Mohammad Ahmad
10-22-2013, 08:06 PM
Al- Mu'tasim play
Translated to English by
Mohammad Mahmud Ahmad
O, Mutasim! Where are you?
Characters
Al- Mutasim- The caliph
Chamberlain
Ajief
Minister- 1
Minister- 2
Prince -1
Prince- 2
Writer
The complaining man
Abu Tamamm – The poet
Magistrate
Historical view
You shall read this historical summary out of the stage before the premiere starts….
Al- Mutasim is Abu- Isaac Mohammad bin Harun al- Rashid bin Mohammad al- Mahdi bin al- Mansur al- Abbasi, he was the eighth caliph of Abbasids dynasty so he took this name as nickname.
He made eight conquests, killed eight brave champions, stayed (eight years, eight months, and eight days) at caliphate, he was born at 180 Ah at month eight, he died on forty eight years age, had left eight sons and eight daughters, and he entered the capital of caliphate at 218Ah after eight months from taking a charge as a caliph.
He was illiterate; therefore, he accompanied with him someone who helped him when he went to the scholiasts.
One day his father al-Rashid asked him:
What is about your accompanying?
He said; he died, and he was saved from this difficult task.
Al- Rashid said:
Do you find in death your rest at the expense of others?
By God, you shall not go to the scholiasts from this day.
Al-Mutasim was brave, generous caliph especially at wars; he left good prestigious memory on people hearts, moreover he is desirous to spend money on wars fields more than to spend money on establishing constructions fields, so he posses many war equipments and horses.
He gave charities in a very lofty extravagance and for instance, he gave (Ahmad bin David) about hundred million dirhams, and when he was on the bed death he mentioned very important verse of Koran pertaining to money (when they are happy about what life is blessing on them, suddenly they depart with vacant hands).
Many times, he said if I knew that my life is short, I should spare no effort to do charities.
In addition, he said at the bed of death; my God, I didn’t fear thy justice, but I fear myself defect, and I request thy willing not my willing.
He died on Thursday the 17 of the third Arabic month 227- Ah, at Samarra city that becomes on his time the capital of Abbasids state instead of Baghdad.
Stage furniture: distributed as bellow
Chair of the caliph, six couches, table, inkpot, leather bed for those sentenced to death, sword and javelin of the caliph, bow and arrows, some of war equipments, spears, armors, swords, etc…
Scene 1
The curtain is to be raised disclosing (silent view) and al-Mutasim sitting on his couch, in front of the door there is two guards, the chamberlain appears standing beside the caliph, two ministers, poet and writer.
The chamberlain holds the letters then he will handle to the minister to read them in front of the caliph one after the other until the caliph read them totally.
Al-Mutasim:
This is very great victor, is there anything else?
Chamberlain:
Yes, Calif this is the last message, he handles to the minister.
Minister 1: to the caliph
This message was stamped by the stamp of al- Afshin (Hydrar bin Kawis) your leader on the east frontline and he tells you that he is about to raid on Babik al-Khuramy city.
Al- Mutasim:
Very good news and l am eager to hear more triumphant news from my armies tells me that villain Babik is defeated…
Minster 1 reads upon him the message:
To Commander of Faithful
Now I am close to the frontier of al- Bith city, and Babik with his warriors and followers took from this city as refuge.
This atheist Persian is a big Satan, and he claims for unbelief and his doctrine is the absolute libertinism, they believe on transmigrations of souls, they deny Islamic Sharia such as prayer, Hajj, Zakat, etc…, they deem wines as blessing thing, they violate all sacred things.
Al-Mutasim:
Woe is upon him, Allah is his opponent.
Minister follows reading…
They try to change the rule domination from Arab to Magi Persians and they seek to defeat Islam totally.
Therefore, they pretend that they love Hashemite family and they made themselves as followers to them depending on this way as a doctrine to cheat people's eyes on their apparent behavior, but they in their deep souls conceal their real feelings toward Persian Magi behalf in order to dismantle Islamic loops.
Al-Mutasim:
Hopeless they seek that, it is unattainable dream.
Minister continues on reading:
He overcame and seized properties of many villages and he burnt people while they were alive and killed more than two hundred and fifty persons until now.
Al-Mutasim:
We trust in Allah The great and Almighty to revenge from him.
Minister reads the last line of the message:
Now I put his city under my siege control until your orders reach me.
