Tarikh (al-Tabari) 3663
The death of Isma'il b. Ahmad al-Samani and the succession of his son Ahmad
طَرَفٍ مِنْ سِيرَةِ الْمُقْتَدِرِ بِاللَّهِ كَانَ سَخِيًّا جَوَادًا، وَكَانَ يَصْرِفُ إِلَى الْحَرَمَيْنِ وَفِي طَرِيقِهِمَا فِي كُلِّ سَنَةٍ ثَلَاثَمِائَةِ أَلْفٍ وَخَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ أَلْفًا وَأَرْبَعَمِائَةٍ [وَسِتَّةً] وَعِشْرِينَ دِينَارًا وَكَانَ يُجْرِي عَلَى الْقُضَاةِ فِي الْمَمَالِكِ سِتَّةً وَخَمْسِينَ أَلْفًا، وَخَمْسَمِائَةٍ وَتِسْعَةً وَسِتِّينَ دِينَارًا. وَكَانَ يُجْرِي عَلَى مَنْ يَتَوَلَّى الْحِسْبَةَ وَالْمَظَالِمَ فِي [جَمِيعِ الْبِلَادِ] أَرْبَعَمِائَةٍ وَثَلَاثِينَ أَلْفًا وَأَرْبَعَمِائَةٍ وَتِسْعَةً وَثَلَاثِينَ دِينَارًا. وَعَلَى أَصْحَابِ الْبَرِيدِ تِسْعَةً وَسَبْعِينَ أَلْفًا وَأَرْبَعَمِائَةِ [دِينَارٍ]، وَكَانَ يَصُومُ كَثِيرًا، وَيَتَنَقَّلُ بِالصَّلَاةِ كَثِيرًا، وَكَانَ فِي دَارِهِ عَشَرَةُ آلَافِ خَادِمٍ خَصِيٍّ غَيْرَ الصَّقَالِبَةِ وَالرُّومِ وَالسُّودَانِ، وَكَانَ مُجْمَلُهُ وَافِرًا، وَلَمَّا بَعَثَ مَلِكُ الرُّومِ رَسُولَهُ زَيْنَ الدَّارِ وَالْبَلَدِ وَسَنَذْكُرُ مَا جَرَى فِي سَنَةِ خَمْسٍ وَثَلَاثِمِائَةٍ. وَكَانَ جَوَاهِرُ الْأَكَاسِرِ وَغَيْرُهُمْ مِنَ الْمُلُوكِ قَدْ صَارَتْ إِلَى بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ، ثُمَّ صَارَتْ إِلَى السَّفَّاحِ، ثُمَّ إِلَى الْمَنْصُورِ، وَاشْتَرَى الْمَهْدِيُّ [الْفَصَّ] الْمَعْرُوفَ بِالْجَبَلِ بِثَلَاثِمِائَةِ أَلْفِ دِينَارٍ وَاشْتَرَى الرَّشِيدُ جَوْهَرَهُ بِأَلْفِ أَلْفِ دِينَارٍ، وَلَمْ يَزَلِ الْخُلَفَاءُ يَحْفَظُونَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى أَنْ آلَتِ الْخِلَافَةُ إِلَى الْمُقْتَدِرِ، وَهُنَاكَ مَا لَمْ يُرَ مِثْلُهُ، وَفِيهِ الدُّرَّةُ الْيَتِيمَةُ زِنْتُهَا ثَلَاثَةُ مَثَاقِيلَ، فَبَسَطَ فِيهِ الْمُقْتَدِرُ يَدَهُ وَوَهَبَ بَعْضَهُ لِصَافِي الْحَرَمِيِّ وَوَجَّهَ مِنْهُ إِلَى وَزِيرِهِ الْعَبَّاسِ فَرَدَّهُ، وَقَالَ: هَذَا الْجَوْهَرُ عُدَّةُ الْخِلَافَةِ وَلَا يَصْلُحُ أَنْ يُفَرَّقَ، وَكَانَتْ زَيْدَانُ الْقَهْرَمَانَةُ مُتَمَكِّنَةً مِنَ الْجَوْهَرِ، فَأَخَذَتْ سُبْحَةً لَمْ يُرَ مِثْلُهَا وَكَانَ يُضْرَبُ بِهَا الْمَثَلُ، فَيُقَالُ: سُبْحَةُ زَيْدَانَ، فَلَمَّا وَزَرَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ عِيسَى قَالَ لِلْمُقْتَدِرِ: مَا فَعَلَتْ سُبْحَةُ جَوْهَرٍ قِيمَتُهَا ثَلَاثُونَ أَلْفَ دِينَارٍ أُخِذَتْ مِنِ ابْنِ الْجَصَّاصِ؟ فَقَالَ: فِي الْخِزَانَةِ فَقَالَ: تُطْلَبُ، فَطُلِبَتْ فَلَمْ تُوجَدْ فَأَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ كُمِّهِ، وَقَالَ: إِذَا كَانَتْ خِزَانَةُ الْجَوْهَرِ لَا تُحْفَظُ فَمَا الَّذِي يُحْفَظُ؟ وَقَالَ: عُرِضَتْ عَلَيَّ فَاشْتَرَيْتُهَا، فَاشْتَدَّ ذَلِكَ عَلَى الْمُقْتَدِرِ، ثُمَّ امْتَدَّتْ يَدُ الْخِزَانَةِ فِي أَيَّامِ الْقَاهِرِ وَالرَّاضِي إِلَى خَزَائِنِ الْجَوْهَرِ فَلَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ. وعن أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَنْبَارِيُّ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ دَلَوَيْهِ الْكَاتِبَ يَحْكِي عَنْ صَافِي الْحَرَمِيِّ مَوْلَى الْمُعْتَضِدِ، قَالَ: مَشَيْتُ يَوْمًا بَيْنَ يَدَيِ الْمُعْتَضِدِ وَهُوَ يُرِيدُ دُورَ الْحَرَمِ، فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ إِلَى بَابِ شَغَبَ أُمِّ الْمُقْتَدِرِ وَقَفَ يَتَسَمَّعُ وَيَطَّلِعُ مِنْ خَلَلٍ فِي السِّتْرِ، فَإِذَا هُوَ بِالْمُقْتَدِرِ وَلَهُ إِذْ ذَاكَ خَمْسُ سِنِينَ أَوْ نَحْوِهَا، وَهُوَ جَالِسٌ وَحَوَالَيْهِ مِقْدَارُ عَشْرٍ وَصَائِفٌ مِنْ أَقْرَانِهِ فِي السِّنِّ، وَبَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ طَبَقٌ فِيهِ عُنْقُودُ عِنَبٍ فِي وَقْتٍ الْعِنَبُ فِيهِ عَزِيزٌ جِدًّا، وَالصَّبِيُّ يَأْكُلُ عِنَبَةً وَاحِدَةً، ثُمَّ يُطْعِمُ الْجَمَاعَةَ عِنَبَةً عِنَبَةً عَلَى الدَّوْرِ حَتَّى إِذَا بَلَغَ الدَّوْرُ إِلَيْهِ أَكَلَ وَاحِدَةً مِثْلَ مَا أَكَلُوا حَتَّى فَرَغَ الْعُنْقُودُ، وَالْمُعْتَضِدُ يَتَمَيَّزُ غَيْظًا فَرَجَعَ وَلَمْ يَدْخُلِ الدَّارَ وَرَأَيْتُهُ مَهْمُومًا فَقُلْتُ [لَهُ]: يَا مَوْلَايَ مَا سَبَبُ مَا فَعَلْتَهُ وَمَا قَدْ بَانَ عَلَيْكَ؟ فَقَالَ: وَاللَّهُ يَا صَافِي، لَوْلَا النَّارُ وَالْعَارُ لَقَتَلْتُ هَذَا الصَّبِيَّ الْيَوْمَ فَإِنَّ فِي قَتْلِهِ صَلَاحًا لِلْأُمَّةِ. فَقُلْتُ: يَا مَوْلَايَ حَاشَاهُ أَيُّ شَيْءٍ؟ أُعِيذُكَ بِاللَّهِ يَا مَوْلَايَ الْعَنْ إِبْلِيسَ! فَقَالَ: وَيْحَكَ أَنَا أَبْصَرُ بِمَا أَقُولُ، أَنَا رَجُلٌ قَدْ سُسْتُ الْأُمُورَ وَأَصْلَحْتُ الدُّنْيَا بَعْدَ فَسَادٍ شَدِيدٍ، وَلَا بُدَّ مِنْ مَوْتِي، وَأَعْلَمُ أَنَّ النَّاسَ بَعْدِي لَا يَخْتَارُونَ غَيْرَ وَلَدِي وَسَيُجْلِسُونَ ابْنِي عَلِيًّا - يَعْنِي الْمُكْتَفِيَ - وَمَا أَظُنُّ عُمْرُهُ يَطُولُ لِلْعِلَّةِ الَّتِي بِهِ - يَعْنِي الْخَنَازِيرَ الَّتِي [كَانَتْ] فِي حَلْقِهِ - فَيَتْلَفُ عَنْ قَرِيبٍ وَلَا يَرَى النَّاسُ إِخْرَاجَهَا عَنْ وَلَدِي وَلَا يَجِدُونَ بَعْدَهُ أَكْبَرَ مِنْ جَعْفَرٍ فَيُجْلِسُونَهُ وَهُوَ صَبِيٌّ، وَلَهُ مِنَ الطَّبْعِ فِي السَّخَاءِ هَذَا الَّذِي [قَدْ] رَأَيْتَ [مِنْ] أَنَّهُ يُطْعِمُ الصِّبْيَانَ مِثْلَ مَا أَكَلَ، وَسَاوَى بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَهُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ عَزِيزٍ فِي الْعَالَمِ، وَالشُّحُّ عَلَى مِثْلِهِ فِي طِبَاعِ الصِّبْيَانِ فَتَحْتَوِي عَلَيْهِ النِّسَاءُ لِقُرْبِ عَهْدِهِ بِهِنَّ، فَيَقْسِمُ مَا جَمَعْتُهُ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ كَمَا قَسَّمَ الْعِنَبَ، وَيُبَذِّرُ ارْتِفَاعَ الدُّنْيَا وَيُخْرِجُهَا وَتَضِيعُ الثُّغُورُ وَتَنْتَشِرُ الْأُمُورُ، وَتَخْرُجُ الْخَوَارِجُ، وَتَحْدُثُ الْأَسْبَابُ الَّتِي يَكُونُ فِيهَا زَوَالُ الْمُلْكِ عَنْ بَنِي الْعَبَّاسِ أَصْلًا! فَقُلْتُ: يَا مَوْلَايَ بَلْ يُبْقِيكَ اللَّهُ حَتَّى يَنْشَأَ فِي حَيَاةٍ مِنْكَ وَيَصِيرَ كَهْلًا فِي أَيَّامِكَ وَيَتَأَدَّبَ بِآدَابِكَ وَيَتَخَلَّقَ بِخُلُقِكَ وَلَا يَكُونُ هَذَا الَّذِي ظَنَنْتُ، فَقَالَ: احْفَظْ عَنِّي مَا أَقُولُ فَإِنَّهُ كَمَا قُلْتُ، قَالَ: وَمَكَثَ يَوْمَهُ مَهْمُومًا، وَضَرَبَ الدَّهْرُ ضَرْبَهُ، وَمَاتَ الْمُعْتَضِدُ، وَوَلِيَ الْمُكْتَفِي، فَلَمْ يَطُلْ عُمْرُهُ وَمَاتَ. مشابهة المقتدر بالله للمعتضد بالله في سيرته وَوَلِيَ الْمُقْتَدِرُ فَكَانَتِ الصُّورَةُ كَمَا قَالَ الْمُعْتَضِدُ بِعَيْنِهَا، فَكُنْتُ كُلَّمَا وَقَفْتُ عَلَى رَأْسِ الْمُقْتَدِرِ وَرَأَيْتُهُ قَدْ دَعَا بِالْأَمْوَالِ فَأُخْرِجَتْ إِلَيْهِ وَفَرَّقَهَا عَلَى الْجَوَارِي وَلَعِبَ بِهَا وَمَحَقَهَا ذَكَرْتُ مَوْلَايَ الْمُعْتَضِدَ وَبَكَيْتُ، وَكُنْتُ يَوْمًا وَاقِفًا عَلَى رَأْسِ الْمُعْتَضِدِ، فَقَالَ: هَاتُوا فُلَانًا الطِّيبِيَّ - خَادِمٌ يَلِي خِزَانَةَ الطَّيِّبِ - فَأُحْضِرَ فَقَالَ لَهُ: كَمْ عِنْدَكَ مِنَ الْغَالِيَةِ؟ فَقَالَ: نَيِّفٌ وَسِتُّونَ حَبًّا صِينِيًّا مِمَّا عَمِلَهُ عِدَّةٌ مِنَ الْخُلَفَاءِ، قَالَ: فَأَيُّهَا أَطْيَبُ ؟ قَالَ: مَا عَمِلَهُ الْوَاثِقُ، [قَالَ: أَحْضَرَنِيهِ]، فَأَحْضَرَهُ حَبًّا عَظِيمًا تَحْمِلُهُ عِدَّةُ خَدَمٍ بِدَهْقٍ، فَفَتَحَ فَإِذَا بِغَالِيَةٍ قَدِ ابْيَضَّتْ [مِنَ التَّعْشِيبِ]، وَجَمُدَتْ مِنَ الْعِتْقِ فِي نِهَايَةِ الذَّكَاءِ، فَأَعْجَبَتِ الْمُعْتَضِدَ وَأَهْوَى بِيَدِهِ إِلَى حَوَالَيْ عُنُقِ الْحَبِّ، فَأَخَذَ مِنْ لَطَاخَتِهِ شَيْئًا يَسِيرًا مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَشْعَثَ رَأْسُ الْحَبِّ وَجَعَلَهُ فِي لِحْيَتِهِ، وَقَالَ: مَا تَسْمَحُ نَفْسِي تَطْرِيقَ التَّشْعِيثِ عَلَى هَذَا الْحَبِّ، ارْفَعُوهُ، فَرُفِعَ فَمَضَتِ الْأَيَّامُ، فَجَلَسَ الْمُكْتَفِي يَوْمًا وَهُوَ خَلِيفَةٌ فَطَلَبَ غَالِيَةً فَاسْتَدْعَى الْخَادِمَ وَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ الْغَوَالِي فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِمَا كَانَ أَخْبَرَ بِهِ أَبَاهُ، فَاسْتَدْعَى غَالِيَةَ الْوَاثِقَ فَجَاءَهُ بِالْحَبِّ بِعَيْنِهِ فَفُتِحَ فَاسْتَطَابَهُ، وَقَالَ: أَخْرِجُوا مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا! فَأُخْرِجَ مِقْدَارُ ثَلَاثِينَ أَوْ أَرْبَعِينَ دِرْهَمًا فَاسْتَعْمَلَ مِنْهُ فِي الْحَالِ مَا أَرَادَهُ، وَدَعَا بِعَتِيدَةٍ لَهُ فَجَعَلَ الْبَاقِيَ فِيهَا لِيَسْتَعْمِلَهُ عَلَى الْأَيَّامِ، وَأَمَرَ بِالْحَبِّ فَخُتِمَ بِحَضْرَتِهِ وَرُفِعَ، وَمَضَتِ الْأَيَّامُ وَوَلِيَ الْمُقْتَدِرُ الْخِلَافَةَ، وَجَلَسَ يَوْمًا مَعَ الْجَوَارِي، وَكُنْتُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَأَرَادَ أَنْ يَتَطَيَّبَ فَاسْتَدْعَى الْخَادِمَ، وَسَأَلَهُ فَأَخْبَرَهُ مِثْلَ مَا أَخْبَرَ بِهِ أَبَاهُ وَأَخَاهُ، فَقَالَ: هَاتِ الْغَوَالِيَ كُلَّهَا فَأَحْضَرَهَا الْحَبَّابُ كُلَّهَا فَجَعَلَ يُخْرِجُ مِنْ كُلِّ حَبٍّ مِائَةَ مِثْقَالٍ وَخَمْسِينَ وَأَقَلَّ وَأَكْثَرَ فَيُقَسِّمُهُ وَيُفَرِّقُهُ عَلَى مَنْ بِحَضْرَتِهِ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى حَبِّ الْوَاثِقِ فَاسْتَطَابَهُ فَقَالَ: هَاتُوا عَتِيدَةً حَتَّى نُخْرِجَ إِلَيْهَا مَا نَسْتَعْمِلُهُ، فَجَاءُوا بِعَتِيدَةٍ فَكَانَتْ عَتِيدَةَ الْمُكْتَفِي بِعَيْنِهَا، فَرَأَى الْحَبَّ نَاقِصًا وَالْعَتِيدَةَ فِيهَا شَيْءٌ، فَقَالَ: مَا السَّبَبُ فِي هَذَا؟ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ بِالْخَبَرِ عَلَى شَرْحِهِ فَأَخَذَ يَعْجَبُ مِنْ بُخْلِ الرَّجُلَيْنِ، وَيَضَعُ مِنْهُمَا بِذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: فَرَّقُوا الْحَبَّ بِأَسْرِهِ عَلَى الْجَوَارِي! فَمَا زَالَ يُخْرِجُ أَرْطَالًا وَأَنَا أَتَمَزَّقُ غَيْظًا وَأَذْكُرُ حَدِيثَ الْعِنَبِ وَكَلَامَ الْمُعْتَضِدِ إِلَى أَنْ مَضَى قَرِيبٌ مِنْ نِصْفِ الْحَبِّ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: يَا مَوْلَايَ! هَذِهِ الْغَالِيَةُ أَطْيَبُ الْغَوَالِي وَأَعْتَقُهَا [وَ] مَا لَا يُعْتَاضُ مِنْهُ، فَلَوْ تَرَكْتَ مَا بَقِيَ مِنْهَا لِنَفْسِكَ وَفَرَّقْتَ مِنْ غَيْرِهَا كَانَ أَوْلَى، وَجَرَتْ دُمُوعِي لِمَا ذَكَرْتُهُ مِنْ كَلَامِ الْمُعْتَضِدِ، فَاسْتَحْيَا مِنِّي وَرَفَعَ الْحَبَّ فَمَا مَضَتْ إِلَّا سِنُونَ مِنْ خِلَافَتِهِ حَتَّى فَنِيَتْ تِلْكَ الْغَوَالِي وَاحْتَاجَ إِلَى عَجْنِ غَالِيَةٍ بِمَالٍ عَظِيمٍ. وعن أَبُو مَنْصُورٍ الْقَشُورِيُّ، قَالَ: كُنْتُ أَخْدِمُ وَأَنَا حَدَثٌ فِي دَارِ نَصْرِ [بْنِ] الْقَشُورِيِّ الْمَرْسُومَةِ بِالْحَجَبَةِ مِنْ دَارِ الْمُقْتَدِرِ بِاللَّهِ، فَرَكِبَ الْمُقْتَدِرُ [يَوْمًا] عَلَى غَفْلَةٍ وَعَبَرَ إِلَى الْبُسْتَانِ الْمَعْرُوفِ بِالزُّبَيْدِيَّةِ فِي نَفَرٍ مِنَ الْخَدَمِ وَالْغِلْمَانِ، وَأَنَا مُشَاهِدٌ لِذَلِكَ، وَتَشَاغَلَ أَصْحَابُ الْمَوَائِدِ وَالطَّبَّاخُونَ بِحَمْلِ الْآلَاتِ وَالطَّعَامِ وَتَعْبِيَتِهَا فِي الْجَوْنِ، فَأَبْطَأَتْ وَعَجَّلَ هُوَ فِي طَلَبِ الطَّعَامِ، فَقِيلَ لَهُ: لَمْ يَحْمِلْ بَعْدُ، فَقَالَ: انْظُرُوا مَا كَانَ! فَخَرَجَ الْخَدَمُ كَالْمُتَحَيِّرِينَ لَيْسَ يَجْسُرُونَ أَنْ يَعُودُوا فَيَقُولُوا مَا جَاءَ شَيْءٌ، فَسَمِعَهُمْ رَئِيسُ الْمَلَّاحِينَ بِالطَّيَّارِ فَقَالَ: إِنْ كَانَ يَنْشَطُ مَوْلَانَا لِأَكْلِ طَعَامِ الْمَلَّاحِينَ، فَمَعِي مَا يَكْفِيهِ، فَمَضَوْا [فَقَالُوا لَهُ] فَقَالَ: هَاتُوا مَا مَعَهُ، فَأُخْرِجَ مِنْ تَحْتِ صَدْرِ الطَّيَّارِ جَوْنَةٌ مَلِيحَةٌ خَيَارِزَةُ لَطِيفَةٌ، فِيهَا جَدْيٌ بَارِدٌ وَسِكْبَاجٌ مُبَرَّدَةٌ، وَبَزْمَاوَرْدُ وَإِدَامٌ وَقِطْعَةُ مَالِحٍ مَمْقُورٍ طَيِّبَةٌ، وَأَرْغِفَةُ سَمِيذٍ جَيِّدَةٌ، وَكُلُّ ذَلِكَ لَطِيفٌ، وَإِذَا هِيَ جَوْنَةٌ تَعْمَلُ فِي مَنْزِلِهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ، وَتُحْمَلُ إِلَيْهِ فَيَأْكُلُهَا فِي مَوْضِعِهِ مِنَ الطَّيَّارِ، وَيُلَازِمُ الْخِدْمَةَ، فَلَمَّا حُمِلَتْ إِلَى الْمُقْتَدِرِ اسْتَنْظَفَهَا فَأَكَلَ مِنْهَا وَاسْتَطَابَ الْمَالِحَ وَالْإِدَامَ، فَكَانَ أَكْثَرُ أَكْلِهِ مِنْهُ، وَلَحِقَتْهُ الْأَطْعِمَةُ مِنْ مَطْبَخِهِ، فَقَالَ: مَا آكُلُ الْيَوْمَ إِلَّا مِنْ طَعَامِ جَعْفَرٍ الْمَلَّاحِ! فَأَتَمَّ أَكْلَهُ مِنْهُ، وَأَمَرَ بِتَفَرُّقِهِ طَعَامَهُ عَلَى مَنْ حَضَرَ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: قُولُوا لَهُ هَاتِ الْحَلْوَاءَ! فَقَالَ: نَحْنُ لَا نَعْرِفُ الْحَلْوَى! فَقَالَ الْمُقْتَدِرُ: مَا ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ فِي الدُّنْيَا مَنْ يَأْكُلُ طَعَامًا لَا حَلْوَاءَ بَعْدَهُ! فَقَالَ الْمَلَّاحُ: حَلْوَانَا التَّمْرُ وَالْكَسْبُ فَإِنْ تَشَأْ أَحْضَرْتُهُ، فَقَالَ: [لَا] هَذَا حَلْوَى صَعْبٌ لَا أُطِيقُهُ، فَأَحْضَرُونَا مِنْ حَلْوَائِنَا، فَأُحْضِرَتْ عِدَّةُ جَامَاتٍ فَأَكَلَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِصَاحِبِ الْمَائِدَةِ: اعْمَلْ [فِي] كُلِّ يَوْمٍ جَوْنَةً تُنْفِقُ عَلَيْهَا مَا بَيْنَ عَشَرَةِ دَنَانِيرَ إِلَى مِائَتَيْ دِرْهَمِ وَسَلِّمْهَا إِلَى جَعْفَرٍ الْمَلَّاحِ تَكُونُ بِرَسْمِ الطَّيَّارِ أَبَدًا فَإِنْ رَكِبْتَ يَوْمًا عَلَى غَفْلَةٍ كَمَا رَكِبْتَ الْيَوْمَ كَانَتْ مُعَدَّةً، وَإِنْ جَاءَ الْمَغْرِبُ وَلَمْ أَرْكَبْ كَانَتْ لِجَعْفَرٍ، قَالَ: فَعَمِلْتُ إِلَى أَنْ قُتِلَ الْمُقْتَدِرُ وَكَانَ جَعْفَرٌ يَأْخُذُهَا فَرُبَّمَا حَاسَبَ عَلَيْهَا الْأَيَّامَ وَأَخَذَهَا دَرَاهِمَ وَمَا رَكِبَ الْمُقْتَدِرُ بَعْدَهَا عَلَى غَفْلَةٍ وَلَا احْتَاجَ إِلَيْهَا. وقال أَبُو الْفَتْحِ أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ هَارُونَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبِي، قَالَ: كَانَ [ابْنُ] عَمِّي أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ يُوسُفُ بْنُ يَحْيَى بْنِ عَلِيٍّ حَسَنَ الْإِقْبَالِ مَحْفُوظًا، وَكَانَتْ لَهُ دَايَةٌ تُسَمَّى "نَظْمَ" فَخَدَمَتِ السَّيِّدَةُ الْمُقْتَدِرَ وَخُصِّصَتْ بِهَا حَتَّى صَارَتْ إِحْدَى قَهَارَمَتِهَا الَّتِي تُجْرِي عَلَى يَدَيْهَا الصَّغِيرَ وَالْكَبِيرَ فَرَفَعَتْ أَبَا الْقَاسِمِ وَانْتَهَتْ بِهِ إِلَى أَسْنَى الْأَرْزَاقِ وَأَوْسَعِ الْأَحْوَالِ، وَأَخْرَجَتْ لَهُ الصِّلَاتِ حَتَّى تَأَثَّلَتْ حَالُهُ [بِذَلِكَ] وَصَارَ صَاحِبَ عَشَرَاتِ أُلُوفِ دَنَانِيرَ، وَخَلَطَتْهُ بِخِدْمَةِ السَّيِّدَةِ، فَعَزَمَ أَبُو الْقَاسِمِ عَلَى تَطْهِيرِ ابْنِهِ فَأَنْفَقَ فِي وَلِيمَتِهِ مَا لَمْ يُسْمَعْ بِمِثْلِهِ حَتَّى أُفْرِدَتْ عِدَّةَ دُورٍ لِلْحَيَوَانِ، وَعِدَّةَ دُورٍ لِلْفَاكِهَةِ، وَأَنْفَقَ أُلُوفَ دَنَانِيرَ وَبَلَغَ نَظْمَ خَبَرُهُ، فَجَاءَتْهُ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ السَّيِّدَةُ بِأَمْوَالٍ عَظِيمَةٍ مَعُونَةً لَهُ عَلَى التَّطْهِيرِ، وَحَمَلَتْ لَهُ مِنْ عِنْدِهَا مِنَ الْفَرْشِ وَالْآنِيَةِ وَالثِّيَابِ [وَالْمَخْرُوطِ] بِأُلُوفٍ فَلَمَّا مَضَتْ أَيَّامٌ قَالَتْ لَهَا: يَا نَظْمُ! أَيْشِ خَبَرُ طُهْرِ ابْنِ يُوسُفَ؟ قَالَتْ: يَا سِتِّي قَدْ بَقِيَتْ عَلَيْهِ أَشْيَاءُ يُرِيدُهَا، فَقَالَتْ: خُذِي مَا تُرِيدِينَ وَاحْمِلِيهِ إِلَيْهِ، فَجَاءَتْ نَظْمُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَتْ: إِنْ كَانَ [قَدْ] بَقِيَ فِي نَفْسِكَ شَيْءٌ [فَعَرَفَنِي] فَقَالَ لَهَا: الطُّهْرُ غَدًا مَا بَقِيَ فِي نَفْسِي شَيْءٌ إِلَّا وَقَدْ بَلَّغْتُهُ لَكَ، وَقَدْ بَقِيَ فِي نَفْسِي شَيْءٌ لَسْتُ أَجْسُرُ عَلَى مَسْأَلَتِهِ، فَقَالَتْ: قُلْ مَا فِي نَفْسِكَ، فَإِنْ أَمْكَنَ وَإِلَّا فَلَيْسَ يَضُرُّكَ، فَقَالَ: أَشْتَهِيَ أَنْ أَعَارَ الْقَرْيَةَ الْفِضِّيَّةَ الَّتِي عُمِلَتْ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لِيَرَاهَا النَّاسُ فِي دَارِي وَيُشَاهِدُوا مَا لَمْ يُشَاهِدُوا مِثْلَهُ فَيَعْلَمُوا مَا مَحَلِّي مِنَ الِاخْتِصَاصِ وَالْعِنَايَةِ، فَوَجَمَتْ وَقَالَتْ: هَذَا شَيْءٌ عَمِلَهُ الْخَلِيفَةُ لِنَفْسِهِ! وَمِقْدَارُهُ عَظِيمٌ، وَفِي [هَذِهِ] الْقَرْيَةِ مِائَتَا أُلُوفِ دَرَاهِمَ، وَلَا أَحْسَبُ جَاهِي يَبْلُغُ إِلَيْهَا، وَكَيْفَ يُسْتَعَارُ مِنْ خَلِيفَةِ شَيْءٍ! أَوْ مَتَى! سَمِعَ بِخَلِيفَةٍ يُعِيرُ، وَلَكِنْ أَنَا أَسْأَلُ السَّيِّدَةَ فِي هَذَا، فَإِنْ كَانَ مِمَّا يَجُوزُ وَإِلَّا عَرَفْتُكَ. وَمَضَتْ فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ جَاءَتْنِي وَقَالَتْ: إِنَّ إِقْبَالَكَ قَدْ بَلَغَ إِلَى أَنْ يُحِبَّ أَنْ تَحْمَدَ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ! فَقُلْتُ: مَا الْخَبَرُ؟ فَقَالَتْ: كُلُّ مَا تُحِبُّ! قَدْ جِئْتُكَ بِالْقَرْيَةِ هِبَةً لَا عَارِيَةً وَجِئْتُكَ مَعَهَا بِصِلَةٍ ابْتَدَأَ لَكَ بِهَا أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ غَيْرِ مَسْأَلَةِ أَحَدٍ، فَقُلْتُ: مَا الْخَبَرُ؟ قَالَتْ: مَضَيْتُ وَأَنَا مُنْكَسِرَةُ الْقَلْبِ آيِسَةٌ مِنْ أَنْ يَتِمَّ هَذَا، فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى هَيْئَتِي تِلْكَ عَلَى السَّيِّدَةِ فَقَالَتْ: مِنْ أَيْنَ؟ قُلْتُ: مِنْ عِنْدِ عَبْدِكِ يُوسُفَ، وَهُوَ عَلَى أَنْ يُطَهِّرَ ابْنَهُ غَدًا، قَالَتْ: أَرَاكِ مُنْكَسِرَةً، قُلْتُ: بِبَقَائِكِ مَا أَنَا مُنْكَسِرَةٌ، قَالَتْ: فَفِي وَجْهِكِ حَدِيثٌ، فَقُلْتُ: خَيْرٌ، قَالَتْ: بِحَيَاتِي مَا ذَاكَ؟ قُلْتُ: قَدْ شَكَرَ مَا عُومِلَ بِهِ [وَدَعَا] وَقَالَ: [أَبِي] كُنْتُ أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَتَشَرَّفَ بِمَا لَمْ يَتَشَرَّفْ بِهِ أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي، لِيُعْلَمَ مَوْضِعِي مِنَ الْخِدْمَةِ، قَالَتْ: وَمَا هُوَ؟ قُلْتُ: يَسْأَلُ أَنْ يُعَارَ الْقَرْيَةَ لِيَتَجَمَّلَ بِهَا وَيَرُدَّهَا مِنْ غَدٍ فَأَمْسَكَتْ، ثُمَّ قَالَتْ: هَذَا شَيْءٌ عَمِلَهُ الْخَلِيفَةُ لِنَفْسِهِ كَيْفَ يَحْسُنُ أَنْ يُرَى فِي دَارِ غَيْرِهِ؟ وَكَيْفَ يَحْسُنُ أَنْ يُقَالَ إِنَّ الْخَلِيفَةَ اسْتَعَارَ مِنْهُ بَعْضَ خَدَمِهِ شَيْئًا ثُمَّ اسْتَرَدَّهُ مِنْهُ؟ وَهَذَا فَضِيحَةٌ! كَيْفَ يَجُوزُ أَنْ أَسْأَلَهُ هِبَتَهَا لَهُ لِأَنِّي لَا أَدْرِي قَدْ مَلَّهَا وَشَبِعَ مِنْهَا أَمْ لَا، فَإِنْ كَانَ قَدْ مَلَّهَا فَقِيمَتُهَا عَلَيْهِ أَهْوَنُ مِنْ أَنْ يُفَكِّرَ فِي ثَمَنِهَا وَإِنْ كَانَ لَمْ يَمَلَّهَا لَمْ آمَنْ أَنْ أَفْجَعَهُ بِهَا وَسَأَسْبُرُ مَا عِنْدَهُ فِي هَذَا! ثُمَّ دَعَتْ بِجَارِيَةٍ، فَقَالَتْ: اعْرِفُوا خَبَرَ الْخَلِيفَةِ، فَقِيلَ لَهَا: هُوَ عِنْدَ فُلَانَةَ، فَقَالَتْ: تَعَالِي مَعِي، فَقَامَتْ وَأَنَا [مَعَهَا] وَعِدَّةُ جَوَارٍ حَتَّى دَخَلَتْ، وَكَانَتْ عَادَتُهُ إِذَا رَآهَا أَنْ يَقُومَ لَهَا قَائِمًا وَيُعَانِقَهَا وَيُقَبِّلَ رَأْسَهَا وَيُجْلِسَهَا مَعَهُ فِي دَسْتَةٍ، قَالَتْ: فَحِينَ رَآهَا قَامَ وَأَجْلَسَهَا مَعَهُ، وَقَالَ لَهَا: يَا سِتِّي - وَهَكَذَا كَانَ يُخَاطِبُهَا - لَيْسَ هَذَا مِنْ أَوْقَاتِ تَفَضُّلِكِ وَزِيَارَتِكِ فَقَالَتْ: لَيْسَ مِنْ أَوْقَاتِي ثُمَّ حَدَّثَتْهُ سَاعَةً، وَقَالَتْ: يَا نَظْمُ مَتَى عَزَمَ ابْنُكِ يُوسُفُ عَلَى تَطْهِيرِ ابْنِهِ؟ قُلْتُ: غَدًا يَا سِتِّي، فَقَالَ الْخَلِيفَةُ: يَا سِتِّي إِنْ كَانَ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى شَيْءٍ آخَرَ أَمَرْتِ بِهِ، فَقَالَتْ: هُوَ مُسْتَكْفٍ دَاعٍ، وَلَكِنْ قَدِ الْتَمَسَ شَيْئًا مَا أَسْتَحْسِنُ خِطَابَكَ فِيهِ، قَالَ: أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَشْرُفَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْمَمْلَكَةِ كُلِّهِمْ وَيُرَى عِنْدِي مَا لَمْ يُرَ فِي الْعَالَمِ مِثْلُهُ! قَالَ: وَمَا هُوَ؟ قَالَتْ: يَا سَيِّدِي يَلْتَمِسُ أَنْ تُعِيرَهُ الْقَرْيَةَ، فَإِذَا رَآهَا النَّاسُ عِنْدَهُ ارْتَجَعَتْ، فَقَالَ: يَا سِتِّي هَذَا وَاللَّهِ ظَرِيفٌ، يَسْتَعِيرُ خَادِمٌ لَنَا شَيْئًا، وَتَكُونِينَ أَنْتِ شَفِيعَةً فَأُعِيرُهُ ثُمَّ ارْتَجَعَهُ هَذَا مِنْ عَمَلِ الْعَوَامِّ لَا الْخُلَفَاءِ، وَلَكِنْ إِذَا كَانَ مَحَلُّهُ مِنْ رَأْيِكِ هَذَا حَتَّى قَدْ حَمَلْتِ عَلَى نَفْسِكِ بِخِطَابِي فِيهِ وَتَجَشَّمْتِ زِيَارَتِي وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَوْقَاتِ زِيَارَتِكِ، فَقَدْ وَهَبْتِ لَهُ الْقَرْيَةَ فَمُرِي بِحَمْلِهَا بِجَمِيعِ آلَاتِهَا [إِلَيْهِ] وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ أَنْ أُشَرِّفَهُ بِشَيْءٍ آخَرَ، قَالَتْ: وَمَا هُوَ؟ قَالَ يُحْمَلُ إِلَيْهِ غَدًا جَمِيعُ وَظَائِفِنَا وَلَا يُطْبَخُ لَنَا شَيْءٌ الْبَتَّةَ، بَلْ يُوَفَّرُ عَلَيْهِ وَيُؤْخَذُ لَنَا سَمَكٌ طَرِيٌّ فَقَطْ، فَأَمَرَتْ بِنَقْلِ الْقَرْيَةِ وَقَالَتْ: [قُولِي] لِيُوسُفَ مَا تَصْنَعُ بِالْوَظِيفَةِ؟ فَقَالَ وَاللَّهِ مَا أَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مِلْحٍ إِلَّا وَقَدْ حَصَّلْتُهُ، فَإِنْ حُمِلَتْ إِلَيَّ لَمْ أَنْتَفِعْ بِهَا! فَخُذِي لِي ثَمَنَهَا مِنَ الْوُكَلَاءِ، فَأَخَذَتْ وَكَانَ مَبْلَغُ ذَلِكَ أَلْفًا وَسِتَّمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ وَهِيَ وَظِيفَةُ كُلِّ يَوْمٍ، وَقَالَتِ اقْتَصَرَ الْخَلِيفَةُ لِأَجْلِكِ الْيَوْمَ عَلَى السَّمَكِ فَاشْتَرَى لَهُ سَمَكًا بِثَلَاثِمِائَةِ دِينَارٍ، وَكَانَتِ الْقَرْيَةُ عَلَى صِفَةِ قَرْيَةٍ مِثَالَ الْبَقَرِ وَالْغَنَمِ وَالْجِمَالِ وَالْجَوَامِيسِ وَالْأَشْجَارِ وَالنَّبَاتِ وَالْمَسَاحِي وَالنَّاسِ وَكُلُّ مَا يَكُونُ فِي الْقُرَى.
