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Updated: June 2, 2025
He consented to part with them at that price to pleasure the Caliph; and despatched them to Al-Maamun, who assigned them an elegant abode and therein used to sit with them as cup-companions; marvelling at their beauty and loveliness, at their varied colours and at the excellence of their conversation.
Presently there came to me a messenger from Al-Maamun; so I went to him and spent my day with him till nightfall, when the Commander of the Faithful said to me, 'I conjure thee to sit here, whilst I go out for a want and come back. As soon as the Caliph was gone, and quite gone, my thoughts began to tempt and try me and, calling to mind my late delight, I recked little what might befal me from the Prince of True Believers.
Surely never did man's life gather such pleasures as were mine these four days' time, whenas I companied with Al-Maamun by day and Khadijah by night; and, by Allah, never saw I among men the like of Al-Maamun nor among women have I ever set eyes on the like of Khadijah; no, nor on any that came near her in lively wit and pleasant speech! And Allah is All knowing. But amongst stories is that of
Quoth the Caliph, "Thou hast done well, O damsel! whose are these lines?" The Caliph looked at one of the concubines, who was like a wild heifer of the waste, and said to her, "What is thy name, O damsel?" When she had finished, al-Maamun cried, "favoured of Allah art thou!" And Shahrazad perceived the dawn of day and ceased to say her permitted say.
So she went away and after a while behold, in came Hasan, to whom said Al-Maamun 'Hast thou a daughter? He said, 'Yes, and her name is Khadijah. Asked the Caliph, 'Is she married? Answered Hasan, 'No, by Allah! Said Al-Maamun, Then I ask her of thee in marriage. Replied her father, 'O Commander of the Faithful, she is thy handmaid and at thy commandment. Quoth Al-Maamun, 'I take her to wife at a present settlement of thirty thousand dinars, which thou shalt receive this very morning, and, when the money has been paid thee, do thou bring her to us this night. And Hasan answered, 'I hear and I obey. Thereupon we went forth and the Caliph said to me, 'O Isaac, tell this story to no one. So I kept it secret till Al-Maamun's death.
And folk also relate the tale of the It is said of Al-Maamun that, among the Caliphs of the house of Abbas, there was none more accomplished in all branches of knowledge than he. Now on two days in each week, he was wont to preside at conferences of the learned, when the lawyers and theologians disputed in his presence, each sitting in his several-rank and room.
Meanwhile his nephew, Al-Maamun, awaited his return to allegiance and his accepting a dependent position till, at last, despairing of this, he mounted with his horsemen and footmen and repaired to Rayy in quest of him.
The Caliph Al-Maamun once said to his uncle Ibrahim bin Al-Mahdi, "Tell us the most remarkable thing that thou hast ever seen." Answered he: "I hear and obey, O Commander of the Faithful. Know that I rode out one day, a-pleasuring, and my ride brought me to a place where I smelt the reek of food.
She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that al-Maamun embarked with his chief officers and fared on till they reached the mansion of Hamid al-Tawil of Tus; and, unexpectedly entering they found him seated on a mat and before him singers and players with lutes and flageolets and other instruments of music in their hands.
I needed no charge to this. Then I took leave of her and she sent a handmaid to show me the way and open the house door; so I went forth and returned to my own place, where I prayed the morning prayer and slept. Now after a time there came to me a messenger from Al-Maamun, so I went to him and passed the day in his company.
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