وَعَنْAndإِسْحَاقَIshaqبْنِson ofأَيُّوبَAyyubبْنِson ofجَعْفَرِJa'farبْنِson ofسُلَيْمَانَSulaimanقَالَ:said:
And from Ishaq ibn Ayyub ibn Ja'far ibn Sulaiman who said:
دَخَلَEnteredمُحَمَّدُMuhammadبْنُson ofوَاضِحٍWadihدَارَthe house ofالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'mun
Muhammad ibn Wadih entered the house of al-Ma'mun
وَخَلْفَهُand behind himأَكْثَرُwere more thanمِنْofخَمْسِمِائَةِfive hundredرَاكِبٍrider
and behind him were more than five hundred riders
كُلُّهُمْall of themرَاغِبٌhopingإِلَيْهِfor himوَرَاهِبٌand fearingمِنْهُ،him,
all of them hoping for him and fearing him,
وَهُوَwhile heإِذْatذَاكَthat timeيَلِيwas holdingأَعْمَالاًpostsمِنْfromأَعْمَالِthe posts ofالسَّوَادِ،al-Sawad,
while he at that time held offices among the offices of al-Sawad,
فَدَعَاso he calledبِهِfor himالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'mun
so al-Ma'mun called for him
فَقَالَ:and said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulاعْفِنِيexcuse meمِنْfromعَمَلِthe office ofكَذَاsuch andوَكَذَاsuch
and said: O Commander of the Faithful, excuse me from such-and-such office
فَإِنَّهُfor indeedلَاnoقُوَّةَstrengthلِيhave Iعَلَيْهِ،for it,
for I have no strength for it.
فَقَالَ:He said:قَدْI haveأَعْفَيْتُكَ،excused you,
He said: I have excused you.
وَاسْتَعْفَىAnd he asked to be excusedمِنْfromعَمَلٍanotherآخَرَoffice
And he asked to be excused from another office
وَهُوَwhile heيَظُنُّthoughtأَنَّهُthatلَاhe would notيُعْفِيهِexcuse him
while he thought that he would not excuse him for it,
فَأَعْفَاهُso he excused him
so he excused him
حَتَّىuntilخَرَجَhe stepped outمِنْofكُلِّeveryعَمَلٍofficeفِيinيَدِهِhis hand
until he stepped out of every office in his hand
فِيinأَقَلَّlessمِنْthanسَاعَةٍan hour
in less than an hour
وَهُوَwhile heقَائِمٌstoodعَلَىonرِجْلِهِ،his feet,
while he was standing on his feet,
فَخَرَجَso he departedوَمَاand nothingفِيinيَدِهِhis handشَيْءٌwas anythingمِنْofعَمَلِهِ،his office,
so he departed and nothing of his office remained in his hand,
فَقَالَAnd saidالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munلِسَالِمٍto Salimالْحَوَائِجِيِّ:al-Hawaiji:
and al-Ma'mun said to Salim al-Hawaiji:
إِذَاWhenخَرَجَhe goes outفَانْظُرْthen lookإِلَىatمَوْكِبِهِhis processionوَاحْصِand countمَنْwhoمَعَهُ،is with him,
When he goes out, look at his procession and count who is with him.
وَكَانَAndالْمَأْمُونُal-Ma'munقَدْhadرَآهُseen himمِنْfromمُسْتَشْرِفٍa balconyلَهُfor himحِينَwhenأَقْبَلَ،he arrived,
And al-Ma'mun had seen him from a balcony when he arrived,
فَخَرَجَso went outسَالِمٌSalimوَقَدِand alreadyاسْتَفَاضَhad spreadالْخَبَرُthe newsبِعَزْلِهِof his dismissalعَنْfromعَمَلِهِhis office
so Salim went out while the news of his dismissal from office had already spread,
فَنَظَرَso he lookedفَإِذَاand beholdلَاno oneيَتْبَعُهُfollowed himإِلَّاexceptغُلَامٌa page boyلَهُof hisبِغَاشِيَةٍ،carrying a leather cover,
so he looked and behold, no one followed him except a page boy of his carrying a leather cover.
فَرَجَعَHe returnedإِلَىtoالْمَأْمُونِal-Ma'munفَأَخْبَرَهُ،and informed him,
He returned to al-Ma'mun and informed him.
