فَخَطَبَSo delivered a speechالْقَاضِيthe judgeوَشَهِدَand witnessedالْقَاضِيthe judgeوَالنَّفَرُand the group
So the judge delivered a speech, and the judge and the group witnessed,
وَأَقْبَلُواand they approachedعَلَيْنَاupon usبِالنِّثَارِwith scatteringبِبَنَادِقِwith pellets ofالْمِسْكِmuskوَالْعَنْبَرِand ambergris.
and they approached us scattering pellets of musk and ambergris.
فَالْتَقَطْتُSo I picked upوَاللَّهِby AllahيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulمِلْءَthe fill ofكُمِّيmy sleeve.
So I picked up, by Allah O Commander of the Faithful, the fill of my sleeve,
وَنَظَرْتُand I lookedوَإِذَاand beholdيَحْيَىYahyaفِيinالدِّكَّةِthe raised seatمَاamongبَيْنَtheالْمَشَايِخِsheikhs,
and I looked and behold Yahya was on the raised seat among the sheikhs,
وَيَحْيَىand Yahyaوَوَلَدُهُand his sonوَالْغُلَامُand the boy,وَنَحْنُand we wereمِائَةُone hundredرَجُلٍmanوَاثْنَاand twoعَشَرَtenرَجُلاًman.
and Yahya and his son and the boy, and we were one hundred and twelve men.
فَخَرَجَSo came outإِلَيْنَاto usمِائَةُone hundredخَادِمٍservantوَاثْنَاand twoعَشَرَtenخَادِماًservant,
So there came out to us one hundred and twelve servants,
مَعَwithكُلِّeveryخَادِمٍservantصِينِيَّةُa tray ofفِضَّةٍsilverعَلَيْهَاupon itأَلْفُthousandدِينَارٍdinarsشَامِيَّةٍShami.
with every servant a silver tray upon which were a thousand Shami dinars.
فَوُضِعَSo was placedبَيْنَbetweenيَدَيْhands ofكُلِّeveryرَجُلٍmanمِنَّاof usصِينِيَّةٌa tray.
So a tray was placed before each man of us,
فَرَأَيْتُso I sawالْقَاضِيَthe judgeوَالْمَشَايِخَand the sheikhsيَصُبُّونَpouringالدَّنَانِيرَthe dinarsفِيintoأَكْمَامِهِمْtheir sleeves
and I saw the judge and the sheikhs pouring the dinars into their sleeves,
وَيَجْعَلُونَand placingالصَّوَانِيَthe traysتَحْتَunderآبَاطِهِمْtheir armpits,
and placing the trays under their armpits,
وَيَقُومُand getting upالْأَوَّلُthe firstفَالْأَوَّلُthen the nextحَتَّىuntilبَقِيتُI remainedوَحْدِيaloneبَيْنَbeforeيَدَيْhands ofيَحْيَىYahya
and the first and then the next would get up until I remained alone before Yahya,
لَاnotأَجْسِرُdaringعَلَىuponالصِّينِيَّةِthe tray.
not daring to touch the tray.
فَغَمَزَSo winkedلِيat meالْخَادِمُthe servant,فَجَسَرْتُso I daredعَلَيْهَاupon it
So the servant winked at me, and I dared to take it,
وَجَعَلْتُهَاand I put itفِيinكُمِّيmy sleeveوَأَخَذْتُand tookالصِّينِيَّةَthe trayوَقُمْتُand stood up
and put it in my sleeve and took the tray and stood up,
وَأَنَاwhile Iأَمُرُّwas passingطُولَalongالصَّحْنِthe courtyard
while I was walking along the length of the courtyard,
وَالْتَفَتُّand I lookedوَرَائِيbehind meهَلْwhetherيَتْبَعُنِيis following meأَحَدٌanyone.
and I glanced behind me to see if anyone was following me.
فَإِنِّيSo while Iلِذَلِكَwas thusأُطَاوِلُprolongingالِاسْتِفَاتَthe lookingوَيَحْيَىand Yahyaيَلْحَظُنِيwas watching me.
While I was thus continuing to look back, Yahya was watching me.
فَقَالَSo he saidلِلْخَادِمِto the servantائْتِنِيBring meبِالرَّجُلِthe man.
So he said to the servant: Bring the man to me.
فَرُدِّدْتُSo I was brought backإِلَيْهِto himفَأَمَرَand he orderedفَسُلِبْتُso were stripped from meالدَّنَانِيرَthe dinarsوَالصِّينِيَّةَand the tray.
