---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,translation ( ! ,life ( ,om> ibn ,said3 ,manuscript ,no4 #a ,transcrib]'s ,notes3 ,?is docum5t 0 transcrib$ f a h&writt5 text4 ,! au?or lat] made *anges & ins]tions :i* are m>k$ l ?is my1 mean+ ! ^w 8my0 0 writt5 z an ins]tion at t po9t4 ,!re 0 no page numb]$ #e 9 ! manuscript4 ,9 ! p>agraph beg9n+ 8,i gave alms e ye>1 gold10 !re is an illegible ^w4 ,miss+ or obscur$ punctuation 0 sil5tly correct$4 ,typographical errors 7 sil5tly correct$4 ,inconsi/5t spell+ & hyph5ation 7 made consi/5t only :5 a pr$om9ant =m 0 f\nd 9 ?is book4 ,text t 0 9 italics is enclos$ by und]scores 7italics74 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,om> b5 ,sae$ 7#a7 ,manuscript1 ,no4 #a4-- ,9 ! "n ( ,god1 ! m]ciful ! graci\s4--,god grant 8 bless+ ^u our "l 7seidna7 ,mohamm$4 ,bless$ be ,he 9 ^: h& is ! k+dom :o is ,almighty2 :o creat$ dea? life t he might make y ! be/ ( 8 works2 = he is exalt$2 he is ! =giv] 7( s9s17 :o creat$ sev5 heav5s "o above ! o!r4 ,d y disc]n any?+ trifl+ 9 creation4 ,br+ back y\r ?\ghts4 ,d y see any?+ wor?less4 ,recall y\r vision 9 e>ne/4 ,turn y\r eye inw>d = x is diseas$4 ,god has adorn$ ! heav5s ! _w ) lamps1 has made u missiles = ! devils1 giv5 u = !m a griev\s puni%m5t1 to ^? :o h disbeliev$ _! ,"l1 ! puni%m5t ( hell pa9s ( body4 ,:oev] associates ) !m %all he> a boil+ caldron1 :at is ca/ !re9 may fitly repres5t ^? :o suff] "u ! ang] ( ,god4--,ask !m if a prophet 7director7 has n be5 s5t unto !m4 ,!y say1 8yes2 a prophet has come to u1 b we h li$ to him40 ,we said1 8,god has n s5t u d[n any ?+1 y are 9 griev\s error40 ,!y say1 8,if we _h li/5$ be5 wise we %\ld n n[ h be5 suff]+ ! puni%m5t ( ! ,omnisci5t40 ,s !y confess !y h s9n$ 9 de/roy+ ! foll[]s ( ! ,omnisci5t4 ,^? :o fe> _! ,"l pr(ess 8 "n1 !y receive p>don great honor4 ,gu>d y\r words1 7ye wick$71 make x kn[n t ,god is all-wise 9 all 8 manife/ations4 ,d y n "k f ! creation t ,god is full ( skill8 t ,he has made = y ! way ( error1 y h walk$ !re91 h *os5 to live ^u :at y\r god1 ,nasr has furni%$ y4 ,believe on ,him :o dwells 9 heav51 :o has fitt$ ! e>? to be y\r support x %all give y food4 ,believe on ,him :o dwells 9 ,heav51 :o has s5t y a prophet1 y %all und]/& :at a tea*] 7,he has s5t y47 ,^? t 7 be=e !m deceiv$ !m 79 reg>d to _! prophet47 ,& h[ came !y to reject him8 ,did !y n see 9 ! heav5s above !m1 h[ ! f[ls ( ! air receive ) pleasure t :i* is s5t !m8 ,god looks aft] all4 ,believe ye3 x is ,he :o supplies y\r wants1 t y may take 8 gifts enjoy !m1 take great pleasure 9 !m4 ,& n[ w y g on 9 error1 or walk 9 ! pa? ( righte\sness4 ,say to !m2 8,he :o reg>ds y ) c>e1 :o has made = y ! heav5s ! e>?3 gives y prosp]ity1 ,him y ?9k little (4 ,?is is ,he t plant$ y 9 ! e>?1 to :om y are soon to be ga!r$40 ,b !y say1 8,if y are m5 ( tru?1 tell u :5 %all ?is promise be fulfill$80 ,say to !m2 8,does n ,god "k8 am n ,i an evid5t ,prophet80 ,:5 ^? :o disbelieve %all see ! ?+s draw ne> be=e _! faces1 x %all !n be told !m1 8^! are ! ?