فَقَالَ:He said:وَيْلَهُمْWoe to themلَوْif onlyتَجَمَّلُواthey had adornedلَهُfor himرَيْثَمَاuntilيَرْجِعَhe returnedإِلَىtoبَيْتِهِhis houseكَمَاjust asخَرَجَhe came outمِنْهُ!of it!
He said: Woe to them! If only they had stayed with him until he returned to his house just as he came out of it!
ثُمَّThenتَمَثَّلَhe recitedفِيهِمْ:about them:
Then he recited poetry about them:
وَمَنْAnd whoeverيَجْعَلِbestowsالْمَعْرُوفَkindnessفِيonغَيْرِother thanأَهْلِهِits deserving people......يُلَاقِwill meetالَّذِيwhatلَاقَىmetمُجِيرُthe protector ofأُمِّMotherعَامِرٍAmir
And whoever bestows kindness on the undeserving... will meet what the protector of Umm Amir met.
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:صَدَقَSpoke the truthرَسُولُMessenger ofاللَّهِGodوَكَانَand he wasلِلصِّدْقِfor truthأَهْلاًworthyحِينَwhenقَالَ:he said:لَاdoes notتَنْفَعُbenefitالصَّنِيعَةُthe good deedإِلَّاexceptعِنْدَwithذِيpossessor ofحَسَبٍnoble lineageأَوْorدِينٍ.religion.
Then he said: The Messenger of God spoke the truth, and he was worthy of truth when he said: 'A good deed benefits only one of noble lineage or religion.'
وَذَكَرُواAnd they mentionedأَنَّهُthatكَانَit wasسَبَبَthe cause ofعَزْلِdismissal ofالْحَجَّاجِal-Hajjajعَنِfromالْحِجَازِthe Hijaz
And they mentioned that the cause of al-Hajjaj's dismissal from the Hijaz
أَنَّهُwas thatوَفَدَarrivedوَفْدٌa delegationمِنْهُمْfrom themفِيهِمْamong them beingعِيسَىIsaبْنُson ofطَلْحَةَTalhahبْنِson ofعُبَيْدِUbaidاللَّهِAllah
was that a delegation arrived from them, among whom was Isa ibn Talhah ibn Ubaid Allah,
عَلَىtoعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malikبْنِson ofمَرْوَانَMarwanفَأَثْنَوْاand they praisedعَلَىal-HajjajالْحَجَّاجِwhileوَعِيسَىIsaسَاكِتٌ،was silent,
to Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, and they praised al-Hajjaj while Isa was silent.
فَلَمَّاWhenقَامُواthey stood upثَبَتَremainedعِيسَىIsaحَتَّىuntilخَلَاwas clearedلَهُfor himوَجْهُthe face ofعَبْدِAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malik
When they stood up, Isa remained until Abd al-Malik was alone with him
فَقَامَso he stood upوَجَلَسَand satبَيْنَbetweenيَدَيْهِhis hands
and he stood up and sat right in front of him
فَقَالَ:and said:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulمَنْwhoأَنَا؟am I?
and said: O Commander of the Faithful, who am I?
قَالَ:He said:عِيسَىIsaبْنُson ofطَلْحَةَTalhahبْنِson ofعُبَيْدِUbaidاللَّهِ،Allah,
He said: Isa ibn Talhah ibn Ubaid Allah.
قَالَ:He said:فَمَنْThen whoأَنْتَ؟are you?
He said: Then who are you?
قَالَ:He said:عَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malikبْنُson ofمَرْوَانَ،Marwan,
He said: Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan.
قَالَ:He said:أَفَجَهِلْتَنَاDid you forget usأَوْorتَغَيَّرْتَdid you changeبَعْدَنَا؟after us?
He said: Have you forgotten us or changed after our time?
قَالَ:He said:وَمَاAnd whatذَاكَ؟is that?
He said: And what is that?
قَالَ:He said:وَلَّيْتَYou appointedعَلَيْنَاover usالْحَجَّاجَal-Hajjajيَسِيرُwho actsفِينَاamong usبِالْبَاطِلِwith falsehood
He said: You appointed al-Hajjaj over us, and he rules among us unjustly
وَيَحْمِلُنَاand compels usعَلَىtoأَنْthatنُثْنِيَwe praiseعَلَيْهِhimبِغَيْرِwithoutالْحَقِّ،truth,
and compels us to praise him undeservedly.
وَاللَّهِBy Allahلَئِنْifأَعَدْتَهُyou return himعَلَيْنَاto usلَنَعْصِيَنَّكَ،we will surely disobey you,
By Allah, if you return him to us, we will surely disobey you!