So I was brought back to him, and he gave an order, and the dinars and the tray were stripped from me.
ثُمَّThenأَمَرَنِيhe ordered meبِالْجُلُوسِto sitفَجَلَسْتُso I sat.
Then he commanded me to sit, so I sat.
فَقَالَHe saidمِمَّنِfrom whomالرَّجُلُ؟is the man?فَقَصَصْتُSo I narratedعَلَيْهِto himقِصَّتِيmy story.
He said: To whom does the man belong? So I narrated my story to him.
فَقَالَHe saidعَلَيَّBring to meبِمُوسَىMusa.فَأُتِيَSo he was broughtبِهِto him.
He said: Bring Musa to me. So he was brought.
فَقَالَHe saidيَاOبُنَيَّmy sonهَذَاthisرَجُلٌis a manغَرِيبٌstranger
He said: O my son, this is a stranger,
فَخُذْهُso take himإِلَيْكَto youوَاخْلِطْهُand involve himبِنَفْسِكَwith yourselfوَنِعْمَتِكَand your bounty.
so take him with you and involve him in yourself and your bounty.
فَقَبَضَSo seizedعَلَيَّmeمُوسَىMusaوَأَخَذَنِيand took meإِلَىtoبَعْضِsomeدُورِهِof his houses
So Musa seized me and took me to some of his houses,
فَقَصَفَand he entertained lavishlyعَلَيَّfor meيَوْمِيmy dayوَلَيْلَتِيand my night.
and he entertained me lavishly for my day and my night.
فَلَمَّاWhenأَصْبَحَit became morningدَعَاhe calledبِأَخِيهِfor his brotherالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbasوَقَالَand saidلَهُto him
When morning came, he called for his brother Al-Abbas and said to him:
إِنَّIndeedالْوَزِيرَthe vizierأَمَرَنِيordered meبِالْقَصْفِto entertain lavishlyعَلَىforهَذَاthisالْفَتَىyouth,
Indeed the vizier ordered me to entertain this youth lavishly,
وَقَدْand trulyعَلِمْتَyou knowتَشَاغُلِيmy preoccupationفِيinدَارِhouse ofأَمِيرِCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,
and you know my preoccupation in the house of the Commander of the Faithful,
فَاقْبِضْso takeعَلَيْهِhimوَقَاصِفْهُand entertain him lavishly.
so take him and entertain him lavishly.
فَلَمَّاWhenكَانَit wasمِنْfromغَدٍtomorrowتَسَلَّمَنِيreceived meأَحْمَدُAhmad.
When the next day came, Ahmad received me.
ثُمَّThenلَمْnotأَزَلْI ceasedوَأَيْدِيwhile hands ofالْقَوْمِthe peopleتَتَادَاوُلُنِيpassing me aroundعَشَرَةَtenأَيَّامٍdays,
Then I continued while the hands of the people passed me around for ten days,
لَاnotأَعْرِفُknowingخَبَرَnews ofعِيَالِيmy familyوَصَبْيَانِيand my children,فِيinالْأَمْوَاتِthe deadهُمْare theyأَمْorفِيinالْأَحْيَاءِthe living.
not knowing the news of my family and my children, whether they were among the dead or among the living.
فَلَمَّاWhenكَانَit wasفِيinالْيَوْمِthe dayالْعَاشِرِtenth,دُفِعْتُI was handed overفِيintoيَدِيhands ofالْفَضْلِAl-Fadlفَقَصَفَand he entertained lavishlyعَلَيَّfor me.
When it was the tenth day, I was handed over to Al-Fadl, and he entertained me lavishly.
فَلَمَّاWhenكَانَit wasفِيinالْحَادِيthe eleventhعَشَرَten,جَاءَنِيcame to meخَادِمٌa servantمَعَwithعَشَرَةٍtenمِنَofالْخَدَمِthe servants
When it was the eleventh, a servant came to me with ten of the servants
فَقَالُواand they saidقُمْRiseعَافَاكَmay God heal youاللَّهُAllahفَاخْرُجْand go outإِلَىtoعِيَالِكَyour familyبِسَلَامٍin peace.
and said: Rise, may Allah heal you, and go out to your family in peace.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidوَاOhوَيْلَاهُwoe is meسُلِبْتُwere stripped from meالدَّنَانِيرَthe dinarsوَالصِّينِيَّةَand the tray
So I said: Woe is me! The dinars and the tray were stripped from me,
وَقَدْand indeedتَمَزَّقَتْtoreثِيَابِيmy clothesوَاتَّسَخَتْand became soiledوَأُخْرِجُand I am taken outعَلَىinهَذِهِthisالْحَالَةِ!condition!
and my clothes have torn and become soiled, and I am being taken out in this condition!
