Tarikh (al-Tabari) 3122
The year 198 AH
ذِكْرُ قَتْلِ الْأَمِينِ لَمَّا دَخَلَ مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَى مَدِينَةِ الْمَنْصُورِ، وَاسْتَوْلَى طَاهِرٌ عَلَى أَسْوَاقِ الْكَرْخِ وَغَيْرِهَا، كَمَا تَقَدَّمَ، وَقَرَّ بِالْمَدِينَةِ - عَلِمَ قُوَّادُهُ وَأَصْحَابُهُ أَنَّهُمْ لَيْسَ لَهُمْ فِيهَا عُدَّةُ الْحَصْرِ، وَخَافُوا أَنْ يَظْفَرَ بِهِمْ طَاهِرٌ، فَأَتَاهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمِ بْنِ الصَّقْرِ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ الْأَغْلَبِ الْإِفْرِيقِيُّ، وَغَيْرُهُمَا، فَقَالُوا: قَدْ آلَتْ حَالُنَا إِلَى مَا تَرَى، وَقَدْ رَأَيْنَا رَأْيًا نَعْرِضُهُ عَلَيْكَ، فَانْظُرْ فِيهِ وَاعْتَزِمْ عَلَيْهِ، فَإِنَّا نَرْجُو أَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ الْخَيْرَةَ. قَالَ: وَمَا هُوَ ؟ قَالُوا: قَدْ تَفَرَّقَ عَنْكَ النَّاسُ، وَأَحَاطَ بِكَ عَدُوُّكَ، وَقَدْ بَقِيَ مَعَكَ مِنْ خَيْلِكَ سَبْعَةُ آلَافِ فَرَسٍ مِنْ خِيَارِهَا، فَنَرَى أَنْ تَخْتَارَ مِمَّنْ عَرَفْنَاهُ بِمَحَبَّتِكَ مِنَ الْأَبْنَاءِ سَبْعَةَ آلَافٍ، فَتَحْمِلَهُمْ عَلَى هَذِهِ الْخَيْلِ، وَتَخْرُجَ لَيْلًا عَلَى بَابٍ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْأَبْوَابِ، فَإِنَّ اللَّيْلَ لِأَهْلِهِ، وَلَنْ يَثْبُتَ لَنَا أَحَدٌ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ - تَعَالَى - فَنَخْرُجُ حَتَّى نَلْحَقَ بِالْجَزِيرَةِ وَالشَّامِ، فَنَفْرِضُ الْفُرُوضَ، وَنَجْبِي الْخَرَاجَ، وَنَصِيرُ فِي مَمْلَكَةٍ وَاسِعَةٍ وَمُلْكٍ جَدِيدٍ، فَيُسَارِعُ إِلَيْكَ النَّاسُ، وَيَنْقَطِعُ عَنْ طَلَبِكَ الْجُنْدُ، وَيُحْدِثُ اللَّهُ أُمُورًا. فَقَالَ لَهُمْ: نِعْمَ مَا رَأَيْتُمْ ! وَعَزَمَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، وَبَلَغَ الْخَبَرُ إِلَى طَاهِرٍ، فَكَتَبَ إِلَى سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ الْمَنْصُورِ، وَمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ نَهِيكٍ، وَالسِّنْدِيِّ بْنِ شَاهَكَ: وَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ لَمْ تَرُدُّوهُ عَنْ هَذَا الرَّأْيِ لَا تَرَكْتُ لَكُمْ ضَيْعَةً إِلَّا قَبْضْتُهَا، وَلَا يَكُونُ لِي هِمَّةٌ إِلَّا أَنْفُسَكُمْ. فَدَخَلُوا عَلَى الْأَمِينِ فَقَالُوا لَهُ: قَدْ بَلَغَنَا الَّذِي عَزَمْتَ عَلَيْهِ، فَنَحْنُ نُذَكِّرُكَ اللَّهَ فِي نَفْسِكَ، إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ صَعَالِيكُ، وَقَدْ بَلَغَ بِهِمُ الْحِصَارُ إِلَى مَا تَرَى، فَهُمْ يَرَوْنَ أَنَّ لَا أَمَانَ لَهُمْ عِنْدَ أَخِيكَ، وَعِنْدَ طَاهِرٍ، لِجِدِّهِمْ فِي الْحَرْبِ، وَلَسْنَا نَأْمَنُ إِذَا خَرَجْتَ مَعَهُمْ أَنْ يَأْخُذُوكَ أَسِيرًا، أَوْ يَأْخُذُوا رَأْسَكَ، فَيَتَقَرَّبُوا بِكَ وَيَجْعَلُوكَ سَبَبَ أَمَانِهِمْ. وَضَرَبُوا فِيهِ الْأَمْثَالَ، فَرَجَعَ إِلَى قَوْلِهِمْ، وَأَجَابَ إِلَى طَلَبِ الْأَمَانِ وَالْخُرُوجِ، فَقَالُوا لَهُ: إِنَّمَا غَايَتُكَ السَّلَامَةُ، وَاللَّهْوُ، وَأَخُوكَ يَتْرُكُكَ حَيْثُ أَحْبَبْتَ، [ وَيُفْرِدُكَ فِي مَوْضِعٍ ] وَيَجْعَلُ لَكَ فِيهِ كُلَّ مَا يُصْلِحُكَ، وَكُلَّ مَا تُحِبُّ وَتَهْوَى، وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ مِنْهُ بَأْسٌ وَلَا مَكْرُوهٌ. فَرَكَنَ إِلَى ذَلِكَ، وَأَجَابَ إِلَى الْخُرُوجِ إِلَى هَرْثَمَةَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ. فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ أُولَئِكَ النَّفَرُ الَّذِينَ أَشَارُوا بِقَصْدِ الشَّامِ، وَقَالُوا: إِذَا لَمْ تَقْبَلْ مَا أَشَرْنَا بِهِ عَلَيْكَ، وَهُوَ الصَّوَابُ، وَقَبِلْتَ مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ الْمُدَاهِنِينَ، فَالْخُرُوجُ إِلَى طَاهِرٍ خَيْرٌ لَكَ مِنَ الْخُرُوجِ إِلَى هَرْثَمَةَ، فَقَالَ: