وَحَدَّثَAnd recountedمَنْwhoحَضَرَattendedمَجْلِسَthe assembly ofالْمَأْمُونِAl-Ma'munوَقَدْwhileأَمَرَhe had orderedبِإِحْضَارِthe bringing ofالْعَبَّاسِAl-Abbasصَاحِبِthe chief ofالشُّرْطَةِthe policeبِبَغْدَادَin Baghdadوَبَيْنَand in front ofيَدَيْهِhimرَجُلٌwas a manمُكَبَّلٌshackledبِالْحَدِيدِ،with iron,
And someone who attended the assembly of Al-Ma'mun recounted that he had ordered Al-Abbas, the chief of police in Baghdad, to be brought forward with a man shackled in iron in front of him,
فَلَمَّاso whenحَضَرَhe attendedقَالَ:he said:
so when he arrived, he said:
يَاOعَبَّاسُAbbas,خُذْtakeهَذَاthis manإِلَيْكَto yourselfوَاسْتَوْثِقْand secureمِنْهُhimوَلَاand let notيَفُوتَنَّكَhe escape youوَبَكِّرْand bring him earlyبِهِtomorrowوَاحْذَرْand bewareكُلَّeveryالْحَذَرِ.precaution.
"O Abbas, take this man into your custody, secure him firmly, do not let him escape you, bring him early [tomorrow], and be extremely cautious."
قَالَSaidالْعَبَّاسُ:Al-Abbas:
Al-Abbas said:
فَدَعَوْتُSo I calledجَمَاعَةًa groupحَمَلُوهُwho carried himوَلَمْand he was not ableيَقْدِرْto moveيَتَحَرَّكَto moveفَقُلْتُso I saidفِيtoنَفْسِيmyselfمَعَalong withهَذِهِthisالْوَصِيَّةِinjunctionالَّتِيwhichأَوْصَانِيcharged me withبِهَاwith itأَمِيرُthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulمِنَregardingالْاحْتِفَاظِkeeping watchبِهِover himمَاnothingيُحَبُّis lovedأَنْtoيَكُونَbeمَعِيwith meإِلَّاexceptفِيinبَيْتِي،my house,
"I summoned a group who carried him, for he was unable to move. I said to myself: Given this injunction with which the Commander of the Faithful charged me regarding guarding him, the most suitable place for him to be with me is in my own house.
ثُمَّThenسَأَلْتُهُI asked himعَنْaboutقِصَّتِهِhis storyوَحَالِهِand his conditionمِنْfromأَيْنَwhereهُوَ،he is,
Then I asked him about his story and condition, and where he was from.
فَقَالَ:He said:مِنْFromدِمَشْقَ،Damascus.
He said: "From Damascus."
فَقَالَ:So I said:جَزَىMay rewardاللَّهُGodدِمَشْقَDamascusوَأَهْلَهَاand its peopleخَيْراً،with good,فَمَنْso whoأَنْتَare youمِنْfromأَهْلِهَا؟its people?
So I said: "May God reward Damascus and its people with good! Who are you among its people?"
قَالَ:He said:لَاDo notتَزِدْincreaseأَنْinتَسْأَلَنِي،asking me,
He said: "Do not ask me further."
فَقُلْتُSo I saidلَهُ:to him:أَتَعْرِفُDo you knowفُلاناً؟so-and-so?
I said to him: "Do you know so-and-so?"
فَقَالَ:He said:وَمِنْAnd fromأَيْنَwhereعَرَفْتَdid you knowذَلِكَthatالرَّجُلَ؟man?
He said: "And where did you come to know that man?"
فَقُلْتُ:I said:كَانَتْThere wasلِيfor meقِصَّةٌa storyمَعَهُ،with him,
I said: "I had an experience with him."
فَقَالَ:He said:مَاNotأَنَاam Iبِمُعَرِّفِكَone who will acquaint you withخَبَرَهُhis newsأَوْuntilتُعَرِّفَنِيyou acquaint me withقِصَّتَكَ،your story,
He said: "I will not tell you his story until you tell me yours."
