignorance.
قَالَSaidجَعْفَرٌJa'far
Ja'far said:
مَاnotلِيfor meذَنْبٌis a sinفَأَسْتَغْفِرَthat I should seek forgiveness
I have no sin to seek forgiveness for,
وَلَاnorجُرْمٌa crimeفَأَعْتَرِفَthat I should confess
nor a crime to confess,
وَلَاnorلِيfor meبِكَagainst youقُوَّةٌis powerفَأَنْتَصِرَthat I might triumph
nor do I have the power against you to triumph,
وَأَنْتَwhile you areعَلَىoverظُلْمِيmy oppressionمُقْتَدِرٌcapable
and you are capable of oppressing me.
فَإِنْSo ifكُنْتَyou knowتَعْلَمُyou knowأَنَّthatمَاwhat isبَعْدَafterالْمَوْتِdeathمَصْدَرٌa destination
If you know that after death there is a destination,
وَلَاnorلِلْعِبَادِfor the servantsبَعْدَafterالْبِلَىdecayمَحْشَرٌa gathering
and for the servants after decay there is no gathering,
وَلَاnorلِلظَّالِمِfor the oppressorمَوْعِدٌis an appointed timeيُخَافُit is fearedمِنْهُfrom itوَيُحْذَرُand warned against
nor for the oppressor is there an appointed time to be feared and guarded against,
فَاعْمَلْthen doمِنْofهَذَاthisمَاwhatشِئْتَyou willوَاسْتَكْثِرْand do abundantly
then do of this whatever you wish and do it abundantly.
قَالَSaidالْمَهْدِيُّAl-Mahdi
Al-Mahdi said:
لَاNoوَالَّذِيby the One Whoبِمَكَّةَin Makkahبَيْتُهُis His Houseالْحَرَامُthe Sacred
No, by the One Whose House in Makkah is the Sacred House,
وَحَوْلَهُand around itالشُّعُثُthe disheveledالْعَاكِفُونَthose devoted in worshipقِيَامٌstanding
and around it the disheveled devotees standing in worship,
مَاI do notأَخْشَىfearفِيinإِقَامَةِestablishingالْأَحْكَامِthe rulings
I do not fear in establishing the rulings
عَلَيْكَagainst youوَعَلَىand againstأَشْبَاهِكَyour likesإِثْماًany sinوَلَاnorزُوراًfalsehood
against you and your likes any sin or falsehood.
فَاسْتَسْلِمْSo surrenderلِلْقَتْلِto deathوَدَعِand leaveالْكَلَامَspeech
So surrender to death and leave off talking,
فَإِنَّهُfor indeedإِذَاwhenعُقِرَis underminedالْأَسَاسُthe foundationتَدَاعَىcollapsesالنِّظَامُthe system
for when the foundation is undermined, the system collapses,
وَإِذَاand whenانْكَسَرَتِis brokenالْقَوْسُthe bowتَعَطَّلَتِare disabledالسِّهَامُthe arrows
and when the bow is broken, the arrows are disabled.
وَأَنْتَAnd youفَطَالَfor longمَاwhatأَعَنْتَyou aidedعَلَىinإِطْفَاءِextinguishingالنُّورِthe lightبِرِيحِwith the windالظَّلَامِof darkness
And you, for long have you aided in extinguishing the light with the wind of darkness.
قَالَSaidجَعْفَرٌJa'far
Ja'far said:
اعْفُPardonفَإِنَّكَfor you areكَرِيمٌgenerousجَوَادٌmunificentسَامِحٌforgiving
Pardon, for you are generous, munificent, and forgiving,
وَلَاand do notتَقْبَلْacceptفِيَّconcerning meقَوْلَthe statementالْعَدُوِّof the enemyالْكَاشِحِhostile and malicious
and do not accept concerning me the word of a hostile and malicious enemy,
فَإِنِّيfor indeed I amمِنَuponالْإِسْلَامِIslamعَلَىonالطَّرِيقِthe pathالْوَاضِحِclear
for indeed I am upon the clear path of Islam,
رَفِيقٌgentleعَلَىtoأَهْلِهِits peopleوَلَهُمْand for themنَاصِحٌwell-wishing
gentle to its people and well-wishing toward them,
أَبَرُّmost righteousالْعَالَمِينَof peopleبِفَهْمٍwith understandingرَاجِحٍsound
the most righteous of people with sound understanding,
فَلَاso do notتُقَدِّمْput forwardعَلَيَّagainst meبَقَوْلِthe word ofكَلْبٍa dogنَابِحٍbarking
so do not prefer against me the word of a barking dog,
فَقَتْلُكَfor your killingإِيَّايَof meعَمَلٌis an actغَيْرُnotصَالِحٍrighteous
for your killing of me is an unrighteous act.
