Siku ya Jumatano, wakiwa wamebaki usiku sita kumalizika Dhu l-Hijjah 232 [11 Agosti 847], al-Mutawakkil ʿalā llāh, ambaye wakati huo alikuwa na umri wa miaka ishirini na sita, alimrithi al-Wāthiq kama khalifa. Kupitia yeye, Mungu alileta ushindi wa sunnah na kukomesha mateso yaliyosababishwa na Mahakama ya Kuhoji (Inquisition), jambo lililowafurahisha watu sana. 73.1

On Wednesday, with six nights left in Dhu l-Hijjah 232 [August 11, 847], al- Mutawakkil ʿalā llāh, who was then twenty-six years of age, succeeded al-Wāthiq as caliph. Through him God brought about the triumph of the sunnah and put an end to the suffering caused by the Inquisition, much to the gratification of the people. 73.1

[Al-Taymī:] Kulikuwa na makhalifa watatu wakubwa: Abū Bakr, aliyepigana na waasi hadi walipojisalimisha; ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, aliyerekebisha madhulumu ya Banu Umayya; na al-Mutawakkil, aliyeondoa bidaa potofu na kutangaza hadharani sunnah. 73.2

[Al-Taymī:] There were three great caliphs: Abū Bakr, who fought the apostates until they surrendered; ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, who made good the abuses of the Umayyads; and al-Mutawakkil, who abolished heretical innovations and publicly proclaimed the sunnah. 73.2

[ʿAlī ibn al-Jahm:] Khalifa al-Mutawakkil alinituma niende kwake, akaniambia, "ʿAlī, nimeota ndoto nimemwona Mtume ﷺ. Nilisimama kumkaribisha, naye akasema, 'Unasimama kwa ajili yangu ilhali wewe ni khalifa?'" 73.3

[ʿAlī ibn al-Jahm:] The Caliph al-Mutawakkil sent for me and said, “ʿAlī, I dreamed I saw the Prophet. I rose to greet him, and he said, ‘You’re rising for me even though you’re a caliph?’” 73.3

"Ni ndoto nzuri, Amirul Muuminina," nilisema. "Kusimama kwako kwa ajili yake kunaashiria kusimama kwako kwa ajili ya Sunnah. Na alikuita khalifa!" Al-Mutawakkil alifurahi.

“It’s a good dream, Commander of the Faithful,” I said. “Your rising for him symbolizes your standing up for the sunnah. And he called you a caliph!” Al-Mutawakkil was pleased.

[ʿAlī ibn Ismāʿīl:] Huko Tarsus niliota ndoto ya kumwona al-Mutawakkil ameketi mahali palipojaa nuru. 73.4

[ʿAlī ibn Ismāʿīl:] In Tarsus I dreamed that I saw al-Mutawakkil sitting in a place full of light. 73.4

"Al-Mutawakkil?" niliuliza.

“Al-Mutawakkil?” I asked.

"Ndiyo," alisema.

“Yes,” he said.

"Mungu amekufanyia nini?" "Amenisamehe." "Kwa nini?" "Kwa sababu ya sehemu ndogo ya sunnah niliyoweza kuirejesha." [Mwandishi:] Al-Mutawakkil alizima moto wa bid'ah potovu na kuwasha taa za sunnah.

“What has God done with you?” “He forgave me.” “Why?” “Because of the little bit of sunnah I was able to restore.” [The author:] Al-Mutawakkil extinguished the fires of heretical innovation and lit the lamps of sunnah.

[Ibrāhīm ibn Muḥammad:] Mwaka 234 [848–49], al-Mutawakkil aliwachagua baadhi ya wanazuoni wa fiqhi na wapokezi wa Hadith, akiwemo Muṣʿab al-Zubayrī, Isḥāq ibn Abī Isrāʾīl, Ibrāhīm ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Harawī, na ʿAbd Allāh na ʿUthmān, wana wa Ibn Abī Shaybah, ili wapewe zawadi na posho za kawaida, na akawaamuru wafanye vikao vya wazi vya Hadith ili wafundishe Hadith zinazoyakanusha madhehebu ya Makhawarij na wafuasi wa Jahm, pamoja na Hadith zinazoeleza kumwona Mwenyezi Mungu (SWT). ʿUthmān ibn Abī Shaybah aliwekewa mimbari ili aongoze kikao ndani ya Mji wa al-Manṣūr. Takriban watu elfu thelathini walikusanyika kumsikiliza. Abū Bakr ibn Abī Shaybah alifanya kikao chake katika msikiti wa al-Ruṣāfah, ambako watu wengine elfu thelathini walikusanyika kusikiliza.423 73.5

