٢٢ - وَوَجَدْتُ فِي بَعْضِ الْكُتُبِ نُسْخَةَ كِتَابِ الْحِبَاءِوَالشَّرْطِ مِنَ الرِّضَا عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى‏ عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ إِلَى الْعُمَّالِ فِي شَأْنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَمْ أَرْوَذَلِكَ عَنْ أَحَدٍ أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الْبَدِي‏ءِ الْبَدِيعِ الْقَادِرِ الْقَاهِرِ الرَّقِيبِ عَلَى عِبَادِهِ الْمُقِيتِ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ الَّذِي خَضَعَ كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ لِمُلْكِهِ وَذَلَّ كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ لِعِزَّتِهِ وَاسْتَسْلَمَ كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ لِقُدْرَتِهِ وَتَوَاضَعَ كُلُّ شَيْ‏ءٍ لِسُلْطَانِهِ وَعَظَمَتِهِ وَأَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ عِلْمُهُ وَأَحْصَاهُ عَدَدُهُ فَلا يَئُودُهُ كَبِيرٌ وَلا يَعْزُبُ عَنْهُ صَـغِيرٌ الَّذِي لا تُدْرِكُهُ أَبْصَـارُ النَّـاظِرِينَ وَلا تُحِيطُ بِهِ صِفَةُ الْوَاصِـفِينَ لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالأَمْرُوَالْمَثَلُ الأَعْلى‏ فِي السَّماواتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي شَرَعَ الإِسْلامَ دِيناً فَفَضَّلَهُ وَعَظَّمَهُ وَشَرَّفَهُ وَكَرَّمَهُ وَجَعَلَهُ الدِّينَ الْقَيِّمَ الَّذِي لا يَقْبَلُ غَيْرَهُ وَالصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ الَّذِي لا يَضِلُّ مَنْ لَزِمَهُ وَلا يَهْتَدِي مَنْ صَدَفَ عَنْهُ وَجَعَلَ فِيهِ النُّورَ وَالْبُرْهَانَ وَالشِّفَاءَ وَالْبَيَانَ وَبَعَثَ بِهِ مَنِ اصْطَفَى مِنْ مَلائِكَتِهِ إِلَى مَنِ اجْتَبَى مِنْ رُسُلِهِ فِي الأُمَمِ الْخَالِيَةِ وَالْقُرُونِ الْمَاضِيَةِ حَتَّى انْتَهَتْ رِسَالَتُهُ إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فَخَتَمَ بِهِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَقَفَّى بِهِ عَلَى آثَارِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَبَعَثَهُ رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ وَبَشِيراً لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْمُصَدِّقِينَ وَنَذِيراً لِلْكَافِرِينَ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ لِتَكُونَ لَهُ الْحُجَّةُ الْبَالِغَةُ وَلِيَهْلِكَ مَنْ هَلَكَ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ وَيَحْيى‏ مَنْ حَيَّ عَنْ بَيِّنَةٍ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَسَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَوْرَثَ أَهْلَ بَيْتِهِ مَوَارِيثَ النُّبُوَّةِ وَاسْتَوْدَعَهُمُ الْعِلْمَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَجَعَلَهُمْ مَعْدِنَ الإِمَامَةِ وَالْخِلافَةِ وَأَوْجَبَ وَلايَتَهُمْ وَشَرَّفَ مَنْزِلَتَهُمْ فَأَمَرَ رَسُولَهُ بِمَسْأَلَةِ أُمَّتِهِ مَوَدَّتَهُمْ إِذْ يَقُولُ: قُلْ لا أَسْئَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْراً إِلا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبى‏ وَمَا وَصَفَهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ إِذْهَابِ الرِّجْسِ عَنْهُمْ وَتَطْهِيرِهِ إِيَّاهُمْ فِي قَوْلِهِ إِنَّما يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيُذْهِبَ عَنْكُمُ الرِّجْسَ أَهْلَ الْبَيْتِ وَيُطَهِّرَكُمْ تَطْهِيراً ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْمَأْمُونَ بَرَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ فِي عِتْرَتِهِ وَوَصَلَ أَرْحَامَ أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ فَرَدَّ أُلْفَتَهُمْ وَجَمَعَ فِرْقَتَهُمْ وَرَأَبَ صَدْعَهُمْ وَرَتَقَ فَتْقَهُمْ وَأَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ بِهِ الضَّغَائِنَ وَالإِحَنَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَأَسْكَنَ التَّنَاصُرَ وَالتَّوَاصُلَ وَالَْمحَبَّةَ وَالْمَوَدَّةَ قُلُوبَهُمْ فَـأَصْبَحَتْ بِيُمْنِهِ وَحِـفْظِهِ وَبَرَكَتِهِ وَبِرِّهِ وَصِـلَتِهِ أَيْدِيهُمْ وَاحِـدَةًوَكَلِمَتُهُمْ جَامِعَةً وَأَهْوَاؤُهُمْ مُتَّفِقَةً وَرَعَى الْحُقُوقَ لاهْلِهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمَوَارِيثَ مَوَاضِعَهَا وَكَافَأَ إِحْسَانَ الُْمحْسِنِينَ وَحَفِظَ بَلاءَ الْمُبْلَيْنَ وَقَرَّبَ وَبَاعَدَ عَلَى الدِّينِ ثُمَّ اخْتَصَّ بِالتَّفْضِيلِ وَالتَّقْدِيمِ وَالتَّشْرِيفِ مَنْ قَدَّمَتْهُ مَسَاعِيهِ فَكَانَ ذَلِكَ ذَا الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ الْفَضْلَ بْنَ سَهْلٍ إِذْ رَآهُ لَهُ مُؤَازِراً وَبِحَقِّهِ قَائِماً وَبِحُجَّتِهِ نَاطِقاً وَلِنُقَبَائِهِ نَقِيباً وَلِخُيُولِهِ قَائِداً وَلِحُرُوبِهِ مُدَبِّراً وَلِرَعِيَّتِهِ سَائِساً وَإِلَيْهِ دَاعِياً وَلِمَنْ أَجَابَ إِلَى طَاعَتِهِ مُكَافِئاً وَلِمَنْ عَنَدَ عَنْهَا مُبَايِناً وَبِنُصْرَتِهِ مُنْفَرِداً وَلِمَرَضِ الْقُلُوبِ وَالنِّيَّاتِ مُدَاوِياً لَمْ يَنْهَهُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ قِلَّةُ مَالٍ وَلا عَوَزُ رِجَالٍ وَلَمْ يَمِلْ بِهِ طَمَعٌ وَلَمْ يَلْفِتْهُ عَنْ نِيَّتِهِ وَبَصِيرَتِهِ وَجَلٌ بَلْ عِنْدَ مَا يُهَوِّلُهُ الْمُهَوِّلُونَ وَيُرْعِدُ وَيُبْرِقُ بِهِ الْمُبْرِقُونَ الْمُرْعِدُونَ وَكَثْرَةُ الُْمخَالِفِينَ وَالْمُعَانِدِينَ مِنَ الُْمجَاهِدِينَ وَالُْمخَاتِلِينَ أَثْبَتُ مَا يَكُونُ عَزِيمَةً وَأَجْرَأُ جِنَاناً وَأَنْفَذُ مَكِيدَةً وَأَحْسَنُ تَدْبِيراً وَأَقْوَى تَثَبُّتاً فِي حَقِّ الْمَأْمُونِ وَالدُّعَاءِ إِلَيْهِ حَتَّى قَصَمَ أَنْيَابَ الضَّلالَةِ وَفَلَّ حَدَّهُمْ وَقَلَّمَ أَظْفَارَهُمْ وَحَصَدَ شَوْكَتَهُمْ وَصَرَعَهُمْ مَصَارِعَ الْمُلْحِدِينَ فِي دِينِهِ النَّاكِثِينَ لِعَهْدِهِ الْوَانِينَ فِي أَمْرِهِ الْمُسْتَخِفِّينَ بِحَقِّهِ الآْمِنِينَ لِمَا حَذَّرَ مِنْ سَطْوَتِهِ وَبَأْسِهِ مَعَ آثَارِ ذِي الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ فِي صُنُوفِ الأُمَمِ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَمَا زَادَ اللَّهُ بِهِ فِي حُدُودِ دَارِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِمَّا قَدْ وَرَدَتْ أَنْبَاؤُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَقُرِئَتْ بِهِ الْكُتُبُ عَلَى مَنَابِرِكُمْ وَحَمَلَتْ أَهْلُ الآْفَاقِ عَنْكُمْ إِلَى غَيْرِكُمْ فَانْتَهَى شُكْرُ ذِي الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ بَلاءَ أَمِيـرِ الْمُؤْمِنِيـنَ عِنْدَهُ وَقِيَامَـهُ بِحَقِّهِ وَابْتِذَالَهُ مُهْجَتَهُ وَمُهْجَةَ أَخِيهِ أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ الْحَسَنِبْنِ سَهْلٍ الْمَيْمُونِ النَّقِيبَةِ الَْمحْمُودِ السِّيَاسَةِ إِلَى غَايَةٍ تَجَاوَزَ فِيهَا الْمَاضِينَ وَفَاقَ بِهَا الْفَائِزِينَ وَانْتَهَتْ مُكَافَاةُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِيَّاهُ إِلَى مَا جَعَلَ لَهُ مِنَ الأَمْوَالِ وَالْقَطَائِعِ وَالْجَوَاهِرِ وَإِنْ كَانَ ذَلِكَ لا يَفِي بِيَوْمٍ مِنْ أَيَّامِهِ وَلا مَقَامٍ مِنْ مَقَامَاتِهِ فَتَرَكَهُ زُهْداً فِيهِ وَارْتِفَاعاً مِنْ هِمَّتِهِ عَنْهُ وَتَوْفِيراً لَهُ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَاطِّرَاحاً لِلدُّنْيَا وَاسْتِصْغَاراً لَهَا وَإِيثَاراً لِلآْخِرَةِ وَمُنَافَسَةً فِيهَا وَسَأَلَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا لَمْ يَزَلْ لَهُ سَائِلاً وَإِلَيْهِ رَاغِباً مِنَ التَّخَلِّي وَالتَّزَهُّدِ فَعَظُمَ ذَلِكَ عِنْدَهُ وَعِنْدَنَا لِمَعْرِفَتِنَا بِمَا جَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي مَكَانِهِ الَّذِي هُوَ بِهِ مِنَ الْعِزِّ لِلدِّينِ وَالسُّلْطَانِ وَالْقُوَّةِ عَلَى صَلاحِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَجِهَادِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَمَا أَرَى اللَّهَ بِهِ مِنْ تَصْدِيقِ نِيَّتِهِ وَيُمْنِ نَقِيبَتِهِ وَصِحَّةِ تَدْبِيرِهِ وَقُوَّةِ رَأْيِهِ وَنُجْحِ طَلِبَتِهِ وَمُعَاوَنَتِهِ عَلَى الْحَقِّ وَالْهُدَى وَالْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى فَلَمَّا وَثِقَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَثِقْنَا مِنْهُ بِالنَّظَرِ لِلدِّينِ وَإِيْثَارِ مَا فِيهِ صَلاحُهُ وَأَعْطَيْنَاهُ سُؤْلَهُ الَّذِي يُشْبِهُ قَدْرَهُ وَكَتَبْنَا لَهُ كِتَابَ حِبَاءٍ وَشَرْطٍ قَدْ نَسَخَ فِي أَسْفَلِ كِتَابِي هَذَا وَأَشْهَدْنَا اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ وَمَنْ حَضَرَنَا مِنْ أَهْلِ بَيْتِنَا وَالْقُوَّادِ وَالصَّحَابَةِ وَالْقُضَاةِ وَالْفُقَهَاءِ وَالْخَاصَّةِ وَالْعَامَّةِ وَرَأَى أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْكِتَابَ بِهِ إِلَى الآْفَاقِ لِيَذِيعَ وَيَشِيعَ فِي أَهْلِهَا وَيُقْرَأَ عَلَى مَنَابِرِهَا وَيَثْبُتَ عِنْدَ وُلاتِهَا وَقُضَاتِهَا فَسَأَلَنِي أَنْ أَكْتُبَ بِذَلِكَ وَأَشْرَحَ مَعَانِيهِ وَهِيَ عَلَى ثَلاثَةِ أَبْوَابٍ:فَفِي الْبَابِ الأَوَّلِ الْبَيَانُ عَنْ كُلِّ آثَارِهِ الَّتِي أَوْجَبَ اللَّهُ بِهَا حَقَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ.وَالْبَابُ الثَّانِي الْبَيَانُ عَنْ مَرْتَبَتِهِ فِي إِزَاحَةِ عِلَّتِهِ فِي كُلِّ مَا دَبَّرَ وَدَخَلَ فِيهِ وَلا سَبِيلَ عَلَيْهِ فِيَما تَرَكَ وَكَرِهَ وَذَلِكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِخَلْقٍ مِمَّنْ فِي عُنُقِهِ بَيْعَةٌ إِلا لَهُ وَحْدَهُ وَلاخِيهِ وَمِنْ إِزَاحَةِ الْعِلَّةِ تَحْكِيمُهُمَا فِي كُلِّ مَنْ بَغِيَ عَلَيْهِمَا وَسَعَى بِفَسَادٍ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَيْهِمَا وَعَلَى أَوْلِيَائِنَا لِئَلا يَطْمَعَ طَامِعٌ فِي خِلافٍ عَلَيْهِمَا وَلا مَعْصِيَةٍ لَهُمَا وَلا احْتِيَالٍ فِي مَدْخَلٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمَا.وَالْبَابُ الثَّالِثُ الْبَيَانُ فِي إِعْطَائِنَا إِيَّاهُ مَا أَحَبَّ مِنْ مِلْكِ التَّخَلِّي وَحِلْيَةِ الزُّهْدِ وَحُجَّةِ التَّحْقِيقِ لِمَا سَعَى فِيهِ مِنْ ثَوَابِ الآْخِرَةِ بِمَا يَتَقَرَّرُ فِي قَلْبِ مَنْ كَانَ فِي ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ وَمَا يَلْزَمُنَا لَهُ مِنَ الْكَرَامَةِ وَالْعِزِّ وَالْحِبَاءِ الَّذِي بَذَلْنَاهُ لَهُ وَلاخِيهِ مِنْ مَنْعِهِمَا مَا نَمْنَعُ مِنْهُ أَنْفُسَنَا وَذَلِكَ مُحِيطٌ بِكُلِّ مَا يَحْتَاطُ فِيهِ مُحْتَاطٌ فِي أَمْرِ دِينٍ وَدُنْيَا وَهَذِهِ نُسْخَةُ الْكِتَابِ:بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ‏هَذَا كِتَابٌ وَشَرْطٌ مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْمَأْمُونِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَوَلِيِّ عَهْدِهِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى لِذِي الرِّئَاسَتَيْنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ فِي يَوْمِ الإِثْنَيْنِ لِسَبْعٍ خَلَوْنَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ مِنْ سَنَةِ إِحْدَى وَمِائَتَيْنِ وَهُوَ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي تَمَّمَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ دَوْلَةَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَعَقَدَ لِوَلِيِّ عَهْدِهِ وَأَلْبَسَ النَّاسَ اللِّبَاسَ الأَخْضَرَ وَبَلَغَ أَمَلَهُ فِي صَلاحِ وَلِيِّهِ وَالظَّفَرِ بِعَدُوِّهِ إِنَّا دَعَوْنَاكَ إِلَى مَا فِيهِ بَعْضُ مُكَافَاتِكَ عَلَى مَا قُمْتَ بِهِ مِنْ حَقِّ اللَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَحَقِّ رَسُولِهِ وَحَقِّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَوَلِيِّ عَهْدِهِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ مُوسَى وَحَقِّ هَاشِمٍ الَّتِي بِهَا يُرْجَى صَلاحُ الدِّينِ وَسَلامَةُ ذَاتِ الْبَيْنِبَيْنِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَى أَنْ ثَبَتَتِ النِّعْمَةُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى الْعَامَّةِ بِذَلِكَ وَبِمَا عَاوَنْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ إِقَامَةِ الدِّينِ وَالسُّنَّةِ وَإِظْهَارِ الدَّعْوَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ وَإِيْثَارِ الأَوْلَى مَعَ قَمْعِ الشِّرْكِ وَكَسْرِ الأَصْنَامِ وَقَتْلِ الْعُتَاةِ وَسَائِرِ آثَارِكَ الْمُمَثَّلَةِ لِلأَمْصَارِ فِي الَْمخْلُوعِ وَفِي الْمُتَسَمَّى بِالأَصْفَرِ الْمُكَنَّى بِأَبِي السَّرَايَا وَفِي الْمُتَسَمَّى بِالْمَهْدِيِّ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ الطَّالِبِيِّ وَالتُّرْكِ الخزلجية وَفِي طَبَرِسْتَانَ وَمُلُوكِهَا إِلَى بُنْدَارَ هُرْمُزَ بْنِ شروين وَفِي الدَّيْلَمِ وَمَلِكِهَا وَفِي كَابُلَ وَمَلِكِهَا المهوزين ثُمَّ مَلِكِهَا الأَصْفَهْبُدِ وَفِي ابْنِ الْمُبْرَمِ وَجِبَالِ بداربنده وَغرشستان وَالغور وَأَصْنَافِهَا وَفِي خُرَاسَانَ خَاقَانَ وَملون صَاحِبِ جَبَلِ التَّبَّتِ وَفِي كيمان وَالتغرغر وَفِي إِرْمِينِيَّةَ وَالْحِجَازِ وَصَاحِبِ السَّرِيرِ وَصَاحِبِ الْخَزَرِ وَفِي الْمَغْرِبِ وَحُرُوبِهِ وَتَفْسِيرُ ذَلِكَ فِي دِيوَانِ السِّيرَةِ وَكَانَ مَا دَعَوْنَاكَ إِلَيْهِ وَهُوَ مَعُونَةٌ لَكَ مِائَةَ أَلْفِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ وَغَلَّةَ عَشَرَةِ أَلْفِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ جَوْهَراً سِوَى مَا أَقْطَعَكَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ وَقِيمَةُ مِائَةِ أَلْفِ أَلْفِ دِرْهَمٍ جَوْهَراً يَسِيرُ عِنْدَ مَا أَنْتَ لَهُ مُسْتَحِقٌّ فَقَدْ تَرَكْتَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ حِينَ بَذَلَهُ لَكَ الَْمخْلُوعُ وَآثَرْتَ اللَّهَ وَدِينَهُ وَأَنَّكَ شَكَرْتَ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَوَلِيَّ عَهْدِهِ وَآثَرْتَ تَوْفِيرَ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَجُدْتَ لَهُمْ بِهِ وَسَأَلْتَنَا أَنْ تَبْلُغَكَ الْخَصْلَةُ الَّتِي لَمْ تَزَلْ إِلَيْهَا تَائِقاً مِنَ الزُّهْدِ وَالتَّخَلِّي لِيَصِحَّ عِنْدَ مَنْ شَكَّ فِي سَعْيِكَ لِلآْخِرَةِ دُونَ الدُّنْيَا تَرْكُكَ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا عَنْ مِثْلِكَ يُسْتَغْنَى فِي حَالٍ وَلا مِثْلُكَ رُدَّ عَنْ طَلِبَتِهِ وَلَوْ أَخْرَجَتْنَا طَلِبَتُكَ عَنْ شَطْرِ النِّعَمِ عَلَيْنَا فَكَيْفَ بِأَمْرٍ رُفِعَتْ فِيهِ الْمَئُونَةُ وَأَوْجَبَتْ بِهِ الْحُجَّةُ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ دُعَاءَكَ إِلَيْنَا لِلدُّنْيَا لا لِلآْخِرَةِ.