Translation
✧ A segment of the biography of al-Muqtadir billāh. He was generous and munificent. He used to spend on the Two Holy Sanctuaries and along their routes every year three hundred and fifteen thousand four hundred [and six] and twenty dinars. He used to grant the judges throughout the provinces fifty-six thousand five hundred and sixty-nine dinars. He used to grant those who undertook the ḥisbah and the maẓālim in [all the lands] four hundred and thirty thousand four hundred and thirty-nine dinars. And on the postal officials seventy-nine thousand four hundred [dinars]. He used to fast frequently and to perform supererogatory prayers often. In his palace there were ten thousand eunuch servants, apart from the Ṣaqālibah, the Byzantines, and the Sudanese. His overall expenditure was ample. When the king of Byzantium sent his envoy, the palace and the city were adorned, and we shall mention what took place in the year three hundred and five. The jewels of the Persian kings and of other monarchs had passed to the Umayyads, then to al-Saffāḥ, then to al-Manṣūr. Al-Mahdī purchased the stone known as “the Mountain” for three hundred thousand dinars, and al-Rashīd purchased its jewel for a thousand thousand dinars. The caliphs continued to preserve that until the caliphate passed to al-Muqtadir, and there was what the like of which had never been seen. In it was the Orphan Pearl, whose weight was three mithqāls. Al-Muqtadir opened his hand with it, gifted some of it to Ṣāfī al-Ḥaramī, and sent some of it to his vizier al-ʿAbbās, who returned it and said: “This jewel is the store of the caliphate, and it is not fitting that it be dispersed.” Zaydān the stewardess had control over the jewels, and she took a prayer-bead of the like of which had never been seen, and it was proverbial, so that one would say “the prayer-bead of Zaydān.” When ʿAlī b. ʿĪsā became vizier, he said to al-Muqtadir: “What happened to the jewel prayer-bead worth thirty thousand dinars that was taken from Ibn al-Jaṣṣāṣ?” He said: “In the treasury.” He said: “Let it be sought.” It was sought but not found. Then he produced it from his sleeve and said: “If the jewel treasury is not guarded, what then is guarded?” And he said: It was offered to me, and I bought it. So that weighed heavily on al-Muqtadir. Then the hand of the treasury reached into the jewel treasuries during the days of al-Qāhir and al-Rāḍī, until nothing of it remained. From Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥusayn b. Muḥammad al-Anbārī, who said: I heard Dalawayh the scribe relate from Ṣāfī al-Ḥaramī, the mawlā of al-Muʿtaḍid, who said: One day I walked before al-Muʿtaḍid while he was heading toward the women’s quarters. When he reached the door of Shaghab, the mother of al-Muqtadir, he stopped to listen and peered through a gap in the curtain. There was al-Muqtadir, at that time five years old or so, sitting with around ten servant boys of his own age around him. Before him was a platter with a bunch of grapes at a time when grapes were very scarce. The boy would eat one grape and then feed the whole group one grape each in turn, until the turn came back to him, and he would eat one grape just as they did, until the bunch was finished. Al-Muʿtaḍid was beside himself with anger. He turned back and did not enter the house. I saw that he was distressed, so I said [to him]: “My lord, what is the reason for what you did, and for what has appeared on you?” He said: “By God, O Ṣāfī, were it not for the Fire and disgrace, I would kill this boy today, for in his death lies the welfare of the ummah.” I said: “My lord, God forbid! What thing? I seek refuge for you with God, my lord! Curse Iblīs!” He said: “Woe to you! I know better what I am saying. I am a man who has managed affairs and set the world aright after severe corruption. My death is inevitable, and I know that the people after me will choose none but my son, and they will seat my son ʿAlī”—meaning al-Muktafī—“and I do not think his life will be long because of the ailment in him”—meaning the scrofula that was in his throat—“so he will perish soon. The people will see no way to remove it from my children, and