[Ibrāhīm ibn Muḥammad:] In 234 [848–49], al-Mutawakkil chose a number of jurists and Hadith-men, including Muṣʿab al-Zubayrī, Isḥāq ibn Abī Isrāʾīl, Ibrāhīm ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Harawī, and ʿAbd Allāh and ʿUthmān, the sons of Ibn Abī Shaybah, to receive awards and regular stipends, and ordered them to hold public Hadith sessions to teach the reports that refute the Secessionists and the followers of Jahm, as well as the reports that describe seeing God. ʿUthmān ibn Abī Shaybah had a pulpit set up for him to lead a session inside the City of al-Manṣūr. Some thirty thousand people gathered to hear him. Abū Bakr ibn Abī Shaybah held his session in the mosque of al- Ruṣāfah, where another thirty thousand gathered to hear.423 73.5

[Ghulām Khalīl:] Huko ʿAbbādān, baada ya kumalizika kwa Inquisition, Abū Jaʿfar al-Khawwāṣ alinisomea: 73.6

[Ghulām Khalīl:] In ʿAbbādān, after the end of the Inquistion, Abū Jaʿfar al- Khawwāṣ recited for me: 73.6

Kamba ya wazushi imechakaa na kukatika.

The heretics’ rope has frayed and snapped.

Zamu yao ya madaraka imepita na kuondoka.

Their turn in power come and gone.

Na pamoja nao wameondoka jeshi la Shetani.

And gone with them is the Devil’s horde.

Waliokusanyika kuwashangilia.

That gathered round to cheer them on.

Tuambieni, enyi marafiki: Katika mambo hayo yote.

Tell me, friends: In all that lot.

Kulikuwa na mfano? Hata mmoja tu?

Was there an exemplar? Even one?

Mmoja kama Sufyān wa Thawr, ambaye alitufundisha sote.

One like Sufyān of Thawr, who taught us all.

Nini cha kukubali na nini cha kuepuka?

What to accept and what to shun?

Au Sulaymān wa Taym, ambaye hakuwahi kulala.

Or Sulaymān of Taym, who never slept.

Kwa kuogopa macho yanayoona yote ya Mungu?

For fear of God’s all-seeing gaze?

Au kama Mālik, huyo bahari, huo uwanja wa malisho.

Or like Mālik, that sea, that pasture-ground.

Wapi wanazuoni wanakwenda kulisha?

Where the jurists come to graze?

Au Ibn Ḥanbal, shujaa mchanga wa Uislamu.

Or Ibn Ḥanbal, Islam’s brave young man.

Moyo wa ujasiri kama ule ambao Mungu aliwahi kuumba.

As stout a heart as God e’er made.

Ambaye, ingawa amezungukwa na mijeledi na upanga.

Who, though ringed about with whip and sword.

Walikabiliana na kelele zao bila woga.424

Faced their clamor unafraid.424

Miezi mitano baada ya kuanza kwake utawala, al-Mutawakkil alimtuma amwite Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. 73.7

Five months into his reign, al-Mutawakkil sent for Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal. 73.7

[Ṣāliḥ:] Al-Mutawakkil alimwamuru Isḥāq ibn Ibrāhīm amtume baba yangu kwake. Basi Isḥāq akamwita baba yangu akamwambia: "Amirul-Mu'minīn anahitaji uwepo wako. Jiandae kwa safari!" Baba yangu akasema: 73.8

[Ṣāliḥ:] Al-Mutawakkil ordered Isḥāq ibn Ibrāhīm to send my father to him. So Isḥāq summoned my father and said: “The Commander of the Faithful requires your presence. Prepare yourself for a journey!” My father said: 73.8

Ishaq pia aliniomba nimsamehe kwa kuwepo wakati nilipopigwa viboko. Nilimwambia kwamba nilikwisha wasamehe wote waliokuwepo. Kisha akasema anataka kuniuliza kuhusu Qur'ani, si kunijaribu, bali kwa sababu alitaka kujua kwa dhati.

