قَالَ:Heوَكَانَand Al-QasimالْقَاسِمُibnبْنُAl-Rashidالرَّشِيدِwasسَاقِطَlowالْهِمَّةِin ambitionدَنِيَّbaseالنَّفْسِ،in soul.
He said: Al-Qasim ibn Al-Rashid was of low ambition and base soul,
وَكَانَAndالْمَأْمُونُAl-Ma'munعَلَىwasأَنْaboutيَعْهَدَto entrustإِلَيْهِto himوَيُؤَكِّدَand confirmلَهُfor himمَاwhatكَانَAl-Rashidالرَّشِيدُhadجَعَلَهُmadeلَهُfor himمِنْofوِلَايَةِthe successionالْعَهْدِ،to the throne,
and Al-Ma'mun was about to entrust him and confirm for him what Al-Rashid had made for him of the succession to the throne,
وَكَانَandلَاnotيَزَالُhe ceasedيَبْلُغُهُreaching himعَنْهُabout himمَاwhatيَكْرَهُhe dislikedمَرَّةًonceفِيinنَفْسِهِhimselfوَأُخْرَىand anotherفِيinحَشَمِهِ،his entourage.
and reports kept reaching him about him that he disliked, sometimes concerning himself and sometimes concerning his entourage.
قَالَ:He said:فَرُفِعَThen it was raisedإِلَيْهِto himفِيinالْخَبَرِthe newsيَوْماًone dayأَنَّهُthat heقَالَsaidلِقُوَّامِto the attendantsحَمَّامِهِ:of his bathhouse:
He said: Then news was brought to him one day that he said to the attendants of his bathhouse:
نَوِّرُواApply depilatoryالنَّاسَto the peopleبِالْمَجَّانِ،for free,
Apply depilatory to the people for free,
فَفَعَلُواand they didذَلِكَthat,فَلَمْso notيَبْقَremainedمُحْتَاجٌa needy personإِلَّاexceptجَاءَhe cameيَتَنَوَّرُ،to be treated.
and they did so, leaving no needy person who did not come to be treated.
فَلَمَّاWhenعَلِمَhe knewأَنَّهُمْthat theyكَثُرُواwere many,أَخْرَجَhe brought outعَلَيْهِمُupon themالْأَسَدَthe lionمِنْfromبَابٍa doorكَانَit wasيَدْخُلُhe enteredمِنْهُfrom itإِلَىtoالْحَمَّامِthe bathhouse,
When he knew that they were many, he let loose upon them a lion from a door through which he used to enter the bathhouse,
فَخَرَجَand went outالنَّاسُthe peopleعُرَاةًnakedمَغْمًىfaintingعَلَيْهِمْover themمَعَwithمَاwhatعَلَيْهِمْwas upon themمِنَofالنُّورَةِdepilatory pasteهَارِبِينَfleeingمِنَfromالْأَسَدِthe lion,
and the people rushed out naked, fainting, with the depilatory paste still on them, fleeing from the lion,
فَصَارُواand they reachedإِلَىtoشَارِعِthe streetقَصْرِهِof his palaceوَقَدْwhileأَشْرَفَhe overlookedعَلَيْهِمْthemوَهُوَwhile heيَضْحَكُ،laughed.
and they came to the street of his palace while he was looking down upon them and laughing.
فَحَدَّثَنَاAl-HasanالْحَسَنُibnبْنُQuraishقُرَيْشٍnarratedقَالَ:to us, saying:
Al-Hasan ibn Quraish narrated to us, saying:
دَعَانِيAl-Ma'munالْمَأْمُونُcalled meوَقَالَ:and said:
Al-Ma'mun called me and said:
يَاOهَذَاman,مَاwhatلِيhave Iوَلَهَذَاand with thisالْفَتَى،youth?
"O man, what do I have to do with this youth,
إِلَىhow longكَمْshall Iأَحْتَمِلُbearمِنْهُfrom himهَذَاthisالْأَذَى؟harm?"
how long shall I bear this harm from him?"
