HARUN AL-RASHID AND THE WOMAN OF THE
BARMECIDES[FN#124]
They tell[FN#125] that Harun Al-Rashid was sitting one day to
abate grievances, when there came up to him a woman and said, "O
Commander of the Faithful, may Allah perfect thy purpose and
gladden thee in whatso He hath given thee and increase thee in
elevation! Indeed, thou hast done justice and wrought
equitably." [FN#126] Quoth the Caliph to those who were present
with him, "Know ye what this one means by her saying?" and quoth
they, "Of a surety, she meaneth not otherwise than well, O Prince
of True Believers." Al-Rashid rejoined: "Nay, in this she
purposeth only to curse me. As for her saying, ‘Allah perfect
thy purpose,' she hath taken it from the saying of the poet,
‘When thy purpose is effected beginneth its decay; * when they
say ‘Thy wish is won' feel thou sure 'twill pass away.'
As for her saying ‘Allah gladden thee in whatso He hath given
thee,' she took it from the saying of Almighty Allah,[FN#127]
‘Till, whenas they were gladdened in that they were given, We
suddenly laid hold of them and lo, they were in despair!' As for
her saying, ‘Allah increase thee in elevation!' she took it from
the saying of the poet:--
‘No flier flieth however tall * but as he flieth shall come to
fall.'
And as for her saying, ‘Indeed, thou hast done justice and
wrought equitably, 'tis from the saying of the Almighty, ‘If ye
swerve[FN#128] or lag behind or turn aside, verily, Allah of that
which ye do is well aware;' and ‘As for the swervers[FN#129] they
are fuel for Hell.'" Then he turned to the woman and asked her,
"Is it not thus?" answered she, "Yes, O Commander of the
Faithful," and quoth he, "What prompted thee to this?" Quoth
she, "Thou slewest my parents and my kinsfolk and despoiledst
their good." Enquired the Caliph, "Whom meanest thou?" and she
replied, "I am of the House of Barmak." Then said he to her, "As
for the dead, they are of those who are past away, and it booteth
not to speak of them; but, as for that which I took of wealth, it
shall forthright be restored to thee, yea, and more than it."
And he was bountiful to her to the uttermost of his bounties.
