عَلِيُّAliبْنُson ofبُرَيْهَةَBurihaالْهَاشِمِيُّAl-Hashimiقَالَ:said:
Ali bin Buriha Al-Hashimi said:
قَالَsaidصَاحِبُthe master ofعَذَابِtorture ofأَبِيAbuجَعْفَرٍ:Ja'far:
The master of Abu Ja'far's torture chamber said:
دَعَانِيcalled meأَبُوAbuجَعْفَرٍJa'farالْمَنْصُورُAl-Mansurذَاتَoneيَوْمٍday
Abu Ja'far Al-Mansur called me one day
وَإِذَاand beholdبَيْنَbetweenيَدَيْهِhis handsجَارِيَةٌa slave girlصَفْرَاءُyellowish
and behold, before him was a yellowish slave girl
وَقَدْand he hadدَعَاsubjectedلَهَاher toبِأَنْوَاعِtypes ofالْعَذَابِtorture
and he had subjected her to various kinds of torture
وَهُوَwhile heيَقُولُwas sayingلَهَا:to her:
while he was saying to her:
وَيْلَكِWoe to youاصْدُقِينِيspeak the truth to me
Woe to you, speak the truth to me
فَوَاللَّهِfor by AllahمَاI do notأُرِيدُwantإِلَّاexceptالْأُلْفَةَharmony
for by Allah I desire nothing but harmony
وَلَئِنْand ifصَدَقْتِنِيyou tell me the truthلَأُصِلَنَّI will surely maintainالرَّحِمَfamily ties
and if you tell me the truth, I will surely maintain family ties
وَلَأُتَابِعَنَّand I will surely continueالْبِرَّgoodnessإِلَيْهِ،to him,
and I will continue to show goodness to him,
وَإِذoresizingand beholdهُوَheيُسَائِلُهَاwas questioning herعَنْaboutمُحَمَّدِMuhammadبْنِbinعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِAllah
and behold, he was questioning her about Muhammad bin Abdullah
وَهِيَwhile sheتَقُولُ:was saying:
while she was saying:
مَاI do notأَعْرِفُknowمَكَانَهُ،his whereabouts,
I do not know his whereabouts.
وَدَعَاAnd he called forبِالدَّهْقِthe suffocating instrument
And he called for the suffocation device
وَأَمَرَand orderedبِهِitفَوَضِعَso it was placedعَلَيْهَاupon her
and ordered it to be placed upon her.
فَلَمَّاSo whenكَادَتْcame closeنَفْسُهَاher soulأَنْtoتَتَلَفَperishقَالَ:he said:
When her soul was about to perish, he said:
امْسِكُواStopعَنْهَا،it from her,
Stop it from her,
وَكَرِهَand he dislikedمَاwhatرَأَىhe saw
and he disliked what he saw
وَقَالَand saidلِأَصْحَابِto the agents ofالْعَذَابِ:torture:
and said to the torturers:
مَاWhat isدَوَاءُthe remedy forمِثْلِهَاthe likes of her
What is the remedy for someone like her
إِذَاwhenصَارَshe comesإِلَىtoمِثْلِlikeحَالِهَا؟her condition?
when she reaches a condition like hers?
قَالُوا:They said:الطِّيْبُPerfumeتَشَمُّهُshe smells it
They said: Perfume for her to smell,
وَالْمَاءُand waterالْبَارِدُcoldيُصَبُّis pouredعَلَىonوَجْهِهَاher face
and cold water poured on her face,
وَتُسْقَىand she is given to drinkالسَّوِيقَ،barley gruel,
and she is given barley gruel to drink.
فَأَمَرَSo he orderedلَهَاfor herبِذَلِكَthat
So he ordered that for her
وَعَالَجَand he treatedبَعْضَهُpart of itبِيَدِهِwith his own hand
and treated part of it with his own hand
وَقَالَand saidلِأَصْحَابِto the agents ofالْعَذَابِ:torture:
and said to the torturers:
أَلَاWhy did you notأَعْلَمْتُمُونِيinform meبِمَاof whatيَنَالُهَاbefalls herفَأَكُفَّso that I would stopعَنْهَا؟it from her?
Why did you not inform me of what befalls her so that I could stop it?