قَالَ:He said:فَقُلْتُSo I said,قَوِّمْهُ"Correct him,يَاOأَمِيرَCommanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,إِنْifرَأَيْتَyou seeفِيinذَلِكَthatصَلَاحاً،goodness."
He said: So I said, "Correct him, O Commander of the Faithful, if you see that to be proper."
قَالَ:Heنَعَمْ،said, "Yes."
He said, "Yes."
فَقُلْتُ:I said,يَا"Oسَيِّدِيmy master,إِنَّهُhe isعُضْوٌa limbمِنْكَof youوَأَنْتَand youأَوْلَىare most worthyالنَّاسِof peopleبِتَقْوِيمِهِ،of correcting him."
I said, "O my master, he is a limb of yours, and you are the most worthy of people to correct him."
قَالَ:He said:فَجَعَلَSo he beganيَنْهَاهُto forbid him,وَيَأْبَىwhile he refusedلَاand would notيَنْتَهِيَنَّ،cease.
He said: So he began to forbid him, but he refused and would not stop.
فَلَمَّاWhenكَثُرَincreasedهَذَاthisمِنْfromفِعْلِهِhis actions,عَزَمَhe resolvedعَلَىuponخَلْعِهِdeposing him,
When this from his actions became frequent, he resolved to depose him
فَكَتَبَand wroteإِلَىtoهَرْثَمَةَHarthamahبْنِibnأَعْيَنَA'yanفِيconcerningذَلِكَthatكِتَاباًa letter,نُسْخَتُهُ:its copy being:
and wrote a letter regarding that to Harthamah ibn A'yan, the copy of which is:
أَمَّاAs forبَعْدُafter:فَإِنَّIndeedأَمِيرَthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulيَسْتَوْفِقُseeks the successاللَّهَfrom GodجَلَّMajesticوَعَزَّand Exalted is Heفِيinجَمِيعِallأُمُورِهِhis affairsوَيَسْتَخِيرُهُand asks Him for guidanceفِيهَاin them,خَاصِّهَاtheir specificوَعَامِّهَا،and general,
"Now then: The Commander of the Faithful seeks success from God, Majestic and Exalted is He, in all his affairs and asks Him for guidance regarding them, both specific and general,
لَطِيفِهَاtheir subtleوَجَلِيلِهَا،and grand,اسْتِخَارَةَthe seeking of guidanceمَنْof one whoيُوقِنُis certainأَنَّthatالْبَرَكَةَblessingوَخِيرَةَand the bestالْبَدْءِof beginningوَالْعَاقِبَةِand endفِيis inقَضَائِهِHis decreeوَمَاand whatيُلْهِمُهُHe inspires himمِنْofإِرْشَادٍguidanceوَتَسْدِيدِand rectifyingرَأْيٍopinionوَإِثْبَاتِand establishingصَوَابٍ،correctness.
subtle and grand, like the seeking of one who is certain that blessing and the best beginning and end are in His decree, and in what He inspires of guidance, rectifying opinion, and establishing correctness.
وَقَدْAndرَأَىhas seenأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulعِنْدَمَاwhenاسْتَخَارَhe sought guidance fromاللَّهَGod,تَبَارَكَBlessedاسْمُهُbe His name,فِيهِconcerning himمِنْregardingأَمْرِthe matterالْقَاسِمِof Al-QasimبْنِibnالرَّشِيدِAl-Rashidفِيمَاin regard to whatكَانَwasإِلَيْهِentrusted to himمِنْofوِلَايَةِthe successionالْعَهْدِto the throne:خَلْعُهُhis depositionعَنْfromذَلِكَthatوَصَرْفُهُand dismissing himعَنْهُ،from it.
And when the Commander of the Faithful sought guidance from God, Blessed be His name, regarding the matter of Al-Qasim ibn Al-Rashid concerning his succession to the throne, he decided to depose him from that and dismiss him from it.