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:وَيْحَكَ!Woe to you!كُنْتُI wasمَعَwithبَعْضِsomeالْوُلَاةِof the governorsبِهَاthereفَخَرَجَand there roseعَلَيْنَاagainst usأَهْلُهَاits peopleحَتَّىuntilأَرَادَwantedالْوَالِيthe governorأَنْtoيُدْلَىbe loweredفِيinزَنْبِيلٍa basketمِنْfromقَصْرِthe palace ofالْحَجَّاجِAl-Hajjajوَهَرَبَand he fledهُوَheوَجَمِيعُand allأَصْحَابِهِhis companionsوَهَرَبْتُand I fledفِيمَنْamong those whoهَرَبَ،fled,
I said: "Woe to you! I was with one of the governors there when its people revolted against us, to the extent that the governor wanted to be lowered in a basket from the palace of Al-Hajjaj. He fled with all his companions, and I fled among those who fled.
فَإِنِّيAnd whileلَفِيI was inبَعْضِsome part ofالطَّرِيقِthe roadإِذْwhenجَمَاعَةٌa groupيَعْدُونَwere runningخَلْفِي،behind me,
While I was on a certain road, suddenly a group was running behind me.
فَمَاSo Iزِلْتُkeptأُحَاضِرُهُمْrunning alongside/evading themحَتَّىuntilمَرَرْتُI passedعَلَىbyهَذَاthisالرَّجُلِmanالَّذِيwhomذَكَرْتُهُI mentionedلَكَto youوَهُوَwhile heجَالِسٌwas sittingعَلَىatبَابِthe door ofدَارِهِhis houseفَقُلْتُ:so I said:أَغِثْنِيRescue me,أَغَاثَكَmay God rescueاللَّهُ!you!
I kept hurrying away until I passed by this man whom I mentioned to you, as he was sitting at the door of his house. I said: 'Rescue me, may God rescue you!'
فَقَالَ:He said:لَاNoبَأْسَharmعَلَيْكَupon youادْخُلِenterالدَّارَ،the house,
He said: 'There is no harm upon you, enter the house.'
فَدَخَلْتُ،So I entered,فَقَالَتْand said toلِيmeامْرَأَتُهُ:his wife:ادْخُلِEnterالْحَجْلَةَ،the inner chamber,
So I entered, and his wife said to me: 'Enter the inner chamber.'
فَدَخَلْتُهَا،So I entered it,وَأَتَتِand cameالرِّجَالُthe menخَلْفِيbehind meفَمَاand Iشَعَرْتُwas unawareإِلَّاexceptبِهِof himوَهُمْwhile theyمَعَهُwere with himيَقُولُونَ:saying:هُوَHe isوَاللَّهِby Godعِنْدَكَ!with you!
I entered it, and the men arrived behind me. Before I knew it, they were with him, saying: 'He is with you, by God!'
فَقَالَ:He said:دُونَكُمُTake for yourselvesالدَّارَ،the house,فَفَتَشُوهَاso they searched itحَتَّىuntilلَمْthere did notيَبْقَremainإِلَّاexceptالْبَيْتُthe roomالَّذِيwhichكُنْتُI wasفِيهِ،in it,
He said: 'The house is yours to search.' So they searched it until no room remained except the one in which I was.
فَقَالُوا:So they said:هَاهُنَا،Here it is,فَصَاحَتِso shoutedالْمَرْأَةُthe womanوَانْتَهَرَتْهُمْ،and rebuked them,فَانْصَرَفُواso they leftوَخَرَجَand went outالرَّجُلُthe manفَجَلَسَand satعَلَىatبَابِthe door ofدَارِهِhis houseسَاعَةًfor a whileوَأَنَاwhile Iقَائِمٌwas standingفِيinالْحَجْلَةِthe inner chamberخَائِفاً،afraid,
They said: 'Here [he is].' The woman screamed and scolded them, so they turned away. The man went out and sat at the door of his house for a while, while I stood in the inner chamber, afraid.
