وَقَالَAnd saidبِشْرُBishrبْنُbinالْوَلِيدِ:Al-Walid:
And Bishr bin Al-Walid said:
كَانَwasوَاللَّهِby AllahالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munالْمَلِكَthe kingحَقّاً،truly,
by Allah, Al-Ma'mun was truly a king,
مَاnotرَأَيْتُI sawخَلِيفَةًany caliphقَطُّever
I have never seen any caliph
كَانَthat wasالْكَذِبُlyingعَلَيْهِagainst himأَشَدَّmore severeمِنْهُthan it wasعَلَىonالْمَأْمُونِ،Al-Ma'mun,
for whom lying was more severe than it was for Al-Ma'mun,
وَكَانَand he used toيَحْتَمِلُtolerateكُلَّeveryآفَةٍflawتَكُونُthat might beبِالْإِنْسَانِin a personإِلَّاexceptالْكَذِبَ،lying,
and he would tolerate every flaw that a person might have except lying,
قَالَHe saidفَقَالَso he saidلِيto meيَوْماً:one day:
he said: So he said to me one day:
صِفْDescribeلِيto meأَبَاAbuيُوسُفَYusufالْقَاضِيَthe judge
Describe to me Abu Yusuf the judge
فَإِنِّيfor indeed Iلَمْhave notأَرَهُ،seen him,
for indeed I have not seen him,
فَوَصَفْتُهُso I described himلَهُ،to him,
so I described him to him,
فَاسْتَحْسَنَand he admiredصِفَتَهُhis descriptionوَقَالَ:and said:
and he admired his description and said:
وَدَدْتُI wishأَنَّthatمِثْلَthe like ofهَذَاthisبِحَضْرَتِنَاwas in our presenceفَنَتَزَيَّنَso we could adorn ourselvesبِهِ،with him,
I wish that the like of this person was in our presence so we could adorn ourselves with him,
ثُمَّthenأَقْبَلَhe turnedعَلَيَّtoward meوَقَالَ:and said:
then he turned toward me and said:
مَاThere is notفِيinالْخِلَافَةِthe Caliphateشَيْءٌanything
There is nothing in the Caliphate
إِلَّاexceptوَأَنَاthat Iأُحْسِنُknow howأَنْtoأُدَبِّرَهُmanage it
except that I know how to manage it
وَأَبْلُغُand reachمِنْهُfrom itحَيْثُwhereأُرِيدُI wantوَأَقْوَىand have powerعَلَيْهِover it
and reach from it wherever I want and have power over it
إِلَّاexceptأَمْرَthe affair ofأَصْحَابِكَ،your companions,
except the affair of your companions,
يَعْنِيmeaningالْقُضَاةَ،the judges,
meaning the judges,
وَمَاand whatظَنُّكَis your thoughtبِشَيْءٍabout something
and what is your thought about something
يَتَحَرَّجُscruplesمِنْهُfrom itعَلِيُّAliبْنُbinهِشَامٍHisham
that Ali bin Hisham scruples against
وَيَتَوَقَّىand guards againstسُوءَthe evilعَاقِبَتِهِof its consequence
and guards against the evil of its consequence
وَيُكَالِبُwhile striving eagerlyعَلَيْهِfor itالْفُقَهَاءُare the juristsوَأَهْلُand the people ofالتَّصَنُّعِ؟affectation?
while the jurists and the people of affectation strive eagerly for it?
قَالَHe saidقُلْتُ:I said:
He said: I said:
يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the FaithfulمَاI do notأَدْرِيknowمَاwhatتَقْصِدُهُyou meanفَأُجِيبَso that I may answerعَنْهُ!regarding it!
O Commander of the Faithful, I do not know what you mean so that I may answer regarding it!
قَالَ:He said:
He said:
لَكِنِّيbut Iأُدْرِيهِknow itوَأُدْرِيكَand I make you know itوَلَاand noوَاللَّهِby Allahمَاyou will notتُجِيبُنِيanswer meعَنْهُabout itوَلَاnorفِيهِregarding itبِجَوَابٍwith an answerمُقْنِعٍ،convincing,
But I know it and will make you know it, and by Allah, you will not answer me about it or regarding it with a convincing answer,
ثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:
then he said:
وَلَّيْنَاWe appointedرَجُلاًa manأَشَرْتَwhom you pointed toبِهِwithقَضَاءَto the judgeship ofالْأُبُلَّةِAl-Ubullah
We appointed a man whom you pointed to for the judgeship of Al-Ubullah
وَأَجْرَيْنَاand we ranعَلَيْهِfor himفِيinالشَّهْرِthe monthأَلْفَa thousandدِرْهَمٍdirhams
and we allocated for him a thousand dirhams a month
وَمَاand he hadلَهُfor himصِنَاعَةٌno craftوَلَاnorتِجَارَةٌtrade
and he had no craft or trade
وَلَاnorكَانَwas thereلَهُfor himمَالٌany wealthقَبْلَbeforeوِلَايَتِنَاour appointingإِيَّاهُ......him......
nor did he have any wealth before our appointing him......