فَأَظْهِرْSo make this apparentذَلِكَtoفِيمَنْthose who areبِحَضْرَتِكَin your presence,وَأْمُرْand commandبِالْكِتَابِwith the letterإِلَىtoالْعُمَّالِthe agentsفِيinنَوَاحِيthe regions ofعَمَلِكَyour jurisdictionوَثُغُورِكَand your frontiersوَوُلَاةِand governorsالْأَمْصَارِ،of the cities.
So make this apparent to those in your presence, and dispatch the letter to the agents in the regions of your jurisdiction, your frontier posts, and the governors of the cities.
فَقَدْForأَمَلَhopesأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithfulأَنْthatيَكُونَthat will beذَلِكَsuccessتَوْفِيقاًgrantedمِنَbyاللَّهِGod,تَبَارَكَBlessedاسْمُهُbe His name,وَرُشْداًand rectitudeأَلْهَمَهُHe inspiredإِيَّاهُhim with,
For the Commander of the Faithful hopes that this will be a success granted by God, Blessed be His name, and rectitude with which He inspired him,
إِذْsinceكَانَit isبِهِthrough Himتَوْفِيقُهُhis successوَعَلَيْهِand upon Himمُعَوَّلُهُis his relianceوَإِلَيْهِand to Himرُجُوعُهُis his returnفِيمَاin whatيَبْرُمُhe settlesوَيُمْضِي،and executes.
since through Him is his success, upon Him is his reliance, and to Him is his return in what he settles and executes.
فَامْتَثِلْSo carry outمَاwhatحَدَّهُprescribedلَكَfor youأَمِيرُthe Commanderالْمُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful,وَانْتَهِand abideإِلَيْهِby it,وَاكْتُبْand writeبِمَاconcerning whatيَكُونُtakes placeمِنْكَon your partفِيهِregarding it,إِنْifشَاءَGodاللَّهُ.wills."
So carry out what the Commander of the Faithful has prescribed for you, abide by it, and write back concerning what takes place on your part regarding it, if God wills."
قَالَ:He said:وَنَظَرَAnd Al-Ma'munالْمَأْمُونُlookedيَوْماًone dayإِلَىatابْنِهِhis sonالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbasوَأَخِيهِand his brotherالْمُعْتَصِمِ،Al-Mu'tasim.
He said: Al-Ma'mun looked one day at his son Al-Abbas and his brother Al-Mu'tasim,
فَابْنُهُwhile his sonالْعَبَّاسُAl-Abbasيَتَّخِذُwas constructingالْمَصَانِعَcisternsوَيَبْنِيand buildingالضِّيَاعَestates,وَالْمُعْتَصِمُand Al-Mu'tasimيَتَّخِذُwas acquiringالرِّجَالَ،men.
while his son Al-Abbas was constructing cisterns and building estates, and Al-Mu'tasim was acquiring men.
فَقَالَSo he recitedشِعْراً:poetry:
So he recited poetry:
يَبْنِيHe buildsالرِّجَالَmenوَغَيْرُهُwhile anotherيَبْنِيbuildsالْقُرَىvillages —......شَتَّانَhow great is the differenceبَيْنَbetweenقُرًىvillagesوَبَيْنَandرِجَالِmen!
He builds men while another builds villages — how great is the difference between villages and men!
قَلِقٌAnxiousبِكَثْرَةِwith the abundance ofمَالِهِhis wealthوَضِيَاعِهِand his estates,......حَتَّىuntilيُفَرِّقَهُhe distributes itعَلَىamongالْأَبْطَالِthe heroes.
Anxious with the abundance of his wealth and his estates, until he distributes it among the heroes.
