Letter to Abū l-Ḥasan Sīman Ṭūb

A thousand greetings to the beloved brother Abū al-Ḥasan Sīman Ṭūb, may he have a long life, son of Abū Naṣr, son of Dāniyāl. [May] God’s blessing [and] praise [increase] upon [his] body and soul.

[In the name of the] Beneficent.

A thousand greetings to the beloved brother Abū al-Ḥasan Siman-Tov, may he have a long life, son of Yehuda, may God grant him life. May God’s blessing and praise increase upon your body and soul, under submission to the God of Israel, and [your] own desire and that of the beloved ones, amen. The letter of the beloved brother, may God grant him life, arrived. I read [it]. I became joyful at the news of his [good h]ealth, may God bestow good tidings. I also inform the beloved brother that these several letters [which] are written [saying] that I committed false[hood] and broke the promise regarding the [taking of] possession, are [all] false claims. There is no need for so much condemnation. [I]‌f I took possession, [my] deeds and my rep[lies] would be with the Merciful. I did not do a thing with which the Merciful was not pleased. If a certain person says: [“I] do not observe the Sabbath,” but [in fact] he does, I know such, that the Merciful will not punish him for that. These many ^reproaches should not be done towards anyone. I would do nothing contrary to [the customs of] men, if I brought my family here. I am keeping it well as far as I am capable [of], if you say that she has a complaint because of something, so that I will mend that complaint of hers. You had said that we did this particular matter in order that friendship would increase. If your friendship towards me has decreased, my love to you [ . . . ] will be great, and you know [this]. However, this much should be known to you, that anyone who [marries] a woman, brings peace to [his] own mind, as [it] is for all people, [and] not so that I will be sitting in Ghaznī and she in Bāmiyān. If I were able to make a living in Bāmiyān, I would have acted according to your wish long ago. Also, if this portion of the alms taxes and the gift that should be given to people did not exist, I would have come there immediately, whether I were ab[le] to work in some other occupation or not. God knows that in these years that I came there two [or] three [times] each winter—I am still paying the go[ld] [coin] and the debt of that. You know that I am a man owning goods, and God, blessed be His name, has allotted [to me] as you se[e]—not so generously, a hundred thousand thanks to God, blessed be His name. I am not acquainted with any other profession and I am not a man [who is accustomed] to travelling and to being remote from home, and I cannot do [these things]. And you know that [in] this business and work that I do, if I am absent from the shop for one day, I will be without profit that day. Therefore, how am I supposed to be workless for half a year, [while] the door of the shop is closed here and the supplies are running out, and I sit there workless? If you say that the answer to that [matter] is that I am here and they [are] in Bāmiyān, by no means will this be acceptable to me. I cannot complete this work, but I am making ^efforts so that perhaps I will defer [the payment of] these alms taxes [and] come there immediately. I am concerned about the mother, since my heart is preoccupied with her very much, for I know that she is in sorrow. However, she should not search for all [her] own happiness [by herself], others should tend to some of that. You had spoken of the arrival of Siman-Tov. I became very joyful that we will see him, and the sister is very eager to see him. Please, he should not act again in such a way that will agitate this girl’s heart again, for at any rate, as long as the matter of Bū Sa‘īd, may he have a long life, is not settled, they will not leave [him/it]. They will settle [it] in [the month of] Marḥeshvan. [I am saying that] so that you be informed. You had said that two hundred dirhams were lost by the arrival of ‘Alī and Fārisak. It should have been known to you that during this time, I would not leave him/it. Even if I had left [it/him], they would not prevent that work would arrive to Faraj. If he/it had been there, I would have had to bring him/it here. I wanted you to be informed. [May] the eminent and peerless Kh^w[ā]ja¹ Abū Naṣr, may God grant him life, receive a hundred thousand greetings. May the Merciful be pleased with him. He is the one who says reproachful words regarding this matter less than everyone [else] and [who] knows that regarding this affair much distrust and disagreement befell, so that they should not reproach for this and should not say that: “he committed falsehood regarding the [taking of] possession.” Although God knows that I prefer one hour in your presence and seeing you than the many benefits of this world, He knows, however, that [this] is a necessity. People have [their] name and reputation. The Kh^wāja, may God grant him life, knows that my goodness and evil belong to him. I will accede to whatever he sees proper. I explained to him my entire situation. If [it were] such during these days that I brought this child here, there would be no kind of irregularity on my part. [If] he does not agree, [then] on the whole, it should be known to the Kh^wāja, may God grant him life, that I am a slave, I am [an] obedient [servant] of his. If any evil happened to me, I would do what the Kh^wāja orders. He had asked for oil. I bought six mann and fifteen sitēr. Thirteen and a half and [are worth] one shiyānī. I sent the vessel wi[th] Aḥmad the water-drawer. There are still not many eggplants. A [thousand] eggplants are [worth] thirty shiyānī. I did not send [eggplants]. They were very small. I will send [eggplants] next week. Send a thousand greetings to the beloved mother, may God grant her life. Mahnāz sends a thousand greetings to the eminent Kh^wāja Abū Naṣr, may God grant him life. The mother sends greetings to the sisters. She sends a thousand greetings to Abū Sulaymān David, son of Yosef, may God grant him life. Send greetings to all our beloved ones. Send greetings to Moshe. Write [to me about] a work that there may be, so that I will complete [it]. Farewell.

[Right margin:] Regarding the matter of Avraham, son of ‘Eli, he should order to do whatever he is able to do, for they have sentenced and ostracized [him]. Poor Mishael [still] remains here in prison, and the Kh^wāja, my father, is des[pe]rate. He sends a thousand greetings to the emi[nent] Kh^wāja and [to] the children.

External Address

To the beloved brother Abū al-Ḥasan Siman-Tov, may he have a long life, son of Yehuda, may God grant him life.

From Ya’ir, son of Ēmēd.

It will arrive to Bāmiyān ’l—God, Almighty and Exalted, willing.

The ninth of [the month of] Elul.

Below the Address

Mahnāz sent a small bag of fruit to Moshe, may God grant him life.

Source: NLI MS Heb. 4°8333.29.