He distressed the Barāmika...
He distressed the Barāmika, killed their eminent figures, abased them, and confiscated their properties; that was because of their rank with the people, for example, the poets spoke constantly about their names, announced their generosity and munificence. He was so angry with them that he punished them severely. As a result, malice was one of the qualities of Hārūns personality and the most prominent one of his elements.
Meanness Hārūn al-Rashid had nothing of reverential fear and faith; he was ignoble and clinging to his lusts and pleasures. The following are some examples of his meanness: A. His Drinking Wine Hārūn al-Rashid was alcoholic. Perhaps he himself undertook giving wine to his drinking companions. His sister Aliya made good wine and sent it to him. We have mentioned his alcoholism in detail in our book Hayāt al-Imām Mūsā Bin Jafar (the Life of Imām Mūsā Bin Jafar), peace be on him. B.
His Fondness of Singing Hārūn al-Rashid grew up among the songstresses, for there was a large number of female musicians and songstresses, for example, there was in his palace three hundred beautiful women who played musical instruments and sang. [1] He classified the singers into threes categories: The first category consists of Ibrāhim al-Mousli, Ibn Jāmi, and Zalzal al-Dārib. As for Zalzal, he played on the lute; as for (Ibrāhim) al-Mousli and Ibn Jāmi, they were singers.
The second category is composed of Ishāq, Salim b. Salām, and Amrū al-Ghazzāl. The third category includes the owners of the stringed instruments and the mandolins. [2] Hārūn al-Rashid fell in love with three songstresses from among his female-slaves; they are Ghādir, Mārida, and Haylāna. Concerning them he composed poetry of which are the following lines: The three young ladies have possessed my rein and occupied the dearest place in my heart.
Why do all people obey me and I obey them, while they disobey me? That is (nothing) except the power of love through which they overcame those who were powerful than me. [3] We have presented in detail this quality of Hārūn al-Rashids life in our book Hayāt al-Imām Mūsā Bin Jafar (the Life of Imām Mūsā Bin Jafar). C. His Playing Game at Dice Another example of Hārūn al-Rashids meanness and his paying no attention to the unlawful is that he played game at dice (nard) , which is a kind of gambling.
One day he played game at dice with Ibrāhim al-Mousli. He bet him on the robe of honor which he [1] Al-Tamaddun al-Islāmi, vol. 5, p. 118. [2] Al-Tājj, pp.