قَالَSaidالْمَهْدِيُّAl-Mahdi
Al-Mahdi said:
مَذْهَبُكَYour doctrineوَاعْتِقَادُكَand your beliefتَزْعُمُyou claim
Your doctrine and your belief—you claim
أَنَّthatالْآخِرَةَthe hereafterبَعْدَis afterفِرَاقِparting fromالسَّاهِرَةِthis earthly life
that the hereafter is after departing from this earthly life,
وَأَنَّand thatالنَّاسَpeopleكَانُواwereأَعْلَاماًlandmarksزَاهِرَةًblooming
and that people were blooming landmarks,
وَأَشْجَاراًand treesنَاضِرَةًfresh
fresh trees,
وَزُرُوعاًand cropsغَاضِرَةًlush
lush crops,
تَلْبَثُthey lingerيَسِيراًbrieflyثُمَّthenتَعُودُthey returnهَشِيماًstubbles
lingering briefly then returning as scattered stubble,
وَإِنَّand thatمَنْwhoeverمَاتَdiesلَاdoes notيَعُودُreturn
and that whoever dies does not return,
كَمَاjust asأَنَّthatضَوْءَthe lightالْمِصْبَاحِof the lampإِذَاwhenطُفِئَit is extinguishedلَاdoes notيَرْجِعُreturn
just as the light of a lamp, when extinguished, does not return.
قَالَSaidجَعْفَرٌJa'far
Ja'far said:
لَاNoوَالَّذِيby the One Whoيَخْلُقُcreatesوَيُبِيدُand destroys
No, by the One Who creates and destroys,
وَهُوَand He isأَقْرَبُcloserإِلَيْنَاto usمِنْthanحَبْلِthe veinالْوَرِيدِjugular
and He is closer to us than the jugular vein,
مَاI did notقُلْتُsayذَلِكَthatوَهُوَwhile He isلَهُto itشَهِيدٌwitness
I did not say that, and He is a witness to it.
وَإِنِّيAnd indeed Iأُخْلِصُdedicate purelyلَهُto Himالتَّوْحِيدَthe Onenessوَالتَّفْرِيدَand uniquenessوَالْمَشِيَّةَand willوَالتَّحْدِيدَand delimitation
And I dedicate purely to Him His Oneness, uniqueness, will, and delimitation,
وَأَشْهَدُand I bear witnessأَنَّهُthat He isالْغَفُورُthe Forgivingالْوَدُودُthe Loving
and I bear witness that He is the Forgiving, the Loving,
يَعْلَمُHe knowsمُنْقَلَبَthe returnالْعَبِيدِof the servants
He knows the ultimate return of the servants.
قَالَSaidالْمَهْدِيُّAl-Mahdi
Al-Mahdi said:
إِنْIfكُنْتَyou wishتُحِبُّyou loveخَلَاصَsalvationنَفْسِكَof your soulوَرَقَبَتِكَand your neck
If you love the salvation of your soul and your neck,
فَأَحْضِرْنِيthen bring to meكِتَابَthe bookزَنْدَقَتِكَof your heresy
then bring to me the book of your heresy
الَّذِيwhichبِالْجَهْلِin ignoranceأَلَّفْتَهُyou authored
which you authored in ignorance,
وَبِالْبَاطِلِwith falsehoodزَيَّنْتَهُyou adorned it
adorned it with falsehood,
وَبِالضَّلَالِwith misguidanceزَخْرَفْتَهُyou embellished it
and embellished it with misguidance,
سَمَّيْتَهُyou named itأُسَّThe Foundation ofالْحِكْمَةِWisdomوَبُسْتَانَand the Garden ofالْفَلْسَفَةِPhilosophy
having named it 'The Foundation of Wisdom and the Garden of Philosophy',
زَعَمْتَهُyou claimed itمُسْتَخْرَجاًextractedمِنْfromدِيوَانِthe registerالْإِلْهَامِof divine inspiration
claiming it was extracted from the register of divine inspiration,
مُنَظَّماًcomposedبِحُسْنِwith beauty ofالْكَلَامِspeech
composed with eloquent speech,
عَنَّفْتَyou attackedفِيهِin itالْإِسْلَامَIslam
in which you attacked Islam
وَأَضْلَلْتَand led astrayفِيهِin itالْأَنَامَmankind
and led mankind astray therein.