قَالُوا:They said:قَدْweعَلِمْنَاknewأَنَّهَاthat sheلَاdoes notتَقْوَىhave strengthعَلَىforهَذَاthis
They said: We knew she had no strength for this,
وَلَكِنَّاbut weهِبْنَاكَ،feared you.
but we feared you.
فَمَاSo theyزَالُواkeptيَرُدُّونَreturningعَلَيْهَاto herنَفْسَهَاher breath/soul
So they kept trying to revive her
حَتَّىuntilأَفَاقَتْ،she regained consciousness,
until she regained consciousness,
وَأَعَادَand he repeatedعَلَيْهَاto herالْمَسْأَلَةَthe question
and he repeated the question to her
فَأَبَتْbut she refusedإِلَّاexceptالْجُحُودَ،denial,
and she persisted in denial,
فَقَالَso he saidلَهَا:to her:أَتَعْرِفِينَDo you knowفُلَانَةَso-and-soالْحِجَامَةَ؟the cupper woman?
so he said to her: Do you know such-and-such female cupper?
فَاسْوَدَّHer face turned blackوَجْهُهَاher faceوَتَغَيَّرَتْ،and she changed,
Her face turned pale and she was shaken,
فَقَالَتْ:and she said:نَعَمْYesيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithful
and she said: Yes, O Commander of the Faithful,
تِلْكَthat womanفِيis amongبَنِيBanuسُلَيْمٍ،Sulaym,
she is among Banu Sulaym.
قَالَ:He said:صَدَقْتِ،You have spoken the truth,
He said: You have spoken the truth,
هِيَshe isوَاللَّهِby Allahأَمَتِيmy slave girl
by Allah, she is my slave girl
ابْتَعْتُهَاI bought herبِمَالِيwith my wealth
whom I bought with my wealth,
وَرِزْقِيand my provisionيَجْرِيruns/is givenعَلَيْهَاto herفِيinكُلِّeveryشَهْرٍmonth
and my allowance is provided to her every month,
وَكُسْوَةُand the clothing ofشِتَائِهَاher winterوَصَيْفِهَا،and summer,
along with her winter and summer clothing.
أَمَرْتُهَاI commanded herأَنْtoتَدْخُلَenterمَنَازِلَكُمْyour houses
I commanded her to enter your homes
وَتَحْجُمَكُمْand perform cupping on youوَتَتَعَرَّفَand learnأَخْبَارَكُمْ،your news,
and cup you and find out your news.
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:أَتَعْرِفِينَDo you knowفُلَانًاso-and-soالْبَقَّالَ؟the grocer?
Then he said: Do you know such-and-such grocer?
قَالَتْ:She said:نَعَمْYesهُوَhe isفِيamongبَنِيBanuفُلَانٍ،so-and-so,
She said: Yes, he is among Banu so-and-so.
قَالَ:He said:هُوَhe isوَاللَّهِby Allahمُضَارِبِيmy business partner in capitalبِخَمْسَةِwith fiveدَنَانِيرَdinars
He said: By Allah, he is my business partner with five dinars
أَمَرْتُهُI ordered himأَنْtoيَبْتَاعَbuyبِهَاwith themكُلَّeveryمَاwhatيَحْتَاجُis neededإِلَيْهِto itمِنَfromالْبُيُوعِgoods
and I ordered him to buy with them whatever was needed of goods,
فَأَخْبَرَنِيand he informed meأَنَّthatأَمَةًa slave girlلَكُمْof yoursيَوْمَon the dayكَذَاsuch-and-suchوَكَذَاand suchمِنْofشَهْرِmonthكَذَاsuch-and-such
and he informed me that a slave girl of yours on such-and-such day of such-and-such month,
صَلَاةَat the time of the prayer ofالْمَغْرِبِMaghribجَاءَتْcameتَسْأَلُهُasking him forحِنَّاءًhennaوَوَرَقاً،and leaves,
at Maghrib prayer time, came asking him for henna and leaves,
فَقَالَand he saidلَهَا:to her:مَاWhatتَصْنَعِينَdo you makeبِهَذَا؟with this?
and he said to her: What are you doing with this?