after him they will find no one older than Jaʿfar, so they will seat him while he is a boy. And he has this natural disposition toward generosity that you have seen—that he feeds the boys the same as he eats and makes himself equal with them in something scarce in the world, when stinginess over such a thing is in the nature of boys. The women will gain control over him because his acquaintance with them is recent, and he will divide the wealth I have amassed just as he divided the grapes, squander the revenue of the world and dissipate it, the frontiers will be neglected, affairs will fall apart, the Khawārij will rise, and there will occur the causes through which kingship will depart from the Banū al-ʿAbbās entirely!” I said: “My lord, may God preserve you until he grows up during your lifetime and becomes a mature man in your days, is disciplined by your manners, and is formed by your character, and this that you have supposed will not be.” He said: “Remember from me what I say, for it is as I have said.” He said: He remained distressed that day, and time struck its blow. Al-Muʿtaḍid died, al-Muktafī assumed power, his life did not last, and he died. The resemblance of al-Muqtadir billāh to al-Muʿtaḍid billāh in his conduct And al-Muqtadir assumed power, and the outcome was exactly as al-Muʿtaḍid had said. Whenever I stood at al-Muqtadir’s head and saw him call for wealth, and it was brought out to him, and he distributed it among the slave-girls, played with it, and squandered it, I remembered my lord al-Muʿtaḍid and wept. One day I was standing at al-Muʿtaḍid’s head, and he said: “Bring so-and-so al-Ṭībī”—a servant in charge of the perfume treasury. He was brought, and he said to him: “How much ghāliyah do you have?” He said: “Sixty-some Chinese jars, of what several caliphs had prepared.” He said: “Which of them is the most fragrant?” He said: “What al-Wāthiq prepared.” [He said: “Bring it to me.”] He brought it—a great jar carried by several servants with effort. He opened it, and there was ghāliyah that had turned white [from age] and solidified from maturity, in the utmost pungency. Al-Muʿtaḍid was pleased, and he reached his hand to around the neck of the jar and took a little of its smear without disarranging the top of the jar, and put it in his beard, and said: “My soul does not allow me to cause any disarrangement to this jar. Take it away.” It was taken away. Days passed, and al-Muktafī sat one day as caliph and asked for ghāliyah. He summoned the servant and asked him about the ghāliyahs, and he told him what he had told his father. He asked for the ghāliyah of al-Wāthiq, and he brought him the very jar. It was opened, and he found it excellent and said: “Take out a little of it!” About thirty or forty dirhams’ worth was taken out. He used some of it immediately for what he wanted, called for one of his caskets, and put the rest in it to use over the days. He ordered the jar to be sealed in his presence and taken away. Days passed, and al-Muqtadir assumed the caliphate. One day he sat with the slave-girls while I was at his head. He wanted to perfume himself, so he summoned the servant and questioned him, and he told him the same as he had told his father and brother. He said: “Bring all the ghāliyahs.” He brought all the jars, and he began to take out from each jar a hundred mithqāls, or fifty, or less, or more, and distributed it and divided it among those present, until he came to the jar of al-Wāthiq and found it excellent. He said: “Bring a casket so that we may put into it what we will use.” They brought a casket, and it was the very casket of al-Muktafī. He saw that the jar was diminished and that the casket contained something, and said: “What is the reason for this?” So I informed him of the story in full. He began to marvel at the stinginess of the two men and to disparage them for it. Then he said: “Distribute the entire jar among the slave-girls!” He continued taking out pounds of it while I was tearing myself with anger, remembering the story of the grapes and the words of al-Muʿtaḍid, until nearly half the jar was gone. I said to him: “My lord! This ghāliyah is the finest of the ghāliyahs and the oldest, and what has no substitute. If you were to leave what remains of it for yourself and distribute from another, it would be better.” My tears flowed because of what I recalled of al-Muʿtaḍid’s words. He was ashamed before me and took away the jar. Only a few years of his caliphate passed before those ghāliyahs were exhausted, and he needed to knead ghāliyah with a great sum of money. From Abū Manṣūr al-Qashūrī, who said: In my youth I served in the palace of Naṣr [b.] al-Qashūrī known as al-Ḥajabah, from the palace of al-Muqtadir billāh. One day al-Muqtadir rode out unexpectedly and crossed to the garden known as al-Zubaydiyyah with a small group of servants and pages, while I was watching. The kitchen staff and cooks were occupied with carrying equipment and food and loading it into the boats, so they were slow. He hastened to ask for food, and it was said to him: “It has not been brought yet.” He said: “See what there is!” The servants went out like bewildered men, not daring to return and say that nothing had come. The chief of the boatmen in the ṭayyār heard them and said: “If our lord would be pleased to eat the boatmen’s food, I have with me what will suffice him.” They went [and told him], and he said: “Bring what he has.” There was brought out from under the front of the ṭayyār a fine, light boatman’s basket, in which were a cold kid, a cooled sikbāj, bazmāward, condiments, a piece of fine salted fish, and good semolina loaves—all of it fine. It was a basket prepared in his house every day and carried to him, and he would eat it in his place on the ṭayyār while sticking to his service. When it was brought to al-Muqtadir, he found it clean and ate from it, and he found the salted fish and condiments excellent, and most of his eating was from them. Then the foods arrived from his own kitchen, and he said: “Today I shall eat only from the food of Jaʿfar the boatman!” He finished his meal from it and ordered his own food to be distributed among those present. Then he said: “Tell him to bring the sweet!” He said: “We do not know sweets!” Al-Muqtadir said: “I did not think there was anyone in the world who eats food without a sweet after it!” The boatman said: “Our sweet is dates and date-honey. If you wish, I shall bring it.” He said: “[No], this is a harsh sweet that I cannot endure. Bring us some of our sweets.” Several bowls were brought, and he ate. Then he said to the table-master: “Prepare every day a basket on which you spend between ten dinars and two hundred dirhams, and hand it to Jaʿfar the boatman to be permanently assigned to the ṭayyār. If I ride out unexpectedly one day as I did today, it will be ready; and if sunset comes and I have not ridden, it belongs to Jaʿfar.” He said: So I did so until al-Muqtadir was killed. Jaʿfar used to take it, and sometimes he would settle for it over the days and take its value in dirhams. After that al-Muqtadir never rode out unexpectedly nor needed it. Abū al-Fatḥ Aḥmad b. ʿAlī b. Hārūn said: My father related to me, saying: My cousin Abū al-Qāsim Yūsuf b. Yaḥyā b. ʿAlī was blessed with good fortune and well protected. He had a nurse named “Naẓm.” She served the Lady, al-Muqtadir’s mother, and was singled out for her, until she became one of her stewardesses through whose hands matters small and great were conducted. She raised Abū al-Qāsim and brought him to the highest stipends and the widest circumstances. She obtained grants for him until his condition became substantial through that, and he became a man of tens of thousands of dinars. She connected him to the service of the Lady. Abū al-Qāsim resolved to circumcise his son, and he spent on its banquet what the like of had never been heard of, so that several houses were set aside for the animals and several houses for the fruit. He spent thousands of dinars, and news of it reached Naẓm. The Lady sent him from her own wealth great sums as assistance for the circumcision, and sent him from her own furnishings, vessels, clothing, [and turned wood] worth thousands. When some days had passed, she said to her: “O Naẓm! What is the news of the circumcision of Ibn Yūsuf?” She said: “My lady, some things remain that he wants.” She said: “Take what you wish and carry it to him.” So Naẓm came to him and said: “If anything remains in your mind [then tell me].” He said to her: “The circumcision is tomorrow. There remains nothing in my mind that I have not conveyed to you, but there does remain in my mind something that I do not dare to ask.” She said: “Say what is in your mind. If it is possible, good; otherwise it will not harm you.” He said: “I would love to borrow the silver village that was made for the Commander of the Faithful, so that people may see it in my house and witness what the like of they have never witnessed, and thus know my standing in the special favor and care.” She was taken aback and said: “This is something the caliph made for himself! Its value is immense, and in this village there are two hundred thousand dirhams. I do not think my influence reaches