أَمِينُTrusteeاللَّهِof God,أَمَنْتَyou granted securityخَيْرَthe bestأَمْنٍsecurity
O trustee of God, you granted the best of security... upon you is the garment of piety therein.
عَلَيْكَUpon youمِنَfromالتُّقَىpietyفِيهِthereinلِبَاسُis a garment.
Upon you is the garment of piety therein.
تُسَاسُYou are managedمِنَfromالسَّمَاءِthe heavenبِكُلِّwith everyبِرٍّrighteousness,
You are managed from heaven with every righteousness... and you manage through it just as you are managed.
وَأَنْتَAnd youبِهِthrough itتَسُوسُmanageكَمَاjust asتُسَاسُyou are managed.
And you manage through it just as you are managed.
كَأَنَّAs ifالْخَلْقَcreationرُكِّبَwas composedفِيهِin itرُوحٌof a spirit,
As if creation had a spirit composed in it... it has a body and you are upon it as the head.
لَهُIt hasجَسَدٌa bodyوَأَنْتَand youعَلَيْهِupon itرَاسُare the head.
It has a body and you are upon it as the head.
أَمِينَO trusteeاللَّهِof God,إِنَّindeedالْحَبْسَimprisonmentبَأْسٌis a hardship,
O trustee of God, indeed imprisonment is a hardship... and you have sent word that there is no hardship upon you.
وَقَدْAndأَرْسَلْتَyou have sent wordلَيْسَthere is notعَلَيْكَupon youبَأْسٌany hardship.
And you have sent word that there is no hardship upon you.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedبِإِطْلَاقِهِhis releaseوَصِلَتِهِand his enrichment.
So he ordered his release and enrichment.
قِيلَIt was said:إِنَّهُthat indeedلَمَّاwhenغَضِبَangerewdالْمُتَوَكِّلُAl-MutawakkilعَلَىatسُلَيْمَانَSulaimanوَالْحَسَنِand Al-Hasanابْنَيْthe two sonsوَهْبٍof Wahb,قَالَsaidالْحَسَنُAl-Hasan:
It was said that when Al-Mutawakkil became angry with Sulaiman and Al-Hasan, the two sons of Wahb, Al-Hasan said:
أَقُولُI sayوَاللَّيْلُwhile the nightمَمْدُودٌis extendedسُرَادِقُهُin its canopies,
I say while the night is extended in its canopies... and one-third of it has passed or has reached the half:
وَقَدْAndمَضَىhas passedالثُّلُثُthe thirdمِنْهُof itأَوْorقَدْhasانْتَصَفَاreached the middle.
And one-third of it has passed or has reached the half:
يَاOرَبِّLord,أَلْهِمْinspireأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulرِضًىwith satisfaction
O Lord, inspire the Commander of the Faithful with satisfaction... toward two servants of his who have approached ruin.
عَنْtowardخَادِمَيْنِtwo servantsلَهُof hisقَدْwho haveشَارَفَاapproachedالتَّلَفَاruin.
Toward two servants of his who have approached ruin.
لَئِنْIf indeedيَكُونَانِthey two wereأَسَاءَاwrongdoersفِيinالَّذِيthat whichسَلَفَاpassed,
If they were wrongdoers in what has passed... they will not do wrong, by God's permission, henceforth.
فَلَنْthen they will neverيُسِيئَاdo wrongبِإِذْنِby permissionاللَّهِof Godمُؤْتَنَفَاhenceforth.
Then they will not do wrong, by God's permission, henceforth.
فَرَضِيَSo he was pleasedعَنْهُمَاwith them bothوَأَمَرَand orderedبِإِطْلَاقِهِمَاtheir release.
So he was pleased with them both and ordered their release.
قَالَSaidالْكَسْرَوِيُّAl-Kasrawi:وَقَّعَwroteكِسْرَىKisraبْنُson ofهُرْمُزَHormuzإِلَىtoبَعْضِsomeالْمُحْتَبَسِينَprisoners:
Al-Kasrawi said: Kisra bin Hormuz wrote in a decree to some prisoners: Whoever is patient with a calamity is like one whom it did not befall.
