وَحَدَّثَAnd narratedالْهَيْثَمُAl-Haythamبْنُson ofالْخَلِيلِAl-Khalilالشِّيَعِيُّ،the Shia,
And Al-Haytham ibn Al-Khalil the Shia narrated,
وَكَانَand he wasمُوَكَّلاًappointedبِحَبْسِover the prison ofالْبَرَامِكَةِthe Barmakidsمِنْbyقِبَلِcommand ofهَرْثَمَةَHarthamahبْنِson ofأَعْيَنَ،A'yan,
and he was in charge of the prison of the Barmakids on behalf of Harthamah ibn A'yan,
قَالَ:he said:
he said:
أَتَىCameمَسْرُورٌMasrurالْخَادِمُthe servantالْحَبْسَto the prisonيَوْماًone dayوَمَعَهُand with himخَدَمٌwere servantsفِيinيَدِthe hand ofبَعْضِهِمْsome of themمِنْدِيلٌwas a handkerchiefمَلْفُوفٌwrappedعَلَىaroundشَيْءٍ،something,
Masrur the servant came to the prison one day, and with him were servants, in the hand of one of them was a handkerchief wrapped around something,
فَأَمَرَنِيand he ordered meبِإِخْرَاجِto bring outالْفَضْلِAl-Fadlبْنِson ofيَحْيَى،Yahya,
and he ordered me to bring out Al-Fadl ibn Yahya,
فَأَخْرَجْتُهُ.so I brought him out.
so I brought him out.
فَقَالَ:He said:
He said:
إِنَّIndeedأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulيَقُولُsaysلَكَto you:اصْدُقْنِيTell me the truthوَإِلاَّor elseفَقَدْindeedأَمَرْتُI have orderedمَسْرُوراًMasrurأَنْtoيَضْرِبَكَstrike youمِئَتَيْtwo hundredسَوْطٍ.lashes.
Indeed, the Commander of the Faithful says to you: Tell me the truth, or else I have ordered Masrur to whip you two hundred lashes.
فَنَكَّسَSo he loweredرَأْسَهُhis headسَاعَةً.for a while.
So he lowered his head for a while.
فَقَالَSaidلَهُto himمَسْرُورٌ:Masrur:
Masrur said to him:
يَاOأَبَاAbuالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbas,الرَّأْيُthe best opinionلَكَfor youأَنْis thatلاَyou do notتُؤْثِرَpreferمَالَكَyour wealthعَلَىoverمَهْجَتِكَyour life,
O Abu Al-Abbas, it is advisable for you not to prefer your wealth over your life,
فَإِنِّيfor indeed Iلاَdo notآمَنُfeel secureإِنْifنَفَّذْتُI carry outمَاwhatأَمَرَنِيordered meبِهِwithأَنْthatآتِيَI bringعَلَيْكَ،death upon you,
for I am not sure that if I execute what I was ordered to do, I might destroy you,
وَمَعَand alongهَذَاwith thisفَإِنَّكَif youصِرْتَcomeإِلَىtoرِضَىthe pleasure ofأَمِيرِthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,فَإِنَّthen indeedالْمَالَwealthيَأْتِيكَwill come to youكَمَاjust asأَتَاكَit came to youوَإِنْand ifيَكُit beغَيْرَotherذَلِكَthan that,فَمَاthen whatحَاجَتُكَis your needإِلَىforالْمَالِ؟wealth?
and besides, if you attain the pleasure of the Commander of the Faithful, wealth will come to you as it did before, and if it is otherwise, what is your need for wealth?
فَرَفَعَSo he raisedرَأْسَهُhis headوَقَالَ:and said:
So he raised his head and said:
وَاللَّهِBy Allah,يَاOأَبَاAbuهَاشِمٍHashim,مَاI have notكَذَبْتُlied toأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَلاَnorكَذَبْتُكَ،lied to you.
By Allah, O Abu Hashim, I did not lie to the Commander of the Faithful nor did I lie to you.