وَوَلَّيْنَاAnd we appointedرَجُلاًa manآخَرَanotherقَضَاءَto the judgeship ofدِمَشْقَDamascus
And we appointed another man to the judgeship of Damascus
وَأَجْرَيْنَاand we allocatedعَلَيْهِfor himأَلْفَa thousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsفِيinالشَّهْرِthe month
and we allocated for him a thousand dirhams a month
أَشَارَsuggestedبِهِhimإِلَيَّto meمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُbinسَمَاعَةَ،Sama'ah,
suggested by Muhammad bin Sama'ah to me,
فَأَقَامَso he stayedبِهَاin itأَرْبَعَةَfourteenعَشَرَteenشَهْراً،months,
so he stayed in it for fourteen months,
فَوَجَّهْنَاso we sentمَنْsomeone toيَتَتَبَّعُtrack downأَمْوَالَهُhis wealthفِيinالسِّرِّsecretوَالْعَلَانِيَةِand openly
so we sent someone to track down his wealth in secret and openly
وَيَتَعَرَّفُand inquire aboutحَالَهُ،his condition,
and inquire about his condition,
فَأُخْبِرَand it was reportedأَنَّهُthat heوُجِدَwas foundمَاwhatظَهَرَappearedمِنْofمَالِهِhis wealthفِيinهَذَاthisالْمِقْدَارِamount
and it was reported that what appeared of his wealth in this amount
مِنْofدَابَّةٍbeast of burdenوَغُلَامٍand servantوَجَارِيَةٍand slave girlوَفَرْشٍand beddingوَأَثَاثٍand furniture
consisting of a mount, a servant, a slave girl, bedding, and furniture
قِيمَتُهُits value isثَلَاثَةُthreeآلَافِthousandدِينَارٍ،dinars,
amounted in value to three thousand dinars,
وَوَلَّيْنَاand we appointedرَجُلاًa manأَشَارَsuggestedبِهِby himإِلَيَّto meفُلَانٌso-and-soنَهَاوَنْدَto Nahavand
and we appointed a man suggested to me by so-and-so to Nahavand
فَأَقَامَso he stayedبِهَاin itأَرْبَعَةًtwentyوَعِشْرِينَfourشَهْراً،months,
where he stayed for twenty-four months,
فَوَجَّهْنَاso we sentمَنْsomeone toيَتَتَبَّعُtrack downأَمْوَالَهُhis wealthفَأَخْبَرَنَاand he informed usأَنَّthatفِيinمَنْزِلِهِhis houseخُدُوماًwere servantsوَخُصياناًand eunuchs
so we sent someone to track down his wealth, and he informed us that in his house were servants and eunuchs
بِقِيمَةِworthأَلْفٍone thousandوَخَمْسِand fiveمِئَةِhundredدِينَارٍdinarsسِوَىbesidesنِتَاجٍlivestockقَدِthatاتَّخَذَهُ،he had acquired,
worth one thousand and five hundred dinars, besides livestock he had acquired,
فَهَاتِso bring forthمَاwhatعِنْدَكَyou haveمِنَofالْجَوَابِ!the answer!
so bring forth whatever answer you have!
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:مَاI haveعِنْدِيwith meيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulجَوَابٌ،no answer,
So I said: I have no answer, O Commander of the Faithful,
قَالَ:he said:أَلَمْDid I notأُعْلِمْكَ؟inform you?
he said: Did I not inform you?
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:وَأَكْبَرُand greaterمِنْthanهَذَاthisوَأَطَمُّand more monstrous
Then he said: And greater than this and more monstrous
أَنِّيis that IفَزِعْتُturnedإِلَىtoعَلِيِّAliبْنِbinهِشَامٍHishamفِيregardingرَجُلٍa manأُوَلِّيهِI would appointالْقَضَاءَto the judiciary
is that I turned to Ali bin Hisham regarding a man I wanted to appoint to the judiciary
فَقَالَ:and he said:قَدْI haveأَصَبْتُfoundوَاحِداًoneوَاللَّهُand Allahيَشْهَدُbears witnessأَنَّهُthat heسَرَّنِيpleased me
and he said: I have found one, and Allah bears witness that he pleased me
وَرَجَوْتُand I hopedأَنْthatيَكُونَhe would beبِحَيْثُasأُحِبُّ،I like,
and I hoped that he would be as I like,
قُلْتُ:I said:فَاغْدُso come earlyبِهِwith himعَلَيَّ،to me,
I said: So bring him to me early,
قَالَ:he said:أَفْعَلُ،I will do so,
he said: I will do so,
ثُمَّthenغَدَا،he came early,
then he came early,
فَقُلْتُ:so I said:أَيْنَWhere isالرَّجُلُ؟the man?
so I said: Where is the man?