فَإِنْIfقَاتَلْتَنَاyou fight usوَغَلَبْتَنَاand defeat usوَأَسَأْتَand treat us badlyإِلَيْنَاto usقَطَعْتَyou cut offأَرْحَامَنَا،our kinship ties,
If you fight us, defeat us, and treat us badly, you sever our kinship ties.
وَلَئِنْand ifقَوَيْنَاwe grow strongعَلَيْكَover youلَنَعْصِيَنَّكَwe will surely disobeyمُلْكَكَ!your sovereignty!
And if we grow strong over you, we will certainly reject your rule!
قَالَ:He said:فَانْصَرِفْSo departوَالْزَمْand stay inبَيْتَكَyour houseوَلَاand do notتَذْكُرَنَّmentionمِنْofهَذَاthisشَيْئاً،anything,
He said: Depart and stay in your house, and do not mention any of this.
قَالَ:He said:فَقَدِمَSo he arrivedإِلَىatمَنْزِلِهِhis residenceوَأَصْبَحَand in the morningالْحَجَّاجُal-Hajjajغَادِياًwent earlyعَلَىtoالْوَفْدِthe delegationفِيinمَنَازِلِهِمْtheir residencesيَجْزِيهِمُrewarding them withالْخَيْرَ،good,
He said: So he arrived at his residence, and in the morning al-Hajjaj went early to the delegation in their residences, rewarding them with good,
ثُمَّthenأَتَىhe came toعِيسَىIsaبْنَson ofطَلْحَةَTalhahفَقَالَ:and said:
then he came to Isa ibn Talhah and said:
جَزَاكَMay reward youاللَّهُAllahعَنْforخَلْوَتِكَyour private meetingبِأَمِيرِwith the Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulخَيْراًwith good
May Allah reward you with good for your private meeting with the Commander of the Faithful,
فَقَدْfor indeedأَبْدَلَنِيhe has replaced meبِكُمْwith youخَيْراًbetterلِيfor meمِنْكُمْthan youوَأَبْدَلَكُمْand replaced youبِيwithغَيْرِيsomeone elseوَوَلَّانِيand appointed me overالْعِرَاقَ.Iraq.
for He has replaced me with someone better for me than you, and replaced you with someone other than me, and appointed me over Iraq.
وَعَنِAnd fromالْوَضَّاحِيِّal-WaddahiعَنْfromمَعْمَرِMu'ammarبْنِson ofوُهَيْبٍWuhaibقَالَ:who said:
And from al-Waddahi from Mu'ammar ibn Wuhaib who said:
كَانَWasعَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِal-Malikعِنْدَمَاwhenاسْتَعْفَىasked to be excusedأَهْلُthe people ofالْعِرَاقِIraqمِنَfromالْحَجَّاجِal-Hajjajبْنِson ofيُوسُفَYusuf
When the people of Iraq asked Abd al-Malik to be excused from al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf,
قَالَhe saidلَهُمْ:to them:اخْتَارُواChooseأَيَّwhicheverهَذَيْنِof these twoشِئْتُمْyou wish
he said to them: Choose whichever of these two you wish,
يَعْنِيmeaningأَخَاهُhis brotherمُحَمَّدَMuhammadبْنَson ofمَرْوَانَMarwanأَوْorابْنَهُhis sonعَبْدَAbdاللَّهِAllahمَكَانَin place ofالْحَجَّاجِ،al-Hajjaj,
meaning his brother Muhammad ibn Marwan or his son Abdullah in place of al-Hajjaj.
فَكَتَبَSo wroteإِلَيْهِto himالْحَجَّاجُ:al-Hajjaj:يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful
So al-Hajjaj wrote to him: O Commander of the Faithful,
إِنَّindeedأَهْلَthe people ofالْعِرَاقِIraqاسْتَعْفَوْاasked to be excusedمِنْfromسَعِيدِSaeedبْنِson ofالْعَاصِal-AasإِلَىtoعُثْمَانَUthmanبْنِson ofعَفَّانَAffan
the people of Iraq asked Saeed ibn al-Aas to be excused from Uthman ibn Affan,
فَأَعْفَاهُمْso he excused themمِنْهُfrom himفَسَارُواand they marchedإِلَيْهِagainst himمِنْfromقَابِلٍthe following yearفَقَتَلُوهُ،and killed him.
so he excused them from him, and they marched against him the following year and killed him.