إِنَّاIndeed weلِلَّهِto Allahوَإِنَّاand indeed weإِلَيْهِto Himرَاجِعُونَ!are returning.
Indeed to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return!
فَرُفِعَSo was liftedلِيfor meالسِّتْرُthe curtainالْأَوَّلُthe firstوَالثَّانِيand the secondوَالثَّالِثُand the thirdوَالرَّابِعُand the fourthوَالْخَامِسُand the fifthوَالسَّادِسُand the sixth.
So the first curtain, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, and the sixth were lifted for me.
فَقَبْلَSo beforeأَنْthatيُرْفَعَis liftedالسَّابِعُthe seventhقَالَsaidلِيto meالْخَادِمُthe servant:
So before the seventh was lifted, the servant said to me:
تَمَنَّWishمَاwhatشِئْتَyou will.
Wish whatever you like.
وَرُفِعَAnd was liftedلِيfor meسِتْرٌa curtainعَنْfromحُجْرَةٍa chamberكَالشَّمْسِlike the sun.
And a curtain was lifted for me revealing a chamber like the sun,
اسْتَقْبَلَنِيmet meمِنْهَاfrom itرَائِحَةُscent ofالْعُودِoudوَالنَّدِّand aloe woodوَنَفَحَاتُand breezes ofالْمِسْكِmusk.
there met me from it the scent of oud and aloe wood and breezes of musk,
وَإِذَاand beholdأَنَاIبِصَبْيَانِيwith my childrenيَتَقَلَّبُونَrollingفِيinالْحَرِيرِsilkوَالدِّيبَاجِand brocade.
and behold, I found my children rolling in silk and brocade,
وَأَنَاand Iقَدْtrulyحُمِلَwas carriedإِلَيَّto meأَلْفُthousandأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsمَبْدَرَةٍin purses
and there had been carried to me one million dirhams in purses,
وَعَشَرَةُand tenآلَافِthousandدِينَارٍdinarsوَقُبَالَتَانِand two title deedsبِضَيْعَتَيْنِfor two estates
and ten thousand dinars, and two title deeds for two estates,
وَتِلْكَand thatالصِّينِيَّةُtrayمَعَwithالدَّنَانِيرِthe dinarsوَالْبَنَادِقِand the pellets.
and that tray along with the dinars and the pellets.
فَبَقِيتُSo I remainedيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulمَعَwithالْبَرَامِكَةِthe Barmakisفِيinدُورِهِمْtheir housesثَلَاثَthreeعَشْرَةَtenسَنَةًyears,
So I remained, O Commander of the Faithful, with the Barmakis in their houses for thirteen years,
لَاnotيَعْلَمُknowingالنَّاسُthe peopleأَمِنَwhether fromالْبَرَامِكَةِthe BarmakisأَنَاI amأَمْorمِنْfromبَيْتِhouse ofنَارِfireالنُّوبَهَارِof Nubahar
the people not knowing whether I was from the Barmakis, or from the fire temple of Nubahar,
أَوْorرَجُلٌa manغَرِيبٌstrangerاصْطَنَعُونِيthey favored me.
or a stranger whom they had favored.
فَلَمَّاWhenجَاءَcameالْقَوْمَto the peopleالْبَلِيَّةُthe calamityوَنَزَلَتْand descendedبِهِمْupon themمِنَfromالرَّشِيدِAl-Rashidالنَّازِلَةُthe disaster,
When the calamity came upon the people and the disaster from Al-Rashid befell them,
قَصَدَنِيtargeted meعَمْرُوAmrبْنُson ofمَسْعَدَةَMas'adahوَأَلْزَمَنِيand obligated meمِنَwithالْخَرَاجِland tax
Amr ibn Mas'adah targeted me and obligated me with land tax
فِيinهَاتَيْنِthese twoالضَّيْعَتَيْنِestatesمَاwhatلَاnotيَفِيsufficesدَخْلُهُمَاtheir incomeبِهِfor it.
on these two estates of an amount that their income could not cover.
فَلَمَّاWhenتَحَامَلَburdenedعَلَيَّmeالدَّهْرُtime / fateكُنْتُI used toأَنْظُرُlookإِلَىatخَرَابَاتِruins ofالْقَوْمِthe peopleفَأَنْدُبُهُمْand mourn them.