فَقَالَThen saidجَعْفَرٌJa'far
Ja'far said:
لَاNoوَالَّذِيby the One Whoخَلَقَcreatedظُلُمَاتِthe darknessوَالنُّورَand the light
No, by the One Who created darkness and light,
وَدَبَّرَand regulatedالْأُمُورَthe affairs
regulated the affairs,
وَهُوَand He isقَادِرٌcapableعَلَىofأَنْthatيَبْعَثَHe resurrectsمَنْwhoeverفِيis inالْقُبُورِthe graves
and is able to resurrect those in the graves,
مَاthis is notهَذَاthisإِلَّاexceptإِفْكٌa fabricationمُجْتَرَحٌinventedوَزُورٌand falsehood
this is nothing but an invented fabrication and falsehood.
وَإِنَّAnd indeedدِينِيmy religionلَظَاهِرٌis manifestمُنِيرٌradiant
And indeed my religion is manifest, radiant,
تَقْدِيمِيmy precedenceذُرِّيَّةُbeing the progeny ofمَنْthe one whoهُوَhe isمَعَwithاللَّهِAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mighty
as my lineage traces back to the progeny of the one who is with Allah, Majestic and Mighty,
فِيinكُلِّeveryفَرْضٍobligatory dutyلَازِمٍbindingإِمَامٌan imamلِلنَّبِيِّينَfor the prophetsفِيinالْبَيْتِthe HouseالْمَعْمُورِFrequented
in every binding obligation, an leader for the prophets in the Frequented House.
فَاتَّقِSo fearالَّذِيthe One Whoخَلَقَكَcreated youوَأَمَرَand commandedعِبَادَكَyour servantsقَلَّدَكَentrusted youيَعْلَمُHe knowsخَفِيَّاتِthe hidden things ofالْأُمُورِmatters
So fear the One Who created you, commanded your servants, entrusted you, and knows the hidden things of matters.
قَالَSaidالْمَهْدِيُّAl-Mahdi
Al-Mahdi said:
وَأَصْفَحُAnd I overlookلَكَfor youعَنْregardingهَذَاthis
I overlook this for you,
فَمَاso what isحُجَّتُكَyour argumentفِيconcerningكِتَابِكَyour bookالَّذِيwhichأَضَلَّled astrayأَهْلَthe people ofالشِّقَاقِdissensionوَالنِّفَاقِand hypocrisy
but what is your argument concerning your book which led astray the people of dissension and hypocrisy,
وَمَنْand whoeverمِنْهُمْamong themفِيinالْأَنْدِيَةِthe gatheringsوَالْأَسْوَاقِand marketplaces
and those among them in the gatherings and marketplaces
يَقْرَؤُُونَهُread itوَيَتَدَارَسُونَهُand study it togetherفِيinالْآفَاقِthe horizons
read it and study it together across the horizons:
أَمَّا"Nowبَعْدُthen,أَعْلَمُكُمْI inform youأَنَّthatاللَّهَAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyعَدْلٌis Just,لَاdoes notيُوَالِيbefriendالظَّالِمِينَthe wrongdoers
'Now then, I inform you that Allah, Majestic and Mighty, is Just, does not befriend the wrongdoers,
وَلَاnorيَرْضَىdoes He approve ofفِعَالَthe deeds ofالْجَاهِلِينَthe ignorant
nor does He approve of the deeds of the ignorant,
وَأَنَّهُand thatلَيْسَis notلِلَّهِto Allahبِوَلِيٍّan allyمَنْwhoeverرَضِيَis satisfied withبِأَحْكَامِthe rulings ofالْجَائِرِينَthe unjust
and that person is no ally of Allah who is satisfied with the rulings of the unjust.
فَسِيحُواSo wanderفِيinالْأَرْضِthe earthحَيْثُwhereلَاnotتَنَالُكُمْwill reach youأَيْدِيthe hands ofالْمُعْتَدِينَthe aggressors
So wander through the earth where the hands of the aggressors cannot reach you,
فَإِنَّfor indeedبَنِيthe Children ofالْعَبَّاسِAbbasطُغَاةٌare tyrantsكَفَرَةٌungrateful
for the Banu al-Abbas are tyrannical, ungrateful,
أَوْلِيَاؤُهُمْtheir alliesفَسَقَةٌare dissoluteوَأَعْوَانُهُمْand their helpersظَلَمَةٌare unjust
their allies are dissolute, and their helpers are unjust.