أَنَا أَكْرَهُ طَاهِرًا، لِأَنِّي رَأَيْتُ فِي مَنَامِي كَأَنِّي قَائِمٌ عَلَى حَائِطٍ مِنْ آجُرٍّ شَاهِقٍ فِي السَّمَاءِ، عَرِيضِ الْأَسَاسِ، لَمْ أَرَ مِثْلَهُ فِي الطُّولِ وَالْعَرْضِ، وَعَلَيَّ سَوَادِي، وَمِنْطَقِي، وَسَيْفِي، وَكَانَ طَاهِرٌ فِي أَصْلِ ذَلِكَ الْحَائِطِ، فَمَا زَالَ يَضْرِبُهُ حَتَّى سَقَطَ، وَسَقَطْتُ، وَطَارَتْ قَلَنْسُوَتِي عَنْ رَأْسِي، فَأَنَا أَتَطَيَّرُ مِنْهُ وَأَكْرَهُهُ، وَهَرْثَمَةُ مَوْلَانَا، وَهُوَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ الْوَالِدِ، وَأَنَا أَشَدُّ أُنْسًا بِهِ وَثِقَةً إِلَيْهِ. فَأَرْسَلَ يَطْلُبُ الْأَمَانَ، فَأَجَابَهُ هَرْثَمَةُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ، وَحَلَفَ لَهُ أَنَّهُ يُقَاتِلُ دُونَهُ إِنْ هَمَّ الْمَأْمُونُ بِقَتْلِهِ، فَلَمَّا عَلِمَ ذَلِكَ طَاهِرٌ اشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ، وَأَبَى أَنْ يَدَعَهُ يَخْرُجُ إِلَى هَرْثَمَةَ وَقَالَ: هُوَ فِي جُنْدِي وَالْجَانِبِ الَّذِي أَنَا فِيهِ، وَأَنَا أَحْرَجْتُهُ بِالْحِصَارِ حَتَّى طَلَبَ الْأَمَانَ،، فَلَا أَرْضَى أَنْ يَخْرُجَ إِلَى هَرْثَمَةَ، فَيَكُونَ لَهُ الْفَتْحُ دُونِي. فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ ذَلِكَ هَرْثَمَةَ وَالْقُوَّادَ اجْتَمَعُوا فِي مَنْزِلِ خُزَيْمَةَ بْنِ خَازِمٍ، وَحَضَرَ طَاهِرٌ وَقُوَّادُهُ، وَحَضَرَ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ الْمَنْصُورِ، وَالسِّنْدِيُّ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى بْنِ نَهِيكٍ، وَأَدَارُوا الرَّأْيَ بَيْنَهُمْ، وَأَخْبَرُوا طَاهِرًا أَنَّهُ لَا يَخْرُجُ إِلَيْهِ أَبَدًا، وَأَنَّهُ إِنْ لَمْ يُجَبْ إِلَى مَا سَأَلَ لَمْ يُؤْمَنْ، إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ الْأَمْرُ مِثْلَهُ أَيَّامَ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عِيسَى بْنِ مَاهَانَ. وَقَالُوا لَهُ: إِنَّهُ إِنْ يَخْرُجْ إِلَى هَرْثَمَةَ بِبَدَنِهِ، وَيَدْفَعْ إِلَيْكَ الْخَاتَمَ وَالْقَضِيبَ وَالْبُرْدَةَ، ( وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْخِلَافَةُ، فَاغْتَنِمْ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ وَلَا تُفْسِدْهُ ! فَأَجَابَ إِلَى ذَلِكَ وَرَضِيَ بِهِ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْهَرْشَ لَمَّا عَلِمَ بِالْخَبَرِ أَرَادَ التَّقَرُّبَ إِلَى طَاهِرٍ، فَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ الَّذِي جَرَى بَيْنَهُمْ مَكْرٌ، وَأَنَّ الْخَاتَمَ وَالْقَضِيبَ وَالْبُرْدَةَ تُحْمَلُ مَعَ الْأَمِينِ إِلَى هَرْثَمَةَ، فَاغْتَاظَ مِنْهُ، وَجَعَلَ حَوْلَ قَصْرِ أُمِّ الْأَمِينِ وَقُصُورِ الْخُلْدِ قَوْمًا مَعَهُمُ الْعَتَلُ، وَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِهِمْ أَحَدٌ، فَلَمَّا تَهَيَّأَ الْأَمِينُ لِلْخُرُوجِ إِلَى هَرْثَمَةَ، عَطِشَ قَبْلَ خُرُوجِهِ عَطَشًا شَدِيدًا، فَطُلِبَ لَهُ فِي خِزَانَةِ الشَّرَابِ مَاءً، فَلَمْ يُوجَدْ، فَلَمَّا أَمْسَى لَيْلَةَ الْأَحَدِ، لِخَمْسٍ بَقِينَ مِنْ مُحَرَّمٍ سَنَةَ ثَمَانٍ وَتِسْعِينَ وَمِائَةٍ، خَرَجَ بَعْدَ الْعِشَاءِ الْآخِرَةِ إِلَى صَحْنِ الدَّارِ، وَعَلَيْهِ ثِيَابٌ بِيضٌ، وَطَيْلَسَانٌ أَسْوَدُ، فَأَرْسَلَ إِلَيْهِ هَرْثَمَةُ: وَافَيْتُ لِلْمِيعَادِ ) لِأَحْمِلَكَ، وَلَكِنِّي أَرَى أَنْ لَا تَخْرُجَ اللَّيْلَةَ، فَإِنِّي قَدْ رَأَيْتُ عَلَى الشَّطِّ أَمْرًا قَدْ رَابَنِي، وَأَخَافُ أَنْ أُغْلَبَ وَتُؤْخَذَ مِنْ يَدِي، وَتَذْهَبَ نَفْسُكَ وَنَفْسِي، فَأَقِمِ اللَّيْلَةَ حَتَّى أَسْتَعِدَّ وَآتِيَكَ اللَّيْلَةَ الْقَابِلَةَ، فَإِنْ حُورِبْتَ حَارَبْتُ دُونَكَ. فَقَالَ الْأَمِينُ لِلرَّسُولِ: ارْجِعْ إِلَيْهِ، وَقُلْ لَهُ لَا يَبْرَحُ، فَإِنِّي خَارِجٌ إِلَيْهِ السَّاعَةَ لَا مَحَالَةَ، وَلَسْتُ أُقِيمُ إِلَى غَدٍ. وَقَلِقَ وَقَالَ: قَدْ تَفَرَّقَ عَنِّي النَّاسُ مِنَ الْمَوَالِي وَالْحَرَسِ وَغَيْرِهِمْ، وَلَا آمَنُ إِنِ انْتَهَى الْخَبَرُ إِلَى طَاهِرٍ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ عَلَيَّ فَيَأْخُذَنِي، ثُمَّ دَعَا بِابْنَيْهِ، فَضَمَّهُمَا إِلَيْهِ وَقَبَّلَهُمَا، وَبَكَى وَقَالَ: أَسْتَوْدِعُكُمَا اللَّهَ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - وَدَمَعَتْ عَيْنَاهُ، فَمَسَحَ دُمُوعَهُ بِكُمِّهِ، ثُمَّ جَاءَ رَاكِبًا إِلَى الشَّطِّ، فَإِذَا حَرَّاقَةُ هَرْثَمَةَ، فَصَعِدَ إِلَيْهَا. فَذَكَرَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَلَّامٍ صَاحِبُ الْمَظَالِمِ، قَالَ: كُنْتُ مَعَ هَرْثَمَةَ فِي الْحَرَّاقَةِ، فَلَمَّا دَخَلَهَا الْأَمِينُ قُمْنَا لَهُ، وَجَثَا هَرْثَمَةُ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيْهِ، وَاعْتَذَرَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ نِقْرِسٍ بِهِ، ثُمَّ احْتَضَنَهُ وَضَمَّهُ إِلَيْهِ، وَجَعَلَهُ فِي حِجْرِهِ، وَجَعَلَ يُقَبِّلُ يَدَيْهِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ وَعَيْنَيْهِ، وَأَمَرَ هَرْثَمَةُ بِالْحَرَّاقَةِ أَنْ تُدْفَعَ، إِذْ شَدَّ عَلَيْنَا أَصْحَابُ طَاهِرٍ فِي الزَّوَارِيقِ، وَعَطْعَطُوا وَنَقَّبُوا الْحَرَّاقَةَ، وَرَمَوْهُمْ بِالْآجُرِّ وَالنُّشَّابِ، فَدَخَلَ الْمَاءُ إِلَى الْحَرَّاقَةِ، فَغَرِقَتْ، وَسَقَطَ هَرْثَمَةُ إِلَى الْمَاءِ وَسَقَطْنَا، فَتَعَلَّقَ الْمَلَّاحُ بِشَعْرِ هَرْثَمَةَ فَأَخْرَجَهُ، وَأَمَّا الْأَمِينُ فَإِنَّهُ لَمَّا سَقَطَ إِلَى الْمَاءِ شَقَّ ثِيَابَهُ وَخَرَجَ إِلَى الشَّطِّ، فَأَخَذَنِي رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ طَاهِرٍ، وَأَتَى بِي رَجُلًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ طَاهِرٍ، وَأَعْلَمَهُ أَنِّي مِنَ الَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا مِنَ الْحَرَّاقَةِ، فَسَأَلَنِي مَنْ أَنَا ؟ فَقُلْتُ: أَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَلَّامٍ، صَاحِبُ الْمَظَالِمِ، مَوْلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، قَالَ: كَذَبْتَ، فَاصْدُقْنِي ! قُلْتُ: قَدْ صَدَقْتُكَ. قَالَ: فَمَا فَعَلَ الْمَخْلُوعُ ؟ قُلْتُ: رَأَيْتُهُ وَقَدْ شَقَّ ثِيَابَهُ. فَرَكِبَ، وَأَخَذَنِي مَعَهُ أَعْدُو وَفِي عُنُقِي حَبْلٌ، فَعَجَزْتُ عَنِ الْعَدْوِ، فَأَمَرَ بِضَرْبِ عُنُقِي، فَاشْتَرَيْتُ نَفْسِي مِنْهُ بِعَشَرَةِ آلَافِ دِرْهَمٍ، فَتَرَكَنِي فِي بَيْتٍ، حَتَّى يَقْبِضَ الْمَالَ، وَفِي الْبَيْتِ بَوَارِيُّ وَحُصُرٌ مُدَرَّجَةٌ وَوِسَادَتَانِ. فَلَمَّا ذَهَبَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ سَاعَةٌ، وَإِذْ قَدْ فَتَحُوا الْبَابَ، وَأَدْخَلُوا الْأَمِينَ وَهُوَ عُرْيَانُ، وَعَلَيْهِ سَرَاوِيلُ وَعِمَامَةٌ، وَعَلَى كَتِفِهِ خِرْقَةٌ خَلِقَةٌ، فَتَرَكُوهُ مَعِي، فَاسْتَرْجَعْتُ وَبَكَيْتُ فِيمَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ نَفْسِي، فَسَأَلَنِي عَنِ اسْمِي فَعَرَّفْتُهُ، فَقَالَ: ضُمَّنِي إِلَيْكَ، فَإِنِّي أَجِدُ وَحْشَةً شَدِيدَةً. قَالَ: فَضَمَمْتُهُ إِلَيَّ، وَإِذَا قَلْبُهُ يَخْفِقُ خَفْقًا شَدِيدًا، فَقَالَ: يَا أَحْمَدُ ! مَا فَعَلَ أَخِي ؟ قُلْتُ: حَيٌّ هُوَ. قَالَ: قَبَّحَ اللَّهُ بَرِيدَهُمْ، كَانَ يَقُولُ: قَدْ مَاتَ شِبْهُ الْمُعْتَذِرِ مِنْ مُحَارَبَتِهِ. فَقُلْتُ: بَلْ قَبَّحَ اللَّهُ وُزَرَاءَكَ. فَقَالَ: مَا تَرَاهُمْ يَصْنَعُونَ بِي، أَيَقْتُلُونَنِي أَمْ يَفُونَ لِي بِأَمَانِهِمْ ؟ فَقُلْتُ: بَلْ يَفُونَ لَكَ. وَجَعَلَ يَضُمُّ الْخِرْقَةَ عَلَى كَتِفِهِ، فَنَزَعْتُ مُبَطَّنَةً كَانَتْ عَلَيَّ، وَقُلْتُ: أَلْقِ هَذِهِ عَلَيْكَ ! فَقَالَ: دَعْنِي، فَهَذَا مِنَ اللَّهِ - عَزَّ وَجَلَّ - فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا الْمَوْضِعِ خَيْرٌ كَثِيرٌ. فَبَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ كَذَلِكَ، إِذْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْنَا رَجُلٌ، فَنَظَرَ فِي وُجُوهِنَا، فَاسْتَثْبَتَهَا، فَلَمَّا عَرَفْتُهُ انْصَرَفَ، وَإِذَا هُوَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ الطَّاهِرِيُّ، فَلَمَّا رَأَيْتُهُ عَلِمْتُ أَنَّ الْأَمِينَ مَقْتُولٌ، فَلَمَّا انْتَصَفَ اللَّيْلُ فُتِحَ الْبَابُ، وَدَخَلَ الدَّارَ قَوْمٌ مِنَ الْعَجَمِ مَعَهُمُ السُّيُوفُ مَسْلُولَةٌ، فَلَمَّا رَآهُمْ قَامَ قَائِمًا، وَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ: إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، ذَهَبَتْ - وَاللَّهِ - نَفْسِي فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ، أَمَا مِنْ مُغِيثٍ، أَمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنَ الْأَبْنَاءِ ؟ وَجَاءُوا حَتَّى وَقَفُوا عَلَى بَابِ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي نَحْنُ فِيهِ، وَجَعَلَ بَعْضُهُمْ يَقُولُ لِبَعْضٍ: تَقَدَّمْ، وَيَدْفَعُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا، وَأَخَذَ الْأَمِينُ بِيَدِهِ وِسَادَةً، وَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ: وَيْحَكُمْ ! أَنَا ابْنُ عَمِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، أَنَا ابْنُ هَارُونَ، أَنَا أَخُو الْمَأْمُونِ، اللَّهَ اللَّهَ فِي دَمِي. فَدَخَلَ عَلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ مِنْهُمْ فَضَرَبَهُ بِالسَّيْفِ ضَرْبَةً وَقَعَتْ فِي مُقَدَّمِ رَأْسِهِ، وَضَرَبَهُ الْأَمِينُ بِالْوِسَادَةِ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ، وَأَرَادَ [ أَنْ ] يَأْخُذَ السَّيْفَ مِنْهُ فَصَاحَ: قَتَلَنِي ! قَتَلَنِي ! فَدَخَلَ مِنْهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ، فَنَخَسَهُ وَاحِدٌ مِنْهُمْ بِالسَّيْفِ فِي خَاصِرَتِهِ، فَرَكِبُوهُ، فَذَبَحُوهُ ذَبْحًا مِنْ قَفَاهُ، وَأَخَذُوا رَأْسَهُ، وَمَضَوْا بِهِ إِلَى طَاهِرٍ، وَتَرَكُوا جُثَّتَهُ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ السَّحَرُ أَخَذُوا جُثَّتَهُ، فَأَدْرَجُوهَا فِي جُلٍّ وَحَمَلُوهَا، فَنَصَبَ طَاهِرٌ الرَّأْسَ عَلَى بُرْجٍ، وَخَرَجَ أَهْلُ بَغْدَاذَ لِلنَّظَرِ، وَطَاهِرٌ يَقُولُ: هَذَا رَأْسُ الْمَخْلُوعِ مُحَمَّدٍ. فَلَمَّا قُتِلَ نَدِمَ جُنْدُ بَغْدَاذَ وَجُنْدُ طَاهِرٍ عَلَى قَتْلِهِ، لِمَا كَانُوا يَأْخُذُونَ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ، وَبَعَثَ طَاهِرٌ بِرَأْسِ مُحَمَّدٍ إِلَى أَخِيهِ الْمَأْمُونِ مَعَ ابْنِ عَمِّهِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ مُصْعَبٍ، وَكَتَبَ مَعَهُ بِالْفَتْحِ، فَلَمَّا وَصَلَ أَخَذَ الرَّأْسَ ذُو الرِّيَاسَتَيْنِ، فَأَدْخَلَهُ عَلَى تُرْسٍ، فَلَمَّا رَآهُ الْمَأْمُونُ سَجَدَ، وَبَعَثَ مَعَهُ طَاهِرٌ بِالْبُرْدَةِ وَالْقَضِيبِ وَالْخَاتَمِ. وَلَمَّا بَلَغَ أَهْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ أَنَّ طَاهِرًا أَمَرَ مَوْلَاهُ قُرَيْشًا فَقَتَلَهُ، قَالَ شَيْخٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ ! كُنَّا نَرْوِي أَنَّهُ يَقْتُلُهُ قُرَيْشٌ، فَذَهَبْنَا إِلَى الْقَبِيلَةِ فَوَافَقَ الِاسْمُ [ الِاسْمَ ]. وَلَمَّا قُتِلَ الْأَمِينُ نُودِيَ فِي النَّاسِ بِالْأَمَانِ، فَأَمِنَ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ، وَدَخَلَ طَاهِرٌ الْمَدِينَةَ يَوْمَ الْجُمْعَةِ، فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ، وَخَطَبَ لِلْمَأْمُونِ، وَذَمَّ الْأَمِينَ، وَكَتَبَ إِلَى الْمُعْتَصِمِ، وَقِيلَ إِلَى ابْنِ الْمَهْدِيِّ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنَّهُ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيَّ أَنْ أَكْتُبَ إِلَى رَجُلٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِ الْخِلَافَةِ بِغَيْرِ التَّأْمِيرِ، وَلَكِنَّهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّكَ تَمِيلُ بِالرَّأْيِ، وَتُصْغِي بِالْهَوَى إِلَى النَّاكِثِ الْمَخْلُوعِ، فَإِنْ كَانَ كَذَلِكَ فَكَثِيرٌ مَا كَتَبْتُ إِلَيْكَ، وَإِنْ كَانَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا الْأَمِيرُ، وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ. وَلَمَّا قُتِلَ الْأَمِينُ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ الْمَهْدِيِّ يَرْثِيهِ: عُوجَا بِمَغْنَى الطَّلَلِ الدَّاثِرِ بِالْخُلْدِ ذَاتِ الصَّخْرِ وَالْآجُرِ وَالْمَرْمَرِ الْمَنْسُوبِ يُطْلَى بِهِ وَالْبَابِ بَابِ الذَّهَبِ النَّاضِرِ عُوجَا بِهَا فَاسْتَيْقِنَا عِنْدَهَا عَلَى يَقِينِ قُدْرَةِ الْقَادِرِ وَأَبْلِغَا عَنِّي مَقَالًا إِلَى الْ مَوْلَى عَلَى الْمَأْمُورِ وَالْآمِرِ قُولَا لَهُ يَابْنَ أَبِي النَّاصِرِ طَهِّرْ بِلَادَ اللَّهِ مِنْ طَاهِرِ لَمْ يَكْفِهِ أَنْ حَزَّ أَوْدَاجَهُ ذَبْحَ الْهَدَايَا بِمُدَى الْجَازِرِ حَتَّى أَتَى يَسْحَبُ أَوْدَاجَهُ فِي شَطَنٍ ( هَذَا مَدَى ) السَّائِرِ قَدْ بَرَّدَ الْمَوْتُ عَلَى جَنْبِهِ فَطَرْفُهُ مُنْكَسِرُ النَّاظِرِ ( فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ الْمَأْمُونَ قَوْلُهُ اشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ ).
Translation
✧ An account of the killing of al-Amīn When Muḥammad entered the City of al-Manṣūr, and Ṭāhir took control of the markets of al-Karkh and elsewhere, as previously mentioned, and settled in the city, his commanders and companions realized that they had no means within it to withstand a siege, and they feared that Ṭāhir would capture them. Muḥammad b. Ḥātim b. al-Ṣaqr, Muḥammad b. Ibrāhīm b. al-Aghlab al-Ifrīqī, and others came to him and said: “Our situation has reached what you see, and we have formed an opinion that we will present to you. Consider it and resolve upon it, for we hope that God will place good in it.” He asked: “What is it?” They said: “The people have dispersed from you, and your enemy has surrounded you. There remain with you seven thousand horses of the best of your cavalry. We think you should choose seven thousand men from the abnāʾ whom we know to be devoted to you, mount them on these horses, and go out at night through one of these gates. The night belongs to its people, and no one will stand against us, God Almighty willing. We will go out until we reach the Jazīrah and Syria, where we will levy stipends and collect the land tax, and we shall come into a vast kingdom and a new dominion. People will hasten to you, the troops will cease pursuing you, and God will bring about new circumstances.” He said to them: “What an excellent opinion!” and he resolved upon that. The news reached Ṭāhir, and he wrote to Sulaymān b. al-Manṣūr, Muḥammad b. ʿĪsā b. Nahīk, and al-Sindī b. Shāhak: “By God, if you do not turn him away from this plan, I will not leave you any estate but I will seize it, and I will have no concern except for your own persons.” They entered upon al-Amīn and said to him: “We have heard what you resolved upon. We remind you of God regarding yourself. These are vagabonds, and the siege has brought them to what you see. They think that there is no safety for them with your brother or with Ṭāhir because of their exertions in the war. We do not feel secure that, if you go out with them, they may take you as a captive or take your head, to draw near thereby and make you the means of their safety.” They struck parables for him in that