فَقَالَ:He said:لَمْI did notأَجِدْهُfind himفِيinالْفِقْهِjurisprudenceبِالْمَوْضِعِat the level
He said: I did not find him in jurisprudence at the level
الَّذِيthatيَجِبُit is necessaryأَنْthatيَتَّصِلَbe connectedصَاحِبُهُits companionبِأَمِيرِwith the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَ،of the Faithful,
that is required for someone associated with the Commander of the Faithful,
قَالَ:he said:فَأَنْكَرْتُso I disapprovedعَلَيْهِof himوَأَظْهَرْتُand showedالْغَضَبَ،anger,
he said: So I disapproved of him and showed anger,
فَقَالَ:so he said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulإِنَّindeedالرَّجُلَthe manالَّذِيwhomذَكَرْتُهُI mentionedلَكَto youبِالأَمْسِyesterday
so he said: O Commander of the Faithful, indeed the man whom I mentioned to you yesterday
هُوَisعَلِيُّAliبْنُbinمُقَاتِلٍMuqatilوَكَانَand he wasعِنْدِيin my viewمِنْofأَهْلِthe people ofالْعَفَافِchastityوَالسِّتْرِ،and modesty,
is Ali bin Muqatil, and he was in my view among the people of chastity and modesty,
فَانْصَرَفْتُso I leftبِالأَمْسِyesterdayعَلَىwith the intentionأَنْthatأُحْضِرَهُ،I would bring him,
so I left yesterday with the intention of bringing him,
فَوَجَّهْتُso I sentإِلَيْهِto himوَأَنَاwhile Iلَاdid notأَشُكُّdoubtأَنَّهُthat heسَيُظْهِرُwould showالْكَرَاهِيَةَreluctance
so I sent for him while I did not doubt that he would show reluctance
فِيregardingمَاwhatأَرَادَdesiredلَهُfor himأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
regarding what the Commander of the Faithful desired for him
وَإِنْeven ifكَانَhe wereيَسْتَبْطِنُconcealingغَيْرَهَاother than itوَيَسْتَعْفِيand asking to be excused
even if he were concealing other than it and asking to be excused
كَفِعْلِlike the action ofمَنْone whoيَتَصَنَّعُfeignsأَوْorيَكْرَهُdislikesذَلِكَthatبِالْحَقِيقَةِ،in reality,
like the action of one who feigns or dislikes that in reality,
فَلَمَّاso whenجَاءَنِيhe came to meأَلْقَيْتُI presentedإِلَيْهِto himالَّذِيwhatأَرَدْتُهُI wantedلَهُfor him
so when he came to me, I presented to him what I wanted for him
فَمَاand he could notتَمَالَكَcontain himselfأَنْfromوَثَبَleaping upفَقَبَّلَand kissingرَأْسِي،my head,
and he could not contain himself from leaping up and kissing my head,
فَعَلِمْتُso I knewأَنَّهُthat heلَاhas noخَيْرَgoodعِنْدَهُin him
so I knew that there was no good in him
وَأَنَّهُand thatلَوْifكَانَhe wereمِنْofأَهْلِthe people ofالْفَضْلِvirtueوَالْخَيْرِand goodness
and that if he were of the people of virtue and goodness
لَعَدَّhe would have consideredالَّذِيthat whichدُعِيَhe was calledإِلَيْهِtoإِحْدَىone ofالْمَصَائِبِ،the calamities,
he would have considered that which he was called to as one of the calamities,
فَلَمْso I did notأَرَseeلِنَفْسِيfor myselfأَنْthatأُحْضِرَهُI should bring himوَلَاnorأَنْthatيُسْتَعَانَassistance should be soughtبِمِثْلِهِ،from the likes of him,
so I did not see fit for myself to bring him or to seek assistance from the likes of him,
فَقُلْتُ:so I said:جَزَاكَMay Allah rewardاللَّهُAllahخَيْراًwellعَنْon behalf ofإِمَامِكَyour Imam
so I said: May Allah reward you well on behalf of your Imam
أَحْسَنَthe bestمَاof whatجَزَىHe rewardedامْرَأًa manعَنْon behalf ofإِمَامِهِhis Imam
the best of what He rewarded a man on behalf of his Imam,
وَهَمَّand was concerned forدِينَكَyour religionوَنَفْسَكَ،and yourself,
and was concerned for your religion and yourself,
قَالَHe saidبِشْرٌ:Bishr:فَبُهِتُّso I was stunnedوَانْقَطَعْتُand cut offوَلَمْand did notأُحِرْutterكَلِمَةً.....a single word.....
