Tarikh (al-Tabari) 399
the accounts of past peoples from the Israelites and others
جِرْجِيسُ : هُوَ رَجُلٌ صَالِحٌ أَدْرَكَ بَقَايَا مِنْ حَوَارِيِّي عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ . رَوَى مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ وَهْبٍ وَغَيْرِهِ: أَنَّهُ كَانَ بِالْمُوصِلِ مَلِكٌ جَبَّارٌ، يُقَالُ لَهُ دَازَانَهْ، وَكَانَ جَبَّارًا عَاتِيًا وكَانَ جُرْجِيسُ رَجُلًا صَالِحًا مِنْ أَهْلِ فِلَسْطِينَ فَكَتَمَ إِيمَانَهُ فِي عُصْبَةٍ مَعَهُ يَكْتُمُونَ الْإِيمَانَ قَدْ أَدْرَكُوا بَقَايَا مِنَ الْحَوَارِيِّينَ، وَكَانَ جُرْجِيسُ كَثِيرَ الْمَالِ عَظِيمَ الصَّدَقَةِ رُبَّمَا نَفَدَ مَالُهُ فِي الصَّدَقَةِ ثُمَّ يَعُودُ يَكْتَسِبُ مِثْلَهُ، وَلَوْلَا الصَّدَقَةُ لَكَانَ الْفَقْرُ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الْغِنَى، وَكَانَ يَخَافُ بِالشَّامِ أَنْ يُفْتَتَنَ عَنْ دِينِهِ، فَقَصَدَ الْمَوْصِلَ وَمَعَهُ هَدِيَّةٌ لِمَلِكِهَا لِئَلَّا يَجْعَلَ لِأَحَدٍ عَلَيْهِ سَبِيلًا، فَجَاءَهُ حِينَ جَاءَهُ، وَقَدْ أَحْضَرَ عُظَمَاءَ قَوْمِهِ وَأَوْقَدَ نَارًا وَأَعَدَّ أَصْنَافًا مِنَ الْعَذَابِ وَأَمَرَ بِصَنَمٍ لَهُ يُقَالُ لَهُ أَفَلُّونُ فَنُصِبَ، فَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْجُدْ لَهُ عَذَّبَهُ وَأُلْقِيَ فِي النَّارِ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى جِرْجِيسُ مَا يَصْنَعُ اسْتَعْظَمَهُ وَحَدَّثَ نَفْسَهُ بِجِهَادِهِ، فَعَمِدَ إِلَى الْمَالِ الَّذِي مَعَهُ فَقَسَمَهُ فِي أَهْلِ مِلَّتِهِ وَأَقْبَلَ عَلَيْهِ وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الْغَضَبِ فَقَالَ لَهُ: اعْلَمْ أَنَّكَ عَبْدٌ مَمْلُوكٌ لَا تَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِكَ شَيْئًا وَلَا لِغَيْرِكَ شَيْئًا، وَأَنَّ فَوْقَكَ رَبًّا هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَكَ وَرَزَقَكَ، فَأَخَذَ فِي ذِكْرِ عَظَمَةِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَعَيَّبَ صَنَمَهُ. فَأَجَابَهُ الْمَلِكُ بِأَنْ سَأَلَهُ مَنْ هُوَ ؟ وَمِنْ أَيْنَ هُوَ ؟. فَقَالَ جِرْجِيسُ: أَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَابْنُ أَمَتِهِ مِنَ التُّرَابِ خُلِقْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أَعُودُ. فَدَعَاهُ الْمَلِكُ إِلَى عِبَادَةِ صَنَمِهِ وَقَالَ لَهُ: لَوْ كَانَ رَبُّكَ مَلِكَ الْمَلَكُوتِ لَرُؤِيَ عَلَيْكَ أَثَرُهُ كَمَا تَرَى عَلَى مَنْ حَوْلِي مِنْ مُلُوكِ قَوْمِي. فَأَجَابَهُ جِرْجِيسُ بِتَعْظِيمِ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ وَتَمْجِيدِهِ وَقَالَ لَهُ: تَعْبُدُ أَفَلُّونَ الَّذِي لَا يَسْمَعُ وَلَا يُبْصِرُ وَلَا يُغْنِي مِنْ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، أَمْ تَعْبُدُ الَّذِي قَامَتْ بِأَمْرِهِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ، أَمْ تَعْبُدُ طَرْقَلِينَا عَظِيمَ قَوْمِكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ - عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ - فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ آدَمِيًّا يَأْكُلُ وَيَشْرَبُ فَأَكْرَمَهُ اللَّهُ بِأَنْ جَعَلَهُ إِنْسِيًّا مَلَكِيًّا، أَمْ تَعْبُدُ عَظِيمَ قَوْمِكَ مَخْلِيطِيسْ أَيْضًا وَمَا نَالَ بِوِلَايَتِكَ مِنْ عِيسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ ! وَذَكَرَ مِنْ مُعْجِزَاتِهِ وَمَا خَصَّهُ اللَّهُ بِهِ مِنَ الْكَرَامَةِ. فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَلِكُ: إِنَّكَ أَتَيْتَنَا بِأَشْيَاءَ لَا نَعْلَمُهَا ! ثُمَّ خَيَّرَهُ بَيْنَ الْعَذَابِ وَالسُّجُودِ لِلصَّنَمِ. فَقَالَ جِرْجِيسُ: إِنْ كَانَ صَنَمُكَ هُوَ الَّذِي رَفَعَ السَّمَاءَ، وَعَدَّدَ أَشْيَاءَ مِنْ قُدْرَةِ اللَّهِ، عَزَّ وَجَلَّ، فَقَدْ أَصَبْتَ وَنَصَحْتَ، وَإِلَّا فَاخْسَأْ أَيُّهَا الْمَلْعُونُ. فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ الْمَلِكُ أَمَرَ بِحَبْسِهِ، وَمُشِطَ جَسَدُهُ بِأَمْشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ حَتَّى تَقَطَّعَ لَحْمُهُ وَعُرُوقُهُ، وَيُنْضَحُ بِالْخَلِّ وَالْخَرْدَلِ، فَلَمْ يَمُتْ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ لَمْ يَقْتُلْهُ أَمَرَ بِسِتَّةِ مَسَامِيرَ مِنْ حَدِيدٍ فَأُحْمِيَتْ حَتَّى صَارَتْ نَارًا ثُمَّ سَمَّرَ بِهَا رَأْسَهُ، فَسَالَ دِمَاغُهُ، فَحَفِظَهُ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى. فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ لَمْ يَقْتُلْهُ أَمَرَ بِحَوْضٍ مِنْ نُحَاسٍ فَأَوْقَدَ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى جَعَلَهُ نَارًا ثُمَّ أَدْخَلَهُ فِيهِ وَأَطْبَقَ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى بَرَدَ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ لَمْ يَقْتُلْهُ دَعَاهُ وَقَالَ لَهُ: أَلَمْ تَجِدْ أَلَمَ هَذَا الْعَذَابِ ؟ قَالَ: إِنَّ إِلَهِي حَمَلَ عَنِّي عَذَابَكَ وَصَبَّرَنِي لِيَحْتَجَّ عَلَيْكَ. فَأَيْقَنَ الْمَلِكُ بِالشَّرِّ وَخَافَهُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ وَمُلْكِهِ فَأَجْمَعَ رَأْيَهُ عَلَى أَنْ يُخَلِّدَهُ فِي السِّجْنِ، فَقَالَ الْمَلَأُ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ: إِنَّكَ إِنْ تَرَكْتَهُ فِي السِّجْنِ طَلِيقًا يُكَلِّمُ النَّاسَ وَيَمِيلُ بِهِمْ عَلَيْكَ، وَلَكِنْ يُعَذَّبُ بِعَذَابٍ يَمْنَعُهُ مِنَ الْكَلَامِ. فَأَمَرَ بِهِ فَبُطِحَ فِي السِّجْنِ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ ثُمَّ أَوْتَدَ فِي يَدَيْهِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ أَوْتَادًا مِنْ حَدِيدٍ، ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِأُسْطُوَانٍ مِنْ رُخَامٍ حَمَلَهُ ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ رَجُلًا فَوُضِعَ عَلَى ظَهْرِهِ، فَظَلَّ يَوْمَهُ ذَلِكَ تَحْتَ الْحَجَرِ، فَلَمَّا أَدْرَكَهُ اللَّيْلُ أَرْسَلَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ مَلَكًا، وَذَلِكَ أَوَّلَ مَا أُيِّدَ بِالْمَلَائِكَةِ، فَأَوَّلُ مَا جَاءَهُ الْوَحْيُ قَلَعَ عَنْهُ الْحَجَرَ وَنَزَعَ الْأَوْتَادَ وَأَطْعَمَهُ وَسَقَاهُ وَبَشَّرَهُ وَعَزَّاهُ، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ أَخْرَجَهُ مِنَ السِّجْنِ فَقَالَ لَهُ: الْحَقْ بِعَدُوِّكَ فَجَاهِدْهُ، فَإِنِّي قَدِ ابْتَلَيْتُكَ بِهِ سَبْعَ سِنِينَ يُعَذِّبُكَ وَيَقْتُلُكَ فِيهِنَّ أَرْبَعُ مَرَّاتٍ فِي كُلِّ ذَلِكَ أَرُدُّ إِلَيْكَ رُوحَكَ، فَإِذَا كَانَتِ الْقَتْلَةُ الرَّابِعَةُ تَقَبَّلْتُ رُوحَكَ وَأَوْفَيْتُكَ أَجْرَكَ. فَلَمْ يَشْعُرِ الْمَلِكُ إِلَّا وَقَدْ وَقَفَ جِرْجِيسُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ يَدْعُوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: أَجِرْجِيسُ ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. قَالَ: مَنْ أَخْرَجَكَ مِنَ السِّجْنِ ؟ قَالَ: أَخْرَجَنِي مَنْ سُلْطَانُهُ فَوْقَ سُلْطَانِكَ ! فَمُلِئَ غَيْظًا وَدَعَا بِأَصْنَافِ الْعَذَابِ وَمَدُّوهُ بَيْنَ خَشَبَتَيْنِ وَوَضَعُوا عَلَى رَأْسِهِ سَيْفًا ثُمَّ وَشَرُوهُ حَتَّى سَقَطَ بَيْنَ رِجْلَيْهِ وَصَارَ جِزْلَتَيْنِ، ثُمَّ قَطَعُوهُمَا قِطَعًا، وَكَانَ لَهُ سَبْعَةُ أُسْدٍ ضَارِيَةٍ فِي جُبٍّ فَأَلْقَوْا جَسَدَهُ إِلَيْهَا، فَلَمَّا رَأَتْهُ خَضَعَتْ بِرُءُوسِهَا وَقَامَتْ عَلَى بَرَاثِنِهَا لَا تَأْلُو أَنْ تَقِيَهُ الْأَذَى الَّذِي تَحْتَهَا، فَظَلَّ يَوْمَهُ تَحْتَهَا مَيِّتًا، فَكَانَتْ أَوَّلَ مَيْتَةٍ ذَاقَهَا. فَلَمَّا أَدْرَكَهُ اللَّيْلُ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ جَسَدَهُ وَسَوَّاهُ وَرَدَّ فِيهِ رُوحَهُ وَأَخْرَجَهُ مِنْ قَعْرِ الْجُبِّ. فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحُوا أَقْبَلَ جِرْجِيسُ، وَهُمْ فِي عِيدٍ لَهُمْ صَنَعُوهُ فَرَحًا بِمَوْتِ جِرْجِيسَ، فَلَمَّا نَظَرُوا إِلَيْهِ مُقْبِلًا قَالُوا: مَا أَشْبَهَ هَذَا بِجِرْجِيسَ ! قَالَ الْمَلِكُ: هُوَ هُوَ ! قَالَ جِرْجِيسُ: أَنَا هُوَ حَقًّا، بِئْسَ الْقَوْمُ أَنْتُمْ ! قَتَلْتُمْ وَمَثَّلْتُمْ فَرَدَّ اللَّهُ رُوحِي إِلَيَّ ! هَلُمُّوا إِلَى هَذَا الرَّبِّ الْعَظِيمِ الَّذِي أَرَاكُمْ قُدْرَتَهُ. فَقَالُوا: سَاحِرٌ سَحَرَ أَعْيُنَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ عَنْهُ، فَجَعَلُوا مَنْ بِبِلَادِهِمْ مِنَ السَّحَرَةِ، فَلَمَّا جَاءُوا قَالَ الْمَلِكُ لِكَبِيرِهِمْ: اعْرِضْ عَلَيَّ مِنْ سِحْرِكَ مَا يُسَرَّى بِهِ عَنِّي. فَدَعَا بِثَوْرٍ فَنَفَخَ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ ثَوْرَانِ، وَدَعَا بِبَذْرٍ فَحُرِثَ وَزُرِعَ وَحُصِدَ وَدُقَّ وَذُرِّيَ وَطُحِنَ وَخُبِزَ وَأُكِلَ مِنْ سَاعَتِهِ. فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَلِكُ: هَلْ تَقْدِرُ أَنْ تَمْسَخَهُ كَلْبًا ؟ قَالَ: ادْعُ لِي بِقَدَحٍ مِنْ مَاءٍ، فَأُتِيَ بِهِ، فَنَفَثَ فِيهِ السَّاحِرُ ثُمَّ قَالَ الْمَلِكُ لِجِرْجِيسَ: اشْرَبْهُ، فَشَرِبَهُ جِرْجِيسُ حَتَّى أَتَى عَلَى آخِرِهِ. فَقَالَ لَهُ السَّاحِرُ: مَاذَا تَجِدُ ؟ قَالَ: مَا أَجِدُ إِلَّا خَيْرًا ! كُنْتُ عَطْشَانَ فَلَطَفَ اللَّهُ بِي فَسَقَانِي. وَأَقْبَلَ السَّاحِرُ عَلَى الْمَلِكِ وَقَالَ: لَوْ كُنْتَ تُقَاسِي جَبَّارًا مِثْلَكَ لِغَلَبْتَهُ وَإِنَّمَا تُقَاسِي جَبَّارَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ. وَكَانَتْ أَتَتْ جِرْجِيسَ امْرَأَةٌ مِنَ الشَّامِ، وَهُوَ فِي أَشَدِّ الْعَذَابِ، فَقَالَتْ لَهُ: إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ لِي مَالٌ إِلَّا ثَوْرًا أَعِيشُ بِهِ مِنْ حَرْثِهِ فَمَاتَ، وَجِئْتُكَ لِتَرْحَمَنِي وَتَسْأَلَ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُحْيِيَ ثَوْرِي. فَأَعْطَاهَا عَصًا وَقَالَ: اذْهَبِي إِلَى ثَوْرِكِ فَاضْرِبِيهِ بِهَذِهِ الْعَصَا وَقُولِي لَهُ: احْيَ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ. فَأَخَذَتِ الْعَصَا وَأَتَتْ مَصْرَعَ الثَّوْرِ فَرَأَتْ رَوْقَيْهِ وَشَعْرَ ذَنَبِهِ فَجَمَعَتْهَا ثُمَّ قَرَعَتْهَا بِالْعَصَا وَقَالَتْ مَا أَمَرَهَا بِهِ جِرْجِيسُ، فَعَاشَ ثَوْرُهَا، وَجَاءَ الْخَبَرُ بِذَلِكَ. فَلَمَّا قَالَ السَّاحِرُ مَا قَالَ، قَالَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ الْمَلِكِ، وَكَانَ أَعْظَمَهُمْ بَعْدَ الْمَلِكِ: اسْمَعُوا مِنِّي. قَالُوا: نَعَمْ. قَالَ: إِنَّكُمْ قَدْ وَضَعْتُمْ أَمْرَهُ عَلَى السِّحْرِ، وَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يُعَذَّبْ وَلَمْ يُقْتَلْ، فَهَلْ رَأَيْتُمْ سَاحِرًا قَطُّ قَدَرَ أَنْ يَدْفَعَ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ أَوْ أَحْيَا مَيِّتًا ؟ وَذَكَرَ الثَّوْرَ وَإِحْيَاءَهُ، فَقَالُوا لَهُ: إِنَّ كَلَامَكَ كَلَامُ رَجُلٍ قَدْ أَصْغَى إِلَيْهِ. فَقَالَ: قَدْ آمَنْتُ بِهِ وَأُشْهِدُ اللَّهَ أَنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ ! فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ الْمَلِكُ وَأَصْحَابُهُ بِالْخَنَاجِرِ فَقَطَعُوا لِسَانَهُ بِالْخَنَاجِرِ، فَلَمْ يَلْبَثْ أَنْ مَاتَ، وَقِيلَ: أَصَابَهُ الطَّاعُونُ فَأَعْجَلَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ، وَكَتَمُوا شَأْنَهُ، فَكَشَفَهُ جِرْجِيسُ لِلنَّاسِ، فَاتَّبَعَهُ أَرْبَعَةُ آلَافٍ وَهُوَ مَيِّتٌ، فَقَتَلَهُمُ الْمَلِكُ بِأَنْوَاعِ الْعَذَابِ حَتَّى أَفْنَاهُمْ، وَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ عُظَمَاءِ أَصْحَابِ الْمَلِكِ: يَا جِرْجِيسُ إِنَّكَ زَعَمْتَ أَنَّ إِلَهَكَ يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ، وَإِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ أَمْرًا إِنْ فَعَلَهُ إِلَهُكَ آمَنْتُ بِهِ وَصَدَّقْتُكَ وَكَفَيْتُكَ قَوْمِي. هَذَا تَحْتَنَا أَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ مُنِيرًا وَمَائِدَةٌ وَأَقْدَاحٌ وَصِحَافٌ مِنْ خَشَبٍ يَابِسٍ، وَهُوَ مِنْ أَشْجَارٍ شَتَّى، فَادْعُ رَبَّكَ أَنْ يُعِيدَهَا خُضْرًا كَمَا بَدَأَهَا، يُعْرَفُ كُلُّ عُودٍ بِلَوْنِهِ وَوَرَقِهِ وَزَهْرِهِ وَثَمَرِهِ. قَالَ جِرْجِيسُ: قَدْ سَأَلْتَ أَمْرًا عَزِيزًا عَلَيَّ وَعَلَيْكَ، وَإِنَّهُ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسِيرُ، وَدَعَا اللَّهَ فَمَا بَرِحُوا حَتَّى اخْضَرَّتْ وَسَاخَتْ عُرُوقُهَا وَتَشَعَّبَتْ وَنَبَتَ وَرَقُهَا وَزَهْرُهَا حَتَّى عَرَفُوا كُلَّ عُودٍ بِاسْمِهِ. فَقَالَ الَّذِي سَأَلَهُ هَذَا: أَنَا أَتَوَلَّى عَذَابَهُ. فَعَمَدَ إِلَى نُحَاسٍ فَصَنَعَ مِنْهُ صُورَةَ ثَوْرٍ مُجَوَّفٍ ثُمَّ حَشَاهَا نِفْطًا وَرَصَاصًا وَكِبْرِيتًا وَزِرْنِيخًا وَأَدْخَلَ جِرْجِيسَ فِي وَسَطِهَا ثُمَّ أَوْقَدَ تَحْتَ الصُّورَةِ النَّارَ حَتَّى الْتَهَبَتْ وَذَابَ كُلُّ شَيْءٍ فِيهَا وَاخْتَلَطَ وَمَاتَ جِرْجِيسُ فِي جَوْفِهَا. فَلَمَّا مَاتَ أَرْسَلَ اللَّهُ رِيحًا عَاصِفًا وَرَعْدًا وَبَرْقًا وَسَحَابًا مُظْلِمًا وَأَظْلَمَ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَبَقُوا أَيَّامًا مُتَحَيِّرِينَ، فَأَرْسَلَ اللَّهُ مِيكَائِيلَ، فَاحْتَمَلَ تِلْكَ الصُّورَةَ، فَلَمَّا أَقَلَّهَا ضَرَبَ بِهَا الْأَرْضَ، فَفَزِعَ مِنْ رَوْعَتِهَا كُلُّ مَنْ سَمِعَهَا وَانْكَسَرَتْ، وَخَرَجَ مِنْهَا جِرْجِيسُ حَيًّا، فَلَمَّا وَقَفَ وَكَلَّمَهُمُ انْكَشَفَتِ الظُّلْمَةُ وَأَسْفَرَ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ. قَالَ لَهُ عَظِيمٌ مِنْ عُظَمَائِهِمُ: ادْعُ اللَّهَ بِأَنْ يُحْيِيَ مَوْتَانَا مِنْ هَذِهِ الْقُبُورِ. فَأَمَرَ جِرْجِيسُ بِالْقُبُورِ فَنُبِشَتْ وَهِيَ عِظَامٌ رُفَاتٌ، ثُمَّ دَعَا فَلَمْ يَبْرَحُوا حَتَّى نَظَرُوا إِلَى سَبْعَةَ عَشَرَ إِنْسَانًا، تِسْعَةِ رِجَالٍ وَخَمْسِ نِسْوَةٍ وَثَلَاثَةِ صِبْيَةٍ وَفِيهِمْ شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ. فَقَالَ لَهُ جِرْجِيسُ: مَتَى مُتَّ ؟ فَقَالَ: فِي زَمَانِ كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَإِذَا هُوَ أَرْبَعُمِائَةِ عَامٍ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى ذَلِكَ الْمَلِكُ قَالَ: لَمْ يَبْقَ مِنْ عَذَابِكُمْ شَيْءٌ إِلَّا وَقَدْ عَذَّبْتُمُوهُ وَأَصْحَابَهُ بِهِ إِلَّا الْجُوعَ وَالْعَطَشَ، فَعَذِّبُوهُ بِهِ. فَعَمَدُوا إِلَى بَيْتِ عَجُوزٍ فَقِيرَةٍ، وَكَانَ لَهَا ابْنٌ أَعْمَى أَبْكَمُ مُقْعَدٌ، فَحَصَرُوهُ فِيهِ، فَلَا يَصِلُ إِلَيْهِ طَعَامٌ وَلَا شَرَابٌ. فَلَمَّا جَاعَ قَالَ لِلْعَجُوزِ: هَلْ عِنْدَكِ طَعَامٌ أَوْ شَرَابٌ ؟ قَالَتْ: لَا وَالَّذِي يُحْلَفُ بِهِ مَا لَنَا عَهْدٌ بِالطَّعَامِ مِنْ كَذَا وَكَذَا وَسَأَخْرُجُ لِأَلْتَمِسَ لَكَ شَيْئًا. فَقَالَ لَهَا: هَلْ تَعْبُدِينَ اللَّهَ ؟ قَالَتْ: لَا. فَدَعَاهَا فَآمَنَتْ، وَانْطَلَقَتْ تَطْلُبُ لَهُ شَيْئًا، وَفِي بَيْتِهَا دِعَامَةٌ مِنْ خَشَبَةٍ يَابِسَةٍ تَحْمِلُ خَشَبَ الْبَيْتِ، فَدَعَا اللَّهَ فَاخْضَرَّتْ تِلْكَ الدِّعَامَةُ وَأَنْبَتَتْ كُلَّ فَاكِهَةٍ تُؤْكَلُ وَتُعْرَفُ، فَظَهَرَ لِلدِّعَامَةِ فُرُوعٌ مِنْ فَوْقِ الْبَيْتِ تُظِلُّهُ وَمَا حَوْلَهُ، وَعَادَتِ الْعَجُوزُ وَهُوَ يَأْكُلُ رَغْدًا. فَلَمَّا رَأَتِ الَّذِي حَدَثَ فِي بَيْتِهَا قَالَتْ: آمَنْتُ بِالَّذِي أَطْعَمَكَ فِي بَيْتِ الْجُوعِ، فَادْعُ هَذَا الرَّبَّ الْعَظِيمَ أَنْ يَشْفِيَ ابْنِي. قَالَ: أَدْنِيهِ مِنِّي، فَأَدْنَتْهُ، فَبَصَقَ فِي عَيْنَيْهِ فَأَبْصَرَ، فَنَفَثَ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ فَسَمِعَ. قَالَتْ لَهُ: أَطْلِقْ لِسَانَهُ وَرِجْلَيْهِ. قَالَ لَهَا: أَخِّرِيهِ فَإِنَّ لَهُ يَوْمًا عَظِيمًا. وَرَأَى الْمَلِكُ الشَّجَرَةَ فَقَالَ: أَرَى شَجَرَةً مَا كُنْتُ أَعْهَدُهَا ! قَالُوا: تِلْكَ الشَّجَرَةُ نَبَتَتْ لِذَلِكَ السَّاحِرِ الَّذِي أَرَدْتَ أَنْ تُعَذِّبَهُ بِالْجُوعِ وَقَدْ شَبِعَ مِنْهَا وَأَشْبَعَتِ الْعَجُوزَ، وَشَفَى لَهَا ابْنَهَا. فَأَمَرَ بِالْبَيْتِ فَهُدِمَ، وَبِالشَّجَرَةِ أَنْ تُقْطَعَ، فَلَمَّا هَمُّوا بِقَطْعِهَا أَيْبَسَهَا اللَّهُ وَتَرَكُوهَا. وَأَمَرَ بِجِرْجِيسَ فَبُطِحَ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ، وَأَمَرَ بِعِجْلٍ فَأُوقِرَ أُسْطُوَانًا وَجَعَلَ فِي أَسْفَلِ الْعِجْلِ خَنَاجِرَ وَشِفَارًا ثُمَّ دَعَا بِأَرْبَعِينَ ثَوْرًا فَنَهَضَ بِالْعِجْلِ نَهْضَةً وَاحِدَةً وَجِرْجِيسُ تَحْتَهَا، فَانْقَطَعَ ثَلَاثَ قِطَعٍ، ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِقِطَعِهِ فَأُحْرِقَتْ حَتَّى صَارَتْ رَمَادًا، وَبَعَثَ بِالرَّمَادِ مَعَ رِجَالٍ فَذَرُّوهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ، فَلَمْ يَبْرَحُوا حَتَّى سَمِعُوا صَوْتًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ: يَا بَحْرُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكَ أَنْ تَحْفَظَ مَا فِيكَ مِنْ هَذَا الْجَسَدِ الطَّيِّبِ فَإِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُعِيدَهُ. فَأَرْسَلَ الرِّيَاحَ فَجَمَعَتْهُ كَمَا كَانَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَذُرُّوهُ، وَالَّذِينَ ذَرُّوهُ قِيَامٌ لَمْ يَبْرَحُوا، وَخَرَجَ جِرْجِيسُ حَيًّا مُغَبَّرًا، فَرَجَعُوا وَرَجَعَ مَعَهُمْ وَأَخْبَرُوا الْمَلِكَ خَبَرَ الصَّوْتِ وَالرِّيَاحِ. فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَلِكُ: هَلْ لَكَ فِيمَا هُوَ خَيْرٌ لِي وَلَكَ ؟ وَلَوْلَا أَنْ يُقَالَ إِنَّكَ غَلَبْتَنِي لَآمَنْتُ بِكَ، وَلَكِنِ اسْجُدْ لِصَنَمِي سَجْدَةً وَاحِدَةً أَوِ اذْبَحْ لَهُ شَاةً وَاحِدَةً وَأَنَا أَفْعَلُ مَا يَسُرُّكَ. فَطَمِعَ جِرْجِيسُ فِي إِهْلَاكِ الصَّنَمِ حِينَ يَرَاهُ وَإِيمَانِ الْمَلِكِ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: أَفْعَلُ - خَدِيعَةً مِنْهُ - وَأَدْخِلْنِي عَلَى صَنَمِكَ أَسْجُدُ لَهُ وَأَذْبَحُ. فَفَرِحَ الْمَلِكُ بِذَلِكَ وَقَبَّلَ يَدَيْهِ وَرِجْلَيْهِ وَطَلَبَ مِنْهُ أَنْ يَكُونَ يَوْمَهُ وَلَيْلَتَهُ عِنْدَهُ، فَفَعَلَ، فَأَخْلَى لَهُ الْمَلِكُ بَيْتًا وَدَخَلَهُ جِرْجِيسُ، فَلَمَّا جَاءَ اللَّيْلُ قَامَ يُصَلِّي وَيَقْرَأُ الزَّبُورَ، وَكَانَ حَسَنَ الصَّوْتِ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْهُ امْرَأَةُ الْمَلِكِ اسْتَجَابَتْ لَهُ وَآمَنَتْ بِهِ وَكَتَمَتْ إِيمَانَهَا، فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحَ غَدَا بِهِ إِلَى بَيْتِ الْأَصْنَامِ لِيَسْجُدَ لَهَا. وَقِيلَ لِلْعَجُوزِ: إِنَّ جِرْجِيسَ قَدِ افْتُتِنَ وَطَمِعَ فِي الْمُلْكِ. فَخَرَجَتْ تَحْمِلُ ابْنَهَا عَلَى عَاتِقِهَا فِي أَعْرَاضِهِمْ تُوَبِّخُ جِرْجِيسَ، فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ بَيْتَ الْأَصْنَامِ نَظَرَ فَإِذَا الْعَجُوزُ وَابْنُهَا أَقْرَبَ النَّاسِ إِلَيْهِ، فَدَعَا ابْنَهَا، فَأَجَابَهُ وَمَا تَكَلَّمَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ قَطُّ، ثُمَّ نَزَلَ عَلَى عَاتِقِ أُمِّهِ يَمْشِي عَلَى قَدَمَيْهِ سَوِيَّتَيْنِ وَمَا وَطِئَ الْأَرْضَ قَطُّ. فَلَمَّا وَقَفَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ جِرْجِيسَ قَالَ لَهُ: ادْعُ لِي هَذِهِ الْأَصْنَامَ، وَهِيَ عَلَى مَنَابِرَ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَاحِدٌ وَسَبْعُونَ صَنَمًا، وَهُمْ يَعْبُدُونَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ مَعَهَا، فَدَعَاهَا، فَأَقْبَلَتْ تَتَدَحْرَجُ إِلَيْهِ. فَلَمَّا انْتَهَتْ إِلَيْهِ رَكَضَ بِرِجْلِهِ الْأَرْضَ فَخُسِفَ بِهَا وَبِمَنَابِرِهَا، فَقَالَ لَهُ الْمَلِكُ: يَا جِرْجِيسُ خَدَعْتَنِي وَأَهْلَكْتَ أَصْنَامِي ! فَقَالَ لَهُ: فَعَلْتُ ذَلِكَ عَمْدًا لِتَعْتَبِرَ وَتَعْلَمَ أَنَّهَا لَوْ كَانَتْ آلِهَةً لَامْتَنَعَتْ مِنِّي. فَلَمَّا قَالَ هَذَا قَالَتِ امْرَأَةُ الْمَلِكِ وَأَظْهَرَتْ إِسْلَامَهَا، وَعَدَّتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَفْعَالَ جِرْجِيسَ وَقَالَتْ: مَا تَنْظُرُونَ مِنْ هَذَا الرَّجُلِ إِلَّا دَعْوَةً فَتَهْلَكُونَ كَمَا هَلَكَتْ أَصْنَامُكُمْ. فَقَالَ الْمَلِكُ: مَا أَسْرَعَ مَا أَضَلَّكِ هَذَا السَّاحِرُ ! ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِهَا فَعُلِّقَتْ عَلَى خَشَبَةٍ، ثُمَّ مَشَّطَ لَحْمَهَا بِمِشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ، فَلَمَّا آلَمَهَا الْعَذَابُ قَالَتْ لِجِرْجِيسَ: ادْعُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يُخَفِّفَ عَلَيَّ الْأَلَمَ. فَقَالَ: انْظُرِي فَوْقَكِ. فَنَظَرَتْ فَضَحِكَتْ. فَقَالَ لَهَا الْمَلِكُ: مَا يُضْحِكُكَ ؟ قَالَتْ: أَرَى عَلَى رَأْسِي مَلَكَيْنِ مَعَهُمَا تَاجٌ مِنْ حُلِيِّ الْجَنَّةِ يَنْتَظِرَانِ خُرُوجَ رُوحِي لِيُزَيِّنَانِي بِهِ وَيَصْعَدَا بِهَا إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ. فَلَمَّا مَاتَتْ أَقْبَلَ جِرْجِيسُ عَلَى الدُّعَاءِ وَقَالَ: اللَّهُمَّ أَكْرَمْتَنِي بِهَذَا الْبَلَاءِ لِتُعْطِيَنِي أَفْضَلَ مَنَازِلِ الشُّهَدَاءِ، وَهَذَا آخِرُ أَيَّامِي، فَأَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تُنْزِلَ بِهَؤُلَاءِ الْمُنْكِرِينَ مِنْ سَطْوَتِكَ وَعُقُوبَتِكَ مَا لَا قِبَلَ لَهُمْ بِهِ، فَأَمْطَرَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمُ النَّارَ فَأَحْرَقَتْهُمْ. فَلَمَّا احْتَرَقُوا بِحَرِّهَا عَمَدُوا إِلَيْهِ فَضَرَبُوهُ بِالسُّيُوفِ فَقَتَلُوهُ، وَهِيَ الْقَتْلَةُ الرَّابِعَةُ. فَلَمَّا احْتَرَقَتِ الْمَدِينَةُ بِجَمِيعِ مَا فِيهَا رُفِعَتْ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ وَجُعِلَ عَالِيهَا سَافِلَهَا، فَلَبِثَ زَمَانًا يَخْرُجُ مِنْ تَحْتِهَا دُخَانٌ مُنْتِنٌ. وَكَانَ جَمِيعُ مَنْ آمَنَ بِهِ وَقُتِلَ مَعَهُ أَرْبَعَةً وَثَلَاثِينَ أَلْفًا وَامْرَأَةَ الْمَلِكِ.
Translation
✧ Jirjīs: He was a righteous man who lived in the time of the remnants of the disciples of ʿĪsā ﷺ. Muḥammad b. Isḥāq narrated from Wahb and others: In al-Mawṣil there was a tyrant king called Dāzānah, and he was an arrogant oppressor. Jirjīs was a righteous man from the people of Palestine. He concealed his faith among a group with him who concealed the faith, who had lived in the time of the remnants of the disciples. Jirjīs had much wealth and gave great charity; sometimes his wealth was exhausted in charity, then he returned to earning the like of it. Had it not been for charity, poverty would have been dearer to him than wealth. He feared that in Syria he would be tempted away from his religion, so he headed for al-Mawṣil, taking with him a gift for its king so that no one would have any claim against him. He came to him when he came, and the king had gathered the leaders of his people, lit a fire, prepared various kinds of torture, and ordered an idol of his called Aflūn to be set up. Whoever did not prostrate to it was tortured and thrown into the fire. When Jirjīs saw what the king was doing, he regarded it as grave and resolved in his heart to strive against him. He went to the wealth he had with him and distributed it among the people of his religion. Then he approached the king in a state of intense anger and said to him: "Know that you are a servant, owned, possessing nothing for yourself or for others, and above you is a Lord who created you and provided for you." He began to speak of the majesty of God Almighty and to find fault with the king's idol. The king answered him by asking who he was and where he was from. Jirjīs said: "I am a servant of God and the son of His handmaid; from dust I was created and to Him I return." The king called him to worship his idol and said to him: "If your Lord were the King of the dominion, His mark would be seen upon you as you see upon the kings of my people who are around me." Jirjīs answered by extolling the affair of God and glorifying Him, and said to him: "Do you worship Aflūn, who does not hear, does not see, and avails nothing against the Lord of the worlds? Or do you worship the One by whose command the heavens and the earth stand? Or do you worship Ṭarqalīnā, the great one of your people among men ﷺ ? For he was a human being, eating and drinking, and God honored him by making him a human-angelic being. Or do you also worship the great one of your people, Makhlīṭīs, and what he attained from ʿĪsā ﷺ through your authority?" He mentioned the miracles of ʿĪsā and the honor with which God had distinguished him. The king said to him: "You have brought us things we do not know!" Then he gave him the choice between torture and prostrating to the idol. Jirjīs said: "If your idol is the one who raised the sky," and he enumerated things of God's power, mighty and majestic, "then you have been right and have advised well; otherwise, be gone, O accursed one." When the king heard that, he ordered him imprisoned. His body was combed with iron combs until his flesh and veins were torn, and vinegar and mustard were poured on him, yet he did not die. When the king saw that he would not die from that, he ordered six iron nails to be heated until they became fire, and his head was nailed with them so that his brain flowed out, but God Almighty preserved him. When the king saw that he would not die from that, he ordered a brass basin to be heated with