لَوْIfكَانَتِwereالدُّنْيَاthe worldلِيmineثُمَّthenخُيِّرْتُI was given a choiceبَيْنَbetweenالْخُرُوجِdepartingمِنْهَاfrom itوَبَيْنَand betweenأَنْbeingأُقْرَعَstruckبِمِقْرَعَةٍwith a whipبِسَبَبِهَاbecause of it,لَاخْتَرْتُI would have chosenالْخُرُوجَdepartureمِنْهَا،from it,
If the world were mine and then I were given a choice between leaving it and being struck with a whip because of it, I would have chosen to leave it,
وَأَمِيرُand the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulيَعْلَمُknowsوَأَنْتَand youتَعْلَمُknowأَنِّيthat Iكُنْتُused toأَصُونُprotectعِرْضِيmy honorبِمَالِيwith my wealth,فَكَيْفَso howأَصُونُcan I protectالْآنَnowنَفْسِيmyselfبِمَالِي!with my wealth!
and the Commander of the Faithful knows, and you know, that I used to protect my honor with my wealth, so how can I now protect myself with my wealth!
فَإِنْSo ifكُنْتُyou wereأُمِرْتَcommandedبِشَيْءٍwith somethingفَامْضِthen proceedلَهُ.with it.
So if you have been commanded to do something, proceed with it.
فَأَمَرَنَاSo he ordered usبِالْمِنْدِيلِregarding the handkerchiefفَنُفِضَand it was shaken outوَسَقَطَand fellمِنْهُfrom itسِيَاطٌwhipsبِثِمَارِهَا،with their knobs,
So he ordered us regarding the handkerchief, and it was shaken out, and whips with their knobs fell from it,
فَضَرَبَهُand he struck himمِئَتَيْtwo hundredسَوْطٍ،lashes,وَتَوَلَّىand undertookضَرْبَهُhis beatingالْخَدَمُthe servantsفَضَرَبُوهُand they struck himأَشَدَّthe most severeضَرْبٍstrikingوَلَمْand they did notيُحْسِنُواknow howأَنْtoيَضْرِبُوهُstrike him properlyفَضَرَبَتْهُso it bruisedالْحُمْرَةُthe rednessوَخِيفَand it was fearedعَلَيْهِ.for him.
and he struck him two hundred lashes, and the servants undertook his beating and struck him very severely, but they did not know how to strike him properly, so it caused heavy bruising and his life was feared for.
فَقِيلَSo it was saidلَهُ:to him:هَاهُنَاHereفَتًىis a young manكَانَwho wasفِيinالْحَبْسِthe prisonهُوَwho isبَصِيرٌexpert inهَذَا.this.
So it was said to him: Here is a young man in the prison who is an expert in this.
فَأَتَيْتُهُSo I came to himفَسَأَلْتُهُand asked himفَقَالَ:and he said:لَعَلَّكَPerhaps you areتُعَالِجُtreatingالْفَضْلَAl-Fadlبْنَson ofيَحْيَىYahyaفَقَدْfor indeedبَلَغَنَاreached usخَبَرُهُ.news of him.
So I went to him and asked him, and he said: Perhaps you are treating Al-Fadl ibn Yahya, for news of him has reached us.
قُلْتُ:I said:نَعَمْ.Yes.
I said: Yes.
قَالَ:He said:فَامْضِSo goبِيwith meإِلَيْهِ.to him.
He said: So take me to him.
قُلْتُ:I said:وَتَجْسَرُAnd do you dareعَلَىto doذَلِكَ؟that?
I said: And do you dare to do that?
قَالَ:He said:نَعَمْYes,وَاللَّهِby Allah,لَوْeven ifقُطِّعْتُ.I were cut into pieces.
He said: Yes, by Allah, even if I were cut into pieces.
فَجِئْتُSo I broughtبِهِhimفَلَمَّاand whenرَآهُhe saw himقَالَ:he said:لَيْسَIt is notبِشَيْءٍ،anything serious,ضُرِبَhe was struckخَمْسِينَfiftyسَوْطاً!lashes!
So I brought him, and when he saw him, he said: It is nothing serious, he was struck fifty lashes!
قُلْنَا:We said:بَلْNay,ضُرِبَhe was struckمِئَتَيْنِ!two hundred!
We said: Nay, he was struck two hundred!
قَالَ:He said:هَذَاThis isأَثَرُthe mark ofخَمْسِينَ،fifty,وَأَحْتَاجُand I needأَنْtoأُنِيمَهُmake him lieعَلَىonبَارِيَّةٍa reed matوَأَدُوسَand tread uponصَدْرَهُ.his chest.
He said: This is the mark of fifty, and I need to make him lie on a reed mat and tread upon his chest.