Bishr said: So I was stunned and left speechless and did not utter a single word.....
فَقَالَ:Then he said:لَاNoوَلَكِنْbutإِنْifأَرَدْتَyou wantedالْعَفِيفَthe chasteالنَّظِيفَthe cleanالزَّاكِيَthe pureالتَّقِيَّthe piousالطَّاهِرَthe immaculateفَقَاضِيthen the judge ofالرَّيِّRayyهُوَisبِالْحَالَةِin the conditionالَّتِيthatفَارَقْتَهُyou left himعَلَيْهَاuponوَاللَّهِby Allahمَاhe has notغَيَّرَchangedوَلَاnorبَدَّلَ،altered,
Then he said: No, but if you wanted the chaste, clean, pure, pious, and immaculate, then the judge of Rayy is in the condition that you left him upon—by Allah, he has neither changed nor altered,
فَأَمَّاas forقَوْلُكُمْyour sayingفِيregardingيَحْيَىYahyaبْنِbinأَكْثَمَAkthamفَمَاwe do notنَدْرِيknowمَاwhatعَيْبُهُhis fault is
and as for your saying regarding Yahya bin Aktham, we do not know what his fault is
إِلَّاexceptأَنَّthatظَاهِرَهُhis outward stateأَنَّهُis that he isأَعَفُّthe chastestخَلْقِof the creation ofاللَّهِAllahعَنِregardingالصَّفْرَاءِyellow (gold)وَالْبَيْضَاءِ،and white (silver),
except that his outward state is that he is the chastest of Allah's creation regarding gold and silver,
مَالَhe inclinedإِلَيْنَاtoward usمِنْfromأَمْوَالِthe wealth ofالْحَشْوِيَّةِthe common folkأَرْبَعُfourمِئَةِhundredأَلْفِthousandدِينَارٍ،dinars,
he redirected four hundred thousand dinars of the wealth of the common folk to us,
فَأَيُّso whatنَفْسٍsoulتَسْخُوis generousبِهَذَا؟with this?
so what soul could be generous with this?
قَالَHe saidبِشْرٌ:Bishr:فَقُلْتُso I saidيَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
Bishr said: So I said, O Commander of the Faithful,
مَاthere is notلَكَfor youفِيamongالْخُلَفَاءِthe Caliphsشَبِيهٌany likeness
there is no likeness for you among the Caliphs
إِلَّاexceptعُمَرَUmarبْنَbinالْخَطَّابِAl-Khattab
except Umar bin Al-Khattab
فَإِنَّهُfor indeed heكَانَused toيَفْحَصُinvestigateعَنْaboutعُمَّالِهِhis governorsوَعَنْand aboutدَفِينِthe buriedأَسْرَارِsecrets ofحُكَّامِهِhis rulersفَحْصاًan investigationشَافِياً،thorough,
for indeed he used to investigate his governors and the buried secrets of his rulers with a thorough investigation,
فَكَانَand soلَاnotيَخْفَىwas hiddenعَلَيْهِfrom himمَاwhatيُفِيدُgainsكُلُّeveryامْرِئٍpersonوَمَاand whatيُنْفِقُ،he spends,
and nothing was hidden from him regarding what every person gains and what he spends,
وَكَانَandمَنْwhoeverنَأَىwas farعَنْهُfrom himكَمَنْwas like the one whoدَنَاwas nearمِنْهُto himفِيinبَحْثِهِhis searchingوَتَنْقِيرِهِ،and probing,
and whoever was far from him was like the one who was near to him in his searching and probing,
فَقَالَso saidالْمَأْمُونُ:Al-Ma'mun:إِنَّindeedأَهَمَّthe most importantالْأُمُورِmattersكُلِّهَاof allأُمُورُare the matters ofالْقُضَاةِthe judgesوَالْحُكَّامِand rulers
so Al-Ma'mun said: Indeed, the most important of all matters are the matters of the judges and rulers
إِذْsinceكُنَّاweقَدْhaveأَلْزَمْنَاهُمُobligated them withالنَّظَرَlooking intoفِيinالدِّمَاءِbloodsوَالْأَمْوَالِand wealthوَالْفُرُوجِand chastityوَالْأَحْكَامِand judgments
since we have obligated them with looking into matters of blood, wealth, chastity, and judgments,
فَوَدَدْتُso I wishأَنِّيthat Iأَجِدُcould findمِئَةَone hundredحَاكِمٍrulersوَأَنِّيand that Iأَجُوعُwould go hungryيَوْماًone dayوَأَشْبَعُand be fullيَوْماً.another day.
so I wish that I could find a hundred rulers even if I were to go hungry one day and be full another day.