Al-Mutasim:
Damn of God is upon the aggressor.
No riot is put down yet a new one sets up.
The caliph calls the writer to writhe his answer:
When my message reaches thee go a head depending on Allah's bliss and I shall support thee by reinforcements.
The caliph orders the minister to send thirty million dirhams to his leader and the remnant of armies perhaps this supporting helps him to uproot Babik devils
Minister 1:
I hear and obey!
(Silent scene passes, remnant of message shall be read and the lights are putting out for a period then switching on wile caliph and attendants have some chats.
Chamberlain receives a new message from the guard and he immediately handles the message to the minister saying to him it is from al- Afshin.
Minster 1:
Starts to read the message (in the wake of, your warriors fight bravely and by the virtue of Allah we are able to conquer al- Nabith city and we captured great members of them, and seized on many properties, but the damn of God is upon him Babik escapes away with his family.
Al- Mutasim:
Praise is to Allah to this great victor, but I cannot sleep peacefully until a God's enemy Babik is defeated totally then people is saved from his vicious doing.
The caliph orders the writer to write a new message to al- Afshin as fellow:
From al- Mutasim to al- Afshin the leader of armies:
Salaam of Allah and his merciful blessing to thee.
We praise Allah that makes the victor under your hands and I think victor is not completed unless you bring to me the head of Babik then you shall announce between people publicly who brings to me the head of that devil I shall reward him by million dirhams.
He handles the message to be sent immediately with mail carrier.
(A period time passes, when they hear some verses of poetry)
Al- Mutasim talks with Abu Tamamm the poet saying to him; no longer and we shall be at Baghdad by the wiling of Allah.
Can you chant upon us on what you said about Baghdad and Damascus?
Abu Tamamm begins to chant these two verses…
My family is at Damascus while my passion is to Baghdad.
I have many brothers and friends in different Syrian land
I don’t think departure can hinder my feet or my hand.
Unless to Khurasan I migrate, is away from my homeland.
Chamberlain receives a new message from the guard who stands near the door then he immediately pushes the message to minister-1to read it for the caliph.
Minister 1:
It is from al-Afshin…
To the Faithful Commander, Allah supports him for appositeness
Salaam of Allah and his merciful blessing are upon thee….
Allah donates his great favour, we captured the enemy of God Babik, and we shall send him bound to you as far as possible, but Babik sent message to the king of Roman be we captured him saying on it:
Al- Mutasim:
Read on me what he says!
Babik informed the King of Roman that you sent all your armies to fight me and none was remaining surround his city to guard it, and you can seize the moment to attack his state.
Al-Mutasim:
Does he do that really?
Yes, the Roman king regarded on his advice seriously, raided Zabtra, Maltia cities and the area surround them, and he killed, captured many people of those cities, violated the sanctity of their wives, and the matter is left to your regardfulness.
Al-Mutasim:
Stands up on his feet furiously saying:
Damn of God is upon him! What a foolish man he is!
I shall root his tongue up! I want all ministers and princes immediately attend in front of me….
Minister 1:
I hear and obey!
Al-Mutasim to the chamberlain; trumpet to people to be present for Jihad.
(Chamberlain and minsister-1 go away)
Chamberlain: (trumpets to people loudly e stage curtain after he walks a few paces) and addressing people:
O, people and soldiers, the Faithful Commander of Allah calls you to jihad to struggle God enemies the Romans, who is present must inform the absent one, and he repeats his calling to encourage them for this respectful purpose while his voice gradually becomes faint.
Minister-1, minister-2, prince-1, prince-2, and Ajief attend to meet the caliph, and then chamberlain enters carrying new news.
Chamberlain:
He stands in front the caliph waiting his permission to speech.
Al-Mutasim: replies to the chamberlain his greeting referring to him:
What is behind thee?
Chamberlain:
The head of magistrates (Abd- al-Rahman bin Isaac) is waiting at door asking your permission to enter.
Al-Mutasim:
Let him enter.
The magistrate enters and greets the caliph.
Al-Mutasim:
Initiates his speech toward the magistrate and through him he sends his address to all people.
We are informed from our leader (al-Afshin) in the east front line that the Roman king abused Muslims and killed multitude numbers of hem, captured great deal numbers of their wives and daughters, had burnt their dwellings.
I decide to marsh and waging him and it is to be known; third of all my properties is to be paid for charities, the second third is to my son, and the last third is to my close relatives, and you magistrate must witness on what I said and I wish you don’t forget us from thy prayer.