فَجَزِعَSo became terrifiedالْفَضْلُAl-Fadlمِنْatذَلِكَthatوَأَبَىand refusedأَنْtoيَفْعَلَ،do it,فَخَوَّفْنَاهُso we frightened himتَلَفَwith the ruin ofنَفْسِهِhis lifeوَنَاشَدْنَاهُand implored himحَتَّىuntilفَعَلَ،he did it,
Al-Fadl was terrified of that and refused to do it, so we frightened him with the destruction of his life and implored him until he complied,
فَأَخَذَso tookبِيَدِهِby his handبَعْضُsomeمَنْof those whoحَضَرَwere presentوَأَخَذْتُand I tookبِيَدِهِby his handالْأُخْرَىthe otherثُمَّthenجَرَرْنَاهُwe dragged himعَلَىacrossالْبَارِيَّةِthe reed matفَإِذَاand lo and beholdعَلَيْهَاupon itصُورَتُهُwas the impression of himمِنْfromلَحْمِthe flesh ofظَهْرِهِ.his back.
so one of those present took him by one hand and I took him by the other, then we dragged him across the reed mat, and lo and behold, the impression of his back flesh was left upon it.
فَقَالَ:He said:لَاThere isبُدَّno escapeلِيfor meمِنْfromأَنْthatأُعِيدَهُ.I repeat it.
He said: I must repeat it.
فَأَعَادَهُ.So he repeated it.
So he repeated it.
ثُمَّThenاخْتَلَفَhe kept comingإِلَيْهِ،to him,فَبَيْنَمَاso whileهُوَheيَنْظُرُwas lookingإِلَيْهِat himيَوْماًone dayإِذْsuddenlyخَرَّhe fell downسَاجِداًprostratingفَقُلْتُ:so I said:مَاWhat isلَكَ؟the matter with you?
Then he kept visiting him, and while he was looking at him one day, suddenly he fell down prostrating, so I said: What is the matter with you?
قَالَ:He said:بَرَأَHas healedأَبُوAbuالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbasبِإِذْنِby the permission ofاللَّهِ.Allah.
He said: Abu Al-Abbas has healed by the permission of Allah.
فَدَنَوْتُSo I drew nearفَأَرَانِيand he showed meفِيonظَهْرِهِhis backلَحْماًfleshنَاتِئاًprotrudingكَهَيْئَةِlike the form ofالدَّعَامِيصِred water beetlesالْحُمْرِredثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:أَتَحْفَظُDo you rememberقَوْلِيmy sayingإِنَّهُthat it isأَثَرُthe mark ofخَمْسِينَfiftyسَوْطاً؟lashes?
So I drew near and he showed me on his back protruding flesh like the shape of red water beetles, then he said: Do you remember my saying that it is the mark of fifty lashes?
لَوْIfضُرِبَhe had been struckأَلْفَa thousandسَوْطٍlashesمَاwould notكَانَhave beenأَثَرُهَاtheir markبِأَشَدَّmore severeمِنْthanذَلِكَ،that,وَلَكِنِّيand but IقُلْتُsaidمَاwhatقُلْتُI saidلِتَقْوَىso that would gain strengthنَفْسُهُhis soulفَيُعِينَنِيand he would help meعَلَىinعِلَاجِهِ.treating him.وَخَرَجَ.And he left.
If he had been struck a thousand lashes, their mark would not have been more severe than that, but I said what I said so that his spirit would be strengthened and he would help me in treating him. And he left.
وَسَأَلَنِيAnd asked meالْفَضْلُAl-Fadlأَنْtoأَلْقَىmeetبَعْضَsomeإِخْوَانِهِof his brothersوَأُعْلِمَهُand inform himأَنَّهُthat heيَحْتَاجُneedsإِلَىtenعَشَرَةِthousandآلَافِdirhamsدِرْهَمٍ.to
And Al-Fadl asked me to meet some of his brothers and inform him that he needs ten thousand dirhams.
فَأَتَيْتُSo I came toبَعْضَsomeإِخْوَانِهِof his brothersوَأَعْلَمْتُهُand informed himأَنَّهُthat heيَحْتَاجُneedsإِلَىtenعَشَرَةِthousandآلَافِdirhamsدِرْهَمٍ..
So I came to some of his brothers and informed him that he needs ten thousand dirhams.