دَوْلَتُهُمْTheir stateشَرُّis the worst ofالدُّوَلِstates
Their state is the worst of states,
عَجَّلَmay He hastenاللَّهُAllahبَوَارَهُمْtheir ruinوَهَدَمَand demolishمَنَارَهُمْtheir stronghold
may Allah hasten their ruin and demolish their stronghold,
وَالْعَاقِبَةُand the outcomeلِلْمُتَّقِينَis for the righteous
and the outcome is for the righteous.'
قَالَSaidجَعْفَرٌJa'far
Ja'far said:
هَذَاThisوَاللَّهِby Allahبهتَانٌis a slanderعَظِيمٌtremendousجِدّاًvery
This, by Allah, is a very tremendous slander,
قَذَفَنِيhurled against meبِهِwith itقَاذِفٌan accuserعَمْداًintentionally
hurled against me by an accuser intentionally.
وَأَنْتَAnd youتَعْلَمُknowأَنِّيthat Iمَاdid notخَالَفْتُdisobeyلَكُمْto youأَمْراًan order
And you know that I have not disobeyed any order of yours
وَلَاnorغَبْتُwithheldمِنْكُمْfrom youأَحَداًanyone
nor withheld anyone from you.
فَاقْبَلِSo acceptالْمَعْذِرَةَthe excuse
So accept the excuse,
وَأَقِلِoverlookالْعَثْرَةَthe stumble
overlook the stumble,
وَتَغَمَّدِcover overالْهَفْوَةَthe slip
cover over the slip,
وَاغْتَفِرِand forgiveالزَّلَّةَthe error
and forgive the error,
فَإِنَّكَfor you areرَاعٍa shepherdمَسْؤُولٌaccountable
for you are a shepherd who is accountable.
قَالَSaidالْمَهْدِيُّAl-Mahdi
Al-Mahdi said:
أَوَلَمْHave I notأُبَلَّغْbeen informedأَنَّكَthat youفِيamongالْغُوغَاءِthe rabble
Have I not been informed that you among the rabble
تَحُضُّهُمْincite themعَلَىtoشَقِّsplittingالْعَصَاthe staff [unity]
incite them to breaking unity
وَمُخَالَفَةِand opposingالْأَمْرِthe command
and opposing the command,
وَتَحِيدُهُمْand turning them awayعَنْfromطَاعَةِobedience toالْخُلَفَاءِthe caliphs
and turning them away from obedience to the caliphs?
فَأَيُّSo whatدَاهِيَةٍcalamityأَدْهَىis more calamitousمِنْكَthan you?
So what calamity is more severe than you?
قَالَSaidجَعْفَرٌJa'far
Ja'far said:
مَاYou were notبُلِّغْتَinformed ofحَقّاًthe truth
You were not informed of the truth,
وَلَقَدْand indeedطَوَىconcealedالنَّصِيحَةَsincere adviceمَنْthe one whoأَوْدَعَlodgedقَلْبَكَin your heartبُهْتاناًslanderوَإِفْكاًand fabrication
and indeed the one who lodged slander and fabrication in your heart has concealed the truth.
فَلَاSo do notتَقْبَلْacceptفِيَّregarding meقَوْلَthe word ofمَنْhe whoظَلَمَoppressedوَاعْتَدَىand transgressed
So do not accept concerning me the word of one who oppressed and transgressed,
وَبِفَسَادِيand in my corruptionإِلَيْكَto youسَعَىstrove
and strove to bring about my corruption before you,
فَإِنَّfor indeedاللَّهَAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyسَائِلُهُwill question himيَوْمَon the dayيَوَدُّwhen will wishالظَّالِمُthe wrongdoerيَا"Oلَيْتَنِيwould thatلَمْnotأَكُنْI had beenأَمِيراًa ruler
for Allah, Majestic and Mighty, will question him on the day when the wrongdoer will wish: 'O would that I had not been a ruler,
وَلَاnorكَانَhad beenالْمُضِلُّthe misleaderلَهُfor himوَزِيراًa vizier.'
nor had the misleader been a vizier for me!'
قَالَSaidالْمَهْدِيُّAl-Mahdi
Al-Mahdi said:
إِنَّكَIndeed youلَجَاهِلٌare ignorantأَنْtoتُقِيمَstraightenاعْوِجَاجَكَyour crookednessبِكَثْرَةِwith an abundance ofاحْتِجَاجِكَyour argumentation
Indeed, you are ignorant to think you can straighten your crookedness with an abundance of your argumentation.
هَيْهَاتَFar from itلَاdoes notيُكَدِّرُcloudصَفوَتِيmy serenityمزاجُكَyour temperament
Far from it! Your temperament will not cloud my serenity.