وَقَدْ أَجَبْنَاكَ إِلَى مَا سَأَلْتَ وَجَعَلْنَا ذَلِكَ لَكَ مُؤَكَّداً بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَمِيثَاقِهِ الَّذِي لا تَبْدِيلَ لَهُ وَلا تَغْيِيرَ وَفَوَّضْنَا الأَمْرَ فِي وَقْتِ ذَلِكَ إِلَيْكَ فَمَا أَقَمْتَ فَعَزِيزٌ مُزَاحُ الْعِلَّةِ مَدْفُوعٌ عَنْكَ الدُّخُولُ فِيَما تَكْرَهُ مِنَ الأَعْمَالِ كَائِناً مَا كَانَ نَمْنَعُكَ مِمَّا نَمْنَعُ مِنْهُ أَنْفُسَنَا فِي الْحَالاتِ كُلِّهَا وَأنا [إِذَا] أَرَدْتَ التَّخَلِّيَ فَمُكَرَّمٌ مِزَاحُ الْبَدَنِ وَحَقٌّ لِبَدَنِكَ الرَّاحَةُ وَالْكَرَامَةُ ثُمَّ نُعْطِيكَ مَا تَتَنَاوَلُهُ مِمَّا بَذَلْنَاهُ لَكَ فِي هَذَا الْكِتَابِ فَتَرَكْتُهُ الْيَوْمَ وَجَعَلْنَا لِلْحَسَنِ بْنِ سَهْلٍ مِثْلَ مَا جَعَلْنَاهُ لَكَ وَنِصْفَ مَا بَذَلْنَاهُ مِنَ الْعَطِيَّةِ وَأَهْلُ ذَلِكَ هُوَ لَكَ وَبِمَا بَذَلَ مِنْ نَفْسِهِ فِي جِهَادِ الْعُتَاةِ وَفَتْحِ الْعِرَاقِ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَتَفْرِيقِ جُمُوعِ الشَّيْطَانِ بِيَدَيْهِ حَتَّى قَوِيَ الدِّينُ وَخَاضَ نِيرَانَ الْحُرُوبِ وَفَاءً وَشُكْراً بِنَفْسِهِ وَأَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ وَمَنْ سَاسَ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاءِ الْحَقِّ وَأَشْهَدْنَا اللَّهَ وَمَلائِكَتَهُ وَخِيَارَ خَلْقِهِ وَكُلَّ مَنْ أَعْطَانَا بَيْعَتَهُ وَصَفْقَةَ يَمِينِهِ فِي هَذَا الْيَوْمِ وَبَعْدَهُ عَلَى مَا فِي هَذَا الْكِتَابِ وَجَعَلْنَا اللَّهَ عَلَيْنَا كَفِيلاً وَأَوْجَبْنَا عَلَى أَنْفُسِنَا الْوَفَاءَ بِمَا شَرَطْنَا مِنْ غَيْرِ اسْتِثْنَاءٍ بِشَيْ‏ءٍ يَنْقُضُهُ فِي سِرٍّ وَعَلانِيَةٍ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ عِنْدَ شُرُوطِهِمْ وَالْعَهْدُ فَرْضٌ مَسْئُولٌ وَأَوْلَى النَّاسِ بِالْوَفَاءِ مَنْ طَلَبَ مِنَ النَّاسِ الْوَفَاءَ وَكَانَ مَوْضِعاً لِلْقُدْرَةِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى يَقُولُ: وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ إِذا عاهَدْتُمْ وَلا تَنْقُضُوا الأَيْمانَ بَعْدَ تَوْكِيدِها وَقَدْ جَعَلْتُمُ اللَّهَ عَلَيْكُمْ كَفِيلاً إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَعْلَمُ ما تَفْعَلُونَ.وَكَتَبَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ سَهْلٍ تَوْقِيعَ الْمَأْمُونِ فِيهِ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ. قَدْ أَوْجَبَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ جَمِيعَ مَا فِي هَذَا الْكِتَابِ وَأَشْهَدَ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى وَجَعَلَهُ عَلَيْهِ دَاعِياً وَكَفِيلاً وَكَتَبَ بِخَطِّهِ فِي صَفَرٍ سَنَةَ اثْنَتَيْنِ وَمِائَتَيْنِ تَشْرِيفاً لِلْحِبَاءِ وَتَوْكِيداً لِلشَّرِيطَةِ.تَوْقِيعُ الرِّضَا عَلَيْهِ السَّلامُ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ. قَدْ أَلْزَمَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى نَفْسَهُ جَمِيعَمَا فِي الْكِتَابِ عَلَى مَا وُكِّدَ فِيهِ مِنْ يَوْمِهِ وَغَدِهِ مَا دَامَ حَيّاً وَجَعَلَ اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ رَاعِياً وَكَفِيلاً وَكَفى‏ بِاللَّهِ شَهِيداً وَكَتَبَ بِخَطِّهِ فِي هَذَا الشَّهْرِ مِنْ هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعالَمِينَ وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَحَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ.
