Hidāyat al-Ḥayārā - Ibn al-Qayyim - (الكتاب/91)

Hidāyat al-ḤayārāIbn al-Qayyim

arisen in the land of the Arabs (1). I therefore believe in him and confirm his truth, yet I fear (2) that al-Ḥārith ibn Abī Shamir may kill me.

Shujaʿ said: That chamberlain continued to honor me, extend fine hospitality, and tell me there was no hope in al-Ḥārith, saying, “He is afraid of Caesar.” One day al-Ḥārith came out, sat down, placed the crown on his head, and granted me audience. I handed him the letter of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ; he read it and exclaimed, “Who will strip me of my kingdom? I shall march against him—even if he were in Yemen I would go to him. Summon the people!” He remained seated, reviewing the troops until nightfall, and ordered that the horses be shod (3). Then he said, “Inform your master of what you have seen.”

He also wrote to Caesar to inform him of the matter, and the letter reached Caesar in Aelia, where Dihyah al-Kalbī—whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had sent—was with him. When Caesar read al-Ḥārith’s letter, he wrote back, “Do not march (4) against him; leave him be, and come to me (5) in Aelia.”

Shujaʿ continued: The reply arrived while I was still there. Al-Ḥārith summoned me and asked, “When do you intend to depart for your master?” I replied, “Tomorrow.” He then ordered that I be given (6) one hundred gold mithqals, and Muri provided me with provisions and clothing. He said, “Convey my greetings to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and inform him that I am following his religion.”

(1) Manuscript J reads “al-Qurazi,” whereas manuscript G has “ghayriha” (“other than it”). (2) Manuscript J reads “khayif” (“afraid”). (3) Manuscript J reads “bi-an tahadd.” (4) Manuscript J reads “tashurr.” (5) Manuscript J reads “wa-wafani.” “Iliya” (with a long first vowel and light pronunciation) is an old name for Bayt al-Maqdis, that is, Jerusalem; some pronounce the second syllable with stress and shorten the word. The term is a borrowing into Arabic. See: Ibn al-Athir, al-Nihaya, 1/85. (6) Manuscript J reads “fa-amarani.”

خرج بأرض العرب (١)، فأنا أُومِنُ به وأصدِّقُه، وأنا أخاف (٢) من الحارث بن أبي شمر أنْ يقتلني. وقال شُجَاعٌ: فكان هذا الحاجب يُكْرِمُني ويُحْسِنُ ضيافتي، ويُخْبِرُني عن الحارث باليأس منه، ويقول: هو يخاف قيصر، قال: فخرج الحارث يومًا وجلس، فوضع التَّاج على رأسه، فأذِنَ لي عليه، فدفعتُ إليه كتاب رسولِ الله ﷺ فقرأه، وقال: مَنْ يَنْتَزِعُ منِّي مُلْكِي؟! أنا سائرٌ إليه ولو كان باليمين جئتُه، عليَّ بالناس! فلم يزل جالسًا يعرض حتى الليل، وأمر بالخيل (أن تُنْعَلَ) (٣)، ثم قال: أخْبِرْ صاحبك ما ترى. وكتب إلى قيصر يخبره خَبَري فصادفَ قيصر بإيليا، وعنده دِحْيَةُ الكَلْبيُّ، قد بعثه إليه رسولُ الله ﷺ، فلما قرأ قيصر كتابَ الحارثِ، كتب إليه أَنْ لا تَسِرْ (٤) إليه، وتَلَهَّ عنه، ووَافِني (٥) بإيلياء. قال: ورجع الكتاب وأنا مقيمٌ، فدعاني، وقال: متى تريدُ أن تخرجَ إلى صاحبكَ؟ قلت: غدًا، (فأمر لي) (٦) بمائةِ مثقالٍ ذهبًا، ووصلني مُري بنفقةَ وكسوة، وقال: اقرأْ على رسول الله ﷺ مِنّي السلامَ وأخْبِرْه أنّي مُتَّبِعٌ دِيْنَهُ.

(١) في "ج": "القرظي"، وفي "غ": "غيرها". (٢) في "ج": "خايف". (٣) في "ج": "بأن تحدّ". (٤) في "ج": "تشر". (٥) في "ج": "ووافاني". و"إيلياء" -بالمد والتخفيف- هي مدينة بيت المقدس، وقد تشدَّد الثانية وتُقْصر الكلمة. وهو معرَّب. انظر: "النهاية" لابن الأثير: (١/ ٨٥). (٦) في "ج": "فأمرني".