فَقَالَتِThen saidالْمَرْأَةُ:the woman:اجْلِسْSit downلَاnoبَأْسَharmعَلَيْكَ،upon you,فَجَلَسْتُ،so I sat down,
The woman said: 'Sit down, there is no harm upon you.' So I sat down.
فَلَمْAnd notأَلْبَثْdid I tarryأَنْthatدَخَلَenteredالرَّجُلُthe manوَقَالَ:and said:لَاDo notتَخَفْfearفَقَدْfor indeedصِرْتَyou have comeإِلَىtoالْأَمْنِsafetyوَالدَّعَةِand tranquilityإِنْifشَاءَwillsاللَّهُGodتَعَالَى،Most High,
I had not tarried long before the man entered and said: 'Do not fear, for you have reached safety and tranquility, God Almighty willing.'
فَقُلْتُSo I saidلَهُ:to him:جَزَاكَMay rewardاللَّهُGodعَنِّيon my behalfخَيْراً!with good!
I said to him: 'May God reward you well on my behalf!'
ثُمَّThenمَاcontinuallyزَالَhe continuedيُعَاشِرُنِيsocializing with meأَحْسَنَin the bestالْمُعَاشَرَةِmanner of companionshipوَأَجْمَلِهَاand the fairest of itوَلَاand he did notيَفْتُرُslackenمِنَfromالْقَصْفِluxurious livingوَالْأَكْلِand eatingوَالشُّرْبِand drinkingوَالْفَرَحِand joyأَرْبَعَةَfourأَشْهُرٍmonthsإِلَىuntilأَنْthatسَكَنَتِsubsidedالْفِتْنَةُthe sedition/unrestوَهَدَأَتْ،and calmed down,
Then he continued to treat me with the best and fairest companionship, and did not slacken in providing luxury, eating, drinking, and merriment for four months until the unrest subsided and calmed down.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidلَهُ:to him:أَتَأْذَنُDo you permitلِيmeفِيinالْخُرُوجِgoing outلِأَتَعَرَّفَto find outخَبَرَthe news ofغِلْمَانِيmy servantsوَمَنْزِلِيand my homeفَلَعَلِّيso perhaps Iأَنْmightأَقِفَcome acrossلَهُمْfor themعَلَىuponأَثَرٍa traceأَوْorخَبَرٍ،news,
I said to him: 'Do you give me permission to go out to find out about my servants and my home, so perhaps I may come across some trace or news of them?'
فَأَخَذَSo he tookعَلَيَّupon meالْمَوَاثِيقَthe solemn oathsبِالرُّجُوعِto returnإِلَيْهِ،to him,فَخَرَجْتُso I went outوَطَلَبْتُand soughtغِلْمَانِيmy servantsفَلَمْand did notأَرَseeلَهُمْfor themأَثَراًany traceفَرَجَعْتُso I returnedإِلَيْهِto himوَأَعْلَمْتُهُand informed himالْخَبَرَof the newsوَهُوَwhile heمَعَalongهَذَاwith thisلَاdoes notيَعْرِفُنِيknow meوَلَاnorيَعْرِفُknowsاسْمِيmy nameوَلَاnorمُخَاطَبَتِيmy addressing himبِغَيْرِwith other thanالْكُنْيَةِ،the kunya (nickname/teknonym),
So he took solemn oaths from me that I would return to him. I went out and searched for my servants but saw no trace of them. I returned to him and informed him of the news, while despite all this he still did not know me, nor my name, nor did he address me by anything other than my kunya.
ثُمَّThenقَالَsaidلِي:to me:مَاWhatتَعْزِمُ؟do you intend?
Then he said to me: 'What do you intend to do?'
فَقُلْتُ:I said:قَدْI haveعَزَمْتُresolvedعَلَىonالشُّرُوصِdepartingإِلَىtoبَغْدَادَBaghdadفَإِنَّfor indeedقَافِلَةًa caravanتَخْرُجُis leavingبَعْدَafterثَلَاثَةِthreeأَيَّامٍdaysوَقَدْand you haveتَفَضَّلْتَbestowed favorعَلَيَّupon meهَذِهِthisالْمُدَّةَperiodفَأَسْأَلُكَso I ask youأَنْthatتُعْطِيَنِيyou give meمَاwhatأُنْفِقُهُI will spendفِيonطَرِيقِيmy journeyوَمَاand whatأَلْبَسُهُ،I will wear,
I said: 'I have resolved to travel to Baghdad, for a caravan is leaving in three days. You have been generous to me all this time, so I ask you to give me what I need to spend on my journey and what I can wear.'