Magistrate:
I beseech Allah to guard thee and help thee, go ahead under the protection and blessing of Allah.
Al-Mutasim to Ajief:
Ajief:
Here I am the Faithful Commander of Allah
Al- Mutasim:
Go ahead toward Zabtra to help and aid its people, and take with you, as you want from the princes and soldiers, moreover I shall follow thee by the willing of God.
Ajief:
I hear and obey my caliph….
(Ajief goes away accompanying with two ministers poet, and the magistrate after they bid farewell to the caliph.)
(Lights put out, noisy voices were heard outside the curtain, Ajeif accompanying with crowded soldiers going ahead to help Zabtra people, but eventually they knew that the raid was finished and king of Roman returning to his kingdom and they come back to inform the caliph about what has happened.
(Lights are turning on again)
Ajief enters to al-Mutasim…
Al-Mutasim:
What is behind thee Ajief? Why do you come back?
Do you escape away from the battlefield?
Ajief:
No, Sir… the aggressor who was escaped away…
The infidels escape away after they spread their vicious ravage there.
Chamberlain:
This is a new message comes from the Roman king.
Al-Mutasim:
Give me it, and chamberlain handles the message to (minister -1) to read it.
From Tofel the great king of Roman to Arab king:
The time of paying tribute is terminated, now we are stronger than you, and you who must pay it to us servilely.
Al-Mutasim:
He becomes very anger and he picks the letter from the minister nervously and orders the writer to write:
From the Faithful Commander of Allah to the dog of Roman:
I know what you meant and understand your address, my answer is to see not to hear, and all unbelievers shall know to whom the better consequence is.( of course this is taken from verses of Koran and the last phrase means the afterlife in which faithful devoted men gain the reward of Allah….. the translator)
(After the writer finishing the message he gives immediately to the mail carrier to deliver it)
Minister 1 continues on reading the messages for caliph and while he reads the message, the caliph takes a nap unwillingly.
Minister 2:
After he sees the caliph napping, he refers to minister 1 to be known.
Minister 2:
The caliph got many difficult days and didn’t sleep for many nights because he is upset about the kingdom affairs.
At the meantime, they hear someone comes from distant place and shouting compliantly:
(Oh, where is Mutasim? Oh! Where is Mutasim?
Al-Mutasim:
He awakes from sleeping frightened….
He responds to him saying (here I am! At your service)
Minister 1:
What is about you my caliph?
Al-Mutasim:
Didn’t you hear the grieved complaining man?
All attendants: We hear nothing! What complaining asking help is!
Minister 1:
Perhaps it is dream, our caliph!
Al-Mutasim:
No, no, I do not suppose! It is the borderlines…
It is the borderlines…
At this time, noises of horses and hullabaloos are heard outside….
Al- Mutasim: What is this hullabaloo?
Chamberlain: He is a man who introduces news to us.
Al-Mutasim:
Let him enters…
The grieved complaining man enters tearing out his clothes and crying; we are undefended against the aggressions of the infidels, it is the disgrace, it is the shame, honours of Muslims were violated in Zabtra, cheeks were beaten, and everyone cries and shouting by thy name and repeats:
Where is the Faithful commander of Allah?
Al-Mutasim:
Are you who cried?
The complaining man:
No, she is a woman from Zabtra
Al-Mutasim:
From which one does she complain?
The crying complaining man:
From someone of Roman infidels, she bargained with him about some kind of goods in the market and he treated her roughly and meanly, and when she replied to him, he slapped her at her cheek, and then she shouted on grievance:
(O, Mutasim! O, Mutasim!)
The Romanian infidel said to her; wait al-Mutasim to come from distance riding on his white mare to help thee, then all who were at the market drawn in laughters.
Al-Mutasim:
Allah shall choose the better! She may be happy on sooner victor.
Al-Mutasim to minister 1:
Approach and prepare my horses, my armors, I shall not sleep or take rest, no perfume or water shall touch my hair, until I raid at Zabtra…
The complaining grieved man:
To (Amoria) you may go ahead caliph; it is the invincible place at Romans country, no one raids it or think to conquers it from the beginning of Islam and it is the center of Christian people and it is the birthplace of their king and it is more sacred place than Constantinople for them.
Al- Mutasim:
It is to Amoria, as you demand certainly.