regard, and he returned to their counsel and consented to seeking a guarantee of safe-conduct and departing. They said to him: “Your only goal is safety and diversion, and your brother will leave you wherever you wish, and will set you apart in a place, providing for you therein all that sets you right and all that you love and desire. There will be no harm or misfortune to you from him.” So he inclined to that and agreed to go out to Harthama b. Aʿyan. Then those men who had advised heading to Syria entered upon him and said: “If you will not accept what we advised, which is the correct course, and you accept from these flatterers, then going out to Ṭāhir is better for you than going out to Harthama.” He said: “I detest Ṭāhir, because I saw in a dream as if I were standing on a wall of baked bricks, towering in the sky, broad at the base, the like of which I had never seen in height and width. I wore my black garments, my belt, and my sword. Ṭāhir was at the base of that wall, and he kept striking it until it fell, and I fell, and my cap flew from my head. So I take him as an ill omen and detest him. Harthama is our client, and he is like a father to me, and I am more at ease with him and more trusting of him.” He sent to request a guarantee of safe-conduct, and Harthama granted him that, swearing to him that he would fight in his defense if al-Maʾmūn intended to kill him. When Ṭāhir learned of that, it weighed heavily upon him, and he refused to let him go out to Harthama, saying: “He is within my troops and the sector in which I am. I besieged and constrained him until he sought safe-conduct, so I will not consent to his going out to Harthama, lest the victory be his rather than mine.” When that reached Harthama and the commanders, they assembled in the residence of Khuzayma b. Khāzim. Ṭāhir and his commanders attended, as did Sulaymān b. al-Manṣūr, al-Sindī, and Muḥammad b. ʿĪsā b. Nahīk. They deliberated among themselves and informed Ṭāhir that he would never go out to him, and that if he were not granted what he asked, there would be no safety except that the matter would be like it was in the days of al-Ḥusayn b. ʿAlī b. ʿĪsā b. Māhān. They said to him: “If he goes out to Harthama with his body and delivers to you the seal, the staff, and the cloak—for that is the caliphate—then seize this matter and do not spoil it.” He agreed to that and was satisfied. Then al-Harsh, when he learned of the news, wished to draw near to Ṭāhir, and informed him that what had taken place among them was a deception, and that the seal, the staff, and the cloak would be carried with al-Amīn to Harthama. This enraged him, and he placed around the palace of Umm al-Amīn and the palaces of al-Khuld men carrying crowbars, unknown to anyone. When al-Amīn prepared to go out to Harthama, he felt intense thirst before his departure, and water was sought for him in the drinks storehouse but was not found. When night fell on Sunday, with five nights remaining of Muḥarram in the year 198 AH, he went out after the last evening prayer into the courtyard of the house, wearing white clothes and a black ṭaylasān. Harthama sent to him: “I have come to the appointed time to carry you, but I think you should not go out tonight, for I have seen on the riverbank something that has alarmed me, and I fear that I may be overpowered and you taken from my hand, and your life and mine lost. Stay tonight