فَقَالَ:He said:بِصُنْعِBy the crafting/grace ofاللَّهِGodعَزَّAlmightyوَجَلَّ،and Majestic,
He said: 'By the grace of God Almighty!'
ثُمَّThenقَالَhe saidلِغُلَامٍto a servantلَهُof hisأَسْوَدَ:who was black:انْعَلِPut shoes/horseshoes onالْفَرَسَthe horseالْفُلَانِيَّ،such-and-such,وَتَقَدَّمَand gave instructionsإِلَىtoمَنْthoseفِيinمَنْزِلِهِhis householdبِإِعْدَادِto prepareالسَّفَرِ،the travel provisions,
Then he said to a black servant of his: 'Shoe such-and-such horse,' and gave instructions to those in his household to prepare for the journey.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidفِيtoنَفْسِي:myself:مَاI do notأَشُكُّdoubtإِلَّاexceptأَنَّهُthat heيَخْرُجُis goingإِلَىtoضَيْعَةٍan estateلَهُof hisأَوْorنَاحِيَةٍsome regionمِنَofالنَّوَاحِي،the regions,
I said to myself: 'I have no doubt except that he is going out to an estate of his or to some nearby region.'
فَوَقَعُواso they fellيَوْمَهُمْtheir dayذَلِكَthatفِيinتَعَبٍtoilوَكَدٍّ،and labor,
So they spent that day in toil and labor.
فَلَمَّاSo whenكَانَit wasيَوْمُthe day ofخُرُوجِdeparture ofالْقَافِلَةِthe caravanجَاءَنِيhe came to meفِيatالسَّحَرِdawnوَقَالَ:and said:يَاOأَبَاAbuفُلَانٍso-and-soقُمْget upفَإِنَّfor indeedالْقَافِلَةَthe caravanتَخْرُجُis leavingالسَّاعَةَnow/this hourوَأَكْرَهُand I dislikeأَنْthatتَنْفَرِدَyou become separatedعَنْهَا،from it,
When the day of the caravan's departure arrived, he came to me at dawn and said: 'O Abu So-and-So, get up, for the caravan is leaving right now and I dislike for you to be separated from it.'
فَقُلْتُSo I saidفِيtoنَفْسِي:myself:مَاHe did notأَعْطَانِيgive meشَيْئاًanythingمِمَّاof whatسَأَلْتُهُ،I asked him for,
I said to myself: 'He did not give me anything of what I asked him for.'
ثُمَّThenقُمْتُI got upفَإِذَاand lo and beholdهُوَheوَامْرَأَتُهُand his wifeيَحْمِلَانِwere carryingإِلَيَّto meخُفَّاتَيْنِtwo riding bootsمَقْطُوعَةًcutجُدُداًbrand newوَرَانَاتٍand greaves/leggingsوَآلَةَand gear ofالسَّفَرِtravelثُمَّthenجَاءَنِيhe brought meبِسَيْفٍa swordوَمِنْطَقَةٍand a beltفَشَدَّهُمَاso he fastened themفِيaroundوَسَطِيmy waistثُمَّthenقَدَّمَhe brought forwardالْبَغْلَthe muleفَحَمَلَand loadedعَلَيْهِupon itالصَّنَادِيقَthe chestsوَفَوْقَهَاand above themمِفْرَشَانِtwo mattressesوَدَفَعَand handedإِلَيَّto meنُسْخَةًa copyبِمَاof whatفِيis inالصَّنَادِيقِthe chestsوَفِيهَاand in it/them wereخَمْسَةُfiveآلَافِthousandدِرْهَمٍdirhamsوَقَدَّمَand he brought forwardإِلَيَّto meالْفَرَسَthe horseالَّذِيwhichكَانَhad beenأَنْعَلَهُshodبِسَرْجِهِwith its saddleوَلِجَامِهِand its bridleوَقَالَand saidلِي:to me:ارْكَبْRideوَهَذَاand thisالْغُلَامُservantالْأَسْوَدُblackيَخْدُمُكَwill serve youوَيَسُوسُand tend toدوَابَّكَ،your beasts of burden,
Then I got up, and lo and behold, he and his wife were carrying out to me two brand-new cut riding boots, greaves, and travel gear. Then he brought me a sword and a belt, fastening them around my waist. Then he brought forward the mule and loaded the chests onto it, with two mattresses placed on top of them. He handed me an inventory of what was in the chests, which contained five thousand dirhams. He brought forward the horse he had had shod, complete with its saddle and bridle, and said to me: 'Ride, and this black servant will serve you and tend to your mounts.'