Minister 2:
Dear caliph, but the diviners advise to be cautious from fighting at this Scorpio eighth sign of the zodiac, and they say:
If the comet appears, the misfortune happens.
Al-Mutasim:
By God, they lie…
Minister 2:
Moreover, they said don’t go on raid when the star of luminous tail appears, and don’t fight if the Scorpio zodiac enters.
Al-Mutasim:
I don’t distinguish between stars of tail and the true tail of the sharp edge of this sword, he unsheathes his swords from its sheath saying to minister you shall see by your naked eye its action on the battle.
(All lights are distinguishing; the curtain is to be lowered, and the clattering of marsh is heard from the backside of the stage.
Al-Mutasim is going a head to Amoria leading large army divided for three divisions, he assigns al-Afshin to be the leader of the right- wing and on the left wing is (Ashnas) and he himself is in the middle of the army.)
He orders them to burn and damage all villages of enemy, and the Islamic army reached Amoria at the fifth day from Ramadan 223 Ah.
Immediately he set up the mangonel surround Amoria and began to strike its wall until it was shattered.
Scene 2
(The curtain is raised, and al-Mutasim appears sitting on his couch in the place of leadership talking with leaders of the army accompanying with minister 1, chamberlain and two guards were sitting through silent viewing.
Minister 2 enters bearing some news and meanwhile the caliph leaps from his place to appreciate the news precisely on the relief map, and they point to the specified place silently)
At the meantime, prince 1 enters carrying new news…
Prince 1:
Praise is to Allah, the surrounding barricade of the city has been shattered, but it is still impenetrable.
Al-Mutasim:
Why is it resists?
Prince 1:
Points to relief map, they built deep trench surrounding the wall and our horses can leap over it.
Al-Mutasim:
It is simple, divide what we had gained from sheep and cows to the soldiers and let each one of them eats his portion of this slaughtering animals soldiers shall fill the skins of those animals with dusts and stones and we put those full of sacks over the trench until we can fill the gaps.
Prince 1:
Yes caliph and is going away to carry out the order…
Al-Mutasim to prince 2:
What Afshin does? What is about our left-wing leader?
Prince 2:
Afshin enters deeply inside the enemy lands and he is now in the same place you determine for him and about Ashnas he encircles around Amoria twice and he is now very close to the castle you determine for him to be sieged.
Al-Mutasim:
What is about our spies and what they had done?
Prince 2:
They are on trust about the fore coming news, and they are sure that Tofel is going to meet Afshin.
Al-Mutasim:
This is what we want indeed!
Prince 1:
He is coming from the battlefield place and tells the caliph that soldiers did what you ordered them and they made the trench is equaled with ground.
Al-Mutasim:
Now you can allow the heavy damaging tools to pass over the place to be near the main wall.
At this time, strong sound of crashing body is head obviously.
Al-Mutasim:
What is this strong thud?
Prince -2:
It maybe is ensuing from Roman army attacking us suddenly.
Sounds of exclaiming Allah is the great come closely telling that Amoria is conquered.
Allah is the great the throats repeating this exclamation in rejoice.
Ajief comes from outside congratulating the caliph about this auspicious victor.
Al-Mutasim:
Praise is to Allah about his help, Allah is the great….
Order soldiers to burn and destroy the city…
Prince 1, minister 2, and Ajief are going outside in this moment
Silent view
Prince-1, minister-2, Ajief and Abu Tamamm enter together to congratulate the caliph about this victor, and Abu Tamamm is to shake the hands of caliph on cordiality.
Prince 2 to the caliph:
Abu Tamamm conceals on his quiver something is so to speak "pearl".
Al-Mutasim to Abu Tamamm:
Is it right?
Abu Tamamm:
It is not one pearl but pearls…
Prince 1:
Perhaps you exaggerate dear Abu Tamamm….
Abu Tamamm:
It is more than that it is the poem that keeps memory forever into still mentioning this great prestigious war and of course, he meant his everlasting up to now poem that starts by this verse…
Sword is more truthful than thoughts of astrologer.
Between its sharp edges, there is the serious matter.
Al- Mutasim:
When Abu Tamamm mentioned the astrologers as he compared between their advices to the caliph to depend on astrology during wars and between the actions of the swords at battles that they made victor indeed, the caliph thanked him for his great poem and saying to him, you have told the truth.
Eventually, the caliph asks Abu Tamamm if he wishes to return with him to Baghdad saying to him now it is eager to hear our delightful news.