until I prepare and come to you tomorrow night, and if I am fought I will fight in your defense.” Al-Amīn said to the messenger: “Return to him and tell him not to leave, for I am coming out to him this very hour without fail, and I will not stay until tomorrow.” He grew restless and said: “The people have dispersed from me—the mawālī, the guard, and others—and I do not feel safe that if the news reaches Ṭāhir he will enter upon me and seize me.” Then he summoned his two sons, embraced and kissed them, wept and said: “I entrust you to God, Mighty and Majestic.” His eyes shed tears, and he wiped them with his sleeve. Then he came riding to the riverbank, where Harthama's ḥarrāqah was, and boarded it. Aḥmad b. Sallām, the official of the maẓālim court, related: I was with Harthama in the ḥarrāqah. When al-Amīn entered it, we rose for him, and Harthama knelt on his knees and apologized for gout that afflicted him. Then he embraced him, drew him close, placed him in his lap, and began kissing his hands, feet, and eyes. Harthama ordered the ḥarrāqah to be pushed off, when Ṭāhir's men attacked us in boats, shouting and piercing the ḥarrāqah, pelting them with bricks and arrows. Water entered the ḥarrāqah and it sank. Harthama fell into the water, and we fell too. A sailor grabbed Harthama's hair and pulled him out. As for al-Amīn, when he fell into the water he tore his clothes and made for the shore. A man of Ṭāhir's men seized me, and another of Ṭāhir's men came to me and told him that I was among those who had come out of the ḥarrāqah. He asked who I was. I said: “I am Aḥmad b. Sallām, the official of the maẓālim court, a client of the Commander of the Faithful.” He said: “You lie. Tell me the truth!” I said: “I have told you the truth.” He said: “What happened to the deposed one?” I said: “I saw him tear his clothes.” He mounted and took me with him, running, with a rope around my neck. I could not keep up, and he ordered my beheading. I ransomed myself from him for ten thousand dirhams, and he left me in a house until the money should be collected. In the house were reed mats, rolled-up mats, and two cushions. When an hour of the night had passed, they opened the door and brought in al-Amīn, naked except for trousers and a turban, with a worn rag over his shoulder. They left him with me. I uttered the istirjāʿ and wept inwardly. He asked my name and I told him. He said: “Hold me to you, for I feel intense loneliness.” So I held him close, and his heart was pounding violently. He said: “O Aḥmad! What has become of my brother?” I said: “He is alive.” He said: “May God disfigure their courier! He used to say that the one like al-Muʿtadhir had died of fighting him.” I said: “Rather, may God disfigure your viziers.” He said: “What do you think they will do with me? Will they kill me or honor their guarantee of safe-conduct?” I said: “They will honor it for you.” He kept pulling the rag over his shoulder, so I took off a lined garment I was wearing and said: “Throw this over yourself!” He said: “Leave me, for this from God, Mighty and Majestic, in a situation like this is much good.” While we were thus, a man entered upon us, looked at our faces, and scrutinized them. When he recognized me he departed, and he was Muḥammad b. Ḥumayd al-Ṭāhirī. When I saw him I knew that al-Amīn would be killed. At midnight the door was opened, and a group of Persians entered the house