وَأَقْبَلَAnd cameهُوَheوَامْرَأَتُهُand his wifeيَعْتَذِرَانِapologizingمِنْforتَقْصِيرِهِمَاtheir shortcomingفِيinأَمْرِي،my matter,وَرَكِبَand he rodeمَعِيwith meفَشَيَّعَنِي،and saw me off,وَانْصَرَفْتُand I departedإِلَىtoبَغْدَادَBaghdadوَأَنَاwhile Iعَلَىintent onمُكَافَأَتِهِcompensating himوَمُجَازَاتِهِand repaying himفَعَاقَنَاso distracted usعَنْfromذَلِكَthatمَاwhatنَحْنُweفِيهِare inمِنَofالشُّغْلِpreoccupationبِالْأَسْفَارِwith travelsوَاتِّصَالِهَاand their continuityوَالتَّنَقُّلِand movingمِنْfromمَكَانٍplaceإِلَىtoمَكَانٍ.place.
He and his wife began to apologize for any shortcoming regarding me. He rode along with me to see me off, and I departed for Baghdad intent on rewarding and repaying him, but what we are in of preoccupation with travels, their continuity, and moving from place to place has prevented us from doing so.
فَلَمَّاSo whenسَمِعَheardالرَّجُلُthe manالْحَدِيثَthe storyقَالَ:he said:قَدْIndeedأَتَاكَhas brought to youاللَّهُGodعَزَّAlmightyوَجَلَّand Majesticبِمَنْthe one whomتُرِيدُyou wantمُكَافَأَتَهُto rewardبِلَاwithoutمَؤُونَةٍtrouble/expenseعَلَيْكَ،upon you,
When the man heard the story, he said: 'God Almighty has brought you the very person you wished to reward without any trouble or expense on your part!'
فَقُلْتُ:So I said:وَكَيْفَAnd howذَلِكَ؟is that?
I said: 'And how is that?'
قَالَ:He said:أَنَاI amوَاللَّهِby Godذَلِكَthatالرَّجُلُ!man!
He said: 'By God, I am that man!'
ثُمَّThenقَالَhe saidلِي:to me:مَاHowأَثْبَتَكَ!unobservant/forgetful you are! (or: How firm your memory is!)
Then he said to me: 'How steadfast/unobservant you are!' (meaning: how could you not recognize me?)
فَتَعَرَّفَSo he made himself knownإِلَيَّto meوَأَقْبَلَand beganيُذَكِّرُنِيreminding meبِأَشْيَاءَof thingsيَتَعَرَّفُby which he made himself knownبِهَاthrough themإِلَيَّto meحَتَّىuntilأَثْبَتَهُI recognized him fullyوَعَرَفْتُهُand knew himفَمَاso Iتَمَالَكْتُcould not restrain myselfأَنْfromقُمْتُrisingإِلَيْهِto himفَقَبَّلْتُand kissingرَأْسَهُhis headوَقُلْتُand sayingلَهُ:to him:مَاWhatالَّذِيis it thatأَصَارَكَbrought youإِلَىtoهَذَا؟this?
So he revealed his identity to me and began reminding me of things by which he made himself known to me until I fully recognized and knew him. I could not help rising to him, kissing his head, and saying to him: 'What brought you to this state?'
