Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ - Shams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi - (10/279)

Siyar Aʿlām al-NubalāʾShams al‑Din al‑Dhahabi

Cyprus, and he visited Damascus twice.

Abu Maʿshar the astrologer said: “He was ever intent on justice, commendable in conduct, blessed in disposition, naturally versed in jurisprudence, and ranked among the foremost scholars.”⦗1⦘

It is related from Hārūn al-Rashīd that he said: “In my son ʿAbd Allāh I recognize the decisiveness of al-Manṣūr, the devotion of al-Mahdī, and the dignity of al-Hādī; and had I wished to liken him to a fourth—meaning myself—I could have done so. Yet I have placed Muḥammad ahead of him, even though I know he is swayed by his desires, lavish with whatever lies in his hands, and allows slave-girls to share in his counsel. Were it not for Umm Jaʿfar and the inclination of the Hāshimites toward him, I would certainly have preferred ʿAbd Allāh.”⦗2⦘

Al-Maʾmūn said: “If people knew how much I love to pardon, they would draw near to me with their crimes, and I fear I may not be rewarded for it.”⦗3⦘

Yahyā ibn Aktham reported: “Al-Maʾmūn’s forbearance was such that it exasperated us.”

It is said that a boatman once passed by and exclaimed, “Do you think this man could ever merit esteem in my sight when he killed his brother al-Amīn?!” Al-Maʾmūn overheard him, smiled, and said, “What device can make me esteemed in the eyes of this venerable gentleman?”⦗4⦘

It is further related that the Byzantine emperor sent al-Maʾmūn precious gifts, among them one hundred ratls of musk and one hundred sable robes. Al-Maʾmūn ordered, “Double it for him, so that he may know the honor of Islam.”⦗5⦘

(1) Fawat al-Wafayat, vol. 2, p. 237. (2) Tarikh al-Khulafa, p. 307. (3) Fawat al-Wafayat, vol. 2, p. 236. (4) Tarikh Baghdad, vol. 10, p. 189; Fawat al-Wafayat, vol. 2, p. 236; Uyun al-Tawarikh, vol. 8, folio 15; Tarikh al-Khulafa, p. 320. (5) Fawat al-Wafayat, vol. 2, p. 237. The samur is an animal akin to the mongoose; its pelt, whether glossy black or tawny, is fashioned into highly prized fur.

قُبْرُسَ، وَقَدِمَ دِمَشْقَ مَرَّتَينِ. قَالَ أَبُو مَعْشَرٍ المُنَجِّمُ: كَانَ أَمَّاراً بِالعَدْلِ، مَحْمُوْدَ السِّيْرَةِ، مَيْمُوْنَ النَّقِيْبَةِ، فَقِيْهَ النَّفْسِ، يُعَدُّ مِنْ كِبَارِ العُلَمَاءِ (١) . وَرُوِيَ عَنِ الرَّشِيْدِ، قَالَ: إِنِّيْ لأَعْرِفُ فِي عَبْدِ اللهِ ابْنِي حَزْمَ المَنْصُوْرِ، وَنُسُكَ المَهْدِيِّ، وَعِزَّةَ الهَادِي، وَلَوْ أَشَاءُ أَنْ أَنْسِبَهُ إِلَى الرَّابِعِ -يَعْنِي: نَفْسَه- لَفَعَلتُ، وَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ مُحَمَّداً عَلَيْهِ، وَإِنِّيْ لأَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ مُنْقَادٌ إِلَى هَوَاهُ، مُبَذِّرٌ لِمَا حَوَتْهُ يَدَاهُ، يُشَارِكُ فِي رَأْيِهِ الإِمَاءُ، وَلَوْلاَ أُمُّ جَعْفَرٍ، وَمَيلُ الهَاشِمِيِّينَ إِلَيْهِ، لَقَدَّمْتُ عَلَيْهِ عَبْدَ اللهِ (٢) . عَنِ المَأْمُوْنِ، قَالَ: لَوْ عَرَفَ النَّاسُ حُبِّي لِلْعفْوِ، لَتَقَرَّبُوا إِلَيَّ بِالجَرَائِمِ (٣) ، وَأَخَافُ أَنْ لاَ أُوجَرَ فِيْهِ. وَعَنْ يَحْيَى بنِ أَكْثَمَ: كَانَ المَأْمُوْنُ يَحْلُمُ حَتَّى يُغِيْظَنَا. قِيْلَ: مَرَّ مَلاَّحٌ، فَقَالَ: أَتَظُنُّونَ أَنَّ هَذَا يَنْبُلُ عِنْدِي وَقَدْ قَتَلَ أَخَاهُ الأَمِيْنَ؟! فَسَمِعَهَا المَأْمُوْنُ، فَتَبَسَّمَ، وَقَالَ: مَا الحِيلَةُ حَتَّى أَنْبُلَ فِي عَينِ هَذَا السَّيِّدِ الجَلِيْلِ (٤) ؟ قِيْلَ: أَهدَى مَلِكُ الرُّوْمِ لِلْمَأْمُوْنِ نَفَائِسَ، مِنْهَا مائَةُ رَطْلِ مِسْكٍ، وَمائَةُ حُلَّةٍ سَمُّورٍ. فَقَالَ المَأْمُوْنُ: أَضْعِفُوهَا لَهُ لِيَعْلَمَ عِزَّ الإِسْلاَمِ (٥) .

(١) " فوات الوفيات " ٢ / ٢٣٧. (٢) " تاريخ الخلفاء ": ٣٠٧. (٣) " فوات الوفيات " ٢ / ٢٣٦. (٤) " تاريخ بغداد " ١٠ / ١٨٩، و" فوات الوفيات " ٢ / ٢٣٦، و" عيون التواريخ " ٨ / لوحة ١٥ و" تاريخ الخلفاء " ٣٢٠. (٥) " فوات الوفيات " ٢ / ٢٣٧، والسمور: حيوان يشبه النمس، منه أسود لامع وأشقر، تسوى من جلوده فراء غالية الاثمان.