وَقَدْAndقِيلَit has been said
It has been said:
مَنْWhoeverظَفِرَcapturesبِحَيَّةٍa snakeلَاdoes notيَأْمَنُfeel safe fromلَسْعَهَاits sting
'Whoever captures a snake but does not feel safe from its sting,
ثُمَّthenلَمْdoes notيَشْدُخْcrushرَأْسَهَاits headكَانَتْit will beسَبَبَthe cause ofحَتْفِهِhis doom.'
then does not crush its head, it will be the cause of his doom.'
وَلَعَمْرِيAnd by my lifeإِنَّindeedمَنْhe whoيَكُونُhasلَهُfor himعَدُوٌّan enemyمِثْلُكَlike you
And by my life, whoever has an enemy like you,
يَرْقُبُwatching forغُرَّتَهُhis heedlessnessوَيَنْتَظِرُand waiting forفَوْرَتَهُhis outburst
watching for his heedlessness and waiting for his outburst,
وَلَاand does notيُطْلِقُreleaseيَدَهُhis handبِقَتْلِهِby killing himلَعَاجِزٌis truly incapable
and does not unleash his hand to kill him, is truly incapable.
قَالَSaidجَعْفَرٌJa'far
Ja'far said:
وَمَاAnd what isبَلَغَthe extent ofاللَّهِAllah'sبِقَدْرِpower regardingالنَّمْلَةِthe antوَنِكَايَةِand the sting ofالنَّحْلَةِthe bee
What amounts the power of God to the ant and the sting of the bee?
وَإِنَّمَاAnd indeedيَكْتَفِيsufficesمِثْلِيthe likes of meمِنْfromمِثْلِكَthe likes of youبِلَحْظَةٍby a glance
The likes of me need only a glance from the likes of you.
فَالْكُرَمَاءُFor the nobleرُحَمَاءُare mercifulبَرَرَةٌand righteous
The noble are merciful and righteous,
وَالْقَسْوَةُand harshnessفِيis inاللِّئَامِthe ignobleالشَّرَرَةِthe wicked
while harshness is found in the ignoble and wicked.
قَالَSaidالْمَهْدِيُّAl-Mahdi
Al-Mahdi said:
مَنْWhoeverتَنْتَهِcome to an endأَيَّامُهُhis daysلَاحَتْappearفِيinالظَّلَامِthe darknessأَعْلَامُهُhis signs
Whoever's days come to an end, his signs appear in the darkness,
وَأَسْرَعَand he hastensبِهِtherebyأَنْtoيَذُوقَtasteحَمَامَهُhis death
and he hastens to taste his death.
يَاOغُلَامُboyسَيْفاًa swordقَاطِعاًsharpوَضَارِباًand a strikerحَاذِقاًskilful
O boy, bring a sharp sword and a skillful executioner!
قَالَSaidجَعْفَرٌJa'far
Ja'far said:
إِنْIfكُنْتَyou believeتُؤْمِنُyou believeبِالْمَعَادِin the Resurrection
If you believe in the Resurrection
وَتَتَّقِيand fearمِنَfromالْحَشْرِthe gatheringيَوْمَon the Day ofالتَّنَادِCalling Out
and fear the gathering on the Day of Calling Out,
يَوْمَthe dayيَجْمَعُwill gatherاللَّهُAllahفِيهِin itالْعِبَادَthe servants
the day Allah will gather the servants therein,
تَعْلَمُyou will knowأَنَّthatطَالِبَthe seeker ofثَأْرِيmy bloodلَكَagainst youبِالْمِرْصَادِin ambush
you will know that the avenger of my blood is in ambush for you.
وَمَنْAnd whoeverلَمْdoes notيَكُنْhaveلَهُfor himفِيinالْمَوْتِdeathخَيْرٌany good
Whoever finds no good in death,
فَلَاthen there isخَيْرَno goodلَهُfor himفِيinالْحَيَاةِlife
there is no good for him in life.
إِنْIfقَدَّمْتَنِيyou put me forwardأَمَامَكَbefore you
If you put me forward before you,
فَأَنَاthen I amقَاعِدٌwaitingلَكَfor youعَلَىonالْجَادَّةِthe path
then I am waiting for you on the path
الَّتِيwhichلَيْسَthere is notعَنْهَاfrom itمَرْحَلٌany escape
from which there is no escape.
الْحَاكِمُThe judgeيَوْمَئِذٍon that dayغَيْرُكَwill be other than you
The judge on that day will be other than you.