وَأَنْشَدَAnd he recitedفِيconcerningمِثْلِهِ:the like of him:
And he recited concerning the like of him:
لَمَّاWhenرَأَيْتُكَI saw youلَاnotتَجُودُbeing generousبِنَائِلٍwith a gift,......وَتَظُنُّand stingyبِالْمَعْرُوفِwith kindnessظَنَّlike the suspicion ofالسَّاقِطِthe base person,
When I saw you not being generous with a gift, and stingy with kindness like the suspicion of the base person,
وَرَأَيْتُand sawهِمَّتَكَyour ambitionالَّتِيto whichتَعْلُوyou riseبِهَاby it......سَوْطَis the whip ofالثَّرِيدِtharidوَشَمَّand smellingرِيحِthe smell ofالْغَائِطِfeces,
and saw your ambition to which you rise being the whip of tharid and smelling the odor of feces,
وَإِذَاand ifتَكَلَّفَyou undertookحَاجَةًa needضَيَّعْتَهَاyou wasted it......بِتَغَافُلٍwith feigned negligenceعَنْهَاof itكَأَنَّكَas if you wereوَاسِطِيٌّa Wasiti.
and if you undertook a need you wasted it with feigned negligence of it as if you were a Wasiti.
لَاNeitherلِلْمَكَارِمِfor noble deedsتَشْرَئِبُّdo you stretchبِنَهْضَةٍwith an eager rise,......وَلَدَىand atالْمَكَارِهِhardshipsكَالْحِمَارِyou are like the donkeyالضَّارِطِpassing gas.
Neither for noble deeds do you stretch with an eager rise, and at hardships you are like the donkey passing gas.
أَيَّسْتُI despairedنَفْسِيmy soulمِنْofرَجَائِكَhoping in youدَهْرَهَاfor its lifetime,......وَنَقَشْتُand I carvedشِبْهَكَyour likenessصُورَةًas a pictureفِيonحَائِطِa wall.
I despaired my soul of hoping in you for its lifetime, and I carved your likeness as a picture on a wall.
وَقَالَAndآخَرُ،another said,سَامَحَهُmay Godاللَّهُforgive himعَزَّMajesticوَجَلَّ:and Exalted:
And another said, may God Majestic and Exalted forgive him:
إِذَاIfأَنْتَyouلَاare notتُرْجَىhoped uponلِدَفْعِto repelمُلِمَّةٍa calamity,......وَلَاnorأَنْتَisفِيinالْمَعْرُوفِkindnessعِنْدَكَwith youمَطْمَحٌany aspiration,
If you are not hoped upon to repel a calamity, nor is there any aspiration in kindness with you,
وَلَاnorأَنْتَare youذُوone ofجَاهٍstatusيُعَاشُlivedبِجَاهِهِby whose status,......وَلَاnorأَنْتَare youيَوْمَon the dayالْحَشْرِof Gatheringمِمَّنْamong those whoيُشَفَّعُintercede,
nor are you of status by whose standing one lives, nor are you on the Day of Gathering among those who intercede,
فَمَوْتُكَthen your deathفِيinالدُّنْيَاthe worldوَعَيْشُكَand your lifeوَاحِدٌare one,......وَعُودُand a twigخِلَالٍof toothpickمِنْfromنَوَالِكَyour bountyأَنْفَعُis more useful.
then your death in this world and your life are one, and a toothpick from your bounty is more useful.
وَلِآخَرَ،And by another,سَامَحَهُmay Godاللَّهُforgive himوَعَفَاand pardonعَنْهُ:him:
And by another, may God forgive him and pardon him:
كُلَّمَاWheneverقُلْتُI saidوَيْكَWorthyلِلْكَلْبِto the dog,إِخْسَأْ"Begone,"......لَحَظَتْنِيglanced at meعَيْنَاكَyour eyesلَحْظَةَwith the glance ofتُهْمَةٍsuspicion.
Whenever I said to the dog, "Worthy, begone," your eyes glanced at me with the glance of suspicion.
أَتُرَانِيDo you see meأَظُنُّthinkingأَنَّكَthat youكَلْبٌare a dog?......أَنْتَYouعِنْدِيto meمِنْare ofأَبْعَدِthe farthestالنَّاسِpeopleهِمَّةًin ambition.
Do you see me thinking that you are a dog? You are to me of the farthest people in ambition.
مَحَاسِنُThe virtues ofكَرَمِgenerousالصَّحْبَةِcompanionship
The Virtues of Generous Companionship