When time weighed heavily upon me, I used to look at the ruins of the people and mourn them.
فَقَالَSaidالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'mun:عَلَيَّBring to meبِعَمْرِوAmrبْنِson ofمَسْعَدَةَMas'adah.
Al-Ma'mun said: Bring Amr ibn Mas'adah to me.
فَلَمَّاWhenأُتِيَhe was broughtبِهِto himقَالَhe saidلَهُto himيَاOعَمْرُوAmrأَتَعْرِفُdo you knowالرَّجُلَ؟the man?
When he was brought to him, he said to him: O Amr, do you know the man?
قَالَHe saidنَعَمْYesهُوَhe isمِنْfromبَعْضِsomeصَنَائِعِbeneficiaries ofالْبَرَامِكَةِthe Barmakis.
He said: Yes, he is one of the beneficiaries of the Barmakis.
قَالَHe saidكَمْhow muchأَلْزَمْتَهُdid you obligate himفِيinضَيْعَتِهِ؟his estate?
He said: How much did you obligate him in his estate?
قَالَHe saidكَذَاsuchوَكَذَاand such.
He said: Such and such.
قَالَHe saidرُدَّReturnعَلَيْهِto himكُلَّallمَاwhatاسْتَأْدَيْتَهُyou exacted from himإِيَّاهُof itفِيinسِنِيهِits years
He said: Return to him everything that you exacted from him during its years,
وَأَوْغِرْand make tax-exempt / grantضَيْعَتَيْهِhis two estatesتَكُونَانِthey will beلَهُfor himوَلِعَقِبِهِand for his descendantsمِنْfromبَعْدِهِafter him.
and grant his two estates to be for him and his descendants after him.
فَعَلَاSo roseنَحِيبُlamentation ofالرَّجُلِthe manبِالبُكَاءِwith weepingيَرْثِيmourningالْبَرَامِكَةَthe Barmakis.
So the lamentation of the man rose in weeping, mourning the Barmakis.
فَلَمَّاWhenطَالَprolongedبُكَاؤُهُhis weepingقَالَsaidلَهُto himالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'mun:فَمِمَّthen from whatبُكَاؤُكَis your weepingوَقَدْwhile indeedأَحْسَنَّاwe were goodإِلَيْكَ؟to you?
When his weeping was prolonged, Al-Ma'mun said to him: Then why are you weeping when we have been good to you?
قَالَHe saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulهَذَاthisأَيْضاًalsoمِنْfromصَنَائِعِbenefactions ofالْبَرَامِكَةِthe Barmakis.
He said: O Commander of the Faithful, this too is from the benefactions of the Barmakis.
أَرَأَيْتَكَHave you consideredيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulلَوْifلَمْnotآتِI cameخَرَابَاتِruins ofالْقَوْمِthe people
Have you considered, O Commander of the Faithful, if I had not gone to the ruins of the people
فَأَبْكِيَهُمْand wept over themوَأَنْدُبَهُمْand mourned themحَتَّىuntilاتَّصَلَreachedخَبَرِيmy newsبِأَمِيرِto Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
and wept over them and mourned them until my news reached the Commander of the Faithful,
فَفَعَلَand he didبِيto meمَاwhatفَعَلَhe didمِنْfromأَيْنَwhereكُنْتُwould IأَصِلُreachإِلَىtoمَاwhatوَصَلْتُI reachedإِلَيْهِ؟to it?
and he did to me what he did, from where would I have attained what I have attained?
قَالَSaidإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimبْنُson ofمَيْمُونٍMaymun:
Ibrahim ibn Maymun said:
فَلَقَدْSo indeedرَأَيْتُI sawالْمَأْمُونَAl-Ma'munوَقَدْwhileدَمَعَتْteared upعَيْنُهُhis eyeوَاشْتَدَّand intensifiedحُزْنُهُhis griefعَلَىoverالْقَوْمِthe people
So indeed I saw Al-Ma'mun with his eyes tearing up and his grief for the people intensifying,
وَقَالَand he saidصَدَقْتَYou have spoken the truthلَعَمْرِيby my lifeهَذِهِthisأَيْضاًalsoمِنْfromصَنَائِعِهِمْtheir benefactions.
and he said: You spoke the truth, by my life, this too is from their benefactions,
فَعَلَيْهِمْso over themفَابْكِweepوَإِيَّاهُمْand themفَاشْكُرْ!thank!
so weep over them and thank them!
