Tarikh (al-Tabari) 3366
The Year 247 AH
ثُمَّ دَخَلَتْ سَنَةُ سَبْعٍ وَأَرْبَعِينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ سبب قتل المتوكل وَفِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ قُتِلَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ، وَكَانَ سَبَبُ قَتْلِهِ أَنَّهُ أَمَرَ بِإِنْشَاءِ الْكُتُبِ بِقَبْضِ ضِيَاعِ وَصَيْفٍ بِأَصْبَهَانَ وَالْجَبَلِ، وَإِقْطَاعَهَا الْفَتْحَ بْنَ خَاقَانَ، فَكُتِبَتْ، وَصَارَتْ إِلَى الْخَاتَمِ، فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ وَصَيْفًا، وَكَانَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ أَوَّلَ جُمْعَةٍ فِي رَمَضَانَ، وَشَاعَ فِي النَّاسِ، وَاجْتَمَعُوا لِذَلِكَ، وَخَرَجَ بَنُو هَاشِمٍ مِنْ بَغْدَادَ لِرَفْعِ الْقَصَصِ وَكَلَامِهِ إِذَا رَكِبَ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْجُمْعَةِ، وَأَرَادَ الرُّكُوبَ لِلصَّلَاةِ، قَالَ لَهُ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَالْفَتْحُ بْنُ خَاقَانَ: إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ كَثَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِكَ وَمِنْ غَيْرِهِمْ، فَبَعْضٌ مُتَظَلِّمٌ، وَبَعْضٌ طَالِبُ حَاجَةٍ، وَأَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَشْكُو ضِيقَ الصَّدْرِ، وَعِلَّةً بِهِ، فَإِنْ رَأَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْ يَأْمُرَ بَعْضَ وُلَاةِ الْعُهُودِ بِالصَّلَاةِ، وَنَكُونَ مَعَهُ، فَلْيَفْعَلْ. فَأَمَرَ الْمُنْتَصِرَ بِالصَّلَاةِ، فَلَمَّا نَهَضَ لِلرُّكُوبِ قَالَا لَهُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِنْ رَأَيْتَ أَنْ تَأْمُرَ الْمُعْتَزَّ بِالصَّلَاةِ، فَقَدِ اجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ لِتُشَرِّفَهُ بِذَلِكَ، وَقَدْ بَلَغَ اللَّهُ بِهِ، وَكَانَ قَدْ وُلِدَ لِلْمُعْتَزِّ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ وَلَدٌ، فَأَمَرَ الْمُعْتَزَ، فَرَكِبَ فَصَلَّى بِالنَّاسِ، وَأَقَامَ الْمُنْتَصِرُ فِي دَارِهِ بِالْجَعْفَرِيَّةِ، فَزَادَ ذَلِكَ فِي إِغْرَائِهِ. فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ الْمُعْتَزُّ مِنْ خُطْبَتِهِ قَامَ إِلَيْهِ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ بْنُ خَاقَانَ، فَقَبَّلَا يَدَيْهِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ، فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ انْصَرَفَ وَمَعَهُ النَّاسُ فِي مَوْكِبِ الْخِلَافَةِ، حَتَّى دَخَلَ عَلَى أَبِيهِ، فَأَثْنَوْا عَلَيْهِ عِنْدَهُ، فَسَّرَهُ ذَلِكَ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ عِيدُ الْفِطْرِ قَالَ: مُرُوا الْمُنْتَصِرَ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ ! فَقَالَ لَهُ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ: قَدْ كَانَ النَّاسُ يَتَطَلَّعُونَ إِلَى رُؤْيَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَاحْتَشَدُوا لِذَلِكَ، فَلَمْ يَرْكَبْ، وَلَا يَأْمَنُ إِنْ هُوَ لَمْ يَرْكَبِ الْيَوْمَ، أَنْ يَرْجُفَ النَّاسُ بِعِلَّتِهِ، فَإِذَا رَأَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْ يَسُرَّ الْأَوْلِيَاءَ، وَيَكْبِتَ الْأَعْدَاءَ بِرُكُوبِهِ فَلْيَفْعَلْ. فَرَكِبَ وَقَدْ صُفَّ لَهُ النَّاسُ نَحْوَ أَرْبَعَةِ أَمْيَالٍ، وَتَرَجَّلُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ، فَصَلَّى، وَرَجَعَ، فَأَخَذَ حِفْنَةً مِنَ التُّرَابِ، فَوَضَعَهَا عَلَى رَأْسِهِ، وَقَالَ: إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ كَثْرَةَ هَذَا الْجَمْعِ، وَرَأَيْتُهُمْ تَحْتَ يَدِي، فَأَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ أَتَوَاضَعَ لِلَّهِ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْيَوْمُ الثَّالِثُ افْتَصَدَ، وَاشْتَهَى لَحْمَ جَزُورٍ، فَأَكَلَهُ، وَكَانَ قَدْ حَضَرَ عِنْدَهُ ابْنُ الْحَفْصِيِّ وَغَيْرُهُ، فَأَكَلُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ. قَالَ: وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يَوْمٌ أَسَرَّ مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ، وَدَعَا النُّدَمَاءَ وَالْمُغَنِّينَ، فَحَضَرُوا. وَأَهْدَتْ لَهُ أُمُّ الْمُعْتَزِّ مُطْرَفَ خَزٍّ أَخْضَرَ، لَمْ يَرَ النَّاسُ مِثْلَهُ، فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ، فَأَطَالَ، وَأَكْثَرَ تَعَجُّبَهُ مِنْهُ، وَأَمَرَ فَقُطِعَ نِصْفَيْنِ وَرَدَّهُ عَلَيْهَا، وَقَالَ لِرَسُولِهَا: وَاللَّهِ إِنَّ نَفْسِي لِتُحَدِّثُنِي أَنِّي لَا أَلْبَسُهُ، وَمَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَلْبَسَهُ أَحَدٌ بَعْدِي; وَلِهَذَا أَمَرْتُ بِشَقِّهِ. قَالَ: فَقُلْنَا: نُعِيذُكَ بِاللَّهِ أَنْ تَقُولَ مِثْلَ هَذَا، قَالَ: وَأَخَذَ فِي الشَّرَابِ وَاللَّهْوِ، وَلَجَّ بِأَنْ يَقُولَ: أَنَا وَاللَّهِ مُفَارِقُكُمْ عَنْ قَلِيلٍ ! وَلَمْ يَزَلْ فِي لَهْوِهِ وَسُرُورِهِ إِلَى اللَّيْلِ. وَكَانَ قَدْ عَزَمَ هُوَ وَالْفَتْحُ أَنْ يَفْتِكَا بُكْرَةَ غَدٍ بِالْمُنْتَصِرِ وَوَصِيفٍ وَبُغَا وَغَيْرِهِمْ مِنْ قُوَّادِ الْأَتْرَاكِ، وَقَدْ كَانَ الْمُنْتَصِرُ وَاعَدَ الْأَتْرَاكَ وَوَصِيفًا وَغَيْرَهُ عَلَى قَتْلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ. وَكَثُرَ عَبَثُ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ، قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ بِيَوْمٍ، بِابْنِهِ الْمُنْتَصِرِ، مَرَّةً يَشْتُمُهُ، وَمَرَّةً يَسْقِيهِ فَوْقَ طَاقَتِهِ، وَمَرَّةً يَأْمُرُ بِصَفْعِهِ، وَمَرَّةً يَتَهَدَّدُهُ بِالْقَتْلِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ لِلْفَتْحِ: بَرِئْتُ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَمِنْ قَرَابَتِي مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ، ﷺ، إِنْ لَمْ تَلْطِمْهُ، يَعْنِي الْمُنْتَصِرَ، فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ فَلَطَمَهُ مَرَّتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ أَمَرَّ يَدَهُ عَلَى قَفَاهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ لِمَنْ حَضَرَهُ: اشْهَدُوا عَلَيَّ جَمِيعًا أَنِّي قَدْ خَلَعْتُ الْمُسْتَعْجَلَ، يَعْنِي الْمُنْتَصِرَ، ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ: سَمَّيْتُكَ الْمُنْتَصِرَ، فَسَمَّاكَ النَّاسُ، لِحُمْقِكَ، الْمُنْتَظَرَ، ثُمَّ صِرْتَ الْآنَ الْمُسْتَعْجَلَ. فَقَالَ الْمُنْتَصِرُ: لَوْ أَمَرْتَ بِضَرْبِ عُنُقِي كَانَ أَسْهَلَ عَلَيَّ مِمَّا تَفْعَلُهُ بِي، فَقَالَ: اسْقُوهُ، ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِالْعَشَاءِ فَأُحْضِرَ، وَذَلِكَ فِي جَوْفِ اللَّيْلِ، فَخَرَجَ الْمُنْتَصِرُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ، وَأَمَرَ بَنَانًا غُلَامَ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ يَحْيَى أَنْ يَلْحَقَهُ، وَأَخَذَ بِيَدِ زَرَافَةَ ( الْحَاجِبِ )، وَقَالَ لَهُ: امْضِ مَعِي ! فَقَالَ: إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَمْ يَنَمْ، فَقَالَ: إِنَّهُ قَدْ أَخَذَ مِنْهُ النَّبِيذَ، وَالسَّاعَةَ يَخْرُجُ بُغَا وَالنُّدَمَاءُ، وَقَدْ أَحْبَبْتُ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ أَمْرَ وَلَدِكَ إِلَيَّ، فَإِنَّ أُوتَامَشَ سَأَلَنِي أَنْ أُزَوِّجَ وَلَدَهُ مِنَ ابْنَتِكَ، وَابْنَكَ مِنِ ابْنَتِهِ، فَقَالَ: نَحْنُ عَبِيدُكَ فَمُرْ بِأَمْرِكَ ! فَسَارَ مَعَهُ إِلَى حُجْرَةٍ هُنَاكَ، وَأَكَلَا طَعَامًا، فَسَمِعَا الضَّجَّةَ وَالصُّرَاخَ، فَقَامَا، وَإِذَا بُغَا قَدْ لَقِيَ الْمُنْتَصِرَ، فَقَالَ الْمُنْتَصِرُ: مَا هَذَا ؟ فَقَالَ: خَيْرٌ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، قَالَ: مَا تَقَوُلُ وَيْلَكَ ؟ قَالَ: أَعْظَمَ اللَّهُ أَجَرَكَ ( فِي سَيِّدِنَا ) أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، كَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ دَعَاهُ فَأَجَابَهُ. فَجَلَسَ الْمُنْتَصِرُ، وَأَمَرَ بِبَابِ الْبَيْتِ الَّذِي قُتِلَ فِيهِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ، فَأُغْلِقَ، وَأُغْلِقَتِ الْأَبْوَابُ كُلُّهَا، وَبَعَثَ إِلَى وَصِيفٍ يَأْمُرُهُ بِإِحْضَارِ الْمُعْتَزِّ وَالْمُؤَيَّدِ عَنْ رِسَالَةِ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ. كَيْفِيَّةُ قَتْلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ وَأَمَّا كَيْفِيَّةُ قَتْلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ، فَإِنَّهُ لَمَّا خَرَجَ الْمُنْتَصِرُ دَعَا الْمُتَوَكِّلُ بِالْمَائِدَةِ، وَكَانَ بُغَا الصَّغِيرُ الْمَعْرُوفُ بِالشَّرَابِيِّ قَائِمًا عِنْدَ السِّتْرِ، وَذَلِكَ الْيَوْمُ كَانَ نَوْبَةَ بُغَا الْكَبِيرِ، وَكَانَ خَلِيفَتَهُ فِي الدَّارِ ابْنُهُ مُوسَى، وَمُوسَى هُوَ ابْنُ خَالَةِ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ، وَكَانَ أَبُوهُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِسُمَيْسَاطَ، فَدَخَلَ بُغَا الصَّغِيرُ إِلَى الْمَجْلِسِ، فَأَمَرَ النُّدَمَاءَ بِالِانْصِرَافِ إِلَى حُجَرِهِمْ، فَقَالَ لَهُ الْفَتْحُ: لَيْسَ هَذَا وَقْتَ انْصِرَافِهِمْ، وَأَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَمْ يَرْتَفِعْ، فَقَالَ بُغَا: إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَمَرَنِي أَنَّهُ إِذَا جَاوَزَ السَّبْعَةَ لَا أَتْرُكُ أَحَدًا، وَقَدْ شَرِبَ أَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ رَطْلًا، وَحَرَمُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ خَلْفَ السِّتَارَةِ، وَأَخْرَجَهُمْ، فَلَمْ يَبْقَ إِلَّا الْفَتْحُ وَعَثْعَثُ، وَأَرْبَعَةٌ مِنْ خَدَمِ الْخَاصَّةِ، وَأَبُو أَحْمَدَ بْنُ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ، وَهُوَ أَخُو الْمُؤَيَّدِ لِأُمِّهِ. وَكَانَ بُغَا الشَّرَابِيُّ أَغْلَقَ الْأَبْوَابَ كُلَّهَا، إِلَّا بَابَ الشَّطِّ، وَمِنْهُ دَخَلَ الْقَوْمُ الَّذِينَ قَتَلُوهُ، فَبَصُرَ بِهِمْ أَبُو أَحْمَدَ، فَقَالَ: مَا هَذَا يَا سُفَلُ ! وَإِذَا سُيُوفٌ مُسَلَّلَةٌ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ صَوْتَ أَبِي أَحْمَدَ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ، فَرَآهُمْ، فَقَالَ: مَا هَذَا يَا بُغَا ؟ فَقَالَ: هَؤُلَاءِ رِجَالُ النُّوبَةِ، فَرَجَعُوا إِلَى وَرَائِهِمْ عِنْدَ كَلَامِهِ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ وَاجِنُ وَأَصْحَابُهُ وَوَلَدُ وَصِيفٍ حَضَرُوا مَعَهُمْ، فَقَالَ لَهُمْ بُغَا: يَا سُفَلُ ! أَنْتُمْ مَقْتُولُونَ لَا مَحَالَةَ، فَمُوتُوا كِرَامًا ! فَرَجَعُوا، فَابْتَدَرَهُ بَغْلُونُ، فَضَرَبَهُ عَلَى كَتِفِهِ وَأُذُنِهِ فَقَدَّهُ، فَقَالَ: مَهْلًا ! قَطَعَ اللَّهُ يَدَكَ، وَأَرَادَ الْوُثُوبَ بِهِ، وَاسْتَقْبَلَهُ بِيَدِهِ، فَضَرَبَهَا، فَأَبَانَهَا، وَشَارَكَهُ بَاغِرُ، فَقَالَ الْفَتْحُ: وَيْلَكُمُ ! أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ... وَرَمَى بِنَفْسِهِ عَلَى الْمُتَوَكِّلِ، فَبَعَجُوهُ بِسُيُوفِهِمْ، فَصَاحَ: الْمَوْتُ ! وَتَنَحَّى، فَقَتَلُوهُ. وَكَانُوا قَالُوا لِوَصِيفٍ لِيَحْضُرَ مَعَهُمْ، وَقَالُوا: إِنَّا نَخَافُ، فَقَالَ: لَا بَأْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ، فَقَالُوا لَهُ: أَرْسِلْ مَعَنَا بَعْضَ وَلَدِكَ، فَأَرْسَلَ مَعَهُمْ خَمْسَةً مِنْ وَلَدِهِ: صَالِحًا، وَأَحْمَدَ، وَعَبْدَ اللَّهِ، وَنَصْرًا، وَعُبَيْدَ اللَّهِ. وَقِيلَ: إِنَّ الْقَوْمَ لَمَّا دَخَلُوا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ عَثْعَثُ، فَقَالَ لِلْمُتَوَكِّلِ: قَدْ فَرَغْنَا مِنَ الْأَسَدِ، وَالْحَيَّاتِ، وَالْعَقَارِبِ، وَصِرْنَا إِلَى السُّيُوفِ، وَذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ رُبَّمَا أَسْلَى الْحَيَّةَ، وَالْعَقْرَبَ، وَالْأَسَدَ، فَلَمَّا ذَكَرَ عَثْعَثُ السُّيُوفَ قَالَ: يَا وَيْلَكَ ! أَيُّ سُيُوفٍ ؟ فَمَا اسْتَتَمَّ كَلَامَهُ حَتَّى دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ وَقَتَلُوهُ، وَقَتَلُوا الْفَتْحَ، وَخَرَجُوا إِلَى الْمُنْتَصِرِ، فَسَلَّمُوا عَلَيْهِ بِالْخِلَافَةِ، وَقَالُوا: مَاتَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَقَامُوا عَلَى رَأْسِ زَرَافَةَ بِالسُّيُوفِ، وَقَالُوا: بَايِعْ، فَبَايَعَ. وَأَرْسَلَ الْمُنْتَصِرُ إِلَى وَصِيفٍ: إِنَّ الْفَتْحَ قَدْ قَتَلَ أَبِي فَقَتَلْتُهُ، فَاحْضُرْ فِي وُجُوهِ أَصْحَابِكَ ! فَحَضَرَ هُوَ وَأَصْحَابُهُ، فَبَايَعُوا. وَكَانَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَحْيَى فِي حُجْرَتِهِ يُنَفِّذُ الْأُمُورَ وَلَا يَعْلَمُ، وَبَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ حَامِدٍ، إِذْ طَلَعَ عَلَيْهِ بَعْضُ الْخَدَمِ، فَقَالَ: مَا يَحْبِسُكَ وَالدَّارُ سَيْفٌ وَاحِدٌ ؟ فَأَمَرَ جَعْفَرًا بِالنَّظَرِ، فَخَرَجَ، وَعَادَ وَأَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ الْمُتَوَكِّلَ وَالْفَتْحَ قُتِلَا، فَخَرَجَ فَيَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ مِنْ خَدَمِهِ وَخَاصَّتِهِ، فَأَخْبَرَ أَنَّ الْأَبْوَابَ مُغْلَقَةٌ، وَأَخَذَ نَحْوَ الشَّطِّ، فَإِذَا أَبْوَابُهُ مُغْلَقَةٌ، فَأَمَرَ بِكَسْرِ ثَلَاثَةِ أَبْوَابٍ، وَخَرَجَ إِلَى الشَّطِّ، وَرَكِبَ فِي زَوْرَقٍ، فَأَتَى مَنْزِلَ الْمُعْتَزِّ، فَسَأَلَ عَنْهُ، فَلَمْ يُصَادِفْهُ، فَقَالَ: إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، قَتَلَ نَفْسَهُ وَقَتَلَنِي. وَاجْتَمَعَ إِلَى عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ أَصْحَابُهُ غَدَاةَ يَوْمِ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ، مِنَ الْأَبْنَاءِ، وَالْعَجَمِ، وَالْأَمْنِ وَالزَّوَاقِيلِ، وَغَيْرِهِمْ، فَكَانُوا زُهَاءَ عَشَرَةِ آلَافٍ، وَقِيلَ: كَانُوا ثَلَاثَةَ عَشَرَ أَلْفًا، وَقِيلَ: مَا بَيْنَ خَمْسَةِ آلَافٍ إِلَى عَشَرَةِ آلَافٍ، فَقَالُوا: مَا اصْطَنَعْتَنَا إِلَّا لِهَذَا الْيَوْمِ، فَمُرْنَا بِأَمْرِكَ، وَائِذَنْ لَنَا أَنْ نُمِلَّ عَلَى الْقَوْمِ، وَنَقْتُلَ الْمُنْتَصِرَ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ ! فَأَبَى ذَلِكَ، وَقَالَ: الْمُعْتَزُّ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ. وَذُكِرَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يَحْيَى الْمُنَجِّمِ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: كُنْتُ أَقْرَأُ عَلَى الْمُتَوَكِّلِ، قَبْلَ قَتْلِهِ بِأَيَّامٍ، كِتَابًا مِنْ كُتُبِ الْمَلَاحِمِ، فَوَقَفْتُ عَلَى مَوْضِعٍ فِيهِ أَنَّ الْخَلِيفَةَ الْعَاشِرَ يُقْتَلُ فِي مَجْلِسِهِ، فَتَوَقَّفْتُ عَنْ قِرَاءَتِهِ، فَقَالَ: مَا لَكَ ؟ فَقُلْتُ: خَيْرًا ! قَالَ: لَا بُدَّ مِنْ أَنْ تَقْرَأَهُ، فَقَرَأْتُهُ، وَحَدَّثَ عَنْ ذِكْرِ الْخُلَفَاءِ، فَقَالَ: لَيْتَ شِعْرِي مَنْ هَذَا الشَّقِيُّ الْمَقْتُولُ ؟ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْوَارِثِ، قَاضِي نَصِيبِينَ: رَأَيْتُ فِي النَّوْمِ آتِيًا وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: يَا نَائِمَ الْعَيْنِ فِي جُثْمَانِ يَقْظَانِ مَا بَالُ عَيْنِكَ لَا تَبْكِي بِتَهْتَانِ أَمَا رَأَيْتَ صُرُوفَ الدَّهْرِ مَا فَعَلَتْ بِالْهَاشِمِيِّ وَبِالْفَتْحِ بْنِ خَاقَانِ ؟ فَأَتَى الْبَرِيدُ بَعْدَ أَيَّامٍ بِقَتْلِهِمَا. وَكَانَ قَتْلُهُ لَيْلَةَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ لِأَرْبَعٍ خَلَوْنَ مِنْ شَوَّالَ، وَقِيلَ: لَيْلَةَ الْخَمِيسِ. اسمه ونسبه جَعْفَرُ ابْنُ الْمُعْتَصِمِ بْنِ هَارُونَ الرَّشِيدِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمَهْدِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الْمَنْصُورِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْعَبَّاسِ، أَبُو الْفَضْلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ. وَأُمُّهُ أَمُّ وَلَدٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا: شُجَاعُ. وَكَانَتْ مِنْ سَرَوَاتِ النِّسَاءِ سَخَاءً وَحَزْمًا. كَانَ مَوْلِدُهُ بِفَمِ الصُّلْحِ سَنَةَ سَبْعٍ وَمِائَتَيْنِ، وَبُويِعَ لَهُ بِالْخِلَافَةِ بَعْدَ أَخِيهِ الْوَاثِقِ فِي يَوْمِ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ لِسِتٍّ بَقِينَ مِنْ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ لِسَنَةِ ثِنْتَيْنِ وَثَلَاثِينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ كَمَا تَقَدَّمَ. مناقبه ومآثره وَعَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ: مَنْ حُرِمَ الرِّفْقَ حُرِمَ الْخَيْرَ ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ يَقُولُ: الرِّفْقُ يُمْنٌ وَالْأَنَاةُ سَعَادَةٌ فَاسْتَأْنَ فِي رِفْقٍ تُلَاقِ نَجَاحَا لَا خَيْرَ فِي حَزْمٍ بِغَيْرِ رَوِيَّةٍ وَالشَّكُ وَهْنٌ إِنْ أَرَدْتَ سَرَاحَا وَقَالَ الْحَافِظُ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ فِي تَارِيخِهِ: وَحَدَّثَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ الْمُعْتَصِمِ، وَيَحْيَى بْنِ أَكْثَمَ الْقَاضِي. وَرَوَى عَنْهُ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْجَهْمِ الشَّاعِرُ، وَهِشَامُ بْنُ عَمَّارٍ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، وَقَدِمَ دِمَشْقَ فِي خِلَافَتِهِ، وَابْتَنَى بِهَا قَصْرًا بِأَرْضِ دَارَيَّا، وَقَالَ يَوْمًا لِبَعْضِهِمْ: إِنَّ الْخُلَفَاءَ كَانَتْ تَتَصَعَّبُ عَلَى الرَّعِيَّةِ لِتُطِيعَهَا، وَإِنِّي أَلِينُ لَهُمْ لِيُحِبُّونِي وَيُطِيعُونِي. وَقَالَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَرْوَانَ الْمَالِكِيُّ: ثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ الْبَصْرِيُّ قَالَ: وَجَّهَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ إِلَى أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْمُعَذَّلِ وَغَيْرِهِ مِنَ الْعُلَمَاءِ، فَجَمَعَهُمْ فِي دَارِهِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَامَ النَّاسُ كُلُّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ غَيْرَ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْمُعَذَّلِ، فَقَالَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ لِعُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ: إِنَّ هَذَا لَا يَرَى بَيْعَتَنَا ؟ فَقَالَ لَهُ: بَلَى يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَلَكِنْ فِي بَصَرِهِ سُوءٌ. فَقَالَ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْمُعَذَّلِ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْنِينَ، مَا فِي بَصَرِي سُوءٌ، وَلَكِنْ نَزَّهْتُكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ: مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَتَمَثَّلَ لَهُ الرِّجَالُ قِيَامًا فَلْيَتَبَوَّأْ مَقْعَدَهُ مِنَ النَّارِ فَجَاءَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ فَجَلَسَ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ. وَرَوَى ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ قَالَ: وَقَفَتْ قَبِيحَةُ حَظِيَّةُ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَقَدْ كَتَبَتْ عَلَى خَدِّهَا بِالْغَالِيَةِ: جَعْفَرٌ. فَتَأَمَّلَ ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ أَنْشَأَ يَقُولُ: وَكَاتِبَةٍ فِي الْخَدِّ بِالْمِسْكِ جَعْفَرًا بِنَفْسِي مَحَطُّ الْمِسْكِ مِنْ حَيْثُ أَثَّرَا لَئِنْ أَوْدَعَتْ سَطْرًا مِنَ الْمِسْكِ خَدَّهَا لَقَدْ أَوْدَعَتْ قَلْبِي مِنَ الْحُبِّ أَسْطُرًا فَيَا مَنْ مُنَاهَا فِي السَّرِيرَةِ جَعْفَرٌ سَقَى اللَّهُ مِنْ سُقْيَا ثَنَايَاكِ جَعْفَرًا وَيَا مَنْ لِمَمْلُوكٍ لِمِلْكِ يَمِينِهِ مُطِيعٍ لَهُ فِيمَا أَسَرَّ وَأَظْهَرَا قَالَ: ثُمَّ أَمَرَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ عَرِيبًا فَغَنَّتْ بِهِ. حب الرعية للمتوكل وَكَانَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ مُحَبَّبًا إِلَى رَعِيَّتِهِ، قَائِمًا بِالسُّنَّةِ فِيهَا، وَقَدْ شَبَّهَهُ بَعْضُهُمْ بِالصِّدِّيقِ فِي رَدِّهِ عَلَى أَهْلِ الرِّدَّةِ، حَتَّى رَجَعُوا إِلَى الدِّينِ، وَبِعُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ حِينَ رَدَّ مَظَالِمَ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ. وَهُوَ أَظْهَرَ السُّنَّةَ بَعْدَ الْبِدْعَةِ، وَأَخْمَدَ الْبِدْعَةَ بَعْدَ انْتِشَارِهَا وَاشْتِهَارِهَا، فَرَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ. وَقَدْ رَآهُ بَعْضُهُمْ فِي الْمَنَامِ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِ وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي نُورٍ، فَقَالَ: آلْمُتَوَكِّلُ ؟ ! فَقَالَ: الْمُتَوَكِّلُ. قَالَ: فَمَا فَعَلَ بِكَ رَبُّكَ ؟ قَالَ: غَفَرَ لِي. قُلْتُ: بِمَاذَا ؟ قَالَ: بِقَلِيلٍ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ أَحْيَيْتُهَا. وَرَوَى الْخَطِيبُ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَحْمَدَ أَنَّهُ رَأَى فِي مَنَامِهِ لَيْلَةَ مَاتَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ كَأَنَّ رَجُلًا يَصْعَدُ بِهِ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ، وَقَائِلًا يَقُولُ: مَلِكٌ يُقَادُ إِلَى مَلِيكٍ عَادِلٍ مُتَفَضِّلٍ فِي الْعَفْوِ لَيْسَ بِجَائِرِ وَرُوِيَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شَيْبَانَ الْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ لَيْلَةَ قُتِلَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ قَائِلًا يَقُولُ: يَا نَائِمَ الْعَيْنِ فِي أَقْطَارِ جُثْمَانِ أَفِضْ دُمُوعَكَ يَا عَمْرُو بْنَ شَيْبَانِ أَمَا تَرَى الْفِتْيَةَ الْأَرْجَاسَ مَا فَعَلُوا بِالْهَاشِمِيِّ وَبِالْفَتْحِ بْنِ خَاقَانِ وَافَى إِلَى اللَّهِ مَظْلُومًا فَضَجَّ لَهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاوَاتِ مِنْ مَثْنَى وَوُحْدَانِ وَسَوْفَ تَأْتِيكُمْ أُخْرَى مُسَوَّمَةٌ تَوَقَّعُوهَا لَهَا شَأْنٌ مِنَ الشَّانِ فَابْكُوا عَلَى جَعْفَرٍ وَارْثُوا خَلِيفَتَكُمْ فَقَدْ بَكَاهُ جَمِيعُ الْإِنْسِ وَالْجَانِ قَالَ: فَأَصْبَحْتُ فَأَخْبَرْتُ النَّاسَ، فَجَاءَ نَعْيُهُ أَنَّهُ قُتِلَ فِي تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةِ. وَذُكِرَ أَنَّ أَبَا السِّمْطِ مَرْوَانَ بْنَ أَبِي الْجَنُوبِ قَالَ: أَنْشَدْتُ الْمُتَوَكِّلَ شِعْرًا ذَكَرْتُ فِيهِ الرَّافِضَةَ، فَعَقَدَ لِي عَلَى الْبَحْرِينِ وَالْيَمَامَةِ، وَخَلَعَ عَلَيَّ أَرْبَعَ خِلَعٍ، وَخَلَعَ عَلَيَّ الْمُنْتَصِرُ، وَأَمَرَ لِي الْمُتَوَكِّلُ بِثَلَاثَةِ آلَافِ دِينَارٍ، فَنُثِرَتْ عَلَيَّ، وَأَمَرَ ابْنَهُ الْمُنْتَصِرَ وَسَعْدًا الْإِيتَاخِيَّ أَنْ يَلْقُطَاهَا لِي، فَفَعَلَا، وَالشِّعْرُ الَّذِي قُلْتُهُ: مُلْكُ الْخَلِيفَةِ جَعْفَرٍ لِلدِّينِ وَالدُّنْيَا سَلَامَهْ لَكُمْ تُرَاثُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَبِعَدْلِكُمْ تُنْفَى الظُّلَامَهْ يَرْجُو التُّرَاثَ بَنُو الْبَنَاتِ وَمَا لَهُمْ فِيهَا قُلَامَهْ وَالصِّهْرُ لَيْسَ بِوَارِثٍ وَالْبِنْتُ لَا تَرِثُ الْإِمَامَهْ مَا لِلَّذِينَ تَنَحَّلُوا مِيرَاثُكُمْ إِلَّا النَّدَامَهْ أَخَذَ الْوِرَاثَةَ أَهْلُهَا فَعَلَامَ لَوْمُكُمُ عَلَامَهْ لَوْ كَانَ حَقُّكُمُ لَمَا قَامَتْ عَلَى النَّاسِ الْقِيَامَهْ لَيْسَ التُّرَاثُ لِغَيْرِكُمْ لَا وَالْإِلَهِ، وَلَا كَرَامَهْ أَصْبَحْتُ بَيْنَ مُحِبِّكُمْ وَالْمُبْغِضِينَ لَكُمْ عَلَامَهْ ثُمَّ نَثَرَ عَلَيَّ، بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ، لِشِعْرٍ قُلْتُهُ فِي هَذَا الْمَعْنَى عَشَرَةَ آلَافِ دِرْهَمٍ. وَقَالَ يَحْيَى بْنُ أَكْثَمَ: حَضَرْتُ الْمُتَوَكِّلَ، فَجَرَى بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَهُ ذِكْرُ الْمَأْمُونِ، فَقُلْتُ بِتَفْضِيلِهِ، وَتَقْرِيظِهِ، وَوَصْفِ مَحَاسِنِهِ وَعِلْمِهِ وَمَعْرِفَتِهِ قَوْلًا كَثِيرًا، لَمْ يَقَعْ لِمُوَافَقَةِ مَنْ حَضَرَ، فَقَالَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ: كَيْفَ كَانَ يَقُولُ فِي الْقُرْآنِ ؟ فَقُلْتُ كَانَ يَقُولُ: مَا مَعَ الْقُرْآنِ حَاجَةٌ إِلَى عِلْمٍ فَرْضٍ، وَلَا مَعَ السُّنَّةِ وَحْشَةٌ إِلَى فِعْلِ أَحَدٍ، وَلَا مَعَ الْبَيَانِ وَالْإِفْهَامِ حُجَّةٌ لِتَعَلُّمٍ، وَلَا بَعْدَ الْجُحُودِ لِلْبُرْهَانِ وَالْحَقِّ إِلَّا السَّيْفُ، لِظُهُورِ الْحُجَّةِ. فَقَالَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ: لَمْ أُرِدْ مِنْكَ مَا ذَهَبْتَ إِلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ يَحْيَى: الْقَوْلُ بِالْمَحَاسِنِ فِي الْمُغَيَّبِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى ذِي نِعْمَةٍ. قَالَ: فَمَا كَانَ يَقُولُ خِلَالَ حَدِيثِهِ، فَإِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْمُعْتَصِمَ بِاللَّهِ، رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ، كَانَ يَقُولُهُ وَقَدْ أُنْسِيتُهُ، قَالَ كَانَ يَقُولُ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَحْمَدُكَ عَلَى النِّعَمِ الَّتِي لَا يُحْصِيهَا غَيْرُكَ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ الَّتِي لَا يُحِيطُ بِهَا إِلَّا عَفْوُكَ. قَالَ: فَمَا كَانَ يَقُولُ إِذَا اسْتَحْسَنَ شَيْئًا، أَوْ بُشِّرَ بِشَيْءٍ ؟ فَقَدْ نَسِينَاهُ، قَالَ يَحْيَى: كَانَ يَقُولُ إِنَّ ذِكْرَ آلَاءِ اللَّهِ وَكَثْرَتَهَا، وَتَعْدَادَ نِعَمِهِ، وَالْحَدِيثَ بِهَا فَرْضٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَلَى أَهْلِهَا، وَطَاعَةٌ لِأَمْرِهِ فِيهَا، وَشُكْرٌ لَهُ عَلَيْهَا، فَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ الْآلَاءِ السَّابِغِ النَّعْمَاءِ بِمَا هُوَ أَهْلُهُ وَمُسْتَوْجِبُهُ مِنْ مَحَامِدِهِ الْقَاضِيَةِ حَقَّهُ، الْبَالِغَةِ شُكْرَهُ، الْمَانِعَةِ غَيْرَهُ، الْمُوجِبَةِ مَزِيدَهُ، عَلَى مَا لَا يُحْصِيهِ تَعْدَادُنَا، وَلَا يُحِيطُ بِهِ ذِكْرُنَا مِنْ تَرَادُفِ مِنَّتِهِ، وَتَتَابُعِ فَضْلِهِ، وَدَوَامِ طَوْلِهِ، حَمْدَ مَنْ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ، وَالشُّكْرُ لَهُ عَلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ: صَدَقْتَ، [ هَذَا ] هُوَ الْكَلَامُ بِعَيْنِهِ. وَقَدِمَ فِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ طَاهِرٍ مِنْ مَكَّةَ فِي صَفَرَ، فَشَكَا مَا نَالَهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ بِمَا وَقَعَ مِنِ الْخِلَافِ فِي يَوْمِ النَّحْرِ، فَأَمَرَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ بِإِنْفَاذِ خَرِيطَةٍ مِنَ الْبَابِ إِلَى أَهْلِ الْمَوْسِمِ بِرُؤْيَةِ هِلَالِ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ، وَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُقَامَ عَلَى الْمَشْعَرِ الْحَرَامِ، وَسَائِرِ الْمَشَاعِرِ، الشَّمْعُ مَكَانَ الزَّيْتِ وَالنِّفْطِ. وفاة أم المتوكل وَفِيهَا مَاتَتْ أُمُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ فِي شَهْرِ رَبِيعٍ الْآخِرِ، وَصَلَّى عَلَيْهَا الْمُنْتَصِرُ، وَدُفِنَتْ عِنْدَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْجَامِعِ، وَكَانَ مَوْتُهَا قَبْلَ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ بِسِتَّةِ أَشْهُرٍ. فَائِدَةٌ ثَمَانِيَةٌ سُلِّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِالْخِلَافَةِ وَكُلٌّ مِنْهُمْ أَبُوهُ خَلِيفَةٌ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ: (سُلِّمَ عَلَى الْمُتَوَكِّلِ بِالْخِلَافَةِ ثَمَانِيَةٌ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ أَبُوهُ خَلِيفَةٌ : مَنْصُورُ بْنُ الْمَهْدِيِّ، وَالْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ الْهَادِي، وَأَبُو أَحْمَدَ بْنُ الرَّشِيدِ، وَعَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْأَمِينِ، وَمُوسَى بْنُ الْمَأْمُونِ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْمُعْتَصِمِ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْوَاثِقِ، وَابْنُهُ الْمُنْتَصِرُ ). وَقَالَ الْمَسْعُودِيُّ: (لَا يُعْلَمُ أَحَدٌ مُتَقَدِّمٌ فِي جِدٍّ وَلَا هَزْلٍ... إِلَّا وَقَدْ حَظِيَ فِي دَوْلَتِهِ، وَوَصَلَ إِلَيْهِ نَصِيبٌ وَافِرٌ مِنَ الْمَالِ ). وَكَانَ مُنْهَمِكًا فِي اللَّذَّاتِ وَالشَّرَابِ، وَكَانَ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةُ آلَافٍ سُرِّيَةٍ وَطِئَ الْجَمِيعَ. إِكْرَامُ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ لِذِي النُّونِ الْمِصْرِيِّ وَفِي كِتَابِ «الْمِحَنِ» لِلسُّلَمِيِّ: (أَنَّ ذَا النُّونِ أَوَّلُ مَنْ تَكَلَّمَ بِمِصْرَ فِي تَرْتِيبِ الْأَحْوَالِ وَمَقَامَاتِ أَهْلِ الْوِلَايَةِ، فَأَنْكَرَ عَلَيْهِ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْحَكَمِ - وَكَانَ رَئِيسَ مِصْرَ وَمِنْ جُلَّةِ أَصْحَابِ مَالِكٍ - وَأَنَّهُ أَحْدَثَ عِلْمًا لَمْ يَتَكَلَّمْ فِيهِ السَّلَفُ، وَرَمَاهُ بِالزَّنْدَقَةِ، فَدَعَاهُ أَمِيرُ مِصْرَ وَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ اعْتِقَادِهِ، فَتَكَلَّمَ فَرْضِيَ أَمْرَهُ، وَكَتَبَ بِهِ إِلَى الْمُتَوَكِّلِ، فَأَمَرَ بِإِحْضَارِهِ، فَحُمِلَ عَلَى الْبَرِيدِ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ كَلَامَهُ... وَلِعَ بِهِ وَأَحَبَّهُ وَأَكْرَمَهُ، حَتَّى كَانَ يَقُولُ: إِذَا ذُكِرَ الصَّالِحُونَ فَحَيْهَلَا بِذِي النُّونِ ). وَصِيفَةٌ وَفِيَّةٌ لِلْمُتَوَكِّلِ وَكَانَ مِنْ حَظَايَاهُ: وَصِيفَةٌ تُسَمَّى مَحْبُوبَةَ، شَاعِرَةٌ عَالِمَةٌ بِصُنُوفِ الْعِلْمِ عَوَّادَةٌ، فَلَمَّا قُتِلَ... ضُمَّتْ إِلَى بُغَا الْكَبِيرِ، فَأَمَرَ بِهَا يَوْمًا لِلْمُنَادَمَةِ، فَجَلَسَتْ مُنْكَسِرَةً، فَقَالَ: (غَنِّي، فَاعْتَلَّتْ، فَأَقْسَمَ عَلَيْهَا وَأَمَرَ بِالْعُودِ، فَوُضِعَ فِي حِجْرِهَا فَغَنَّتِ ارْتِجَالًا: أَيُّ عَيْشٍ يَلَذُّ لِي لَا أَرَى فِيهِ جَعْفَرَا ؟ مَلِكٌ قَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ فِي نَجِيعٍ مُعَفَّرَا كُلُّ مَنْ كَانَ ذَا هُيَا مٍ وَسُقْمٍ فَقَدْ بَرَا غَيْرَ مَحْبُوبَةٍ الَّتِي لَوْ تَرَى الْمَوْتَ يُشْتَرَى لَاشْتَرَتْهُ بِمَا حَوَتْـ ـهُ يَدَاهَا لِتُقْبَرَا إِنَّ مَوْتَ الْحَزِينِ أَطْـ يَبُ، مِنْ أَنْ يُعَمَّرَا فَغَضِبَ بُغَا، وَأَمَرَ بِهَا فَسُجِنَتْ، فَكَانَ آخِرَ الْعَهْدِ بِهَا). الْمُتَوَكِّلُ وَوَزِيرُهُ عَاشَا مَعًا وَمَاتَا مَعًا وَمِنَ الْغَرِيبِ: أَنَّ الْمُتَوَكِّلَ قَالَ لِلْبُحْتُرِيِّ: (قُلْ فِيَّ شِعْرًا وَفِي الْفَتْحِ بْنِ خَاقَانَ; فَإِنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَحْيَا مَعِي، وَلَا أَفْقِدَهُ فَيَذْهَبَ عَيْشِي وَلَا يَفْقِدَنِي، فَقُلْ فِي هَذَا الْمَعْنَى، فَقَالَ: سَيِّدِي أَنْتَ كَيْفَ أَخْلَفْتَ وَعْدِي وَتَثَاقَلْتَ عَنْ وَفَاءٍ بِعَهْدِي ؟ لَا أَرَتْنِي الْأَيَّامُ فَقْدَكَ يَا فَتْـ ـحُ وَلَا عَرَّفَتْكَ مَا عِشْتَ فَقْدِي أَعْظَمُ الرُّزْءِ أَنْ تُقَدَّمَ قَبْلِي وَمِنَ الرُّزْءِ أَنْ تُؤَخَّرَ بَعْدِي حَذَرًا أَنْ تَكُونَ إِلْفًا لِغَيْرِي إِذْ تَفَرَّدْتُ بِالْهَوَى فِيكَ وَحْدِي فَقُتِلًا مَعًا; كَمَا تَقَدَّمَ. تَعْظِيمُ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ لِلْإِمَامِ الشَّافِعِيِّ وَتَمَذْهُبُهُ بِمَذْهَبِهِ وَأُخْرِجَ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ: (سَمِعَتُ الْمُتَوَكِّلَ يَقُولُ: وَاحْسَرَتِي عَلَى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِدْرِيسَ الشَّافِعِيِّ; كُنْتُ أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَكُونَ فِي أَيَّامِهِ، فَأَرَاهُ وَأُشَاهِدُهُ وَأَتَعَلَّمُ مِنْهُ; فَإِنِّي رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الْمَنَامِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: «يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ; إِنَّ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ إِدْرِيسَ الْمُطَّلِبِيَّ قَدْ صَارَ إِلَى - رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ - تَعَالَى، وَخَلَّفَ فِيكُمْ عِلْمًا حَسَنًا، فَاتَّبِعُوهُ... تُهْدَوْا»، ثُمَّ قَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ; ارْحَمْ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ إِدْرِيسَ رَحْمَةً وَاسِعَةً، وَسَهِّلْ عَلَيَّ حِفْظَ مَذْهَبِهِ، وَانْفَعْنِي بِذَلِكَ ). قُلْتُ: اسْتَفَدْنَا مِنْ هَذَا: أَنَّ الْمُتَوَكِّلَ كَانَ مُتَمَذْهِبًا بِمَذْهَبِ الشَّافِعِيِّ، وَهُوَ أَوَّلُ مَنْ تَمَذْهَبَ لَهُ مِنَ الْخُلَفَاءِ. جَزَاءُ الْهَمِّ بِالْخَيْرِ وَأُخْرِجَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْأَعْلَى بْنِ حَمَّادٍ النَّرْسِيِّ قَالَ: (دَخَلْتُ عَلَى الْمُتَوَكِّلِ فَقَالَ لِي: يَا أَبَا يَحْيَى; مَا أَبْطَأَ بِكَ عَنَّا ؟ مُنْذُ ثَلَاثٍ لَمْ نَرَكَ، كُنَّا هَمَمْنَا لَكَ بِشَيْءٍ فَصَرَفْنَاهُ إِلَى غَيْرِكَ. فَقُلْتُ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ; جَزَاكَ اللَّهُ عَنْ هَذَا الْهَمِّ خَيْرًا، أَلَا أَنْشُدُكَ بِهَذَا الْمَعْنَى بَيْتَيْنِ ؟ قَالَ: بَلَى، فَأَنْشَدْتُهُ: لَأَشْكُرَنَّكَ مَعْرُوفًا هَمَمْتُ بِهِ إِنَّ اهْتِمَامَكَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ مَعْرُوفُ وَلَا أَلُومُكَ إِذْ لَمْ يُمْضِهِ قَدَرٌ فَالرِّزْقُ بِالْقَدْرِ الْمَحْتُومِ مَصْرُوفُ فَأَمَرَ لِي بِأَلْفِ دِينَارٍ ). الْجَارِيَةُ الشَّاعِرَةُ وَالْمُتَوَكِّلُ وَأُخْرِجَ عَنْ أَبِي الْعَيْنَاءِ قَالَ: أُهْدِيَتْ إِلَى الْمُتَوَكِّلِ جَارِيَةٌ شَاعِرَةٌ، اسْمُهَا: فَضْلُ، فَقَالَ لَهَا: أَشَاعِرَةٌ أَنْتِ ؟ قَالَتْ: هَكَذَا زَعَمَ مَنْ بَاعَنِي وَاشْتَرَانِي، فَقَالَ: أَنْشِدِينَا شَيْئًا مِنْ شِعْرِكِ، فَأَنْشَدَتْهُ: اسْتَقْبَلَ الْمَلِكُ إِمَامَ الْهُدَى عَامَ ثَلَاثٍ وَثَلَاثِينَا خِلَافَةُ أَفْضَتْ إِلَى جَعْفَرٍ وَهُوَ ابْنُ سَبْعٍ بَعْدَ عِشْرِينَا إِنَّا لَنَرْجُوَ يَا إِمَامَ الْهُدَى أَنْ تَمْلِكَ الْمُلْكَ ثَمَانِينَا لَا قَدَّسَ اللَّهُ امْرَأً لَمْ يَقُلْ عِنْدَ دُعَائِي لَكَ: آمِينَا مَنَامَانِ تَوَافَقَا وَأُخْرِجَ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْجَهْمِ قَالَ: (أُهْدِيَ إِلَى الْمُتَوَكِّلِ جَارِيَةٌ يُقَالُ لَهَا: مَحْبُوبَةُ ، قَدْ نَشَأَتْ بِالطَّائِفِ، وَتَعَلَّمَتِ الْأَدَبَ، وَرَوَتِ الْأَشْعَارَ، فَأَغْرَى الْمُتَوَكِّلُ بِهَا، ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ غَضِبَ عَلَيْهَا، وَمَنَعَ جَوَارِيَ الْقَصْرِ مِنْ كَلَامِهَا، فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ يَوْمًا، فَقَالَ لِي: قَدْ رَأَيْتُ مَحْبُوبَةَ فِي مَنَامِي كَأَنِّي قَدْ صَالَحْتُهَا وَصَالَحَتْنِي، فَقُلْتُ: خَيْرًا يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. فَقَالَ: قُمْ بِنَا لِنَنْظُرَ مَا هِيَ عَلَيْهِ، فَقُمْنَا حَتَّى أَتَيْنَا حُجْرَتَهَا، فَإِذَا هِيَ تَضْرِبُ عَلَى الْعُودِ وَتَقُولُ: أَدُورُ فِي الْقَصْرِ لَا أَرَى أَحَدًا أَشْكُو إِلَيْهِ وَلَا يُكَلِّمُنِي حَتَّى كَأَنِّي أَتَيْتُ مَعْصِيَةً لَيْسَتْ لَهُ تَوْبَةٌ تُخَلِّصُنِي فَهَلْ شَفِيعٌ لَنَا إِلَى مَلِكٍ قَدْ زَارَنِي فِي الْكَرَى فَصَالَحَنِي ؟ حَتَّى إِذَا مَا الصَّبَاحُ لَاحَ لَنَا عَادَ إِلَى هَجْرِهِ فَصَارَمَنِي فَصَاحَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ، فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَيْهِ، فَأَكَبَّتْ عَلَى رِجْلَيْهِ تُقَبِّلُهُمَا، فَقَالَتْ: يَا سَيِّدِي؛ رَأَيْتُكَ فِي لَيْلَتِي هَذِهِ كَأَنَّكَ قَدْ صَالَحْتَنِي، قَالَ: وَأَنَا وَاللَّهِ قَدْ رَأَيْتُكِ، فَرَدَّهَا إِلَى مَرْتَبَتِهَا، فَلَمَّا قُتِلَ الْمُتَوَكِّلُ... صَارَتْ إِلَى بُغَا... وَذَكَرَ الْأَبْيَاتَ السَّابِقَةَ ). مَدْحُ الْبُحْتُرِيِّ لِلْمُتَوَكِّلِ فِي رَفْعِهِ لِلْمِحْنَةِ وَأُخْرِجَ عَنْ عَلِيٍّ الْبُحْتُرِيِّ يَمْدَحُ الْمُتَوَكِّلَ فِيمَا رَفَعَ مِنَ الْمِحْنَةِ، وَيَهْجُو ابْنَ أَبِي دُؤَادٍ بِقَوْلِهِ: أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَقَدْ شَكَرْنَا إِلَى أَيَّامِكَ الْغُرَّ الْحِسَانِ رَدَدْتَ الدِّينَ فَذًّا بَعْدَمَا قَدْ أَرَاهُ فِرْقَتَيْنِ تَخَاصَمَانِ قَصَمْتَ الظَّالِمِينَ بِكُلِّ أَرْضٍ فَأَضْحَى الظُّلْمُ مَجْهُولَ الْمَكَانِ وَفِي سَنَةٍ رَمَتْ مُتَجَبِّرِيهِمْ عَلَى قَدَرٍ بِدَاهِيَةٍ عَوَانِ فَمَا أَبْقَتْ مِنِ ابْنِ أَبِي دُؤَادٍ سِوَى جَسَدٍ يُخَاطِبُ بِالْمَعَانِي تَحَيَّرَ فِيهِ سَابُورُ بْنُ سَهْلٍ فَطَاوَلَهُ وَمَنَّاهُ الْأَمَانِي إِذَا أَصْحَابُهُ اصْطَحَبُوا بِلَيْلٍ أَطَالُوا الْخَوْضَ فِي خَلْقِ الْقُرَانِ حَدِيثٌ مُسَلْسَلٌ بِالْجُمَّةِ وَالْآبَاءِ وَالْخُلَفَاءِ وَقَالَ ابْنُ عَسَاكِرَ: قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْجَهْمِ قَالَ: كُنْتُ عِنْدَ الْمُتَوَكِّلِ، فَتَذَاكَرُوا عِنْدَهُ الْجَمَالَ، فَقَالَ: إِنَّ حُسْنَ الشَّعْرِ لَمِنَ الْجَمَالِ، وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: كَانَتْ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ جُمَّةٌ إِلَى شَحْمَةِ أُذُنَيْهِ، كَأَنَّهَا نِظَامُ اللُّؤْلُؤِ، وَكَانَ مِنْ أَجْمَلِ النَّاسِ، وَكَانَ أَسْمَرَ رَقِيقَ اللَّوْنِ، لَا بِالطَّوِيلِ وَلَا بِالْقَصِيرِ، وَكَانَ لِعَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ جُمَّةٌ إِلَى شَحْمَةِ أُذُنَيْهِ، وَكَانَ لِهَاشِمٍ جُمَّةٌ إِلَى شَحْمَةِ أُذُنَيْهِ ). قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْجَهْمِ: وَكَانَ لِلْمُتَوَكِّلِ جُمَّةٌ إِلَى شَحْمَةِ أُذُنَيْهِ، وَقَالَ لَنَا الْمُتَوَكِّلُ: كَانَ لِلْمُعْتَصِمِ جُمَّةٌ، وَكَذَلِكَ لِلْمَأْمُونِ، وَالرَّشِيدِ، وَالْمَهْدِيِّ، وَالْمَنْصُورِ، وَلِأَبِيهِ مُحَمَّدٍ، وَلِجَدِّهِ عَلِيٍّ، وَلِأَبِيهِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ. قُلْتُ: هَذَا الْحَدِيثُ مُسَلْسَلٌ مِنْ ثَلَاثَةِ أَوْجُهٍ: بِذِكْرِ الْجُمَّةِ، وَبِالْآبَاءِ، وَبِالْخُلَفَاءِ; فَفِي إِسْنَادِهِ سِتُّ خُلَفَاءَ.
Translation
✧ Then the year 247 AH began. The reason for the killing of al-Mutawakkil In this year al-Mutawakkil was killed. The reason for his killing was that he ordered documents to be drawn up confiscating Waṣīf’s estates in Iṣfahān and al-Jabal and granting them to al-Fatḥ b. Khāqān. They were written out and reached the seal. That reached Waṣīf. Al-Mutawakkil had wanted to lead the people in prayer on the first Friday of Ramaḍān, and word spread among the people, who gathered for that. The Banū Hāshim came out from Baghdad to present petitions and address him when he rode. When Friday came and he intended to ride out for the prayer, ʿUbayd Allāh b. Yaḥyā and al-Fatḥ b. Khāqān said to him: “The people—of your own family and others—have become many; some seek redress, and some seek a need. The Commander of the Faithful complains of tightness in the chest and an ailment. If the Commander of the Faithful sees fit to order one of the heirs apparent to lead the prayer, while we accompany him, let him do so.” So he ordered al-Muntaṣir to lead the prayer. When he rose to ride, the two said to him: “O Commander of the Faithful, if you see fit to order al-Muʿtazz to lead the prayer, the people have gathered so that you may honor him with that, and God has brought it about.” Before that al-Muʿtazz had had a son born. So he ordered al-Muʿtazz, who rode out and led the people in prayer. Al-Muntaṣir stayed in his residence at al-Jaʿfariyya, and that increased his resentment. When al-Muʿtazz finished his sermon, ʿUbayd Allāh and al-Fatḥ b. Khāqān rose to him and kissed his hands and feet. When he finished the prayer he departed with the people in the caliphal procession until he entered upon his father, and they praised him in his presence, which pleased him. When the Feast of Breaking the Fast came, he said: “Tell al-Muntaṣir to lead the people in prayer.” ʿUbayd Allāh said to him: “The people were looking forward to seeing the Commander of the Faithful, and they gathered in large numbers for that, yet he did not ride out. If he does not ride out today, one cannot be sure that the people will not spread rumors of his illness. So if the Commander of the Faithful sees fit to gladden his friends and humble his enemies by riding out, let him do so.” So he rode out, with the people drawn up for him for about four miles, and they dismounted before him. He prayed and returned, took a handful of dust, placed it on his head, and said: “I saw the great number of this gathering and saw them under my authority, and I wished to humble myself before God.” On the third day he was bled, and he craved camel meat and ate it. Ibn al-Ḥafṣī and others were present with him, and they ate before him. He said: “There was no day more delightful than that day.” He summoned his boon companions and singers, and they attended. The mother of al-Muʿtazz sent him as a gift a green silk-brocade garment the like of which people had never seen. He looked at it long and greatly marveled at it. He ordered it cut in two and returned it to her, and said to her messenger: “By God, my soul tells me that I shall not wear it, and I would not like anyone after me to wear it. For this reason I ordered it torn.” He said: We said: “We seek refuge for you in God from saying such a thing.” He said: He began drinking and diversion, and insisted on saying: “By God, I shall soon part from you!” He continued in his diversion and delight until nightfall. He and al-Fatḥ had resolved to attack al-Muntaṣir, Waṣīf, Bughā, and other commanders of the Turks the following morning. Al-Muntaṣir had already arranged with the Turks, Waṣīf, and others to kill al-Mutawakkil. The day before, al-Mutawakkil had greatly mistreated his son al-Muntaṣir: at times reviling him, at times giving him more wine than he could bear, at times ordering him slapped, and at times threatening him with death. Then he said to al-Fatḥ: “I renounce God and my kinship with the Messenger of God ﷺ if you do not slap him”—meaning al-Muntaṣir. So he rose to him and slapped him twice, then passed his hand over the back of his neck. Then he said to those present: “All of you bear witness against me that I have deposed al-Mustaʿjal”—meaning al-Muntaṣir. Then he turned to him and said: “I named you al-Muntaṣir, but because of your stupidity the people called you al-Muntaẓar; now you have become al-Mustaʿjal.” Al-Muntaṣir said: “If you ordered my neck struck, it would be easier for me than what you are doing to me.” He said: “Give him to drink.” Then he ordered supper, and it was brought in the middle of the night. Al-Muntaṣir left his presence and ordered Banān, the slave of Aḥmad b. Yaḥyā, to follow him. He took Zarāfa the chamberlain by the hand and said to him: “Come with me!” He said: “The Commander of the Faithful has not slept.” He said: “The nabīdh has taken hold of him, and shortly Bughā and the boon companions will leave. I wished you to commit your son’s affair to me, for Ūtāmish asked me to marry his son to your daughter and