Tarikh (al-Tabari) 2813
Then the year 147 AH began
ذِكْرُ الْبَيْعَةِ لِلْمَهْدِيِّ وَخَلْعِ عِيسَى بْنِ مُوسَى وَفِيهَا خَلَعَ عِيسَى بْنُ مُوسَى بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ مِنْ وِلَايَةِ الْعَهْدِ وَبُويِعَ لِلْمَهْدِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ ابْنِ الْمَنْصُورِ. وَقَدِ اخْتُلِفَ فِي السَّبَبِ الَّذِي خَلَعَ لِأَجْلِهِ نَفْسَهُ، فَقِيلَ: إِنَّ عِيسَى لَمْ يَزَلْ عَلَى وِلَايَةِ الْعَهْدِ وَإِمَارَةِ الْكُوفَةِ مِنْ أَيَّامِ السَّفَّاحِ إِلَى الْآنَ، فَلَمَّا كَبِرَ الْمَهْدِيُّ وَعَزَمَ الْمَنْصُورُ عَلَى الْبَيْعَةِ لَهُ كَلَّمَ عِيسَى بْنَ مُوسَى فِي ذَلِكَ، وَكَانَ يُكْرِمُهُ وَيُجْلِسُهُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَيُجْلِسُ الْمَهْدِيَّ عَنْ يَسَارِهِ، فَلَمَّا قَالَ لَهُ الْمَنْصُورُ فِي مَعْنَى خَلْعِ نَفْسِهِ وَتَقْدِيمِ الْمَهْدِيِّ عَلَيْهِ أَبَى وَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كَيْفَ بِالْأَيْمَانِ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنَ الْعِتْقِ وَالطَّلَاقِ وَغَيْرِ ذَلِكَ ؟ لَيْسَ إِلَى الْخَلْعِ سَبِيلٌ !. فَتَغَيَّرَ الْمَنْصُورُ عَلَيْهِ وَبَاعَدَهُ بَعْضَ الْمُبَاعَدَةِ، وَصَارَ يَأْذَنُ لِلْمَهْدِيِّ قَبْلَهُ، وَكَانَ يَجْلِسُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ فِي مَجْلِسِ عِيسَى ثُمَّ يُؤْذَنُ لِعِيسَى فَيَدْخُلُ فَيَجْلِسُ إِلَى جَانِبِ الْمَهْدِيِّ، وَلَمْ يَجْلِسْ عَنْ يَسَارِ الْمَنْصُورِ، فَاغْتَاظَ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ صَارَ يَأْذَنُ لِلْمَهْدِيِّ وَلِعَمِّهِ عِيسَى بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، ثُمَّ لِعَبْدِ الصَّمَدِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ، ثُمَّ لِعِيسَى بْنِ مُوسَى، وَرُبَّمَا قَدَّمَ وَأَخَّرَ، إِلَّا أَنَّهُ يَبْدَأُ بِالْإِذْنِ لِلْمَهْدِيِّ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ. وَتَوَهَّمَ عِيسَى أَنَّهُ يُقَدِّمُ إِذْنَهُمْ لِحَاجَةٍ لَهُ إِلَيْهِمْ، وَعِيسَى صَامِتٌ لَا يَشْكُو، ثُمَّ صَارَ حَالُ عِيسَى إِلَى أَعْظَمَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، فَكَانَ يَكُونُ فِي الْمَجْلِسِ مَعَهُ بَعْضُ وَلَدِهِ فَيَسْمَعُ الْحَفْرَ فِي أَصْلِ الْحَائِطِ، وَيُنْثَرُ عَلَيْهِ التُّرَابُ، وَيَنْظُرُ إِلَى الْخَشَبَةِ مِنَ السَّقْفِ قَدْ حُفِرَ عَنْ أَحَدِ طَرَفَيْهَا