40-22 In some of the manuscripts of the book Al-Hiba wal-Shart, I found some traditions regarding Ar-Ridha’ , the government officials, Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl and his brother. No one, however, granted me permission to quote directly from that book. However, in the following I will present what I have read in that book:And next, praise be to God - the Initiator; the Innovator; the Able; the Subduer; the Watcher of His servants; the Nourisher of all His creatures; to whose Kingdom all things humble themselves; to whose Glory all things yield; to whose Power all things submit; to whose Sovereignty and Greatness all things humble themselves; whose Knowledge encompasses all things and cannot be enumerated; to whom no great person can present himself; and from whose Sight no small person is missed; the One whom the eyes of the viewers cannot see; and the One who cannotbe described by the ones who describe; to Him belongs creating and the rule; and He is the Most Exalted example in the heavens and the Earth. He is Honorable and Wise.And praise be to God who established Islam as our religion. Then He made it noble, great, honored, and respected. He established it as a stable religion that cannot be changed, and as a straight path that directs whoever trots on it not going astray, and whoever abandons it will not be guided. He established light, reasoning, healing and form in it. He sent it down by means of His chosen angels to whomever He chose for Prophethood from the nations which have now gone and made room for others until the Prophethood ended with the appointment of Muhammad al-Mustafa . He ended the Prophethood’s mission with Muhammad and with him ended the messages of the Prophets. And He appointed him due to His Mercy encompassing the people of the Two Worlds; and as one to give glad tidings to the honest believers; and to admonish the lying pagans. This He did to perfect His Proof for the people so that whoever is to be ruined after Truth has become apparent is ruined, and whoever is to survive after Truth has become apparent survives. Indeed God Sees and Knows. And praise be to God who granted the inheritance of the Prophets to the members of his (i.e. Muhammad’s) Holy Household, entrusted them with knowledge and wisdom, established them as the treasury of Divine Leadership and Rule, and made it incumbent (upon all) to love them and hold high their ranks. Then He ordered His Prophet (S) to ask his nation to love them when he said, ‘No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin’ And the way they were described as being pure and immaculate (a.s.potless) can be seen in His words, ‘And God only wishes to remove all abomination from you, ye members of the Family, and to make you pure and spotless.’And next, Al-Ma’mun treated the ‘Itra of God’s Prophet (S) with reverence. Al-Ma’mun established the ties of kinship of his Holy Household which had been broken. He returned the family’s affection for each other, and ended their disunion. He bridged the gap that had developed amongst them. Thus, God totally eliminated their animosities and fostered co-existence instead. And now due to his blessedness, care, freedom, and re-establishing family relationships all the hands have become united into one hand. All the various ways of the people havebecome one way, and their words have become the same word. Then all the various thoughts emerged into one. Everyone’s rights were honored and everyone’s inheritance was given to him. He rewarded the good deeds of the good-doers. He honored those who had successfully passed their tests. He established the various ranks of the people in the government according to their religiousness. Then he treated with honor the one who had made progress due to his efforts. He raised his rank and rewarded him. The person we are talking about is just Thul-Riasatayn Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl. Al-Ma’mun noted that Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl is a sincere aid who is steadfast in guarding Al-Ma’mun’s rights, and in expressing Al-Ma’mun’s reasons. Al-Ma’mun noted that Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl is a good teacher for the government officials and is a good leader for the troops. Al-Ma’mun noted that Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl is wise at war; is a good leader for the people; invites the people to Al-Ma’mun’s way and rewards those who honor Al-Ma’mun’s orders. Al-Ma’mun noted that Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl avoids those