مَنْWhoeverصَبَرَis patientعَلَىwithالنَّازِلَةِthe calamityكَمَنْis like one whomلَمْdid notتَنْزِلْbefallبِهِhim,
Whoever is patient with a calamity is like one whom it did not befall... and whoever has his rope lengthened, his ruin is in it...
وَمَنْand whoeverطُوِّلَhad lengthenedلَهُfor himفِيinالْحَبْلِthe ropeكَانَwasفِيهِin itعَطَبُهُhis ruin,
And whoever has his rope lengthened, his ruin is in it... and whoever eats without capability, his soul perishes.
وَمَنْand whoeverأَكَلَeatsبِلَاwithoutمَقْدَرٍcapabilityتَلِفَتْperishesنَفْسُهُhis soul.
And whoever eats without capability, his soul perishes.
وَوَقَّعَAnd wroteبَعْضُهُمْsome of themلِمَحْبُوسٍto a prisonerسَأَلَwho askedالْإِطْلَاقَfor release:
And some of them wrote in a decree to a prisoner who asked for release: You are more in need of verification than release.
أَنْتَYouإِلَىtoالْاسْتِيثَاقِverificationأَحْوَجُare more in needمِنْكَthan you areإِلَىtoالْإِطْلَاقِrelease.
You are more in need of verification than release.
وَأَنْشَدَAnd he recitedفِيregardingهَذَاthisالْمَعْنَىmeaning:
And he recited regarding this meaning:
أَلَاIs there notأَحَدٌanyoneيَدْعُوwho praysلِأَهْلِfor the peopleمَحَلَّةٍof a quarter
Is there not anyone who prays for the people of a quarter... residing in the world while they have lost the world?
مُقِيمِينَresidingفِيinالدُّنْيَاthe worldوَقَدْwhile they haveفَقَدُواlostالدُّنْيَاthe world
Residing in the world while they have lost the world.
كَأَنَّهُمْAs if theyلَمْdid notيَعْرِفُواknowغَيْرَother thanدَارِهِمْtheir home
As if they did not know other than their home... and did not know other than hardships and affliction.
وَلَمْand did notيَعْرِفُواknowغَيْرَother thanالشَّدَائِدِthe hardshipsوَالْبَلْوَىand the affliction.
And did not know other than hardships and affliction.
وَقَالَAnd saidأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouin:
And a Bedouin said:
وَلَمَّاAnd whenدَخَلْتُI enteredالسِّجْنَthe prisonكَبَّرَpronounced takbeerأَهْلُهُits people
And when I entered the prison, its people pronounced takbeer... and said, Abu Laila this morning is sad.
وَقَالُواand saidأَبُوAbuلَيْلَىLailaالْغَدَاةَthis morningحَزِينٌis sad.
And said, Abu Laila this morning is sad.
وَفِيAnd onالْبَابِthe doorمَكْتُوبٌis writtenعَلَىuponصَفَحَاتِهِits pages:
And on the door, written upon its pages... is that you leap for a time and soften.
بِأَنَّكَthat youتَنْزُوleapسَاعَةًfor a timeوَتَلِينُand soften.
Is that you leap for a time and soften.
وَلِابْنِAnd by IbnالْمُعْتَزِّAl-Mu'tazz:
And by Ibn Al-Mu'tazz:
تَعَلَّمْتُI learnedفِيinالسِّجْنِthe prisonنَسْجَthe weavingالتَّكَكِof cordbands,
I learned in the prison the weaving of cordbands... and I was a man before my imprisonment a king.
وَكُنْتُand I wasامْرَأًa manقَبْلَbeforeحَبْسِيmy imprisonmentمَلِكَاa king.
And I was a man before my imprisonment a king.
وَقُيِّدْتُAnd I was shackledبَعْدَafterرُكُوبِridingالْجِيَادِsteeds,
And I was shackled after riding steeds... and that is nothing other than the celestial spheres.
وَمَاand that isذَاكَnotإِلَّاexceptبُدُورُmoonsالْفَلَكِof the firmament.
And that is nothing other than the celestial spheres.