fire beneath it until it became fiery, then Jirjīs was placed in it and it was closed over him until it cooled. When the king saw that he would not die from that, he summoned him and said: "Did you not feel the pain of this torture?" He said: "My God bore your torture away from me and gave me patience so that He may use it as an argument against you." The king became certain of evil and feared for himself and his kingdom, so he resolved to keep Jirjīs in prison permanently. The chiefs of his people said: "If you leave him in prison unbound, he will speak to the people and turn them against you. Rather, let him be tortured with a punishment that prevents him from speaking." So the king ordered that Jirjīs be thrown face down in the prison, and iron stakes were driven into his hands and feet. Then he ordered a marble pillar, carried by eighteen men, to be placed on his back. He remained that day under the stone. When night came, God sent an angel to him—that was the first time he was strengthened with angels. The first time revelation came to him, the angel removed the stone from him, pulled out the stakes, fed him, gave him drink, brought him good news, and comforted him. When morning came, the angel brought him out of the prison and said to him: "Go to your enemy and strive against him, for I have tried you with him for seven years. He will torture you and kill you four times during them. Each time I will restore your soul to you. When it is the fourth killing, I will receive your soul and give you your full reward." The king was unaware until Jirjīs stood before his head calling him to God. The king said: "Jirjīs?" He said: "Yes." The king said: "Who brought you out of the prison?" He said: "The One whose authority is above your authority brought me out." The king was filled with rage and called for various kinds of torture. They stretched Jirjīs between two pieces of wood, placed a sword on his head, then sawed through him until he fell between his legs and became two parts, then they cut those parts into pieces. The king had seven fierce lions in a pit, and they threw Jirjīs's body to them. When the lions saw him, they lowered their heads and stood on their paws, doing their utmost to protect him from harm beneath them. He remained that day under them, dead; that was the first death he tasted. When night came, God gathered his body, made it whole, restored his soul to it, and brought him out from the bottom of the pit. When morning came, Jirjīs approached them while they were in a festival they had made, rejoicing at Jirjīs's death. When they saw him coming, they said: "How much this one resembles Jirjīs!" The king said: "It is he!" Jirjīs said: "I am he, truly. Wretched people you are! You killed and mutilated, but God restored my soul to me! Come to this great Lord who has shown you His power." They said: "A sorcerer who bewitched your eyes and your hands against him." So they gathered all the sorcerers in their lands. When they came, the king said to their chief: "Show me some of your magic to relieve me." The sorcerer called for a bull and blew into its ears, and behold, it became two bulls. He called for seed, and it was plowed, sown, harvested, threshed, winnowed, ground, baked, and eaten within the hour. The king said to him: "Can you transform him into a dog?" The sorcerer said: "Bring me a cup of water." It was brought, and the sorcerer breathed into it. Then the king said to Jirjīs: "Drink it." Jirjīs drank it to the last drop. The sorcerer said to him: "What do you feel?" He said: "I feel nothing but good. I was thirsty, and God was kind to me and gave me drink." The sorcerer turned to the king and said: "If you were contending with a tyrant like yourself, you would have overcome him. But you are contending with the Tyrant of heaven and earth." A woman from Syria came to Jirjīs while he was in the severest torture and said to him: "I had no property except a bull from whose plowing I lived, and it died. I came to you so that you may have mercy on me and ask God to bring my bull back to life." He gave her a staff and said: "Go to your bull and strike it with this staff, and say to it: Live by God's permission." She took the staff and went to the place where the bull had fallen. She saw its horns and the hair of its tail, gathered them, then struck them with the staff and said what Jirjīs had commanded her. Her bull came back to life, and news of that spread. When the sorcerer said what he said, a man from among the king's companions—who