who do not honor the orders of the Caliph, evade Al-Ma’mun’s orders or disobey him. Al-Ma’mun noted that Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl is the only one to assist Al-Ma’mun. Al-Ma’mun noted that Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl is the healer of those who are ill in their hearts or minds. Not having enough money or not finding a friend to assist him in these affairs will not prevent him from doing so. He does not go astray from the right path due to greed. Fear will not lead him towards others. Rather, he becomes more determined, more steadfast, stronger and wiser when others make trouble and try to spread fear like lightning and thunder. He seriously defends Al-Ma’mun’s rights and invites the people towards him until Thul-Riasatayn defeats the perverse; dulls their swords; cuts off their nails; totally eradicates their majesty from the root; and presses the backs of the atheists to the ground - those who broke their covenants, did not adhere to their covenants with Al-Ma’mun, looked down upon his rights and who were secure from his warnings before. In addition to all of that, as you have been told and heard when recited on the pulpits, the results of the efforts of Thul-Riasatayn in the classes of the pagan nations have been impressive, and God increased the extent of the Muslim lands due to him. Also, what the people of the world have taken from you and delivered to others is clear.Then the gratitude of Thul-Riasatayn for the gallantry of Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun), and his rising to fulfill his rights, the sacrificesof himself and his brother Abi Muhammad ibn Sahl who was blessed, and Thul-Riasatayn’s praiseworthy politics reached a point which led him ahead of others and he became the most successful. Thus the Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun) rewarded him with much wealth, property and ornaments, although these could not even equal just one day of his efforts and did not suffice for even one position from the positions he held. However, he abandoned all this due to his abstinence; great determination; his efforts to increase the Muslim’s wealth; abstaining from worldly wealth and looking down on the world; preferring the Hereafter and his extended inclination to the Hereafter. He often asked the Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun) to accept his resignation and expressed his lack of interest in being the prime minister. This resignation raised his rank near Al-Ma’mun and us (i.e. Ar-Ridha’ ) as God the Honorable the Exalted had made us informed of his viewpoints on the glory of the Muslims and the ruler, and his increased effort to improve the Muslims’ affairs and fight the pagans; plus other things which God had manifested for us (i.e. Ar-Ridha’ ) such as: his sincere intentions; sincerity; wisdom; good management; strong will; high intellect; assisting the Right; guidance; freedom and piety.Then since the Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun) trusted him and we (i.e. Ar-Ridha’ ) trusted him considering his religiousness, and choosing that in which there lied his good, then we fulfilled his request according to his rank and wrote the book Al-Hiba wal-Shart (the manuscript of which is included later on in this book) for him. We took God and those present there - including members of our household; the army heads; the staff of the court; the judges; the jurists; the jurisprudents; the elite and the masses as witnesses thereto. And the Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun) deemed it proper to distribute this book (Al-Hiba wal-Shart) in all towns, so that it would be spread (all over) everywhere; all the people would get to know it; it would be read from the pulpits; and a copy of it would be in the possession of every governor and judge. He has asked me to write it, explain its meaning, and it has three chapters as follows:Chapter 1: It describes everything done by Thul-Riasatayn due to which the Most Exalted God has made it incumbent upon us and all the Muslims to