Source text:
كان الحجاج بن يوسف الثقفي يستحم بالخليج فأشرف على الغرق فأنقذه أحد المسلمين
و عندما حمله إلى البر قال له الحجاج : أطلب ما تشاء فطلبك مجاب
فقال الرجل : ومن أنت حتى تجيب لي أي طلب ؟
قال: أنا الحجاج الثقفي
قال له : طلبي الوحيد أنني سألتك بالله أن لا تخبر أحداً أنني أنقذتك
Translation:
Al-Hajjaj bin Yusof al-Thaqafi once took a bath at the bay and nearly drowned himself. A muslim passerby saw Al-Hajjaj and rescued him from drowning. When the man managed to pull him towards the shore, Al-Hajjaj said : “Wish whatever you want and I will fulfill it!”
The man responded: “Who are you and what made you think that you can fulfill my wish?”
Al-Hajjaj said: “I am al-Hajjaj al-Thaqafi.”
The man said: “I only have one wish. Please, by God, do not inform anyone that I saved you from drowning!”
_____
Translated by Syawal
******************************
Notes:
- Al-Hajjaj bin Yusof was a very controversial administrator serving the Umayyad caliphate. Despite being credited with many contributions in the field of linguistics and commerce, he was often negatively described as a violent, draconian and widely feared ruler.
decipher 