was the greatest of them after the king—said: "Listen to me." They said: "Yes." He said: "You have attributed his affair to sorcery, yet he has not been tortured or killed. Have you ever seen any sorcerer able to defend himself or bring a dead person to life?" He mentioned the bull and its revival. They said to him: "Your speech is the speech of a man who has inclined toward him." He said: "I have believed in him, and I call God to witness that I am innocent of what you worship!" The king and his companions rose against him with daggers and cut out his tongue with the daggers. He did not linger long before he died. It was said that the plague struck him and hastened his death before he could speak. They concealed his affair, but Jirjīs revealed it to the people. Four thousand followed him while he was dead, and the king killed them with various tortures until he exterminated them. A man from among the king's great companions said to Jirjīs: "O Jirjīs, you claimed that your God begins creation and then restores it. I ask you for something: if your God does it, I will believe in Him, believe you, and spare you from my people. Beneath us are fourteen tables, trays, cups, and plates of dry wood from various trees. Call upon your Lord to restore them green as He began them, so that each piece of wood is known by its color, leaves, blossoms, and fruit." Jirjīs said: "You have asked for something great for me and for you, but it is easy for God." He called upon God, and they did not remain long before the wood became green, its roots sank in and branched out, and its leaves and blossoms grew until they recognized each piece of wood by its name. The one who had asked this said: "I will take charge of his torture." He went to brass and made from it the shape of a hollow bull, then stuffed it with naphtha, lead, sulfur, and orpiment. He placed Jirjīs in its middle, then lit a fire beneath the figure until it blazed and everything inside it melted and mixed together, and Jirjīs died inside it. When he died, God sent a violent wind, thunder, lightning, and dark clouds, and everything between heaven and earth became dark. They remained bewildered for days. Then God sent Mīkāʾīl, who carried that figure. When he lifted it, he struck the earth with it, and everyone who heard its crash was terrified. It broke apart, and Jirjīs came out of it alive. When he stood and spoke to them, the darkness cleared and the space between heaven and earth brightened. A great man among them said to him: "Call upon God to bring our dead back to life from these graves." Jirjīs ordered the graves to be opened, and they were bones, crumbled to dust. Then he prayed, and they did not remain long before they saw seventeen human beings: nine men, five women, and three children, among them a very old man. Jirjīs said to him: "When did you die?" He said: "In such-and-such a time," and behold, it was four hundred years. When the king saw that, he said: "Nothing remains of your torture that you and his companions have not suffered, except hunger and thirst. So torture him with that." They went to the house of a poor old woman who had a blind, mute, crippled son, and they confined Jirjīs there so that no food or drink could reach him. When he became hungry, he said to the old woman: "Do you have any food or drink?" She said: "No, by the One who is sworn by, we have not had food for such-and-such a time. I will go out and seek something for you." He said to her: "Do you worship God?" She said: "No." He called her, and she believed. She went off seeking something for him. In her house there was a support beam of dry wood holding up the roof. He called upon God, and that beam became green and produced every kind of fruit that is eaten and known. Branches of the beam appeared above the house, shading it and its surroundings. The old woman returned while he was eating plentifully. When she saw what had happened in her house, she said: "I believe in the One who fed you in the house of hunger. Call upon this great Lord to heal my son." He said: "Bring him close to me." She brought him close, and Jirjīs spat in his eyes, and he saw; he blew into his ears, and he heard. She said: "Release his tongue and his legs." He said: "Leave him; he has a great day ahead." The king saw the tree and said: "I see a tree I do not remember!" They said: "That tree grew for that sorcerer whom you wanted to torture with hunger. He has eaten his fill from it, and it filled the old woman, and he healed her son." The king