it. How can something be borrowed from a caliph? Or when? Who has ever heard of a caliph lending? But I will ask the Lady about this. If it is permissible, good; otherwise I will let you know.” She went away. When night came, she came to me and said: “Your good fortune has reached the point where you should praise God for it!” I said: “What is the news?” She said: “Everything you love! I have brought you the village as a gift, not a loan, and I have brought with it a grant that the Commander of the Faithful initiated for you without anyone asking.” I said: “What is the news?” She said: “I went away with a broken heart, despairing that this would be accomplished. I entered in that state upon the Lady, and she said: ‘Where from?’ I said: ‘From your servant Yūsuf, and he is about to circumcise his son tomorrow.’ She said: ‘I see you broken.’ I said: ‘By your life, I am not broken.’ She said: ‘There is something in your face.’ I said: ‘It is good.’ She said: ‘By my life, what is it?’ I said: ‘He has thanked for the treatment he received [and prayed], and said: [I wish] I could be honored with what no one before me has been honored with, so that my place in this service may be known.’ She said: ‘And what is it?’ I said: ‘He asks that the village be lent to him so that he may adorn himself with it and return it tomorrow.’ She paused, then said: ‘This is something the caliph made for himself. How would it look for it to be seen in another’s house? How would it look for it to be said that the caliph lent something to one of his servants and then took it back? That would be a scandal! How could I ask him to give it to him when I do not know whether he has grown weary of it and had his fill of it or not? If he has grown weary of it, its value is trivial to him compared with thinking of its price; and if he has not grown weary of it, I cannot be sure that I would not grieve him with it. I will test what he thinks of this!’ Then she called a slave-girl and said: ‘Find out the caliph’s whereabouts.’ She was told: ‘He is with so-and-so.’ She said: ‘Come with me.’ She arose, and I [with her], and several slave-girls, until she entered. His custom when he saw her was to rise for her, embrace her, kiss her head, and seat her with him on the dais. She said: When he saw her, he rose and seated her with him, and said to her: ‘My lady’—and this is how he addressed her—‘this is not one of the times of your graciousness and visitation.’ She said: ‘It is not one of my times.’ Then she conversed with him for a while and said: ‘O Naẓm, when has your son Yūsuf resolved to circumcise his son?’ I said: ‘Tomorrow, my lady.’ The caliph said: ‘My lady, if he needs anything else, you have but to command it.’ She said: He is sufficient as a caller, but he has sought something for which I do not consider it proper to address you. He said: I want to be elevated above all the people of the kingdom, so that there is seen with me the like of which has never been seen in the world! He said: And what is it? She said: My lord, he requests that you lend him the village, so that when people see it in his possession, it will be retrieved. He said: My lady, this is by God, elegant. A servant of ours borrows something, and you intercede so that I lend it to him, then he retrieves it? This is the conduct of commoners, not caliphs. But since he holds this place in your regard, to the point that you have taken it upon yourself to address me concerning him and have undertaken to visit me, and I know that this is not one of your visiting times, I have granted him the village. So order that it be transported with all its appurtenances [to him]. And I have decided to honor him with something else. She said: And what is it? He said: Tomorrow all our provisions will be sent to him, and nothing will be cooked for us at all. Rather, it will be reserved for him, and only fresh fish will be procured for us. So she ordered the village to be moved and said: [Tell] Yusuf: What will you do with the provision? He said: By God, I do not need even salt unless I have already obtained it. If it is brought to me, I will not benefit from it! So take for me its price from the agents. So she took it, and its amount was one thousand six hundred dinars, which is the provision of every day. She said: The caliph restricted himself today, for your sake, to fish, so she bought fish for him for three hundred dinars. The village was in the form of a model village, such as cattle, sheep, camels, water buffaloes, trees, plants, hoes, people, and everything that is found in villages.
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