أَلَمْDid you notتُبْصِرِobserveالطَّيْرَthe birdفِيinجَوِّهِits atmosphere
Did you not observe the bird in its atmosphere... nearly touching the woven clouds?
يَكَادُit nearlyيُلَامِسُtouchesذَاتَthat ofالْحُبُكِthe woven clouds.
Nearly touching the woven clouds?
إِذَاWhenأَبْصَرَتْهُobserved itخُطُوبُthe vicissitudes ofالزَّمَانِtime,
When the vicissitudes of time observed it... they cast it into the snares of traps.
أَوْقَعْنَهُthey cast itفِيintoحِبَالِthe snares ofالشَّرَكِtraps.
They cast it into the snares of traps.
فَهَاذَاكَSo that oneمِنْfromحَالِقٍa heightقَدْmayيُصَادُbe hunted,
So that one from a height may be hunted... and from the bottom of the sea fish are hunted.
وَمِنْand fromقَعْرِthe bottom ofبَحْرٍa seaيُصَادُis huntedالسَّمَكُthe fish.
And from the bottom of the sea fish are hunted.
وَوَجَدْنَاAnd we foundفِيinأَرْضِthe floor ofالْبَيْتِthe houseالَّذِيin whichقُتِلَhe was killedفِيهِthereinبِخَطِّهِin his handwriting:
And we found on the floor of the house in which he was killed, written in his handwriting:
يَاOنَفْسُsoul,صَبْرًاbe patient,لَعَلَّperhapsالْخَيْرَgoodعُقْبَاكِis your outcome.
O soul, be patient, perhaps good is your outcome... your world betrayed you after long security.
خَانَتْكِbetrayed youمِنْfromبَعْدِafterطُولِlongالْأَمْنِsecurityدُنْيَاكِyour world.
Your world betrayed you after long security.
مَرَّتْPassedبِنَاby usسَحَرًاat dawnطَيْرٌa birdفَقُلْتُand I saidلَهَاto it:
A bird passed by us at dawn and I said to it... blessed are you, would that I were you, blessed are you.
طُوبَاكِBlessed are you,يَاOلَيْتَنِيwould that Iإِيَّاكِwere you,طُوبَاكِblessed are you.
Blessed are you, would that I were you, blessed are you.
قَالَHe said:وَكَتَبَAnd wroteيَحْيَىYahyaبْنُson ofخَالِدٍKhalidالْبَرْمَكِيُّAl-BarmakiإِلَىtoالرَّشِيدِAl-Rashid:
He said: Yahya bin Khalid Al-Barmaki wrote to Al-Rashid:
مِنَFromالْحَبْسِthe prisonلِأَمِيرِto the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَخَلَفِand successorالْمَهْدِيِّينَof the guided onesوَخَلِيفَةِand caliphرَبِّof the Lordالْعَالَمِينَof the worlds,
From the prison to the Commander of the Faithful and successor of the guided ones and caliph of the Lord of the worlds...
مِنْfromعَبْدٍa servantأَسْلَمَتْهُwhom abandonedعُيُوبُهُhis faultsوَأَوْبَقَتْهُand destroyedذُنُوبُهُhis sinsوَخَذَلَهُand abandoned himشَقِيقُهُhis brotherوَرَفَضَهُand rejected himصَدِيقُهُhis friendوَزَالَand turned awayبِهِfrom himالزَّمَانُtimeوَنَزَلَand befellبِهِhimالْحَدَثَانُcalamities
From a servant whom his faults abandoned, his sins destroyed, his brother abandoned, his friend rejected, time turned away from him, calamities befell him...
وَحَلَّand settledبِهِupon himالضِّيقُtightnessبَعْدَafterالسَّعَةِabundanceوَالشَّقَاءُand wretchednessبَعْدَafterالسَّعَادَةِhappinessوَعَالَجَand who experiencedالْبُؤْسَdestitutionبَعْدَafterالدَّعَةِease
And tightness settled upon him after abundance, wretchedness after happiness, and he experienced destitution after ease...