لِتُقْلَعَ فَيَسْقُطَ التُّرَابُ عَلَى قَلَنْسُوَتِهِ وَثِيَابِهِ فَيَأَمُرُ مَنْ مَعَهُ مِنْ وَلَدِهِ بِالتَّحَوُّلِ وَيَقُومُ هُوَ يُصَلِّي ثُمَّ يُؤْذَنُ لَهُ فَيَدْخُلُ بِهَيْئَتِهِ وَالتُّرَابُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ وَثِيَابِهِ لَا يَنْفُضُهُ، فَيَقُولُ لَهُ الْمَنْصُورُ: يَا عِيسَى مَا يَدْخُلُ عَلَيَّ أَحَدٌ بِمِثْلِ هَيْئَتِكَ مِنْ كَثْرَةِ الْغُبَارِ وَالتُّرَابِ ! أَفَكُلُّ هَذَا مِنَ الشَّارِعِ ؟ فَيَقُولُ: أَحْسَبُ ذَلِكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَلَا يَشْكُو شَيْئًا. وَكَانَ الْمَنْصُورُ يُرْسِلُ إِلَيْهِ عَمَّهُ عِيسَى بْنَ عَلِيٍّ فِي ذَلِكَ، فَكَانَ عِيسَى بْنُ مُوسَى لَا يُؤْثِرُهُ وَيَتَّهِمُهُ. فَقِيلَ: إِنَّ الْمَنْصُورَ أَمَرَ أَنْ يُسْقَى عِيسَى بْنُ مُوسَى بَعْضَ مَا يُتْلِفُهُ فَوَجَدَ الْمَاءَ فِي بَطْنِهِ فَاسْتَأْذَنَ فِي الْعَوْدِ إِلَى بَيْتِهِ بِالْكُوفَةِ، فَأَذِنَ لَهُ، فَمَرِضَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ وَاشْتَدَّ مَرَضُهُ ثُمَّ عُوفِيَ بَعْدَ أَنْ أَشْفَى. وَقَالَ عِيسَى بْنُ عَلِيٍّ لِلْمَنْصُورِ: إِنَّ ابْنَ مُوسَى إِنَّمَا يَتَرَبَّصُ بِالْخِلَافَةِ لِابْنِهِ مُوسَى فَابْنُهُ الَّذِي يَمْنَعُهُ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: خَوِّفْهُ وَتَهَدَّدْهُ، فَكَلَّمَهُ عِيسَى بْنُ عَلِيٍّ فِي ذَلِكَ وَخَوَّفَهُ، فَخَافَ مُوسَى بْنُ عِيسَى. وَأَتَى الْعَبَّاسَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ فَقَالَ: يَا عَمِّ إِنِّي أَرَى مَا يُسَامُ أَبِي مَنْ إِخْرَاجِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ مِنْ عُنُقِهِ، وَهُوَ يُؤْذَى بِصُنُوفِ الْأَذَى وَالْمَكْرُوهِ، فَهُوَ يُهَدَّدُ مَرَّةً، وَيُؤَخَّرُ إِذْنُهُ مَرَّةً، وَيُهْدَمُ عَلَيْهِ الْحِيطَانُ مَرَّةً، وَتُدَسُّ إِلَيْهِ الْحُتُوفُ مَرَّةً، وَأَبِي لَا يُعْطِي عَلَى ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ أَبَدًا. وَلَكِنَّ هَاهُنَا طَرِيقٌ لَعَلَّهُ يُعْطِي عَلَيْهَا وَإِلَّا فَلَا، قَالَ: وَمَا هُوَ ؟ قَالَ: يُقْبِلُ عَلَيْهِ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَنَا شَاهِدٌ فَيَقُولُ لَهُ: إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ لَا تَبْخَلُ بِهَذَا الْأَمْرِ عَنِ الْمَهْدِيِّ لِنَفْسِكَ لِكِبَرِ سِنِّكَ، وَأَنَّهُ لَا تَطُولُ مُدَّتُكَ فِيهِ، وَإِنَّمَا تَبْخَلُ بِهِ لِابْنِكَ، أَفَتُرَانِي أَدَعُ ابْنَكَ يَبْقَى بَعْدَكَ حَتَّى يَلِيَ عَلَى ابْنِي ؟ كَلَّا وَاللَّهِ لَا يَكُونُ ذَلِكَ أَبَدًا، وَلَأَثِبَنَّ عَلَى ابْنِكَ وَأَنْتَ تَنْظُرُ حَتَّى تَيْأَسَ مِنْهُ. فَإِنْ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فَلَعَلَّهُ أَنْ يُجِيبَ إِلَى مَا يُرَادُ مِنْهُ. فَجَاءَ الْعَبَّاسُ إِلَى الْمَنْصُورِ وَأَخْبَرَهُ بِذَلِكَ، فَلَمَّا اجْتَمَعُوا عِنْدَهُ قَالَ ذَلِكَ، وَكَانَ عِيسَى بْنُ عَلِيٍّ حَاضِرًا، فَقَامَ لِيَبُولَ، فَأَمَرَ عِيسَى بْنُ مُوسَى ابْنَهُ مُوسَى لِيَقُومَ مَعَهُ يَجْمَعُ عَلَيْهِ ثِيَابَهُ، فَقَامَ مَعَهُ، فَقَالَ لَهُ عِيسَى بْنُ عَلِيٍّ: بِأَبِي أَنْتَ وَبِأَبِي أَبٌ وَلَدَكَ، وَاللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَا خَيْرَ فِي هَذَا الْأَمْرِ بَعْدَكُمَا، وَأَنَّكُمَا لَأَحَقُّ بِهِ، وَلَكِنَّ الْمَرْءَ مُغْرًى بِمَا تَعَجَّلَ. فَقَالَ مُوسَى [ فِي نَفْسِهِ ]: امْكَنَنِي هَذَا وَاللَّهِ مِنْ مَقَاتِلِهِ وَهُوَ الَّذِي يُغْرِي بِأَبِي، وَاللَّهِ لَأَقْتُلَنَّهُ ! فَلَمَّا رَجَعَا قَالَ مُوسَى لِأَبِيهِ ذَلِكَ سِرًّا، فَاسْتَأْذَنَهُ فِي أَنْ يَقُولَ لِلْمَنْصُورِ مَا سَمِعَ مِنْهُ، فَقَالَ لَهُ أَبُوهُ: أُفٍّ لِهَذَا رَأْيًا وَمَذْهَبًا ! ائْتَمَنَكَ عَمُّكَ عَلَى مَقَالَةٍ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُسِرَّكَ بِهَا فَجَعَلْتَهَا سَبَبًا لِمَكْرُوهِهِ، وَلَا يَسْمَعَنَّ هَذَا أَحَدٌ، ارْجِعْ إِلَى مَكَانِكَ. فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ إِلَى مَكَانِهِ أَمَرَ الْمَنْصُورُ الرَّبِيعَ فَقَامَ إِلَى مُوسَى فَخَنَقَهُ بِحَمَائِلِهِ، وَمُوسَى يَصِيحُ: اللَّهَ اللَّهَ فِي دَمِي يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ! وَمَا يُبَالِي عِيسَى أَنْ تَقْتُلَنِي وَلَهُ بِضْعَةَ عَشَرَ ذَكَرًا، وَالْمَنْصُورُ يَقُولُ: يَا رَبِيعُ أَزْهِقْ نَفْسَهُ، وَالرَّبِيعُ يُوهِمُ أَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ تَلَفَهُ وَهُوَ يَرْفُقُ بِهِ وَمُوسَى يَصِيحُ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ أَبُوهُ قَالَ: وَاللَّهِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا كُنْتُ أَظُنُّ أَنَّ الْأَمْرَ يَبْلُغُ مِنْكَ هَذَا كُلَّهُ ! فَاكْفُفْ عَنْهُ، فَهَأَنَذَا أُشْهِدُكَ أَنَّ نِسَائِي طَوَالِقُ وَمَمَالِيكِي [ أَحْرَارٌ ] وَمَا أَمْلِكُ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ تَصْرِفُ ذَلِكَ فِي مَنْ رَأَيْتَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ! وَهَذِهِ يَدِي بِالْبَيْعَةِ لِلْمَهْدِيِّ. فَبَايَعَهُ لِلْمَهْدِيِّ. ثُمَّ جَعَلَ عِيسَى بْنَ مُوسَى بَعْدَ الْمَهْدِيِّ. فَقَالَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ الْكُوفَةِ: هَذَا الَّذِي كَانَ غَدًا فَصَارَ بَعْدَ غَدٍ. وَقِيلَ: إِنَّ الْمَنْصُورَ وَضَعَ الْجُنْدَ وَكَانُوا يُسْمِعُونَ عِيسَى بْنَ مُوسَى مَا يَكْرَهُ، فَشَكَا ذَلِكَ مِنْ فِعْلِهِمْ، فَنَهَاهُمُ الْمَنْصُورُ عَنْهُ، وَكَانُوا يَكُفُّونَ ثُمَّ يَعُودُونَ. ثُمَّ إِنَّهُمَا تَكَاتَبَا مُكَاتَبَاتٍ أَغْضَبَتِ الْمَنْصُورَ، وَعَادَ الْجُنْدُ مَعَهُ لِأَشَدَّ مَا كَانُوا، مِنْهُمْ: أَسَدُ بْنُ الْمَرْزُبَانِ، وَعُقْبَةُ بْنُ سَلْمٍ، وَنَصْرُ بْنُ حَرْبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَغَيْرُهُمْ، فَكَانُوا يَمْنَعُونَ مِنَ الدُّخُولِ عَلَيْهِ وَيُسْمِعُونَهُ، فَشَكَاهُمْ إِلَى الْمَنْصُورِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: يَا ابْنَ أَخِي أَنَا وَاللَّهِ أَخَافُهُمْ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى نَفْسِي، فَإِنَّهُمْ يُحِبُّونَ هَذَا الْفَتَى، فَلَوْ قَدَّمْتَهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْكَ لَكَفُّوا. فَأَجَابَ عِيسَى إِلَى ذَلِكَ. وَقِيلَ إِنَّ الْمَنْصُورَ اسْتَشَارَ خَالِدَ بْنَ بَرْمَكَ فِي ذَلِكَ وَبَعَثَهُ إِلَى عِيسَى، فَأَخَذَ مَعَهُ ثَلَاثِينَ مِنْ كِبَارِ شِيعَةِ الْمَنْصُورِ مِمَّنْ يَخْتَارُهُمْ، وَقَالَ لِعِيسَى فِي أَمْرِ الْبَيْعَةِ، فَامْتَنَعَ، فَرَجَعُوا إِلَى الْمَنْصُورِ وَشَهِدُوا عَلَى عِيسَى أَنَّهُ خَلَعَ نَفْسَهُ فَبَايَعَ لِلْمَهْدِيِّ، وَجَاءَ عِيسَى فَأَنْكَرَ ذَلِكَ فَلَمْ يُسْمَعْ مِنْهُ، وَشَكَرَ لِخَالِدٍ صَنِيعَهُ. وَقِيلَ: بَلِ اشْتَرَى الْمَنْصُورُ مِنْهُ ذَلِكَ بِمَالٍ قَدْرُهُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ أَلْفَ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ لَهُ وَلِأَوْلَادِهِ وَأَشْهَدَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ بِالْخَلْعِ. وَكَانَتْ مُدَّةُ وِلَايَةِ عِيسَى بْنِ مُوسَى الْكُوفَةَ ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً، وَعَزَلَهُ الْمَنْصُورُ وَاسْتَعْمَلَ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ عَلَيْهَا لِيُؤْذِيَ عِيسَى وَيَسْتَخِفَّ بِهِ، فَلَمْ يَفْعَلْ وَلَمْ يَزَلْ مُعَظِّمًا لَهُ مُبَجِّلًا.