Isḥāq also asked me to forgive him for being present when I was flogged. I told him that I had already forgiven everyone who was there. Then he said he wanted to ask me about the Qurʾan—not to test me, but because he genuinely wanted to know.

"Kati yetu tu, basi: Wewe unasema nini kuhusu Qur'ani?" "Ni maneno ya Mungu," nilimwambia, "yasiyoumbwa." "Kwa nini yasiyoumbwa?" "Mungu amesema: {Uumbaji ni Wake, na amri ni Yake}425, jambo linaloonyesha kwamba kile Anachokiumba si sawa na kile Anachokiamuru." "Lakini amri Yake imeumbwa," alisema Isḥāq.

“Just between us, then: What do you say about the Qurʾan?” “It’s the speech of God,” I told him, “uncreated.” “Why uncreated?” “God has said, «His is the creation, His the command,»425 which shows that what He creates is not the same as what He commands.” “But His command is created,” said Isḥāq.

"Mungu tusaidie!" nilisema. "Je, kiumbe kinaweza kuumba kiumbe kingine?" "Lakini ni mamlaka gani inakuambia kwamba hakiumbwi?" "Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad anasema, 'Si muumbaji wala kiumbwa.'" Akanyamaza.

“God help us!” I said. “Can one created thing create another?” “But what authority tells you it isn’t created?” “Jaʿfar ibn Muḥammad says, ‘It is neither a creator nor a created thing.’” He fell silent.

Usiku uliofuata, alinituma nimwite na akaniuliza, "Unahisije kuhusu kwenda?" "Hilo ni juu yako." [Ṣāliḥ aliendelea:] 73.9

The next night, he sent for me and asked, “How do you feel about going?” “That’s up to you.” [Ṣāliḥ continued:] 73.9

Wakati al-Mutawakkil alipomwita baba yangu, baadhi ya Answār na viongozi mashuhuri wa Banu Hāshim walimwendea ili kumuona, wakamuuliza kama kweli atazungumza naye.

Baada ya Aḥmad kupelekwa kumwona al-Mutawakkil kisha kurudishwa tena, Isḥāq ibn Ibrāhīm alifariki dunia, na nafasi yake ikarithiwa na mwanawe, ʿAbd Allāh ibn Isḥāq. Kisha maadui wa Aḥmad wakamshtaki kwa al-Mutawakkil, wakidai kwamba alikuwa akimhifadhi mfuasi wa ʿAlī.426 73.10

After Aḥmad was taken to see al-Mutawakkil and then sent back again, Isḥāq ibn Ibrāhīm died and was succeeded by his son, ʿAbd Allāh ibn Isḥāq. Then Aḥmad’s enemies denounced him to al-Mutawakkil, claiming that he was harboring a partisan of ʿAlī.426 73.10

[Ṣāliḥ:] Khalifa al-Mutawakkil alimtumia ujumbe kwa ʿAbd Allāh ibn Isḥāq, gavana mpya wa Baghdad, akimwagiza amwonye Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal asiifiche kitu chochote kutoka kwa khalifa. Kisha khalifa alimtuma chamberlain wake, Muẓaffar, pamoja na mkuu wa huduma ya wajumbe, mtu aliyeitwa Ibn al-Kalbī, ambaye naye alikuwa amemtumia ujumbe uleule. Usiku wa manane, baada ya watu wengi kuwa wamelala, al-Muẓaffar na Ibn al-Kalbī walimkabili Aḥmad na kumfikishia ujumbe ambao ʿAbd Allāh ibn Isḥāq alikuwa amewafikishia: yaani, kwamba ajihadhari na kuficha kitu chochote kutoka kwa khalifa. 73.11