فَقَالَتْ:So she said:كَانَwasمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُbinعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِAllah
She said: Muhammad bin Abdullah
فِيinبَعْضِsome ofضِيَاعِهِhis estatesبِنَاحِيَةِin the direction ofالْبَقِيعِAl-Baqi
was in some of his estates near Al-Baqi,
وَهُوَand heيَدْخُلُis enteringاللَّيْلَةَtonight
and he is entering [the city] tonight,
فَأَرَدْنَاso we wantedهَذَاthisلِتَتَّخِذَso that would prepareمِنْهُfrom itالنِّسَاءُthe womenمَاwhatيَحْتَجْنَthey needإِلَيْهِto it
so we wanted this so the women could prepare from it what they need
عِنْدَuponدُخُولِthe arrival ofأَزْوَاجِهِنَّtheir husbandsمِنَfromالْمَغِيبِ،absence,
upon the return of their husbands from absence.
فَأُسْقِطَSo it fellفِيinيَدِهَاher hand (she was confounded)وَأَذْعَنَتْand she yieldedبِكُلِّto allمَاwhatأَرَادَ.he wanted.
So she was utterly confounded and confessed to everything he wanted.
قِيلَ:It was said:وَإِنَّAnd thatأَبَاAbuجَعْفَرٍJa'farكَتَبَwroteفِيconcerningحَمْلِthe carrying/transfer ofعَبْدِAbdullahاللَّهِAllahبْنِbinالْحَسَنِAl-Hasan
It was said: Abu Ja'far wrote instructing the transfer of Abdullah bin Hasan
وَأَهْلِand his familyبَيْتِهِhouseholdمِنَfromالْمَدِينَةِMedinaإِلَىtoحَضْرَتِهِ،his presence,
and the members of his household from Medina to his presence.
فَلَمَّاWhenأُخْرِجُواthey were brought outكَثُرَincreasedعَلَيْهِمُupon themالْبُكَاءُ،the weeping,
When they were taken out, the weeping over them increased,
فَقَالَso saidعَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِ:Allah:أَفِيقُواAwake/Ceaseمِنَfromالْبُكَاءِweeping
so Abdullah said: Cease your weeping
وَأَوْغِلُواand plunge deepفِيinالدُّعَاءِ،supplication,
and immerse yourselves in supplication,
فَإِنِّيfor indeed Iأُشْهِدُcall as witnessاللَّهَAllahعَلَىuponمَاwhatأَرَدْتُI intendedمِنْofإِحْيَاءِrevivingالْحَقِّthe truth
for I call Allah to witness what I intended of reviving the truth
وَإِمَاتَةِand causing to dieالْبَاطِلِ،falsehood,
and eliminating falsehood,
فَجَرَىso ranالْقَدَرُdestinyبِمَاwith whatجَرَى،ran,
and destiny ran its course,
فَجَدِّيand my grandfatherالْحَسَنُAl-Hasanوَالْحُسَيْنُand Al-Husseinقُتِلَاwere killedبِسُمٍّby poisonوَسَيْفٍ،and sword,
and my grandfathers Al-Hasan and Al-Hussein were killed by poison and sword.
فَالْحَمْدُSo praiseلِلَّهِbe to Allahالَّذِيwhoجَعَلَmadeمَنَايَانَاour deathsجِهَاداًas jihad
So praise be to Allah who made our deaths as martyrdom in jihad
وَلَمْand did notيَجْعَلْهَاmake themمِهَاداً.as submission/cradling.
and did not make them deaths of submission in bed.
وَأَخْبَرَنَاAnd informed usإِبْرَاهِيمُIbrahimبْنُbinالسَّنْدِيِّAl-SindiبْنِbinشَاهِكَShahik
And Ibrahim bin Al-Sindi bin Shahik informed us
وَكَانَand he wasمِنَamongالْعُلَمَاءِthe scholarsبِأَمْرِregarding the affairs ofالدَّوْلَةِthe stateقَالَ:he said:
and he was among the scholars of state affairs, saying:
قَالَsaidلِيto meالْمَأْمُونُ:Al-Ma'mun:نُبِّئْتُI have been informedأَنَّكَthat youعَالِمٌare knowledgeableبِأَمْرِabout the affairs ofالدَّوْلَةِthe state
Al-Ma'mun said to me: I have been informed that you are knowledgeable about state affairs
وَرِجَالِand the men ofالدَّعْوَةِ.the mission.
and the men of the [Abbasid] mission.
