Scholarship on Letter: MIAC 23973.36

Letter MIAC 23973.36
  1. Bibliographic citation
    Geoffrey Khan, Arabic Documents from Medieval Nubia (University of Cambridge and Open Book Publishers, 2024).
    Location in source
    • doc. 17
    Relation to document
    • Digital Edition
    • Digital Translation
    • Edition
    • Translation
Image
Transcription
Translation

MIAC 23973.36 recto

°
recto
Geoffrey Khan, Arabic Documents from Medieval Nubia (University of Cambridge and Open Book Publishers, 2024).

Recto

  1. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
  2. وصل كتاب ولدي اطال الله بقاه وادام تاييده وسعادته وسلامته ونعمته
  3. وقراته وفهمت مضمونه وسرنى حسن سلامته وعافية ووصلنى ما
  4. تفضلت به على يد صاحبه ابرهيم ولا عدمته ولا خلوت منه 
  5. وتعين على مكافته ويكثر فى الناس مثله وقد سيرت صحبة
  6. ابرهيم برسم حق العين جارية ومعها ولدين فبسط لى بالعذر 
  7. ومهما كانت لك حاجة فعرفنى اعلم ان ما كان لك على دين عن انني
  8. الجارية قد بعتها بخياري فعن ايش تكلمت فيا وانا ان شا الله 
  9. اسيرها لك وقد راى صاحبيك رسولي الذي سيرته بسبب 
  10. الوصيفة فلا تكون على قليل هم فالخير يكون ان شا الله وكانها 
  11. الغسيسن جوهر كانت صاحب الخيل يقبل يدها الكريمة ويسال 
  12. عن حضرته والمسول من مولاي يتفضل وينعم على عبدها قروه 
  13. امرتيها بخير فلا زالت حضرته متفضلة

Recto, right margin

  1. والحمد يكون لوحده 
  2. حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل
Geoffrey Khan, Arabic Documents from Medieval Nubia (University of Cambridge and Open Book Publishers, 2024).

Recto

  1. In the name of God, the Merciful and Compassionate.
  2. The letter of my son—may God prolong his life and cause his support, his happiness, his safety and wellbeing to endure —has arrived
  3. and I have read it and noted its contents. I was pleased to hear that you are well and in good health. I have received
  4. what you have graciously given me by the hand of your companion Ibrāhīm. May I not be deprived of him or left alone without him.
  5. He should be rewarded. May there be many like him among the people. I have sent a slave girl with
  6. Ibrāhīm (as payment) for what is owed together with her two children. Forgive me (for the delay).
  7. Let me know whatever you need. I know that I owe you a debt arising from the fact that
  8. I sold the slave girl of my own accord (without consulting you) and (I know) what you have spoken about me. God willing,
  9. I shall send her to you. Your two companions have seen my messenger whom I sent in connection with
  10. the slave (al-waṣīfa). Do not have any worries. All will be well, God willing. She (the slave girl)
  11. is a beauty who is like a jewel. The Master of the Horses kisses your honourable hand and makes a request to
  12. your honour. What is requested from my lord is that you do goodness and kindness to your slave (the Master of the Horses).
  13. His (i.e., of the Master of the Horses) two wives send their best wishes. You are always so kind.

Recto, right margin

  1. Praise be to the One alone
  2. Our sufficiency is God. What a fine keeper is He!

MIAC 23973.36 verso

°
verso

Verso

  1. ولا يضيق صدرك عن السراج الذي سيرته لوالدتك كانت على
  2. السفر وما كان بيدها فالامور تصلك كما يجب ويختار ويصلك 
  3. سراج جيد من عبدها ان شا الله فلا تكون على قبل هم فادعي لها بالسلام 
  4. ودفعت لصاحبك ابرهيم جارية كفوا لنفسه

Address, right column

  1. حضرة ولدي الشيخ ابو الطاهر
  2. اطال الله بقاه وادام سلامته ونعمته

Address, left column

  1. شاكر بفضله صاحب الخيل
  2. ووزير الملك اروي متولي بلاد
  3. مريس

Verso

  1. Do not be anxious about the lantern, which I sent to your mother. She was on
  2. a journey and she did not have it with her (and so could not send it to you). Everything will reach you as required and as is appropriate. A
  3. fine lantern will be conveyed to you by her slave, God willing. Do not be concerned. I send you greetings.
  4. I have given a slave girl to your companion Ibrāhīm who suits him well.

Verso, address, right column

  1. My honourable son, the elder ʾAbū al-Ṭāhir,
  2. may God preserve his life and cause his safety and wellbeing to endure.

Verso, address, left column

  1. One who is grateful for his kindness, the Master of the Horses
  2. and vizier of the king, Uruwī, governor of the land of
  3. Marīs.