your son to his daughter.” He said: “We are your slaves, so command as you wish.” So he went with him to a chamber there, and they ate food. They heard the clamor and shouting and rose, and there was Bughā, who had met al-Muntaṣir. Al-Muntaṣir said: “What is this?” He said: “Good, O Commander of the Faithful.” He said: “What are you saying, woe to you?” He said: “May God magnify your reward for our master, the Commander of the Faithful. ʿAbd Allāh summoned him, and he answered.” Al-Muntaṣir sat down and ordered the door of the room in which al-Mutawakkil was killed to be locked, and all the doors were locked. He sent to Waṣīf ordering him to bring al-Muʿtazz and al-Muʾayyad on the strength of a message from al-Mutawakkil. The manner of al-Mutawakkil’s killing As for the manner of al-Mutawakkil’s killing: when al-Muntaṣir left, al-Mutawakkil called for the table. Bughā the Younger, known as al-Sharābī, was standing by the curtain. That day was the turn of Bughā the Elder, whose son Mūsā was his deputy in the palace; Mūsā was the son of al-Mutawakkil’s maternal aunt. That day his father was at Sumaysāṭ. Bughā the Younger entered the assembly and ordered the boon companions to withdraw to their chambers. Al-Fatḥ said to him: “This is not the time for them to withdraw; the Commander of the Faithful has not risen.” Bughā said: “The Commander of the Faithful ordered me that when he exceeds seven, I should leave no one. He has drunk fourteen raṭls, and the Commander of the Faithful’s women are behind the curtain.” He made them leave, and no one remained except al-Fatḥ, ʿAthʿath, four special servants, and Abū Aḥmad b. al-Mutawakkil, who was al-Muʾayyad’s maternal brother. Bughā al-Sharābī had locked all the doors except the river gate, and through it the men who killed him entered. Abū Aḥmad saw them and said: “What is this, you base fellows?”—and there were drawn swords. When al-Mutawakkil heard Abū Aḥmad’s voice, he raised his head, saw them, and said: “What is this, Bughā?” He said: “These are the men of the watch.” They fell back behind them at his words; Wājin and his companions and Waṣīf’s sons had not been present with them. Bughā said to them: “You base fellows! You are doomed to die no matter what, so die honorably!” They returned, and Baghlūn rushed at him first and struck him on the shoulder and ear, cutting him. He said: “Gently! May God cut off your hand!” He tried to spring at him, and faced him with his hand, and he struck it and severed it. Bāghir joined him. Al-Fatḥ said: “Woe to you! The Commander of the Faithful…” and threw himself upon al-Mutawakkil, and they stabbed him with their swords. He cried: “Death!” and moved aside, and they killed him. They had told Waṣīf to be present with them, and said: “We are afraid.” He said: “No harm will come to you.” They said to him: “Send some of your sons with us.” So he sent five of his sons with them: Ṣāliḥ, Aḥmad, ʿAbd Allāh, Naṣr, and ʿUbayd Allāh. It was said that when the men entered, ʿAthʿath saw them and said to al-Mutawakkil: “We have finished with the lion, the snakes, and the scorpions, and have come to the swords.” That was because he had sometimes amused himself with a snake, a scorpion, and a lion. When ʿAthʿath mentioned swords, he said: “Woe to you! What swords?” Before he finished speaking, they entered upon him and killed him, killed al-Fatḥ, and went out to al-Muntaṣir. They greeted him as caliph and said: “The Commander of the Faithful has died.” They stood over Zarāfa with swords and said: “Swear allegiance!” And he did. Al-Muntaṣir sent to Waṣīf: “Al-Fatḥ killed my father, so I killed him. Come with your companions.” He and his companions attended and swore allegiance. ʿUbayd Allāh b. Yaḥyā was in his chamber conducting affairs without knowing; Jaʿfar b. Ḥāmid was before him when one of the servants appeared and said: “What keeps you while the palace is a single drawn sword?” He ordered Jaʿfar to investigate; he went out and returned and informed him that al-Mutawakkil and al-Fatḥ had been killed. He went out with the servants and close associates he had, and was told that the doors were locked. He headed toward the riverbank, and found its doors locked. He ordered three doors broken, went out to the riverbank, boarded a skiff, and came to al-Muʿtazz’s residence. He asked for him and did not find him. He said: “Truly we belong to God, and to Him we return. He has killed himself and killed me.” On Wednesday morning al-Mutawakkil’s companions gathered to ʿUbayd Allāh—from the abnāʾ, the Persians, the security forces, the zawāqīl, and others—and were about ten thousand; it was said they were thirteen thousand; it was said between five thousand and ten thousand. They said: “You have prepared us only for this day, so command us as you will, and permit us to attack the people and kill al-Muntaṣir and those with him.” He refused and said: “Al-Muʿtazz is in their hands.” It was mentioned on the authority of ʿAlī b. Yaḥyā the astrologer that he said: I was reading to al-Mutawakkil, a few days before his killing, a book from the books of battles and tribulations. I came to a passage stating that the tenth caliph would be killed in his assembly. I paused in reading it. He said: “What is the matter with you?” I said: “Nothing but good.” He said: “You must read it.” So I read it, and it spoke of the mention of the caliphs. He said: “Would that I knew who this wretch who is to be killed is.” Abū al-Wārith, the judge of Naṣībīn, said: “I saw in a dream someone coming and saying: O you whose eye sleeps in the body of one awake, what is the matter with your eye that it does not weep with pouring tears? Have you not seen what the turns of time have done to the Hāshimite and to al-Fatḥ b. Khāqān?” A few days later the courier came with news of their killing. His killing took place on the night of Wednesday, four nights having passed of Shawwāl; it was said, on Thursday night. His name and lineage Jaʿfar b. al-Muʿtaṣim b. Hārūn al-Rashīd b. Muḥammad al-Mahdī b. Abī Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr ʿAbd Allāh b. Muḥammad b. ʿAlī b. ʿAbd Allāh b. al-ʿAbbās, Abū al-Faḍl al-Mutawakkil. His mother was an umm walad called Shujāʿ, and she was among the noblest of women in generosity and resolution. He was born at Fam al-Ṣilḥ in the year 207 AH and was given the oath of allegiance as caliph after his brother al-Wāthiq on Wednesday, six nights remaining of Dhū al-Ḥijja, in the year 232 AH, as previously mentioned. His merits and qualities On the authority of Jarīr b. ʿAbd Allāh, from the Prophet ﷺ, who said: “Whoever is deprived of gentleness is deprived of good.” Then al-Mutawakkil began to say: Gentleness is blessing, and deliberateness is happiness; so act with gentleness and you will meet success. There is no good in firmness without reflection; and doubt is weakness if you desire a clear path. Al-Ḥāfiẓ Ibn ʿAsākir said in his Taʾrīkh: He transmitted from his father al-Muʿtaṣim and Yaḥyā b. Aktham the judge. Transmitted from him were ʿAlī b. al-Jahm the poet and Hishām b. ʿAmmār al-Dimashqī. He came to Damascus during his caliphate and built there a palace in the land of Dārayyā. One day he said to some of his men: “The caliphs used to deal harshly with the subjects so that they would obey them, but I treat them gently so that they will love me and obey me.” Aḥmad b. Marwān al-Mālikī said: Aḥmad b. ʿAlī al-Baṣrī related to us, saying: Al-Mutawakkil sent for Aḥmad b. al-Muʿadhdhal and other scholars, gathered them in his house, then came out to them. All the people rose to him except Aḥmad b. al-Muʿadhdhal. Al-Mutawakkil said to ʿUbayd Allāh: “Does this man not acknowledge our oath of allegiance?” He said: “Yes, O Commander of the Faithful, but there is something wrong with his eyesight.” Aḥmad b. al-Muʿadhdhal said: “O Commander of the Faithful, there is nothing wrong with my eyesight, but I spared you from God’s punishment. The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Whoever loves that men stand up for him, let him take his seat in the Fire.’” Al-Mutawakkil came and sat down beside him. Ibn ʿAsākir related on the authority of ʿAlī b. al-Jahm, who said: Qabīḥa, al-Mutawakkil’s concubine, stood before him having written with ghāliya perfume on her cheek: “Jaʿfar.” He considered that, then began to say: O one writing on the cheek with musk “Jaʿfar”—my soul be ransom for the place the musk touched. If you have entrusted a line of musk to your cheek, you have entrusted lines of love to my heart. O you whose secret desire is Jaʿfar—may God water with the water of your front teeth Jaʿfar! O you who owns a slave by the right hand of possession, obedient to him in what he conceals and what he reveals. He said: Then al-Mutawakkil ordered ʿArīb, and she sang it. The people’s love for al-Mutawakkil Al-Mutawakkil was beloved by his subjects, upholding the Sunnah among them. Some compared him to al-Ṣiddīq in his response to the apostates until they returned to the religion, and to ʿUmar b. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz when he restored the injustices of the Umayyads. He made the Sunnah manifest after innovation, and extinguished innovation after it had spread and become famous. May God have mercy on him. Someone saw him in a dream after his death, seated in light, and said: “Al-Mutawakkil?!” He said: “Al-Mutawakkil.” He said: “What did your Lord do with you?” He said: “He forgave me.” I said: “For what?” He said: “For a little of the Sunnah that I revived.” Al-Khaṭīb related on the authority of Ṣāliḥ b. Aḥmad that on the night al-Mutawakkil died he saw in his dream as if a man were ascending with him to heaven, and someone was saying: A king led to a just, gracious King, generous in pardon, not tyrannical. It was related on the authority of ʿAmr b. Shaybān al-Ḥalabī, who said: On the night al-Mutawakkil was killed I saw someone saying: O you whose eye sleeps in the limbs of a body—pour out your tears, O ʿAmr b. Shaybān! Do you not see what the impure young men did to the Hāshimite and to al-Fatḥ b. Khāqān? He came to God wronged, and the people of the heavens cried out for him, in pairs and singly. Another marked one will come to you—expect it; it is a matter of great import. Weep for Jaʿfar and lament your caliph, for all humankind and jinn have wept for him. He said: In the morning I informed the people, and then news of his death came that he had been killed that night. It was mentioned that Abū al-Simṭ Marwān b. Abī al-Janūb said: I recited to al-Mutawakkil poetry in which I mentioned the Rāfiḍa. He appointed me over al-Baḥrayn and al-Yamāma, bestowed on me four robes of honor, al-Muntaṣir also bestowed one, and al-Mutawakkil ordered three thousand dinars for me, which were scattered over me. He ordered his son al-Muntaṣir and Saʿd al-Ītākhī to pick them up for me, and they did. The poem I recited was: The reign of the Caliph Jaʿfar is peace for religion and the world. To you belongs the inheritance of Muḥammad, and by your justice darkness is dispelled. The sons of daughters hope for the inheritance, but they have no share in it. The son-in-law is not an heir, nor does the daughter inherit the imamate. Those who falsely claimed your inheritance have nothing but regret. Its rightful owners took the inheritance, so why do you blame them? Had it been your right, the resurrection would not have been established over the people. The inheritance is not for other than you, no, by God, and no honor! I have become among your lovers and those who hate you a sign. Then he scattered upon me, after that, for poetry I composed on this meaning, ten thousand dirhams. Yaḥyā b. Aktham said: I attended al-Mutawakkil, and mention of al-Maʾmūn came up between me and him. I spoke at length in praising him, commending him, and describing his virtues, his knowledge, and his discernment, without it being in agreement with those present. Al-Mutawakkil said: "How did he used to speak about the Qurʾān?" I said: "He used to say: 'Along with the Qurʾān there is no need for any obligatory (revealed) knowledge; along with the Sunnah there is no need to follow any person's conduct; along with clarity and understanding there is no argument for learning; and after rejecting the proof and the truth there is nothing but the sword, for the manifestation of the proof.'" Al-Mutawakkil said: "I did not mean what you went to." Yaḥyā said: "Speaking of the virtues of the absent is obligatory upon one who has received a blessing." He said: "Then what did he used to say in the course of his speech? For the Commander of the Faithful al-Muʿtaṣim billāh, may God have mercy on him, used to say it, and I have forgotten it." He said: "He used to say: 'O God, I praise You for blessings which none other than You can count, and I ask Your forgiveness for sins which nothing but Your pardon can encompass.'" He said: "And what did he used to say when he admired something or was given good news? We have forgotten it." Yaḥyā said: "He used to say: 'Indeed, mentioning God's bounties and their abundance, recounting His favors, and speaking of them is an obligation from God upon those who have them, obedience to His command concerning them, and gratitude to Him for them. So praise be to God, the Mighty in bounties, the Abundant in blessings, with the praise He is worthy of and deserves—the praise that fulfills His right, reaches His gratitude, prevents any other from being thanked, and obligates His increase—for what our counting cannot enumerate and our remembrance cannot encompass of His successive favors, His continuous grace, and His enduring generosity; the praise of one who knows that all that is from Him, and gratitude to Him for it.'" Then al-Mutawakkil said: "You have spoken truly; this is the very wording." In this year Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh b. Ṭāhir arrived from Makkah in Ṣafar and complained of the distress he suffered because of the disagreement on the Day of Sacrifice. Al-Mutawakkil ordered a written decree to be sent from the court to the people of the pilgrimage season regarding the sighting of the crescent of Dhū al-Ḥijjah, and he ordered that candles be placed at al-Mashʿar al-Ḥarām and the other sacred sites in place of oil and naphtha. The death of al-Mutawakkil's mother In this year al-Mutawakkil's mother died in the month of Rabīʿ al-Ākhir. Al-Muntaṣir prayed over her, and she was buried by the congregational mosque. Her death was six months before al-Mutawakkil's. A note Eight who were greeted with the caliphate, each of whose father was a caliph Some said: "Al-Mutawakkil was greeted with the caliphate by eight, each one of whose father was a caliph: Manṣūr b. al-Mahdī, al-ʿAbbās b. al-Hādī, Abū Aḥmad b. al-Rashīd, ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Amīn, Mūsā b. al-Maʾmūn, Aḥmad b. al-Muʿtaṣim, Muḥammad b. al-Wāthiq, and his son al-Muntaṣir." Al-Masʿūdī said: "No one is known, whether in earnest or in jest, who did not enjoy a share in his state and receive an ample portion of wealth." He was absorbed in pleasures and drink, and he had four thousand concubines, all of whom he had sexual relations with. Al-Mutawakkil's honoring of Dhū al-Nūn al-Miṣrī In the book "Al-Miḥan" by al-Sulamī: "Dhū al-Nūn was the first in Egypt to speak about the ordering of spiritual states and the stations of the saints. ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿAbd al-Ḥakam—who was the chief of Egypt and among the foremost companions of Mālik—denounced him, saying that he had introduced a science that the early generations had not discussed, and accused him of heresy. The governor of Egypt summoned him and asked him about his creed; he spoke, and the governor was satisfied with him and wrote about him to al-Mutawakkil, who ordered that he be brought. He was transported by post. When al-Mutawakkil heard his words, he became fond of him, loved him, and honored him, so much so that he used to say: 'When the righteous are mentioned, then hail to Dhū al-Nūn.'" A loyal slave-girl of al-Mutawakkil Among his concubines was a slave-girl named Maḥbūbah, a poetess learned in various branches of knowledge and a lute-player. When he was killed, she was transferred to Bughā al-Kabīr. One day he ordered her to be present for a drinking session; she sat downcast. He said: "Sing." She made an excuse, but he swore at her and ordered the lute to be brought. It was placed in her lap, and she sang extemporaneously: "What life can be pleasant to me when I do not see Jaʿfar in it? A king whom I saw in gore, covered with dust. Everyone who had desires and sickness has been cured, except Maḥbūbah, who, if she saw death for sale, would buy it with all that her hands possess, so that she might be buried. Indeed, the death of a sorrowful one is sweeter than to live long." Bughā became angry and ordered her imprisoned, and that was the last time she was seen. Al-Mutawakkil and his vizier lived together and died together Among strange things: Al-Mutawakkil said to al-Buḥturī: "Compose poetry about me and about al-Fatḥ b. Khāqān, for I love that he live with me, and I do not want to lose him so that my life would go away, nor that he lose me. Compose on this meaning." So he said: "My master, how have you broken my promise and become slow in fulfilling my covenant? May the days never show me your loss, O Fatḥ, nor, as long as I live, make you know my loss. The greatest calamity is that you go before me, and a calamity is that you be delayed after me, for fear that you become a companion to another when I am alone in my passion for you." And they were killed together, as mentioned earlier. Al-Mutawakkil's veneration of Imam al-Shāfiʿī and his adoption of his school It is reported from Hishām b. ʿAmmār that he said: "I heard al-Mutawakkil say: 'Alas, my grief for Muḥammad b. Idrīs al-Shāfiʿī! I would have loved to be in his days, to see him, observe him, and learn from him. For I saw the Messenger of God ﷺ in a dream, saying: "O people, Muḥammad b. Idrīs al-Muṭṭalibī has gone to the mercy of God, exalted be He, and left among you good knowledge; follow it and you will be guided." Then he said: "O God, have abundant mercy on Muḥammad b. Idrīs, make it easy for me to memorize his school, and benefit me thereby."' I say: We benefit from this that al-Mutawakkil adhered to the school of al-Shāfiʿī, and he was the first of the caliphs to follow his school. The reward of concern for good It is reported from ʿAbd al-Aʿlā b. Ḥammād al-Narsī that he said: "I entered upon al-Mutawakkil, and he said to me: 'O Abū Yaḥyā, what delayed you from us? We have not seen you for three days. We had intended something for you but diverted it to another.' I said: 'O Commander of the Faithful, may God reward you well for this concern. May I recite to you two verses on this meaning?' He said: 'Yes.' So I recited: 'I will surely thank you for a kindness you intended; indeed, your concern for kindness is itself a kindness. And I do not blame you if fate did not carry it out, for provision is diverted by the decreed destiny.' He ordered for me a thousand dinars." The poetess slave-girl and al-Mutawakkil It is reported from Abū al-ʿAynāʾ that he said: "A poetess slave-girl named Faḍl was gifted to al-Mutawakkil. He said to her: 'Are you a poetess?' She said: 'So claimed the one who sold me and the one who bought me.' He said: 'Recite to us something of your poetry.' So she recited to him: 'The king, the Imam of guidance, received the caliphate in the year thirty-three. The caliphate passed to Jaʿfar, and he is twenty-seven years old. We hope, O Imam of guidance, that you will rule for eighty years. May God not sanctify a person who does not say "Amen" to my prayer for you.' Two dreams that corresponded It is reported from ʿAlī b. al-Jahm that he said: "A slave-girl named Maḥbūbah was gifted to al-Mutawakkil. She had grown up in al-Ṭāʾif, learned literature, and transmitted poetry. Al-Mutawakkil became infatuated with her. Then he became angry with her and forbade the slave-girls of the palace from speaking to her. One day I entered upon him, and he said to me: 'I saw Maḥbūbah in my sleep, as if I had reconciled with her and she with me.' I said: 'Good, O Commander of the Faithful.' He said: 'Come with us, let us see how she is.' So we went until we came to her room, and there she was playing the lute and saying: 'I wander in the palace, seeing no one to whom I can complain, and no one speaks to me, so much so that it is as if I had committed a sin for which no repentance can save me. Is there an intercessor for us to a king who visited me in sleep and reconciled with me? But when morning appeared to us, he returned to his abandonment and cut me off.' Al-Mutawakkil cried out, and she came out to him and fell upon his feet, kissing them. She said: 'O my master, I saw you last night as if you had reconciled with me.' He said: 'And I, by God, saw you.' So he restored her to her position. When al-Mutawakkil was killed, she passed to Bughā, and the aforementioned verses were mentioned." Al-Buḥturī's praise of al-Mutawakkil for ending the inquisition It is reported that ʿAlī al-Buḥturī praised al-Mutawakkil for ending the inquisition and satirized Ibn Abī Duʾād with his words: "O Commander of the Faithful, we have been grateful to your radiant, beautiful days. You restored the religion as a single whole after it had become two factions disputing. You crushed the oppressors in every land, so oppression became of unknown location. In a year that threw down their tyrants, by fate, with a middle-aged calamity, it left nothing of Ibn Abī Duʾād except a body speaking by signs. Sābūr b. Sahl was bewildered by him, so he prolonged his treatment and gave him false hopes. When his companions gathered at night, they prolonged the discussion about the createdness of the Qurʾān." A ḥadīth connected through a lock of hair, fathers, and caliphs Ibn ʿAsākir said: ʿAlī b. al-Jahm said: "I was with al-Mutawakkil, and they mentioned beauty in his presence. He said: 'Indeed, good hair is part of beauty.' And from Ibn ʿAbbās: 'The Messenger of God ﷺ had a lock of hair reaching to the lobe of his ears, as if it were a string of pearls. He was among the most handsome of people, and he was brown-skinned with a fine complexion, neither tall nor short. ʿAbd al-Muṭṭalib had a lock of hair reaching to his earlobes, and Hāshim had a lock of hair reaching to his earlobes.'" ʿAlī b. al-Jahm said: "Al-Mutawakkil had a lock of hair reaching to his earlobes." And al-Mutawakkil said to us: "Al-Muʿtaṣim had a lock of hair, and likewise al-Maʾmūn, al-Rashīd, al-Mahdī, al-Manṣūr, his father Muḥammad, his grandfather ʿAlī, and his father ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿAbbās." I say: This ḥadīth is connected in three ways: by the mention of the lock of hair, by the fathers, and by the caliphs; in its chain are six caliphs.
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