فَسَأَلَنِيSo he asked meأَنْtoأَحْمِلَهَاcarry themإِلَيْهِto himوَأَمَرَنِيand commanded meبِدَفْعِهَاto deliver themإِلَىtoالرَّجُلِthe manالَّذِيwhoعَالَجَهُ.treated him.
So he asked me to carry them to him and commanded me to deliver them to the man who treated him.
فَلَمَّاSo whenمَضَيْتُI wentبِهَاwith themإِلَيْهِto himوَجَدْتُهُI found himغَائِباًabsentعَنْfromمَنْزِلِهِhis houseوَرَأَيْتُand I sawبَابَهُhis doorمُغْلَقاًclosedفَمِلْتُso I turnedإِلَىtoمَسْجِدٍa mosqueهُنَاكَthereمُنْتَظِراًwaitingلَهُfor himحَتَّىuntilعَادَhe returnedفَقُمْتُso I stood upإِلَيْهِto himوَدَخَلْتُand enteredمَنْزِلَهُhis houseفَإِذَاand lo and beholdبَيْتٌa roomفِيهِin itحَصِيرَانِwere two matsوَمِسْوَرَتَانِand two cushionsوَطُنْبُورٌand a luteوَثَلَاثُand threeدَسَاتِيجَsmall lutesوَقَنَانِيُّand glass bottlesوَأَقْدَاحٌ.and cups.
So when I went with them to him, I found him absent from his house and saw his door closed, so I went to a mosque there waiting for him until he returned, then I stood up to him and entered his house, and behold, there was a room in which were two mats, two cushions, a lute, three small lutes, bottles, and cups.
فَقَالَ:He said:مَاWhat isحَاجَتُكَ؟your need?
He said: What is your need?
فَأَقْبَلْتُSo I beganأَعْتَذِرُto apologizeإِلَيْهِto himوَأَذْكُرُand mentionحَالَهُhis conditionثُمَّthenأَعْلَمْتُهُI informed himمَاwhatوَجَّهَنِيsent meلَهُ.for.
So I began to apologize to him and mention his condition, then I informed him of what I had been sent for.
فَنَخَرَSo he snortedنَخْرَةًa snortحَتَّىuntilأَفْزَعَنِيhe frightened meثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:عَشَرَةُTenآلَافٍ!thousand!
So he let out a snort that frightened me, then he said: Ten thousand!
فَجَهَدْتُSo I exertedالْجَهْدَall effortكُلَّهُentirelyبِهِwith himأَنْtoيَقْبَلَهَاaccept themفَأَبَى،and he refused,فَعُدْتُso I returnedإِلَىtoالْفَضْلِAl-Fadlفَأَعْلَمْتُهُ.and informed him.
So I exerted every effort to get him to accept them, but he refused, so I returned to Al-Fadl and informed him.
فَقَالَ:He said:إِنَّهُIndeed heاسْتَقَلَّهَاconsidered them too littleوَاللَّهِ!by Allah!
He said: By Allah, he considered them too little!
قُلْتُ:I said:لَاI doأَظُنُّ.not think so.
I said: I do not think so.
قَالَ:He said:بَلَىYesوَإِلَّاotherwiseفَمَاwhat isمَعْنَىthe meaning ofقَوْلِهِhis sayingعَشَرَةُtenآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍ!dirhams!وَلَكِنْhoweverتَعُودُyou will returnإِلَىtoصَاحِبِنَاour companionوَتَسْأَلُهُand ask him forعَشَرَةَtenآلَافٍthousandأُخْرَىmoreوَتَحْمِلُهَاand carry themإِلَيْهِ.to him.
He said: Yes, otherwise what is the meaning of his saying 'ten thousand dirhams!' But you will return to our companion and ask him for another ten thousand and take them to him.
فَحَمَلْتُهَاSo I carried themإِلَىtoالرَّجُلِthe manفَنَخَرَand he snortedنَخْرَةًa snortأَشَدَّmore severeمِنْthanنَخْرَتِهِhis first snortالْأُولَى.ثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:أَنَاIأُعَالِجُtreatفَتًىa young manمِنْfromالْأَبْنَاءِthe Abnaبِكِرَاءٍ،for a fee,أَنَاam Iطَبِيبٌ!a doctor!وَاللَّهِBy Allahوَاللَّهِby Allahلَوْeven ifكَانَتْthey wereعَشَرَةَtenآلَافِthousandدِينَارٍdinarsمَاI would notقَبِلْتُهَا.accept them.