وَلَبِسَand woreالْبَلَاءَafflictionبَعْدَafterالرَّخَاءِprosperityوَافْتَرَشَand spread outالسَّخَطَdispleasureبَعْدَafterالرِّضَىsatisfactionوَاکْتَحَلَand applied as collyriumالسُّهُودَsleeplessnessوَفَقَدَand lostالْهُجُودَslumber,
And wore affliction after prosperity, spread out displeasure after satisfaction, applied sleeplessness as collyrium and lost slumber:
سَاعَتُهُhis hourشَهْرٌis a monthوَلَيْلَتُهُand his nightدَهْرٌis an age,
His hour is a month and his night is an age, he has beheld death and approached expiration.
قَدْhe hasعَايَنَbeheldالْمَوْتَdeathوَشَارَفَand approachedالْفَوْتَexpiration,
He has beheld death and approached expiration.
جَزَعًاout of anxietyيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulقَدَّمَنِي(may God) bring forwardاللَّهُGodقَبْلَكَbefore youمِنْout ofمَوْجِدَتِكَyour anger
Out of anxiety, O Commander of the Faithful, (may God) bring me forward to death before you out of fear of your anger...
وَأَسَفًاand out of sorrowعَلَىoverمَاwhatحَرَمْتُهُI was deprived ofمِنْofقُرْبِكَyour nearnessلَاnotعَلَىoverشَيْءٍanythingمِنَofالْمَوَاهِبِthe bounties,
And out of sorrow over what I was deprived of of your nearness, not over anything of the bounties.
لِأَنَّBecauseالْأَهْلَfamilyوَالْمَالَand wealthإِنَّمَاwere merelyكَانَاyoursلَكَfor youوَعَارِيَةًand as a loanفِيinيَدَيَّmy handsمِنْكَfrom you
Because family and wealth were merely yours and as a loan in my hands from you... and a loan must be returned.
وَالْعَارِيَةُand a loanلَاmustبُدَّinevitablyمَرْدُودَةٌbe returned.
And a loan must be returned.
فَأَمَّاAs forمَاwhatاِقْتَصَصْتَهُyou inflictedمِنْuponوَلَدِيmy sonفَبِذَنْبِهِthen it is for his sinوَعَاقَبْتُهُand you punished himبِجُرْمِهِfor his crimeوَجَرِيرَتِهِand his offenseعَلَىagainstنَفْسِهِhimself.
As for what you inflicted upon my son, then it is for his sin and you punished him for his crime and his offense against himself.
فَإِنَّمَاFor indeedكَانَhe wasعَبْدًاa servantمِنْofعَبِيدِكَyour servantsلَاI do notأَخَافُfearعَلَيْكَupon youالْخَطَأَerrorفِيinأَمْرِهِhis matter
For indeed he was a servant of your servants, I do not fear error upon you in his matter... nor that you might have exceeded with him above what he was worthy of.
وَلَاnorأَنْthatتَكُونَyou mightتَجَاوَزْتَhave exceededبِهِwith himفَوْقَaboveمَاwhatكَانَhe wasأَهْلَهُworthy of.
Nor that you might have exceeded with him above what he was worthy of.
وَلَاAnd neitherكَانَwasمَعَwithذَلِكَthatبَقَاؤُهُhis survivalأَحَبَّmore belovedإِلَيَّto meمِنْthanمُوَافَقَتِكَagreeing with you.
And neither was his survival with that more beloved to me than agreeing with you.
فَتَذَكَّرْSo rememberيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulجَعَلَنِيmay God make meاللَّهُGodفِدَاكَyour ransomوَحَجَبَand veilعَنِّيfrom meفَقْدَكَlosing you:
So remember, O Commander of the Faithful—may God make me your ransom and veil from me losing you—my old age and the weakness of my strength...
كِبَرَthe advancedسِنِّيage of my yearsوَضَعْفَand the weakness ofقُوَّتِيmy strength
My old age and the weakness of my strength...
وَارْحَمْand have mercy uponشَيْبَتِيmy grey hairوَهَبْand grantلِيmeرِضَاكَyour satisfactionعَنِّيwith me
And have mercy upon my grey hair and grant me your satisfaction with me...