Translation
✧ Mention of the oath of allegiance to al-Mahdī and the abdication of ʿĪsā b. Mūsā In it, ʿĪsā b. Mūsā b. Muḥammad b. ʿAlī abdicated from the succession, and the oath of allegiance was given to al-Mahdī Muḥammad b. al-Manṣūr. There is disagreement about the reason for which he abdicated. It was said: ʿĪsā had remained in the succession and the governorship of Kufa from the days of al-Saffāḥ until now. When al-Mahdī grew older and al-Manṣūr resolved to receive the oath of allegiance for him, he spoke to ʿĪsā b. Mūsā about that. He used to honor him and seat him on his right, and seat al-Mahdī on his left. When al-Manṣūr spoke to him about the matter of his abdicating and giving precedence to al-Mahdī over himself, he refused and said: O Commander of the Faithful, what about the oaths binding me and the Muslims, such as manumission, divorce, and other things? There is no way to abdicate! So al-Manṣūr became angry with him and kept him somewhat at a distance. He began to grant permission to al-Mahdī before him. Previously he had sat on his right in ʿĪsā's place; then he would grant permission to ʿĪsā, who would enter and sit beside al-Mahdī, and he did not sit on al-Manṣūr's left. ʿĪsā was enraged at this. Then al-Manṣūr began granting permission to al-Mahdī and his paternal uncle ʿĪsā b. ʿAlī, then to ʿAbd al-Ṣamad b. ʿAlī, then to ʿĪsā b. Mūsā. Sometimes he would advance or delay, except that he began with permission for al-Mahdī in every case. ʿĪsā imagined that he advanced their permission because of some need he had of them, and ʿĪsā remained silent without complaining. Then ʿĪsā's situation became worse than that. Sometimes one of his sons would be with him in the assembly and he would hear digging at the base of the wall, and dust would be scattered on him, and he would see a beam in the ceiling with one of its ends dug out so that it could be removed, causing dust to fall on his cap and clothes. He would order those of his sons who were with him to move away, and he would get up and pray. Then he would be granted permission and enter in that state, with dust on his head and clothes, not brushing it off. Al-Manṣūr would say to him: O ʿĪsā, no one enters my presence in a state like yours, with all this dust and dirt! Is all this from the street? He would say: I think so, O Commander of the Faithful, and he would not complain about anything. Al-Manṣūr used to send his paternal uncle ʿĪsā b. ʿAlī to him about that, but ʿĪsā b. Mūsā paid no heed to him and suspected him. It was said: Al-Manṣūr ordered that ʿĪsā b. Mūsā be given something to drink that would destroy him, and he felt a swelling in his belly. He sought permission to return to his house in Kufa, and he was granted permission. He fell ill from that and his illness became severe; then he recovered after being near death. ʿĪsā b. ʿAlī said to al-Manṣūr: Ibn Mūsā is only waiting for the caliphate for his son Mūsā, and it is his son who prevents him. He said to him: Frighten him and threaten him. So ʿĪsā b. ʿAlī spoke to him about that and frightened him, and Mūsā b. ʿĪsā became afraid. He went to al-ʿAbbās b. Muḥammad and said: O uncle, I see what my father is being subjected to in being forced out of this matter. He is tormented with various kinds of harm and detested things. At times he is threatened, at times his permission is delayed, at times walls are torn down around him, and at times deadly things are slipped to him. Yet my father will not give up anything for that, and it will never happen. But there is a way here that he might accept; otherwise, no. He said: What is it? He said: Let the Commander of the Faithful turn to him while I am present and say to him: I know that you are not withholding this matter from al-Mahdī for your own sake, given your advanced age, since your time in it would not be long. You are only withholding it for your son. Do