So I took them to the man, and he snorted a snort more severe than his first snort, then said: I am treating a young man of the Abna for a fee, am I a physician! By Allah, by Allah, even if they were ten thousand dinars I would not accept them.
فَخَرَجْتُSo I went outمِنْfromعِنْدِهِhis presenceوَسَأَلْتُand askedعَنْaboutمَعِيشَتِهِhis livelihoodفَقِيلَ:so it was said:لَهُHe hasبُرْجٌa towerيَصْعَدُhe ascendsإِلَيْهِto itفِيinكُلِّeveryيَوْمٍdayفَيَبِيعُand sellsفِرَاخَهُhis chicksوَصَيْدَهُand his gameوَيَعْتَكِفُand devotes himselfعَلَىtoمَاwhatتَرَاهُ.you see him doing.
So I left his place and asked about his livelihood, and it was said: He has a tower which he ascends every day to sell his chicks and game, and devotes himself to what you see him doing.
فَرَجَعْتُSo I returnedإِلَىtoالْفَضْلِAl-Fadlوَأَخْبَرْتُهُand informed himفَتَعَجَّبَso he marveledثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:أَخْبِرْنِيTell meبِأَعْجَبِabout the most wondrousمَاwhatرَأَيْتَهُyou sawمَنَّاfrom usوَأَحْسَنِهِ.and the best of it.
So I returned to Al-Fadl and informed him, and he marveled, then said: Tell me about the most wondrous and best thing you saw from us.
فَانْدَفَعْتُSo I proceededأُحَدِّثُهُ.to narrate to him.
So I proceeded to narrate to him.
فَلَمَّاSo whenرَأَىhe sawإِطْنَابِيmy elaborationقَالَ:he said:بِاللَّهِBy Allahأَيُّنَاwhich of usأَحْسَنُis better inأَفْعَالاًactionsنَحْنُweأَمْorهَذَاthisالْفَتَى؟young man?
So when he saw my elaboration, he said: By Allah, which of us is better in actions, we or this young man?
فَإِذَاAnd beholdهُوَheيَسْتَقْبِحُfound uglyأَفْعَالَهُمْtheir actionsمَعَalong withفِعْلِهِhis actionوَيَسْتَصْغِرُهَا.and considered them insignificant.
And lo and behold, he found their actions shameful compared to his action and considered them insignificant.
قَالَ:He said:وَدَخَلَAnd enteredابْنُIbnالزَّيَّاتِAl-ZayyatعَلَىuponالْأَفْشِينِAl-Afshinوَهُوَwhile he wasمَحْبُوسٌimprisonedمُكَبَّلٌshackledبِالْحَدِيدِin ironفَقَالَ:so he said:
He said: Ibn Al-Zayyat entered upon Al-Afshin while he was imprisoned and shackled in iron, and said:
اصْبِرْHave patienceلَهَاfor itصَبْرَwith the patience ofأَقْوَامٍpeoplesنُفُوسُهُمْwhose soulsلَاdo notتَسْتَرِيحُrestإِلَىuponعَقْلٍreasonوَلَاnorقَوْدٍleading
Have patience with it with the patience of people whose souls neither rest upon reason nor guidance.
فَقَالَSo saidالْأَفْشِينُ:Al-Afshin:مَنْWhoeverصَحِبَaccompaniesالزَّمَانَtimeرَأَىwill seeالْكَرَامَةَhonorوَالْهَوَانَ.and disgrace.
Al-Afshin said: Whoever keeps company with time will see both honor and disgrace.
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:
Then he said:
لَمْDid notيَنْجُescapeمِنْfromخَيْرِهَاits goodأَوْorشَرِّهَاits evilأَحَدٌanyone
None has escaped its good or its evil
فَاذْكُرْso rememberشَآبِيبَهَاits downpoursإِنْifكُنْتَyou areمِنْofأَحَدٍanyone
so remember its downpours if you are of anyone.
خَاضَتْHas plungedبِكَyouالْمَنِيَّةُdeathالْحَمْقَاءُthe foolishغَمْرَتَهَاits depth
Foolish death has plunged you into its depth
فَتِلْكَso those areأَمْوَاجُهَاits wavesتَرْمِيكَthrowing youبِالزَّبَدِwith foam.
so those are its waves throwing you with foam.