وَلْتَمِلْand inclineإِلَيَّtoward meبِغُفْرَانِwith forgiveness ofذَنْبِيmy sin.
And incline toward me with forgiveness of my sin.
فَمِنْFor fromمِثْلِيthe likes of meيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulالزَّلَلُis the lapseوَمِنْand fromمِثْلِكَthe likes of youالْإِقَالَةُis the pardoning.
For from the likes of me, O Commander of the Faithful, is the lapse, and from the likes of you is the pardoning.
وَلَسْتُAnd I do notأَعْتَذِرُapologizeإِلَيْكَto youإِلَّاexceptبِمَاwith whatتُحِبُّyou loveالْإِقْرَارَthe confessionبِهِofحَتَّىuntilتَرْضَىyou are satisfied.
And I do not apologize to you except with what you love the confession of until you are satisfied.
فَإِذَاSo whenرَضِيتَyou are satisfiedرَجَوْتُI hopeأَنْthatيَظْهَرَwill appearلَكَto youمِنْofأَمْرِيmy affairوَبَرَاءَةِand the innocence ofسَاحَتِيmy courtyard
So when you are satisfied, I hope that there will appear to you of my affair and the innocence of my courtyard what will not make too great for you...
مَاwhatلَاwill notيَتَعَاظَمُكَseem too great for youمَعَهُalong with itمَاthat whichمَنَنْتَyou bestowedبِهِwithمِنْofرَأْفَتِكَyour kindnessبِيto me
What will not make too great for you along with it that which you bestowed with of your kindness to me...
وَعَفْوِكَand your pardonعَنِّيof meوَرَحْمَتِكَand your mercyلِيto me.
And your pardon of me and your mercy to me.
زَادَMay God increaseاللَّهُGodفِيinعُمْرِكَyour lifeيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulوَقَدَّمَنِيand bring me forwardلِلْمَوْتِto deathقَبْلَكَbefore you.
May God increase in your life, O Commander of the Faithful, and bring me forward to death before you.
وَكَتَبَAnd he wroteفِيatأَسْفَلِهِits bottom:
And he wrote at its bottom:
قُلْSayلِلْخَلِيفَةِto the Caliphذِيpossessor ofالصَّنَائِعِthe favorsوَالْعَطَايَاand the abundant giftsالْفَاشِيَةْwidespread,
Say to the Caliph, possessor of the favors and the widespread abundant gifts...
وَابْنِand son ofالْخَلَائِفِthe caliphsمِنْfromقُرَيْشٍQuraishوَالْمُلُوكِand the kingsالْهَادِيَةْthe guiding,
And son of the caliphs from Quraish and the guiding kings:
مَلِكِkingالْمُلُوكِof kingsوَخَيْرِand best ofمَنْwhoسَاسَmanagedالْأُمُورَthe mattersالْمَاضِيَةْpast,
King of kings and best of who managed past matters:
إِنَّIndeedالْبَرَامِكَةَthe Barmakisالَّذِينَwhoرُمُواwere hurledلَدَيْكَbefore youبِدَاهِيَةْwith a calamity,
Indeed the Barmakis who were hurled before you with a calamity...
عَمَّتْهُمْoverwhelmed themلَكَfor youسَخْطَةٌa wrathلَمْthat did notتُبْقِleaveمِنْهُمْof themبَاقِيَةْany remnant.
Overwhelmed them for you a wrath that did not leave of them any remnant.
فَكَأَنَّهُمْSo as if theyمِمَّاdue to whatبِهِمْafflicted themأَعْجَازُstumpsنَخْلٍof palm treesخَاوِيَةْhollow,
So as if they, due to what afflicted them, are hollow stumps of palm trees...
صُفْرُyellowالْوُجُوهِin facesعَلَيْهِمْupon themخِلَعُgarments ofالْمَذَلَّةِhumiliationبَادِيَةْapparent,
Yellow in faces, upon them garments of humiliation apparent:
مُتَفَرِّقِينَscatteredمُشَتَّتِينَdispersedبِكُلِّin everyأَرْضٍlandقَاصِيَةْremote.
Scattered, dispersed in every remote land.