The end
Translated to English by
Mohammad Mahmud Ahmad
O, Mutasim! Where are you?
Characters
Al- Mutasim- The caliph
Chamberlain
Ajief
Minister- 1
Minister- 2
Prince -1
Prince- 2
Writer
The complaining man
Abu Tamamm – The poet
Magistrate
Historical view
You shall read this historical summary out of the stage before the premiere starts….
Al- Mutasim is Abu- Isaac Mohammad bin Harun al- Rashid bin Mohammad al- Mahdi bin al- Mansur al- Abbasi, he was the eighth caliph of Abbasids dynasty so he took this name as nickname.
He made eight conquests, killed eight brave champions, stayed (eight years, eight months, and eight days) at caliphate, he was born at 180 Ah at month eight, he died on forty eight years age, had left eight sons and eight daughters, and he entered the capital of caliphate at 218Ah after eight months from taking a charge as a caliph.
He was illiterate; therefore, he accompanied with him someone who helped him when he went to the scholiasts.
One day his father al-Rashid asked him:
What is about your accompanying?
He said; he died, and he was saved from this difficult task.
Al- Rashid said:
Do you find in death your rest at the expense of others?
By God, you shall not go to the scholiasts from this day.
Al-Mutasim was brave, generous caliph especially at wars; he left good prestigious memory on people hearts, moreover he is desirous to spend money on wars fields more than to spend money on establishing constructions fields, so he posses many war equipments and horses.
He gave charities in a very lofty extravagance and for instance, he gave (Ahmad bin David) about hundred million dirhams, and when he was on the bed death he mentioned very important verse of Koran pertaining to money (when they are happy about what life is blessing on them, suddenly they depart with vacant hands).
Many times, he said if I knew that my life is short, I should spare no effort to do charities.
In addition, he said at the bed of death; my God, I didn’t fear thy justice, but I fear myself defect, and I request thy willing not my willing.
He died on Thursday the 17 of the third Arabic month 227- Ah, at Samarra city that becomes on his time the capital of Abbasids state instead of Baghdad.
Stage furniture: distributed as bellow
Chair of the caliph, six couches, table, inkpot, leather bed for those sentenced to death, sword and javelin of the caliph, bow and arrows, some of war equipments, spears, armors, swords, etc…
Scene 1
The curtain is to be raised disclosing (silent view) and al-Mutasim sitting on his couch, in front of the door there is two guards, the chamberlain appears standing beside the caliph, two ministers, poet and writer.
The chamberlain holds the letters then he will handle to the minister to read them in front of the caliph one after the other until the caliph read them totally.
Al-Mutasim:
This is very great victor, is there anything else?
Chamberlain:
Yes, Calif this is the last message, he handles to the minister.
Minister 1: to the caliph
This message was stamped by the stamp of al- Afshin (Hydrar bin Kawis) your leader on the east frontline and he tells you that he is about to raid on Babik al-Khuramy city.
Al- Mutasim:
Very good news and l am eager to hear more triumphant news from my armies tells me that villain Babik is defeated…
Minster 1 reads upon him the message:
To Commander of Faithful
Now I am close to the frontier of al- Bith city, and Babik with his warriors and followers took from this city as refuge.
This atheist Persian is a big Satan, and he claims for unbelief and his doctrine is the absolute libertinism, they believe on transmigrations of souls, they deny Islamic Sharia such as prayer, Hajj, Zakat, etc…, they deem wines as blessing thing, they violate all sacred things.
Al-Mutasim:
Woe is upon him, Allah is his opponent.
Minister follows reading…
They try to change the rule domination from Arab to Magi Persians and they seek to defeat Islam totally.
Therefore, they pretend that they love Hashemite family and they made themselves as followers to them depending on this way as a doctrine to cheat people's eyes on their apparent behavior, but they in their deep souls conceal their real feelings toward Persian Magi behalf in order to dismantle Islamic loops.
Al-Mutasim:
Hopeless they seek that, it is unattainable dream.
Minister continues on reading:
He overcame and seized properties of many villages and he burnt people while they were alive and killed more than two hundred and fifty persons until now.
Al-Mutasim:
We trust in Allah The great and Almighty to revenge from him.
Minister reads the last line of the message:
Now I put his city under my siege control until your orders reach me.
Al-Mutasim:
Damn of God is upon the aggressor.
