CHAPTER XII
Arabic Made the Language of the Register
Al-Madâʾini ʿAli ibn-Muḥammad ibn-abi-Saif from his sheikhs:—Persian was the language of the register of the kharâj of as-Sawâd and the rest of al-ʿIrâḳ. When al-Ḥajjâj became ruler of al-ʿIrâḳ he chose Zâdân Farrûkh ibn-Yabra for secretary, and the latter was assisted by Ṣâliḥ ibn-ʿAbd-ar-Raḥmân, a freedman of the banu-Tamîm, who knew both Arabic and Persian. Ṣâliḥ's father was one of the captives of Sijistân. Through Zâdân Farrûkh, Ṣâliḥ was acquainted with al-Ḥajjâj, who found him acceptable. One day Ṣâliḥ said to Zâdân, "Thou art the means by which I became acquainted with the governor; and I see that he has found me acceptable. I, therefore, do not wonder if he should promote me over thee, in which case thou wouldst fall." "Never believe that," answered Zḥâdân; "he has more use for me than I for him, because none but myself can be found to keep his books." "By Allah," retorted Ṣâliḥ, "if thou so desire, I could change the accounts into Arabic." "Try a part of it," said Zâdân, "and I will see." Ṣâliḥ having done that, Zâdân asked him to feign illness, which he did. Al-Ḥajjâj sent his own physician, but found nothing wrong with Ṣâliḥ. Hearing that, Zâdân ordered him to appear.
In the days of ʿAbd-ar-Raḥmân ibn-Muḥammad ibn-al-Ashʿath al-Kindi, Zâdân Farrûkh was killed on his way from some house to his own home, or some other man's home. Thereupon, al-Ḥajjâj made Ṣâliḥ secretary in the