مَسَاوِئُEvils ofقِلَّةِlack ofالْوَفَاءِloyaltyوَالسِّعَايَةُand malicious reporting
Evils of lack of loyalty and malicious reporting
يُقَالُIt is saidإِنَّthatرَجُلاًa manرَفَعَraisedرُقْعَةًa petitionإِلَىtoعُمَرَUmarبْنَson ofالْخَطَّابِAl-Khattab
It is said that a man submitted a petition to Umar ibn Al-Khattab,
رَحِمَهُmay Allah have mercy onاللَّهُhimيَسْعَىreporting maliciouslyفِيهَاin itبِبَعْضِagainst someأَصْحَابِهِof his companions.
may Allah have mercy on him, reporting maliciously in it against some of his companions.
فَوَقَّعَSo he wrote in the marginفِيهَاupon itتَقَرَّبْتَYou sought nearnessإِلَيْنَاto usبِمَاwith that whichبَاعَدَكَdrove you awayمِنَfromالرَّحْمَنِthe Most Merciful
So he wrote in the margin: You sought nearness to us through what distanced you from the Most Merciful,
وَلَاand noثَوَابَrewardلِمَنْfor whoeverآثَرَpreferredعَلَيْهِover Him.
and there is no reward for whoever preferred [something] over Him.
قِيلَIt was saidوَرَفَعَAnd raisedمُنْتَصِحٌan advisorرُقْعَةًa petitionإِلَىtoعَبْدِAbdulالْمَلِكِMalikبْنِson ofمَرْوَانَMarwan
It was said: A counselor submitted a petition to Abdul Malik ibn Marwan,
فَوَقَّعَand he wrote in the marginفِيهَاin itإِنْifكُنْتَyou wereكَاذِباًlyingعَاقَبْنَاكَwe would punish you
and he wrote in the margin: If you were lying, we would punish you,
وَإِنْand ifكُنْتَyou wereصَادِقاًtruthfulمَقَتْنَاكَwe would detest you
and if you were truthful, we would detest you,
وَإِنِand ifاسْتَقَلْتَنَاyou asked us to dismiss your resignation / release youأَقَلْنَاكَwe would release you.
and if you ask us to release you, we would release you.
فَاسْتَقَالَهُSo asked him to release himالرَّجُلُthe man.
So the man asked him to release him.
قِيلَIt was saidوَكَتَبَAnd wroteصَاحِبُpostmaster ofبَرِيدِpostهَمَذَانَHamadhanإِلَىtoالْمَأْمُونِAl-Ma'mun
It was said: The postmaster of Hamadhan wrote to Al-Ma'mun
بِخُرَاسَانَin Khurasanيُعْلِمُهُinforming himأَنَّthatكَاتِبَscribe ofالْبَرِيدِthe postالْمَعْزُولِthe deposed
in Khurasan informing him that the scribe of the deposed post
أَخْبَرَهُinformed himأَنَّthatصَاحِبَهُhis companionوَصَاحِبَand companion ofالْخَرَاجِthe land tax
informed him that his companion and the companion of the land tax
كَانَاwereتَوَاطَأَاcolludingعَلَىuponإِخْرَاجِwithdrawingمِائَتَيْtwo hundredأَلْفِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
had colluded to withdraw two hundred thousand dirhams
مِنْfromبَيْتِhouse ofالْمَالِwealth / treasuryوَاقْتَسَمَاهَاand divided themبَيْنَهُمَاbetween them.
from the treasury and divided them between them.
فَوَقَّعَSo wrote in the marginالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'mun:إِنَّاIndeed weنَرَىconsiderقَبُولَacceptance ofالسِّعَايَةِmalicious reportingشَرّاًas evil
So Al-Ma'mun wrote in the margin: Indeed we consider accepting malicious reports as evil
كَمَنْas the one whoقَبِلَهُaccepted itوَأَجَازَهُand permitted it.
as the one who accepted it and permitted it.
فَأَنْفُSo disdainالسَّاعِيthe reporterعَنْكَfrom youفَلَوْfor ifكَانَhe wereفِيinسِعَايَتِهِhis reportingصَادِقاًtruthful
So disdain the reporter away from you, for even if he were truthful in his report,
لَقَدْsurelyكَانَhe would beفِيinصِدْقِهِhis truthfulnessلَئِيماًmean
he would surely have been mean in his truthfulness,
إِذْsinceلَمْnotيَحْفَظِhe preservedالْحُرْمَةَthe sanctityوَلَمْand notيَسْتُرْhe concealedعَلَىforأَخِيهِhis brother.
since he did not preserve sanctity nor conceal [faults] for his brother.