you think I would let your son remain after you so that he could succeed over my son? No, by God, that will never happen. I will surely pounce on your son while you watch until you despair of him. If he does that, perhaps he will respond to what is wanted of him. So al-ʿAbbās went to al-Manṣūr and told him that. When they gathered in his presence, he said that. ʿĪsā b. ʿAlī was present. He got up to urinate, and ʿĪsā b. Mūsā ordered his son Mūsā to get up with him to gather his clothes for him. He got up with him. ʿĪsā b. ʿAlī said to him: May my father be your ransom, and may my father be ransom for the father who begot you! By God, I know that there is no good in this matter after the two of you, and that you two are more entitled to it. But man is enamored of what is hastened. Mūsā said [to himself]: This man, by God, has put me in reach of his vitals, and he is the one inciting my father! By God, I will kill him! When they returned, Mūsā told his father that in secret and asked his permission to tell al-Manṣūr what he had heard from him. His father said to him: Fie on this as an opinion and a course! Your uncle entrusted you with a statement by which he wanted to please you, and you would make it a cause of harm to him. Let no one hear this. Return to your place. When he returned to his place, al-Manṣūr ordered al-Rabīʿ, who got up and strangled Mūsā with his sword-belt. Mūsā cried out: God, God, my blood, O Commander of the Faithful! ʿĪsā does not care if you kill me, for he has more than ten sons. Al-Manṣūr said: O Rabīʿ, finish him off. Al-Rabīʿ pretended that he intended to destroy him, but he was gentle with him, while Mūsā cried out. When his father saw that, he said: By God, O Commander of the Faithful, I never thought the matter would reach all this with you! So stop him, for here I am, calling you to witness that my wives are divorced, my slaves are [free], and what I own is for the sake of God; you may dispose of that as you see fit, O Commander of the Faithful! Here is my hand for the oath of allegiance to al-Mahdī. So he gave him the oath of allegiance for al-Mahdī. Then he placed ʿĪsā b. Mūsā after al-Mahdī. Some of the people of Kufa said: This is what was tomorrow, and it has become the day after tomorrow. It was said: Al-Manṣūr stationed troops who made ʿĪsā b. Mūsā hear what he disliked. He complained about their conduct, and al-Manṣūr forbade them, but they would stop and then resume. Then they exchanged letters that angered al-Manṣūr, and the troops returned to him more severely than before. Among them were Asad b. al-Marzubān, ʿUqba b. Salm, Naṣr b. Ḥarb b. ʿAbd Allāh, and others. They prevented people from entering his presence and made him hear things. He complained about them to al-Manṣūr, who said to him: O son of my brother, by God, I fear them for you and for myself. They love this young man. If you put him before you, they would stop. So ʿĪsā agreed to that. It was said: Al-Manṣūr consulted Khālid b. Barmak about that and sent him to ʿĪsā. He took with him thirty of the leading followers of al-Manṣūr, whom he selected, and spoke to ʿĪsā about the oath of allegiance. He refused, so they returned to al-Manṣūr and testified against ʿĪsā that he had abdicated and given the oath of allegiance to al-Mahdī. ʿĪsā came and denied that, but he was not heeded, and al-Manṣūr thanked Khālid for what he had done. It was said: Rather, al-Manṣūr bought that from him for an amount of eleven million dirhams for him and his sons, and he bore witness against himself to the abdication. The duration of ʿĪsā b. Mūsā's governorship of Kufa was thirteen years. Al-Manṣūr dismissed him and appointed Muḥammad b. Sulaymān b. ʿAlī over it in order to harm ʿĪsā and belittle him. But he did not do so; he continued to honor and revere him.
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No grade is recorded for this wording.