Letter: ENA 3930.4
Letter ENA 3930.4Tags
Description
Letter in Arabic script. Addressed to someone titled al-amīr al-ajall reporting on a ship bearing wood (markab al-ḥaṭb) that arrived at the port of Fusṭāṭ on the Nile (al-ṣināʿa maḥrūsa). “The ship bearing wood has arrived after a delay. I’m sorry for the delay, it’s not my habit. Please hold off Ibn al-Tabbān and tell him to wait until a fiscal official (ʿāmil) is available to […].” It seems that the addressee was in the service of al-Afḍal b. Badr al-Jamālī, hence the letter could be dated to that period. On verso, there are various jottings and pen trials in Hebrew and Arabic script. Needs examination. ASE, YU, MR
Edition: Umrethwala, Yusuf; Elbaum, Alan
Translation: Umrethwala, Yusuf (in English)
ENA 3930.4 recto
Transcription
Yusuf Umrethwala and Alan Elbaum, unpublished editions (n.p., 2022).-
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
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اعلم حضرة مولاي الامير
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الاجل ادام الله عزه رب(؟)
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انتق….. اقول لك فيما يتعلق
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مركب الحطب الذي وصل
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الى الصناعة المحروسة
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عمرها ببقا مولاي الافضل
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احياه الله وثبت اياديه (ايامه:alt)
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وقد سمعت ان قد انعاق
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وهذا ما جرى لي به عادة
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وانا اسل حضرتك ان تشيل عني
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ابن التبان وتقول له يقعـ[ـد
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الى يفرغ عامل يعمل في
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حبل؟ ويكون لك بهذا
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الفوز الاعظم ان شا
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الله تعالى (؟) الله (؟)
Translation
Yusuf Umrethwala, unpublished translations (n.p., 2023).-
In the name of God, most merciful and benevolent
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I inform my master, the illustrious Amīr
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may God perpetuate his glory
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I report to you regarding
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the shipment of wood which has arrived
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at Ṣināʿt al-Maḥrūsa (the port of Fusṭāṭ)
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its continued existence is because of my Master al-Afḍal [b. Badr al-Jamālī or al-Afḍal Kutayfāt b. al-Afḍal b. Badr al-Jamālī]
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may God make his existence eternal and perpetuate his reign
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I have heard that there was a delay in this shipment,
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I am sorry for this delay, it is not my habit,
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I request your eminence to hold off Ibn Tabbān and tell him to sit
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until a fiscal officer/labourer is available in
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……this will reap manifold profits for you,
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God willing