honor his rights.Chapter 2: It describes the degree of his progress; the correctness of his deeds; and that no one is allowed to do whatever he wishes to make a stumbling-block for his efforts; and the reasons for that. This is because not anyone of the people who have pledged allegiance to the Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun) must pledge allegiance to him (Thul-Riasatayn) and his brother. They have the right to remove any obstacles that might get in their way or try to cause corruption against us, them or our friends. This is done so that no one even thinks about opposing them, disobeying them or think of tricks to separate us from each other.Chapter 3: It describes the donations of the Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun) to Thul-Riasatayn; what he demanded due to his abstinence from this world; his adherence to abstinence; lack of interest in wealth and position being a reason that he has constantly made efforts for the Hereafter and demands enough reward just enough to eliminate any doubts in him. We honored him and granted to him whatever was incumbent upon us to bestow upon him and his brother, and for his abstaining from what we abstained from ourselves. This chapter includes everything that one who is cautious needs to be cautious about.And this is the manuscript of the book:In the Name of God the Beneficent, the Merciful. This is the writing and the conditions of the Commander of the Faithful Abdullah Al-Ma’mun and his successor to the throne Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’  for Thul-Riasatayn Al-Fadhl ibn Sahl on Monday of the (Arabic) month of Ramadhan in the year 201 A.H. (816 A.D.). This is the day on which God perfected the affairs of the government of the Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun). He concluded the contract for the succession to the throne, had the people clothed in green attire, reached his goal of improving the affairs of the people and overcoming his enemies.On that day we invited you to that in which there lies some reward for you (Thul-Riasatayn) since you have set out to honor the rights of God the Blessed the Sublime; the right of His Prophet (S); the right of the Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun) and the successor to his throne; the rights of the Hashemites from which it is hoped that the religion will improve and the relations between the Muslims will improve so much that the resulting blessings encompass us and the general public. The other reason is your assistance to me - the Commander of the Faithful(i.e. Al-Ma’mun) - in establishing the rules of the religion and the traditions of the Master of the Messengers (i.e. the Prophet Muhammad (S)); and invitation to both; choosing what is best and destroying the pagans; breaking the idols; and eliminating the rebellions. Also there are other known things that you have done in the town like dismissing the overthrown Caliph; what you did to the one called Asfar with the nickname Abul Saraya; and what you did to the other one who is called Mehdi being related to Muhammad ibn Ja’far ibn Muhammad Talebi and the Khalaji Turks; and what you did to the governors of Tabarestan including Hormoz ibn Shervin; the governor of Daylam; King Mahvars in Kabul; its other king - King Isfahboz; and what you did to Ibn al-Baram; and what you did in Mount Bidar Bandeh, Qarshistan, al-Qoor and its counties; and what you did to the Khaqan in Khorasan, and Maloon Sahib in Mount Tab’bat; and what you did in Kayman and at-taqreqar; and what you did in Erminiyet, Hijaz; and what you did to Sahib As-Sarir and Sahib al-Khazar, and the other battles in al-Maqrib.The salary which we (i.e. Al-Ma’mun and Ar-Ridha’ ) have established for you is an assistance with which we invited you - being one hundred million Dirhams - plus ten million Dirhams income in jewelry and whatever the Caliph has already bestowed upon you. Of course, we know that the worth of one hundred million Dirhams in jewelry is much less than what you deserve. You abandoned this much property when