------------------------------------------------------------------------ Translation of the Life of Omar ibn Said: Manuscript No. 1 ● Transcriber’s Notes: ○ This document was transcribed from a handwritten text. The author later made changes and insertions which are marked like this [↑my], meaning the word “my” was written as an insertion at that point. ○ There was no page numbered 5 in the manuscript. ○ In the paragraph beginning “I gave alms every year, gold,” there is an illegible word. ○ Missing or obscured punctuation was silently corrected. ○ Typographical errors were silently corrected. ○ Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were made consistent only when a predominant form was found in this book. ○ Text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Omar ben Saeed (1) Manuscript, No. 1.— In the name of God, the merciful the gracious.—God grant his blessing upon our lord (seidna) Mohammed. Blessed be He in whose hand is the kingdom & who is Almighty; who created death & life that he might make you the best of his works; for he is exalted; he is the forgiver (of sins,) who created seven heavens one above the other. Do you discern anything trifling in creation. Bring back your thoughts. Do you see anything worthless. Recall your vision in earnest. Turn your eye inward for it is diseased. God has adorned the heavens & the world with lamps, & has made us missiles for the devils, & given us for them a grievous punishment, & to those who have disbelieved their Lord, the punishment of hell & pains of body. Whoever associates with them shall hear a boiling caldron, & what is cast therein may fitly represent those who suffer under the anger of God.—Ask them if a prophet (director) has not been sent unto them. They say, “yes; a prophet has come to us, but we have lied to him.” We said, “God has not sent us down any thing, & you are in grievous error.” They say, “If we had listened & been wise we should not now have been suffering the punishment of the Omniscient.” So they confess they have sinned in destroying the followers of the Omniscient. Those who fear their Lord & profess his name, they receive pardon & great honor. Guard your words, (ye wicked), make it known that God is all-wise in all his manifestations. Do you not know from the creation that God is full of skill? that He has made for you the way of error, & you have walked therein, & have chosen to live upon what your god, Nasûr has furnished you. Believe on Him who dwells in heaven, who has fitted the earth to be your support & it shall give you food. Believe on Him who dwells in Heaven, who has sent you a prophet, & you shall understand what a teacher (He has sent you.) Those that were