فَقَالَSo saidعَبْدُAbdالْمَلِكِ:al-Malik:صَدَقَHe spoke the truthوَرَبِّby the Lord ofالْكَعْبَةِ،the Kaaba,
Abd al-Malik said: He spoke the truth, by the Lord of the Kaaba!
وَكَتَبَAnd he wroteإِلَىtoمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadوَعَبْدِand AbdاللَّهِAllahبِالسَّمْعِwith listeningوَالطَّاعَةِand obedienceلَهُ.to him.
And he wrote to Muhammad and Abdullah commanding them to listen and obey him.
[مَسَاوِئُ[Evils ofالْوِلَايَاتِ]Governorships]
[Evils of Governorships]
قَالَ:He said:كَتَبَWroteعَبْدُAbdالصَّمَدِal-Samadبْنُson ofالْمُعَذِّلِal-Mu'adhdilإِلَىtoصَدِيقٍa friendلَهُof hisوَلِيَwho was appointed overالنَّفَّاطَاتِthe naphtha wellsفَأَظْهَرَand showedتِيهاً:arrogance:
He said: Abd al-Samad ibn al-Mu'adhdil wrote to a friend of his who was appointed over the naphtha wells and showed arrogance:
لَعَمْرِيBy my lifeلَقَدْindeedأَظْهَرْتَyou have shownتِيهاًarroganceكَأَنَّمَاas if......تَوَلَّيْتَyou were appointed toلِلْفَضْلِal-Fadlبْنِson ofمَرْوَانَMarwanمِنْبَرَاa pulpit
By my life, you have shown arrogance as if... you were appointed by al-Fadl ibn Marwan to a pulpit.
وَمَاAndكُنْتُI was notأَخْشَىfearingلَوْifوَلِيتَyou were appointedمَكَانَهُin his place......عَلِيٌّAliأَبَاAbuالْعَبَّاسِal-Abbasأَنْthatتَتَغَيَّرَاyou would change
And I was not fearing, O Abu al-Abbas, if you were appointed in his place, that you would change.
بِحِفْظِBy guardingعُيُونِthe springs ofالنَّفْطِoilأَحْدَثْتَyou producedنَخْوَةًhaughtiness......فَكَيْفَso howبِهِabout itلَوْifكَانَit wereمِسْكاًmuskوَعَنْبَرَاand ambergris
By guarding oil springs you developed haughtiness... so how would it be if it were musk and ambergris?
دَعِLeaveالْكِبْرَprideوَاسْتَبْقِand preserveالتَّوَاضُعَhumilityإِنَّهُfor indeed it......قَبِيحٌis uglyبِوَالِيfor the governor ofالنَّفْطِnaphthaأَنْtoيَتَكَبَّرَاbe arrogant
Abandon pride and preserve humility... for it is ugly for the governor of naphtha to be arrogant.
قَالَ:He said:وَسُئِلَAnd was askedعَمَّارُAmmarبْنُson ofيَاسِرٍYasirعَنِaboutالْوِلَايَاتِgovernorshipsفَقَالَ:so he said:
He said: Ammar ibn Yasir was asked about governorships, and he said:
هِيَThey areحُلْوَةُsweet inالرَّضَاعِsucklingمُرَّةُbitter inالْفِطَامِ،weaning,
They are sweet in suckling, bitter in weaning.
وَلِابْنِAnd for the son ofالْمُعْتَزِّal-Mu'tazzفِيonمِثْلِهِ:the like of it:
And Ibn al-Mu'tazz said regarding the same:
كَمْHow manyتَائِهٍarrogant personبِوِلَايَةٍwith a governorship......وَبِعَزْلِهِand upon his dismissalيَعْدُوrunsالْبَرِيدُthe post messenger
How many a person arrogant in his governorship... and upon his dismissal the post messenger runs.
سُكْرُThe intoxication ofالْوِلَايَةِgovernorshipطَيِّبٌis sweet......وَخُمَارُهَاand its hangoverصَفْعٌis a slapشَدِيدُsevere
The intoxication of governorship is sweet... and its hangover is a severe slap.
وَلِغَيْرِهِ:And by someone else:
And by someone else:
لَاDo notتَجْزَعَنَّdespairفَكُلُّfor everyوَالٍgovernorيُعْزَلُis dismissed......وَكَمَاand just asعُزِلْتَyou were dismissedفَعَنْthen soonقَرِيبٍsoonيُعْزَلُhe is dismissed
Do not despair, for every governor is dismissed... and just as you were dismissed, very soon he too will be dismissed.