with drawn swords. When he saw them, he stood up and began saying: “Indeed we belong to God and to Him we return. By God, my life is gone in the path of God. Is there no helper, no one from the abnāʾ?” They came and stood at the door of the room where we were. Some said to others: “Advance!” pushing one another. Al-Amīn took a cushion in his hand and kept saying: “Woe to you! I am the cousin of the Messenger of God, I am the son of Hārūn, I am the brother of al-Maʾmūn. Fear God, fear God regarding my blood!” One of them entered and struck him with a sword, a blow that landed on the front of his head. Al-Amīn struck him in the face with the cushion and tried to take the sword from him, and he cried out: “He has killed me! He has killed me!” A group of them entered, and one of them thrust his sword into his side. They mounted him and slaughtered him from the back of his neck, took his head, and went with it to Ṭāhir, leaving his body. At dawn they took his body, wrapped it in a horse cloth, and carried it away. Ṭāhir set the head upon a tower, and the people of Baghdad came out to look. Ṭāhir said: “This is the head of the deposed Muḥammad.” When he was killed, the troops of Baghdad and the troops of Ṭāhir regretted his killing, because of the wealth they had been receiving. Ṭāhir sent the head of Muḥammad to his brother al-Maʾmūn with his cousin Muḥammad b. al-Ḥusayn b. Muṣʿab, and wrote with him of the victory. When it arrived, Dhū al-Riyāsatayn took the head and brought it in on a shield. When al-Maʾmūn saw it, he prostrated. Ṭāhir also sent with him the cloak, the staff, and the seal. When the people of the city learned that Ṭāhir had ordered his client Quraysh to kill him, an old man of the people of the city said: “Glory be to God! We used to narrate that Quraysh would kill him. We went to the tribe and the name matched the name.” When al-Amīn was killed, a proclamation of safe-conduct was made among the people, and all the people were given safety. Ṭāhir entered the city on Friday, prayed with the people, delivered a sermon for al-Maʾmūn, and reviled al-Amīn. He wrote to al-Muʿtaṣim—and it was said to Ibn al-Mahdī: “To proceed: it grieves me to write to a man of the house of the caliphate without giving him the title of command, but it has reached me that you incline in opinion and lend your ear in passion to the oath-breaker, the deposed one. If that is so, then much have I written to you. If it is otherwise, then peace be upon you, O amīr, and the mercy of God and His blessings.” When al-Amīn was killed, Ibrāhīm b. al-Mahdī said in mourning for him: “Turn aside at the abode of the ruined traces, at al-Khuld with its stone and brick, And the inlaid marble with which it is coated, And the gate, the gate of shining gold. Turn aside there and be certain at it Of the certainty of the power of the Powerful. And convey from me a saying to the Master over the commanded and the commander. Say to him, O son of Abū al-Nāṣir: Purify the lands of God from Ṭāhir! It did not suffice him to cut his jugular veins As sacrificial offerings are slaughtered with the butcher's knife, Until he came dragging his veins In a rope—this is the extent of the traveler. Death has cooled upon his side, His gaze broken of sight.” When this saying reached al-Maʾmūn, it weighed heavily upon him.
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No grade is recorded for this wording.