No riot is put down yet a new one sets up.
The caliph calls the writer to writhe his answer:
When my message reaches thee go a head depending on Allah's bliss and I shall support thee by reinforcements.
The caliph orders the minister to send thirty million dirhams to his leader and the remnant of armies perhaps this supporting helps him to uproot Babik devils
Minister 1:
I hear and obey!
(Silent scene passes, remnant of message shall be read and the lights are putting out for a period then switching on wile caliph and attendants have some chats.
Chamberlain receives a new message from the guard and he immediately handles the message to the minister saying to him it is from al- Afshin.
Minster 1:
Starts to read the message (in the wake of, your warriors fight bravely and by the virtue of Allah we are able to conquer al- Nabith city and we captured great members of them, and seized on many properties, but the damn of God is upon him Babik escapes away with his family.
Al- Mutasim:
Praise is to Allah to this great victor, but I cannot sleep peacefully until a God's enemy Babik is defeated totally then people is saved from his vicious doing.
The caliph orders the writer to write a new message to al- Afshin as fellow:
From al- Mutasim to al- Afshin the leader of armies:
Salaam of Allah and his merciful blessing to thee.
We praise Allah that makes the victor under your hands and I think victor is not completed unless you bring to me the head of Babik then you shall announce between people publicly who brings to me the head of that devil I shall reward him by million dirhams.
He handles the message to be sent immediately with mail carrier.
(A period time passes, when they hear some verses of poetry)
Al- Mutasim talks with Abu Tamamm the poet saying to him; no longer and we shall be at Baghdad by the wiling of Allah.
Can you chant upon us on what you said about Baghdad and Damascus?
Abu Tamamm begins to chant these two verses…
My family is at Damascus while my passion is to Baghdad.
I have many brothers and friends in different Syrian land
I don’t think departure can hinder my feet or my hand.
Unless to Khurasan I migrate, is away from my homeland.
Chamberlain receives a new message from the guard who stands near the door then he immediately pushes the message to minister-1to read it for the caliph.
Minister 1:
It is from al-Afshin…
To the Faithful Commander, Allah supports him for appositeness
Salaam of Allah and his merciful blessing are upon thee….
Allah donates his great favour, we captured the enemy of God Babik, and we shall send him bound to you as far as possible, but Babik sent message to the king of Roman be we captured him saying on it:
Al- Mutasim:
Read on me what he says!
Babik informed the King of Roman that you sent all your armies to fight me and none was remaining surround his city to guard it, and you can seize the moment to attack his state.
Al-Mutasim:
Does he do that really?
Yes, the Roman king regarded on his advice seriously, raided Zabtra, Maltia cities and the area surround them, and he killed, captured many people of those cities, violated the sanctity of their wives, and the matter is left to your regardfulness.
Al-Mutasim:
Stands up on his feet furiously saying:
Damn of God is upon him! What a foolish man he is!
I shall root his tongue up! I want all ministers and princes immediately attend in front of me….
Minister 1:
I hear and obey!
Al-Mutasim to the chamberlain; trumpet to people to be present for Jihad.
(Chamberlain and minsister-1 go away)
Chamberlain: (trumpets to people loudly e stage curtain after he walks a few paces) and addressing people:
O, people and soldiers, the Faithful Commander of Allah calls you to jihad to struggle God enemies the Romans, who is present must inform the absent one, and he repeats his calling to encourage them for this respectful purpose while his voice gradually becomes faint.
Minister-1, minister-2, prince-1, prince-2, and Ajief attend to meet the caliph, and then chamberlain enters carrying new news.
Chamberlain:
He stands in front the caliph waiting his permission to speech.
Al-Mutasim: replies to the chamberlain his greeting referring to him:
What is behind thee?
Chamberlain:
The head of magistrates (Abd- al-Rahman bin Isaac) is waiting at door asking your permission to enter.
Al-Mutasim:
Let him enter.
The magistrate enters and greets the caliph.
Al-Mutasim:
Initiates his speech toward the magistrate and through him he sends his address to all people.
We are informed from our leader (al-Afshin) in the east front line that the Roman king abused Muslims and killed multitude numbers of hem, captured great deal numbers of their wives and daughters, had burnt their dwellings.
I decide to marsh and waging him and it is to be known; third of all my properties is to be paid for charities, the second third is to my son, and the last third is to my close relatives, and you magistrate must witness on what I said and I wish you don’t forget us from thy prayer.