فَقَالَ:He said:هَاجَتْBroke outفِتْنَةٌan unrestبِدِمَشْقَin Damascusمِثْلُlikeالْفِتْنَةِthe unrestالَّتِيwhichكَانَتْwasفِيinأَيَّامِكَyour daysفَنُسِبَتْand it was attributedإِلَيَّto meوَبَعَثَand sentأَمِيرُthe Commander ofالْمُؤْمِنِينَthe Faithfulبِجُيُوشٍwith armiesفَأَصْلَحُواso they restored order toالْبَلَدَthe cityوَحُمِلْتُand I was carriedإِلَيْهِto himوَأَمْرِيwhile my caseعِنْدَهُwith himغَلِيظٌsevereجِدّاًveryوَهُوَand heقَاتِلِيis going to kill meلَاnoمَحَالَةَ،doubt about it,
He said: 'An uprising broke out in Damascus like the one that occurred in your days, and it was blamed on me. The Commander of the Faithful sent armies, and they restored order to the city. I was brought to him, and my case before him is very grave; he is bound to kill me.
وَقَدْAndخَرَجْتُI leftمِنْfromعِنْدِwithأَهْلِيmy familyبِلَاwithoutوَصِيَّةٍa willوَقَدْand indeedتَبِعَنِيfollowed meمِنْfromعَبِيدِيmy slavesمَنْone whoيَنْصَرِفُwill returnإِلَىtoمَنْزِلِيmy homeبِخَبَرِيwith news of meوَهُوَand heنَازِلٌis stayingعِنْدَatفُلَانٍ،so-and-so's place,
I left my family without making a will, and some of my servants followed me to return to my home with news of my condition, and he is staying at the home of so-and-so.
فَإِنْSo ifرَأَيْتَyou see fitأَنْtoتُنْعِمَbestow favorوَتَبْعَثَand sendإِلَيْهِto himحَتَّىuntilيَحْضُرَhe attendsفَأَتَقَدَّمَso I may give instructionsإِلَيْهِto himبِمَاregarding whatأُرِيدُ،I want,
If you would be so gracious as to send for him so that he attends, and I can give him my instructions regarding what I want,
فَإِذَاthen ifأَنْتَyouفَعَلْتَdoذَلِكَthatفَقَدْthen indeedجَاوَزْتَyou have exceeded/surpassedحَدَّthe limit ofالْمُكَافَأَةِrewardingلِي.'me.'
if you do that, you will have surpassed the limit of rewarding me.'
قَالَSaidفَقَالَand saidالْعَبَّاسُ:Al-Abbas:بِصُنْعِBy the grace ofاللَّهِ،God,
Al-Abbas said: 'By God's grace!'
ثُمَّThenقَالَ:he said:عَلَيَّBring meبِحَدَّادِينَ،blacksmiths,فَأَتَوْاso they broughtبِهِمْ،them,
Then he said: 'Bring me blacksmiths!' So they were brought,
فَحَلَّand he loosenedقُيُودَهُhis fettersوَمَاand whateverكَانَwasعَلَيْهِupon himمِنْofأَنْوَاعِkinds ofالْأَنْكَالِ،shackles,
and he unlocked his restraints and all the various types of shackles that were upon him.
وَدَعَاAnd he calledبِالْحِجَّامِfor the cupper/barberفَأُحْضِرَso he was broughtوَأَخَذَand took/trimmedمِنْfromشَعْرِهِhis hairثُمَّthenقَالَ:he said:عَلَيَّBring meبِمَوْلَاهُ،his master/servant,فَأَنْفَذَso he dispatchedفِيinطَلَبِهِsearch of himمَنْsomeone whoيُحْضِرُهُ.would bring him.
He called for a barber, who was brought, and he trimmed his hair. Then he said: 'Bring me his master,' and he sent someone to fetch him.
قَالَSaidالرَّجُلُ:the man:فَلَمَّاSo whenأَنْ(particle)أُخِذَwas takenشَعْرِيmy hair
The man said: 'So when my hair was cut...'