Letter: T-S 8J10.16
Letter T-S 8J10.16Tags
Input date
In PGP since 1990Description
Recto: Letter in the hand of Moshe b. Levi ha-Levi, presumably from Qalyub to his father in Fustat. He had just been in Fustat, advocating for himself with the Nagid Sar Shalom (Abu Zikri) against the machinations of Ibn al-Taffal against him. He has now arrived safely in Qalyub, and he informed the community of what happened, and they rejoiced. Apparently Sar Shalom had given verbal confirmation that Moshe would be appointed (as muqaddam) but had not yet provided a letter of installment. Moshe now asks the recipient to go to Abu 'Ali, who is to go to Sar Shalom and get the letter. Moshe is also worried about what Bu l-Khayr told him, namely that his brother Abu Ishaq has been beating the wife of his paternal uncle. Verso: The response, probably from Abu Sahl Levi to his son Moshe. He informs him that no one has been beating anyone, there are simply wicked people who try to cause trouble between husband and wife. He confirms that he will try to get hold of the letter of appointment. He concludes, "As for Ibn al-Taffal, may God sort him." ASE.
Edition: Goitein, S. D.
Translation: Zinger, Oded (in English)
T-S 8J10.16 1v
Transcription
S. D. Goitein, unpublished editions.Recto:
- אלדי אעלמכם בה אני וצלת מן
- פצל אללה תעאלי סאלם ואעלמת
- אלגמאעה במא גרא ופרחו
- כתיר ואלאן אן קדרתו תטלעו
- לענד אבו עלי ותוצוה פי מציה
- אלי ענד בו זכרי פי כתב
- מנוי פי //מא// קד דכר בהא [[ען]]
- פי כתאב אלגמאעה פיכון
- תופיק ואשגל קלבי בו אלכיר
- בכון אנה //קאל// אן אכי אבו אסחאק
- געלת פד[אה] צארב בית עמי
- פאתפצלו אעלמוני מא
- תסמעו מן בו זכרי עני (?)
- וכלוה יכתב לי מנוי במא
- דכרתה פי כתאב אלגמאעה
- ומהמא כאן ערפוני וערפוני
- עלי איש צארב אכי אסחאק בית עמי
- לא עדמת בקאכם ושלום
- ואן קדרתו אן תעמלו שי עמא
- יכתץ באהבה ביני ובינהם
- פיכון תופיק ושלום
Verso:
- בש רח
- אללה תעאלא יכון פי עונך
- ולא יכלין מן נצר וגהך
- ואמא כון אבו אלכיר קאל
- לך אן אבו אסחאק
- תכלם מע בית עמך
- מא כאן אלי אנהם קאלו
- ואללה מא כנתו תצלחו
- לנא לאנכם עתרת
- מסאלמה ומע דא
- תסתחקו אלחראמה
- גובהם ואללה מא פינא
- קט מסלם ואמא מן
- יסתחק אלחראמה
- הו אלדי יטרח אלשר
- בין אלנאס ויפסד חאל
- אלאנס בין אזואגהם
- הדאך הו מחרום מסי[ני
- ומא תם אלי אלכיר ולא
- תשגל קלבך ואמא אלדי
- אלכזה תקאצא לי מן תחת
- י]ד מן הו וידבר אללה
- אמא בן אלטפאל פיידבר //אללה//
Translation
Oded Zinger, "Women, Gender and Law: Marital Disputes According to Documents of the Cairo Geniza" (PhD diss., n.p., 2014).Recto
I hereby inform you that I have arrived safely, by the grace of God, the exalted. I informed the group (jamāʿa) what happened and they were very happy. Now, if you can, go to Abū ʿAlī and bid him to go to Abū Zikrī so that he will write a (letter of) appointment regarding what I had mentioned in the pubic letter (kitāb al-jamāʿa), may it be a success.
Abū al-Khayr troubled my heart when he told me that my brother, Abū Isḥāq, may I be his ransom, beat my paternal uncleʼs wife. Do me a favor and inform me what you hear from Abū Zikrī, may the Rock (preserve him). Let him write me (letter of) appointment according to what I mentioned in the public letter. Whatever happened, let me know. And let me know why Abū Isḥāq beat my uncleʼs wife. May I not be deprived of your life, and peace.
If you can, do something concerning the love that is between me and them, may it be a success, and peace.
T-S 8J10.16 1r
Verso
(1) In Y(our name), O M(erciful),
(2-3) May God, the exalted, help you and not deprive us from seeing your face.
(4-11) Regarding Abū al-Khayr telling you that Abū Isḥāq talked with the wife of your uncle, it was only that they said: “By God! You are not good enough for us for you are relatives of Muslims and because of this you deserve to be put under the ban.”
(12-18) He answered: “By God! We have no Muslim among us at all! The one who deserves to be put under the ban is he who casts evil among people and corrupts the state of intimacy with their partners. Such a person (ought to be) placed under the ban ...
(19) It did not end well. Do not let it trouble you.Regarding the one who ridiculed him, inquire for me in whose possession it is (?). May God settle what is between the children (for the best). May God settle [