ordered the house demolished and the tree cut down. When they set about cutting it, God withered it, and they left it. He ordered Jirjīs thrown face down, and he ordered a wheeled cart loaded with a pillar, with daggers and knives fixed to its underside. Then he called for forty bulls, and they pulled the cart once, while Jirjīs was beneath it, and it cut him into three pieces. Then he ordered his pieces burned until they became ashes. He sent the ashes with men to scatter them in the sea. They had not finished when they heard a voice from heaven: "O sea, God commands you to preserve what is in you of this good body, for I intend to restore it." God sent winds that gathered the ashes as they were before they were scattered. Those who scattered them stood still, not departing. Jirjīs came out alive, covered with dust. They returned, and he returned with them, and they told the king about the voice and the winds. The king said to Jirjīs: "Would you accept something better for me and for you? Were it not for it being said that you defeated me, I would have believed in you. But prostrate to my idol once, or sacrifice a single sheep to it, and I will do what pleases you." Jirjīs hoped to destroy the idol when he saw it and for the king to believe at that moment, so he said: "I will do it," as a trick, "and let me enter upon your idol to prostrate to it and sacrifice." The king rejoiced at that, kissed his hands and feet, and asked him to stay with him that day and night, and he did. The king vacated a room for him, and Jirjīs entered it. When night came, he stood praying and reciting the Psalms; his voice was beautiful. When the king's wife heard him, she responded to him and believed, but she concealed her faith. When morning came, the king went with him to the house of idols for him to prostrate to them. It was said to the old woman: “George has been put to trial and has coveted the kingdom.” So she went out carrying her son on her shoulder among them, rebuking George. When he entered the house of idols, he looked, and there was the old woman and her son, the closest of people to him. He called her son, and he answered him, whereas he had never spoken before that at all. Then he came down from his mother’s shoulder walking on his own two sound feet, though he had never trodden the earth at all. When he stood before George, he said to him: “Call for me these idols” – and they were on pulpits of gold, one and seventy idols, and they used to worship the sun and the moon along with them. So he called them, and they came rolling toward him. When they reached him, he struck the earth with his foot, and it was caused to swallow them and their pulpits. The king said to him: “O George, you have deceived me and destroyed my idols!” He said to him: “I did that deliberately so that you might take heed and know that if they were gods they would have defended themselves from me.” When he said this, the king’s wife spoke and professed her Islam, and she recounted to them George’s deeds and said: “You are waiting from this man for nothing but a call, and then you will perish as your idols perished.” The king said: “How quickly this sorcerer has led you astray!” Then he commanded regarding her, and she was hung upon a piece of wood, then her flesh was combed with iron combs. When the punishment pained her, she said to George: “Call upon God to lighten the pain for me.” He said: “Look above you.” She looked and laughed. The king said to her: “What makes you laugh?” She said: “I see above my head two angels with them a crown of the ornaments of Paradise, waiting for my soul to depart so that they may adorn me with it and ascend with it to Paradise.” When she died, George turned to supplication and said: “O God, You have honored me with this trial so that You may give me the best of the stations of the martyrs, and this is the last of my days. I ask You to send down upon these deniers of Your might and Your punishment that which they have no power to withstand.” So God rained fire upon them and it burned them. When they were burned by its heat, they went to him and struck him with swords and killed him, and this was the fourth killing. When the city was burned with all that was in it, it was raised up from the earth and its top was made its bottom, and for a time a stinking smoke came out from beneath it. And all those who believed in him and were killed with him were thirty-four thousand, along with the king’s wife.
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