[Ṣāliḥ:] The Caliph al-Mutawakkil sent a message to ʿAbd Allāh ibn Isḥāq, the new governor in Baghdad, telling him to warn Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal against hiding anything from the caliph. The caliph then dispatched his chamberlain, Muẓaffar, as well as the chief of the courier service, a man named Ibn al-Kalbī, to whom he had sent the same message. Late at night, after most people had gone to bed, al-Muẓaffar and Ibn al-Kalbī confronted Aḥmad and passed on the message that ʿAbd Allāh ibn Isḥāq had conveyed to them: that is, that he should be wary of hiding anything from the caliph. 73.11

[Ṣāliḥ:] Kulikuwa na mlango ukigongwa, na baba yangu, ambaye alikuwa amevaa kikoi tu, akaenda kufungua mlango. Wale waliokuja walisoma kwa sauti ujumbe kutoka kwa khalifa wakidokeza kwamba alikuwa akimficha mfuasi wa ʿAlī. Akasema, “Sijui anamaanisha nini. Naamini kwamba utii ni wajibu wake kwa nyakati nzuri na mbaya, kwa hiari au bila hiari, hata kama atawapendelea wengine kuliko mimi. Ninajuta kutoweza kusali pamoja na ndugu zangu Waislamu, kuhudhuria swala za Ijumaa, au kuhutubia jamii.”427 73.12

[Ṣāliḥ:] There was a knock, and my father, who was dressed only in his breechclout, answered the door. The callers read aloud a message from the caliph suggesting that he was harboring a partisan of ʿAlī. He said, “I don’t know what he means. I believe that obedience is due him in good times and bad, willingly or not, even if he should favor others over me. I regret not being able to pray with my fellow Muslims, attend Friday prayers, or address the community.”427 73.12

Kabla ya kufa kwake, Isḥāq alikuwa amemwambia baba yangu abaki nyumbani na asitoke kwenda kwenye Ijumaa wala sala nyingine za jamaa, akimwonya kwamba akitoka, atapata yale aliyoyapata chini ya al-Muʿtaṣim.

[Ṣāliḥ:] Baba yangu alipokea barua kutoka kwa ʿAlī ibn al-Jahm iliyosema: “Amīr al-Mu'minīn kwa hivi anakutumia Yaʿqūb, aitwaye Qawṣarrah, pamoja na zawadi kwa ajili yako, na anakuamuru uje kwake. Anakuita kwa jina la Mwenyezi Mungu kwamba usiombe msamaha wala usirudishe fedha alizokutumia, kwa maana kufanya hivyo kutaimarisha mikono ya wale wanaokupinga.” 73.16

[Ṣāliḥ:] My father received a letter from ʿAlī ibn al-Jahm saying: “The Commander of the Faithful herewith sends you Yaʿqūb, called Qawṣarrah, with a gift for you, and orders you to come to him. He calls upon you in the name of God not to plead for exemption or to return the money he has sent you, for doing so will strengthen the hand of those working against you.” 73.16

Siku iliyofuata, Yaʿqūb alirudi akaingia kumwona. "Abū ʿAbd Allāh," alisema, "Amirul Muuminina anakusalimu, na anasema: 'Sasa nimeshawishika kuwa huna hatia. Kwa kuwa natamani faraja ya uwepo wako na baraka za dua zako, nakutumia hapa dirhamu elfu kumi kugharamia safari yako.'" Kisha Yaʿqūb alitoa mfuko wenye ncha iliyofungwa kwa fundo, ukiwa na takriban dinari mia mbili, na uliobaki umejaa dirhamu ambazo hazijakatwa kingo. Baba yangu hakuutazama hata kidogo.

The next day, Yaʿqūb returned and went in to see him. “Abū ʿAbd Allāh,” he said, “the Commander of the Faithful conveys his greetings to you and says: ‘I am now convinced of your innocence. Desiring, as I do, the comfort of your presence and the blessing of your prayers, I herewith send to you ten thousand dirhams to cover the expenses of your journey.’” Yaʿqūb then brought out a bag with a knotted pouch containing about two hundred dinars and the rest filled with untrimmed dirhams. My father didn’t even look at it.

Yaʿqūb alifunga tena, akisema, "Nitarudi kesho kujua utakachoamua kufanya." Akaongeza, "Himidi ni za Mwenyezi Mungu, aliyewazuia wazushi wasifurahie anguko lako." Kisha akaondoka.