Amin bestowed it upon you, and chose God and His Religion over it. You were grateful to the Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun) and the successor to his throne. You gave up much property that was your reward and salary, and turned them over to the Muslims so that their treasury would become wealthier. You preferred others over yourself.Now you have asked us for what you are naturally inclined to, and you deserve what is due to you fo your abstinence from this world and these people. This abstinence is so much that now it has left no room for doubt for anyone who doubted whether your efforts are for this world or the Hereafter. And everyone was assured that all your efforts are not for this world, but for the Hereafter. Therefore, we are never needless of people like you. The requests of people like you should never be rejected, even though your demands be such that many blessings are taken away from us. In fact, your requests bring forth a lot of blessings for us. They reduce a lot of our expenditures, and prove that you desire the Hereafter to those who think that you want this position due to your greed for this world, and not the Hereafter.Now I (Al-Ma’mun) will fulfill your request, and assure it to you - strengthened by a covenant with God in which there is no change. I entrust you with the affairs without any hesitation, and appoint you to the rank (of prime minister). Do as you please. There is no one empowered to prevent what you decide to do, or enforce what you disapprove of. We will fend off from you what we would fend off from ourselves. Even if you get tired and rest for a while, you are still honored since your body needs comfort and honoring, too.Then we (Al-Ma’mun and Ar-Ridha’ ) will grant to you during your period of resting what we had given you before, but you donated to others. We will also establish the same amount of salary for your brother Hassan ibn Sahl plus half of his previous salary. This is for your sake, since he made a really good effort in fighting with the rebellious ones, and conquered Iraq twice. He dispersed the Satanic groups and thus religion was strengthened, and consecutive wars ended. He saved us, all the heads of the army and the politicians on the right by using himself.And we (Al-Ma’mun and Ar-Ridha’ ) call God, His angels, the best of the people and all of those who have pledged allegiance to us and promised to be loyal to us as witnesses to what is in this book today and for the future. We establish God as the guarantor. We consider it incumbent upon ourselves to be loyal to the conditions that we have set with no exceptions in public or private. Believers adhere to their covenants. A covenant is binding and we are responsible. The best of the people are those who honor their covenants even when in the position of power. God the Highest said, ‘Fulfill the Covenant of God when ye have entered into it, and break not your oaths after ye have confirmed them; indeed ye have made God your surety; for God knoweth all that ye do.’Al-Hassan ibn Sahl wrote the following down for Al-Ma’mun, “In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. The Commander of the Faithful (Al-Ma’mun) has made all that is in this book incumbent upon himself and God the Highest is the witness thereto. He is the guarantor. The book is written in his own handwriting in the (Arabic) month of Safar of the year 202 A.H. (816 A.D.) to clearly state what he has granted and the conditions thereon.”And Ar-Ridha’  wrote in it, “In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Ali ibn Musa Ar-Ridha’ binds all that which is written in this bookupon himself as stressed here on this day, tomorrow and for as long as he lives. I establish God the Highest as a witness thereto and a guarantor. It suffices for God to be a witness.” And Ar-Ridha’  wrote in his own handwriting, “In this month and this year. (And praise be to God - the Lord of the Two Worlds. And blessings be upon Muhammad  and his Household, and greetings be upon them. God suffices for us and He is the best Trustee).”