إِنَّIndeedالْوِلَايَةَgovernorshipلَاdoes notتَدُومُlastلِوَاحِدٍfor one person......إِنْifكُنْتَyouتُنْكِرُهُdeny itفَأَيْنَthen where isالْأَوَّلُthe first one
Indeed governorship does not last for a single person... if you deny it, then where is the first one?
وَكَذَاAnd thusالزَّمَانُtimeبِمَاwith whatيُسَرُّكَpleases youتَارَةًat times......وَبِمَاand with whatيَسُوءُكَdispleases youمَرَّةًat timesيَتَنَقَّلُit alternates
And thus time alternates between what pleases you at times... and what displeases you at times.
مَحَاسِنُVirtues ofبُعْدِhighالْهِمَّةِambition
Virtues of High Ambition
قَالَ:He said:حَدَّثَنَاNarrated to usأَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُson ofإِسْحَاقَIshaqالتُّسْتَرِيُّal-Tustariقَالَ:who said:
He said: Ahmad ibn Ishaq al-Tustari narrated to us, saying:
دَخَلَEnteredأَحْمَدُAhmadبْنُson ofأَبِيAbiدُؤَادَDuwaddعَلَىuponالْوَاثِقِal-Wathiq
Ahmad ibn Abi Duwadd entered upon al-Wathiq
فَقَالَand saidلَهُto himالْوَاثِقُ:al-Wathiq:بِاللَّهِBy AllahيَاOأَبَاAbuعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllah
and al-Wathiq said to him: By Allah, O Abu Abd Allah,
إِنِّيindeed Iحَنِثْتُbrokeفِيinيَمِينٍan oathفَمَاso what isكَفَّارَتُهَا؟its expiation?
I have broken an oath, so what is its expiation?
فَقَالَ:He said:مِائَةُOne hundredأَلْفِthousandدِينَارٍ،dinars,
He said: One hundred thousand dinars.
فَقَالَSo saidابْنُIbnالزَّيَّاتِ:al-Zayyat:وَاللَّهِBy Allahمَاwe have notسَمِعْنَاheardبِهَذَاof thisفِيinالْكَفَّارَاتِexpiations
Ibn al-Zayyat said: By Allah, we have never heard of this in expiations,
إِنَّمَاmerelyقَالَsaidاللَّهُAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّ،and Mighty,وَتَلَاand recitedالْآيَةَthe verseفِيregardingكَفَّارَةِexpiation ofالْأَيْمَانِ،oaths,
for Allah, Majestic and Mighty, only said—and he recited the verse regarding the expiation of oaths.
فَقَالَ:He said:تِلْكَThat isكَفَّارَةُthe expiation forمِثْلِهِthe likes of himفِيinبُعْدِhis highهِمَّتِهِambitionوَجَلَالَةِand majesty ofقَدْرِهِhis statusأَوْorمِثْلِthe likes ofآبَائِهِ،his fathers,
He said: That is the expiation for the likes of him in his high ambition and majesty of status, or the likes of his fathers.
إِنَّمَاIndeedتَكُونُisكَفَّارَةُthe expiation ofالْيَمِينِthe oathعَلَىaccording toقَدْرِthe measure ofجَلَالِmajesty ofاللَّهِAllahمِنْinقَلْبِthe heart ofالْحَالِفِthe swearerبِهَاby Him
Indeed the expiation of the oath is according to the measure of the majesty of Allah in the heart of the one swearing by Him,
وَلَاand we do not knowنَعْلَمُanyأَحَداًanyoneاللَّهُAllahجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Mightyفِيinقَلْبِهِhis heartأَجَلَّmore majestic thanمِنْthe Commanderأَمِيرِof theالْمُؤْمِنِينَFaithful.
and we know no one in whose heart Allah, Majestic and Mighty, is more majestic than the Commander of the Faithful.
فَقَالَSo saidالْوَاثِقُ:al-Wathiq:تُحْمَلُIt should be carriedإِلَىtoأَبِيAbuعَبْدِAbdاللَّهِAllahيَتَصَدَّقُto give in charityبِهَا.with it.
So al-Wathiq said: Let it be carried to Abu Abd Allah to distribute it in charity.