Yaʿqūb tied it back up, saying, “I’ll be back tomorrow to find out what you’ve decided to do.” He added, “Praise God, who prevented the innovators from rejoicing in your downfall.” Then he left.

Nilileta beseni la kijani,430 nikalipindua, kisha nikalidondosha juu ya mfuko.

I brought in a green washtub,430 turned it over, and dropped it on top of the bag.

Wakati wa sala ya magharibi ulipofika, baba yangu alisema, “Ṣāliḥ, chukua hiki uweke nyumbani kwako.” Hivyo nikakiweka juu ya paa karibu na mahali nilipokuwa nikilala. Asubuhi na mapema iliyofuata nilisikia akiniita, kwa hiyo nikaamka nikamwendea. Aliniambia kuwa hakulala. Nilipomuuliza kwa nini hakulala, alianza kulia na kusema, “Nilidhani nimewakimbia, lakini sasa wamekuja kunitesa mwishoni mwa maisha yangu!” Akaendelea, “Nimeamua kuwapa kile kitu mara tu itakapopambazuka.” “Hilo ni juu yako,” nilisema.

[Ṣāliḥ:] Baba yangu alikuwa akipokea ziara za wajumbe waliokuja wakileta salamu za al-Mutawakkil na kuuliza hali yake ya afya. Sisi tulifurahi kuwapokea wageni hao, lakini baba yangu alitetemeka sana hadi tukalazimika kumfunika kwa nguo nzito. Angekunja vidole vyake pamoja na kusema, "Kama ningekuwa na roho yangu mkononi, ningeiachilia," kisha afungue mkono wake. 73.45

[Ṣāliḥ:] My father used to receive visits from messengers conveying al-Mutawakkil’s greetings and asking after his health. We were happy to receive the visitors, but my father would shudder so violently that we had to bundle him up in heavy clothes. He would bunch his fingers together and say, “If I had my soul in my hand, I would let it go,” then open his hand. 73.45

Baadaye, al-Mutawakkil na msafara wake walipokuwa wakipita al-Shammāsiyyah njiani kwenda al-Madāʾin, baba yangu aliniambia kwamba hakutaka nikwende kwao wala kuwatumia ujumbe wa aina yoyote. Nilimwambia kwamba sitafanya hivyo.

Some time later, al-Mutawakkil and his entourage were passing through al- Shammāsiyyah on their way to al-Madāʾin. My father told me that he didn’t want me to go to them or send them word of any kind. I said I wouldn’t.

Siku iliyofuata nilikuwa nimekaa nje, na papo hapo mbele yangu—ingawa ilikuwa siku ya mvua—alionekana Yaḥyā ibn Khāqān, ambaye alikuja, mvua na yote, akiwa na msafara mkubwa sana.

The next day I was sitting outside and there right in front of me—even though it was a rainy day—appeared Yaḥyā ibn Khāqān, who had come, rain and all, with a vast entourage.

"Huu ni mwenendo wa namna gani?" alisema, akishuka farasi wake nje kidogo ya njia yetu. "Hukumjia kumfikishia salamu za baba yako Amīr al-Mu'minīn, ndiyo maana amenituma kwako." Nilijaribu kumshawishi aingie kwenye njia akiwa juu ya farasi, lakini alikataa, badala yake akaanza kupiga hatua kwa shida kupitia matope. Alipofika mlangoni, alivua viatu vya mvua vilivyokuwa juu ya buti zake, kisha akaingia ndani ya nyumba.

“Is this any way to act?” he said, dismounting just outside our alley. “You didn’t come and convey your father’s greetings to the Commander of the Faithful, so he sent me to you.” I tried to persuade him to come through the alley on horseback, but he refused and began sloshing his way through the mud instead. When he reached the door, he removed the galoshes he was wearing over his boots and went into the house.

Baba yangu alikuwa ameketi kwenye kona akiwa amevaa kanga iliyoshonwa viraka na kilemba. Pazia pekee lililokuwa juu ya mlango lilikuwa ni kipande cha gunia. Yaḥyā alimsalimia, akambusu kwenye paji la uso, kisha akamuuliza kuhusu afya yake.