قُلْتُ:I said:ذَلِكَThat isالَّذِيwhatيَلْزَمُنِيis incumbent upon meيَاOأَمِيرَCommander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithful
I said: That is what is incumbent upon me, O Commander of the Faithful,
بَعْدَafterالْفَرْضِthe religious obligationsأَنْtoأَعْرِفَknowأَيَّامَthe days ofمَوَالِيّmy mastersوَمَحَاسِنَand the virtues ofسَادَاتِي،my lords,
after the religious duties, that I know the history of my masters and the virtues of my lords,
قَالَ:he said:فَهَاتِthen bringمَاwhatعِنْدَكَ،you have,
he said: Then bring forth what you have.
ثُمَّThenأَنْشَأَhe beganيُحَادِثُنِيtalking to meوَيُسَائِلُنِيand questioning meعَنْaboutأُمُورٍmattersخَفِيَّةٍhidden
Then he began conversing with me and questioning me about hidden matters
لَمْthat did notتَخْطُرْcrossبِبَالِيmy mindقَطُّ،ever,
that had never crossed my mind at all,
فَكَانَand amongمِنْهَاthemأَنْwas thatقَالَ:he said:
and among them was that he said:
مَاWhat isاسْمُthe name ofأُمِّthe mother ofقَحْطَبَةَQahtabaبْنِbinشَبِيبٍ؟Shabib?
What is the name of the mother of Qahtaba bin Shabib?
قُلْتُ:I said:لَاI do notأَعْلَمُ،know,
I said: I do not know.
قَالَ:He said:لُبَابَةُLubabahبِنْتُdaughter ofسِنَانٍ.Sinan.
He said: Lubabah bint Sinan.
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:مَاWhat isاسْمُthe name ofأَبِيthe father ofعَوْنٍ؟Abu Awn?
Then he said: What is the name of the father of Abu Awn?
قُلْتُ:I said:لَاI do notأَدْرِي،know,
I said: I do not know.
قَالَ:He said:فُلَانٌ.So-and-so.
He said: Such-and-such.
فَوَاللَّهِBy Allahمَاhe did notزَالَceaseيُسَائِلُنِيquestioning meعَنْaboutخَفِيِّhiddenأَمْرِmatters ofالدَّوْلَةِthe state
By Allah, he kept questioning me about hidden matters of the state
وَلَاand he did notيَجِدُfindعِنْدِيwith meجَوَاباًan answer
and finding no answer with me,
وَلَاand notيَزِيدُنِيdid he increase meعَلَىuponأَنْthatتَبَسَّمَ،he smiled,
and doing nothing more than smiling,
فَكُلَّمَاso wheneverفَعَلَhe didذَلِكَthatزَادَhe increasedفِيinعَيْنَيّmy eyes
so every time he did that, he grew in my estimation
وَضَعُفْتُand I grew weakعِنْدَin front ofنَفْسِي،myself,
and I felt small before myself,
قَالَhe said:فَكَانَand the last thingآخِرَthatمَاhe said was:قَالَ:He said:
and he said: The last thing he said was:
أُخْبِرُكَI will inform youأَنَّthatبَعْضَsome ofأَهْلِنَاour familyذَاتَoneيَوْمٍday
I will inform you that some of our family members one day
رَأَتْsawوَهِيَwhile sheحَامِلٌwas pregnantمُتِمٌّat full term
saw while she was a full-term pregnant woman
كَأَنَّهُas ifأَتَاهَاcame to herآتٍa visitorفِيinمَنَامِهَاher sleep/dream
as if a visitor came to her in her dream
فَقَالَand saidلَهَا:to her:يُولَدُthere is bornفِيinهَذِهِthisاللَّيْلَةِnightخَلِيفَةٌa caliph
and said to her: A caliph is born tonight,
وَيَمُوتُand diesخَلِيفَةٌa caliphوَيُسْتَخْلَفُand is succeededخَلِيفَةٌ،by a caliph,
and a caliph dies, and a caliph is succeeded,
فَمَاتَso diedالْهَادِيAl-Hadiفِيinتِلْكَthatاللَّيْلَةِnight
so Al-Hadi died that night,
وَاسْتُخْلِفَand was succeededالرَّشِيدُAl-Rashidوَوُلِدْتُand I was bornأَنَا.myself.
and Al-Rashid was made caliph, and I was born.