Magistrate:
I beseech Allah to guard thee and help thee, go ahead under the protection and blessing of Allah.
Al-Mutasim to Ajief:
Ajief:
Here I am the Faithful Commander of Allah
Al- Mutasim:
Go ahead toward Zabtra to help and aid its people, and take with you, as you want from the princes and soldiers, moreover I shall follow thee by the willing of God.
Ajief:
I hear and obey my caliph….
(Ajief goes away accompanying with two ministers poet, and the magistrate after they bid farewell to the caliph.)
(Lights put out, noisy voices were heard outside the curtain, Ajeif accompanying with crowded soldiers going ahead to help Zabtra people, but eventually they knew that the raid was finished and king of Roman returning to his kingdom and they come back to inform the caliph about what has happened.
(Lights are turning on again)
Ajief enters to al-Mutasim…
Al-Mutasim:
What is behind thee Ajief? Why do you come back?
Do you escape away from the battlefield?
Ajief:
No, Sir… the aggressor who was escaped away…
The infidels escape away after they spread their vicious ravage there.
Chamberlain:
This is a new message comes from the Roman king.
Al-Mutasim:
Give me it, and chamberlain handles the message to (minister -1) to read it.
From Tofel the great king of Roman to Arab king:
The time of paying tribute is terminated, now we are stronger than you, and you who must pay it to us servilely.
Al-Mutasim:
He becomes very anger and he picks the letter from the minister nervously and orders the writer to write:
From the Faithful Commander of Allah to the dog of Roman:
I know what you meant and understand your address, my answer is to see not to hear, and all unbelievers shall know to whom the better consequence is.( of course this is taken from verses of Koran and the last phrase means the afterlife in which faithful devoted men gain the reward of Allah….. the translator)
(After the writer finishing the message he gives immediately to the mail carrier to deliver it)
Minister 1 continues on reading the messages for caliph and while he reads the message, the caliph takes a nap unwillingly.
Minister 2:
After he sees the caliph napping, he refers to minister 1 to be known.
Minister 2:
The caliph got many difficult days and didn’t sleep for many nights because he is upset about the kingdom affairs.
At the meantime, they hear someone comes from distant place and shouting compliantly:
(Oh, where is Mutasim? Oh! Where is Mutasim?
Al-Mutasim:
He awakes from sleeping frightened….
He responds to him saying (here I am! At your service)
Minister 1:
What is about you my caliph?
Al-Mutasim:
Didn’t you hear the grieved complaining man?
All attendants: We hear nothing! What complaining asking help is!
Minister 1:
Perhaps it is dream, our caliph!
Al-Mutasim:
No, no, I do not suppose! It is the borderlines…
It is the borderlines…
At this time, noises of horses and hullabaloos are heard outside….
Al- Mutasim: What is this hullabaloo?
Chamberlain: He is a man who introduces news to us.
Al-Mutasim:
Let him enters…
The grieved complaining man enters tearing out his clothes and crying; we are undefended against the aggressions of the infidels, it is the disgrace, it is the shame, honours of Muslims were violated in Zabtra, cheeks were beaten, and everyone cries and shouting by thy name and repeats:
Where is the Faithful commander of Allah?
Al-Mutasim:
Are you who cried?
The complaining man:
No, she is a woman from Zabtra
Al-Mutasim:
From which one does she complain?
The crying complaining man:
From someone of Roman infidels, she bargained with him about some kind of goods in the market and he treated her roughly and meanly, and when she replied to him, he slapped her at her cheek, and then she shouted on grievance:
(O, Mutasim! O, Mutasim!)
The Romanian infidel said to her; wait al-Mutasim to come from distance riding on his white mare to help thee, then all who were at the market drawn in laughters.
Al-Mutasim:
Allah shall choose the better! She may be happy on sooner victor.
Al-Mutasim to minister 1:
Approach and prepare my horses, my armors, I shall not sleep or take rest, no perfume or water shall touch my hair, until I raid at Zabtra…
The complaining grieved man:
To (Amoria) you may go ahead caliph; it is the invincible place at Romans country, no one raids it or think to conquers it from the beginning of Islam and it is the center of Christian people and it is the birthplace of their king and it is more sacred place than Constantinople for them.
Al- Mutasim:
It is to Amoria, as you demand certainly.
Minister 2:
Dear caliph, but the diviners advise to be cautious from fighting at this Scorpio eighth sign of the zodiac, and they say:
If the comet appears, the misfortune happens.
Al-Mutasim:
By God, they lie…
Minister 2:
Moreover, they said don’t go on raid when the star of luminous tail appears, and don’t fight if the Scorpio zodiac enters.
Al-Mutasim:
I don’t distinguish between stars of tail and the true tail of the sharp edge of this sword, he unsheathes his swords from its sheath saying to minister you shall see by your naked eye its action on the battle.
(All lights are distinguishing; the curtain is to be lowered, and the clattering of marsh is heard from the backside of the stage.
Al-Mutasim is going a head to Amoria leading large army divided for three divisions, he assigns al-Afshin to be the leader of the right- wing and on the left wing is (Ashnas) and he himself is in the middle of the army.)
He orders them to burn and damage all villages of enemy, and the Islamic army reached Amoria at the fifth day from Ramadan 223 Ah.
Immediately he set up the mangonel surround Amoria and began to strike its wall until it was shattered.
Scene 2
(The curtain is raised, and al-Mutasim appears sitting on his couch in the place of leadership talking with leaders of the army accompanying with minister 1, chamberlain and two guards were sitting through silent viewing.
Minister 2 enters bearing some news and meanwhile the caliph leaps from his place to appreciate the news precisely on the relief map, and they point to the specified place silently)
At the meantime, prince 1 enters carrying new news…
Prince 1:
Praise is to Allah, the surrounding barricade of the city has been shattered, but it is still impenetrable.
Al-Mutasim:
Why is it resists?
Prince 1:
Points to relief map, they built deep trench surrounding the wall and our horses can leap over it.
Al-Mutasim:
It is simple, divide what we had gained from sheep and cows to the soldiers and let each one of them eats his portion of this slaughtering animals soldiers shall fill the skins of those animals with dusts and stones and we put those full of sacks over the trench until we can fill the gaps.
Prince 1:
Yes caliph and is going away to carry out the order…
Al-Mutasim to prince 2:
What Afshin does? What is about our left-wing leader?
Prince 2:
Afshin enters deeply inside the enemy lands and he is now in the same place you determine for him and about Ashnas he encircles around Amoria twice and he is now very close to the castle you determine for him to be sieged.
Al-Mutasim:
What is about our spies and what they had done?
Prince 2:
They are on trust about the fore coming news, and they are sure that Tofel is going to meet Afshin.
Al-Mutasim:
This is what we want indeed!
Prince 1:
He is coming from the battlefield place and tells the caliph that soldiers did what you ordered them and they made the trench is equaled with ground.
Al-Mutasim:
Now you can allow the heavy damaging tools to pass over the place to be near the main wall.
At this time, strong sound of crashing body is head obviously.
Al-Mutasim:
What is this strong thud?
Prince -2:
It maybe is ensuing from Roman army attacking us suddenly.
Sounds of exclaiming Allah is the great come closely telling that Amoria is conquered.
Allah is the great the throats repeating this exclamation in rejoice.
Ajief comes from outside congratulating the caliph about this auspicious victor.
Al-Mutasim:
Praise is to Allah about his help, Allah is the great….
Order soldiers to burn and destroy the city…
Prince 1, minister 2, and Ajief are going outside in this moment
Silent view
Prince-1, minister-2, Ajief and Abu Tamamm enter together to congratulate the caliph about this victor, and Abu Tamamm is to shake the hands of caliph on cordiality.
Prince 2 to the caliph:
Abu Tamamm conceals on his quiver something is so to speak "pearl".
Al-Mutasim to Abu Tamamm:
Is it right?
Abu Tamamm:
It is not one pearl but pearls…
Prince 1:
Perhaps you exaggerate dear Abu Tamamm….
Abu Tamamm:
It is more than that it is the poem that keeps memory forever into still mentioning this great prestigious war and of course, he meant his everlasting up to now poem that starts by this verse…
Sword is more truthful than thoughts of astrologer.
Between its sharp edges, there is the serious matter.
Al- Mutasim:
When Abu Tamamm mentioned the astrologers as he compared between their advices to the caliph to depend on astrology during wars and between the actions of the swords at battles that they made victor indeed, the caliph thanked him for his great poem and saying to him, you have told the truth.
Eventually, the caliph asks Abu Tamamm if he wishes to return with him to Baghdad saying to him now it is eager to hear our delightful news.
The end