+s ab\t :i* y made inquiry40 ,h y se5 t ,god has de/roy$ me or ^? ) me8 or r t ,he has %ewn u m]cy8 ,& :o w def5d ! unbeliev] f a mis]able puni%m5t8 ,say2 8,k is f ,god40 ,say2 8,h y n se5 t y\r wat] has become impure8 ,:o w br+ y fre% wat] f ! f\nta980 ,illu/ration ,o ,%eikh ,hunt] ,i _c write my life because ,i h =gott5 mu* ( my own language1 z well z ( ! ,arabic4 ,d n be h>d ^u me my bro!r4--,to ,god let _m ?anks be paid = 8 great m]cy goodness4 ,page #ad-- ,9 ! "n ( ,god1 ! ,graci\s1 ! ,m]ciful4--,?anks be to ,god1 supreme 9 goodness1 k9dness1 grace1 :o is wor?y ( all honor1 :o creat$ all ?+s = 8 s]vice1 ev5 man's p[] ( action ( spee*4 ,illu/ration ,f ,om> to ,%eikh ,hunt]4 ,y ask$ me to write my life4 ,i am n able to d ?is because ,i h mu* =gott5 my own1 z well z ! ,arabic language4 ,nei!r c ,i write v grammatically or accord+ to ! true idiom4 ,& s1 my bro!r1 ,i beg y1 9 ,god's "n1 n to *ide me1 = ,i am a man ( weak eyes1 ( a weak body4 ,my "n is ,om> ibn ,seid1 7son ( ,seid47 7#b7 ,my bir? place 0 ,fut ,tr1 7,f\ta ,toro17 betwe5 ! two riv]s1 7,mesopotamia 9 ,africa87 ,i s\ght k "u ! in/ruction ( a ,%eikh call$ ,mohamm$ ,seid1 my own bro!r1 ,%eikh ,soleiman ,kembeh1 ,%eikh ,gabriel ,abdal4 ,i cont9u$ my /udies tw5ty five ye>s1 !n return$ to my home :]e ,i rema9$ six ye>s4 ,!n !re came to our place a l>ge army1 :o kill$ _m m51 took me1 br\ght me to ! great sea1 sold me into ! h&s ( ! ,*ri/ians :o b\nd me s5t me on bo>d a great %ip we sail$ ^u ! great sea a mon? a half1 :5 we came to a place call$ ,*>le/on 9 ! ,*ri/ian language4 ,!re !y sold me to a small1 weak1 wick$ man1 call$ ,johnson1 a complete infidel1 :o _h no fe> ( ,god at all4 ,n[ ,i am a small man2 unable to d h>d "w s ,i fl$ f ! h& ( ,johnson aft] a mon? came to a place call$ ,fayd-il 7,fayette-ville874 ,"h ,i saw "s great h\ses 7*ur*es74 ,on ! new-moon ,i w5t into a *ur* to pray4 ,a lad saw me rode (f to ! place ( 8 fa!r in=m$ him t he _h se5 a black man 9 ! *ur*4 ,a man nam$ ,h&ah 7,hunt]87 ano!r man ) him on horseback1 came att5d$ by a troop ( dogs4 ,!y took me made me g ) !m twelve miles to a place call$ ,fayd-il787 :]e !y put me into a great h\se f :i* ,i c\ld n g out4 ,i cont9u$ 9 ! great h\se 7:i*1 9 ! ,*ri/ian language1 !y call$ jail7 sixte5 days nights4 ,"o ,friday ! jailor came op5$ ! door ( ! h\se ,i saw a great _m m5 all ,*ri/ians1 "s ( :om call$ out to me1 8:at is y\r "n8 ,is x ,om> or ,seid80 ,i did n und]/& _! ,*ri/ian language4 ,a man call$ ,bob ,mum=d took me l$ me out ( ! jail1 ,i 0 v well pleas$ to g ) !m to _! place4 ,i /aid at ,mum=d's f\r days nights1 !n a man nam$ ,jim ,ow51 son 9 law ( ,mum=d1 :o m>ri$ 8 daught] ,betsey1 ask$ me if ,i 0 will+ to g to a place call$ ,blad51 7,b4 ,co4 ,n4,c474 ,i said1 ,yes1 ,i 0 will+4 ,i w5t ) !m h rema9$ 9 ! place 7h\se87 ( ,jim ,ow5 until n[4 ,be=e 7aft]87 ,i came into ! h& ( ,g54 ,ow5 a man by ! "n ( ,mit*ell came to buy me4 ,he ask$ me if ,i 7 will+ to g to ,*>le/on ,city4 ,i said 8no1 no1 no1 no1 no1 no1 no1 ,i n will+ to g to ,*>le/on4 ,i /ay 9 ! h& ( ,jim ,ow540 99 99 99 99 99 ,o ye p ( ,n4 ,c>ol9a1 ,o ye p ( ,s4 ,c>ol9a1 ,o ye p ( ,am]ica1 all ( y2 h y among y any two su* m5 z ,jim ,ow5 ,john ,ow54 ,^! m5 are good m54 ,:at food !y eat !y give to me to eat4 ,z !y clo! !mselves !y clo! me4 ,!y p]mit me to read ! gospel ( ,god1 our ,"l1 ,savi\r1 ,k+2 :o regulates all our circum/ances1 our heal? weal?1 :o be/[s 8 m]cies will+ly1 n by con/ra9t4 ,accord+ to my p[] ,i op5 my he>t1 z to a great light1 to receive ! true way1 ! way ( ! ,"l ,jesus ! ,messiah4 ,be=e ,i came to ! ,*ri/ian c\ntry1 my religion 0 ! religion ( 8,mohamm$1 ! ,apo/le ( ,god--may ,god h m]cy ^u him1 give him peace40 ,i walk$ to ! mosque be=e day-break1 wa%$ my face head h&s feet4 ,i pray$ at noon1 pray$ 9 ! aft]noon1 pray$ at sun-set1 pray$ 9 ! ev5+4 ,i gave alms e ye>1 gold1 silv]1 se$s1 illegible ^w1 cattle1 %eep1 goats1 rice1 :eat1 b>ley4 ,i gave ti!s ( all ! above-nam$ ?+s4 ,i w5t e ye> to ! holy w> aga9/ ! infidels4 ,i w5t on pilgrimage to ,mecca1 z all did :o 7 able4----,my fa!r _h six sons five daught]s1 my "m _h ?ree sons "o daught]4 ,:5 ,i left my c\ntry ,i 0 ?irty sev5 ye>s old2--,i h be5 9 ! c\ntry ( ! ,*ri/ians tw5ty f\r ye>s4----,writt5 ,a4,d4 #ahca-- ,writt5 9 ye> "o ?\s& eight hundr$ & "o & ?irty ( ,jesus ! messiah ,o ye p ( ,n4 ,c>ol9a1 ,o ye p ( ,s4 ,c>ol9a1 ,o all ye p ( ,am]ica--! fir/ son ( ,jim ,ow5 is call$ ,?omas1 8 si/] is call$ ,masa-je9 7,m>?a ,jane87 ,?is is an excell5t family4 ,tom ,ow5 ,nell ,ow5 h two sons a daught]4 ,! fir/ son is call$ ,jim ! second ,john4 ,! daught] is nam$ ,melissa4 ,seid ,jim ,ow5 8 wife ,betsey h two sons five daught]s4 ,_! names are ,tom1 ,john1 ,m]cy1 ,miriam1 ,sophia1 ,m>g>et ,eliza4 ,?is family is a v nice family4 7#c7 ,! wife ( ,john ,ow5 is call$ ,l\isa an excell5t wife %e is4 ,%e _h five *ildr54 ,?ree ( !m di$ two are /ill liv+4 ,o ye ,am]icans1--ye p ( ,n4 ,c>ol9a--h y1 h y1 h y1 h y among y a family l ?is family hav+ s mu* love to ,god z !y8 99 99 99 99 99 ,=m]ly ,i1 ,om>1 lov$ to read ! book ( ! ,koran ! fam\s4 ,g54 ,jim ,ow5 8 wife us$ to read ! gospel1 !y read x to me v mu*1--! gospel ( ,god1 our ,"l1 our ,creator1 our ,k+1 ,he t ord]s all our circum/ances1 heal? weal?1 will+ly1 n con/ra9$ly1 accord+ to 8 p[]4--,op5 ?\ my he>t to ! gospel1 to ! way ( uprightness4--,?anks to ! ,"l ( all worlds1 ?anks 9 abundance4 ,he is pl5te\s 9 m]cy abundant 9 goodness4 ,= ! law 0 giv5 by ,moses b grace tru? 7 by ,jesus ! ,messiah4 ,:5 ,i 0 a ,mohamm$an ,i pray$ ?us3 8,?anks be to ,god1 ,"l ( all worlds1 ! m]ciful ! graci\s ,"l ( ! day ( ,judgm5t1 !e we s]ve1 on !e we call = help4 ,direct u 9 ! "r way1 ! way ( ^? on :om ?\ ha/ _h m]cy1 ) :om ?\ has n be5 angry :o walk n 9 error4 ,am540--,b n[ ,i pray 8,our ,fa!r0 c44 9 ! words ( our ,"l ,jesus ! ,messiah4 99 99 99 99 99 ,i reside 9 ?is our c\ntry by reason ( great necessity4 ,wick$ m5 took me by viol5ce sold me to ! ,*ri/ians4 ,we sail$ a mon? a half on ! great sea to ! place call$ ,*>le/on 9 ! ,*ri/ian l&4 ,i fell into ! h& ( a small1 weak wick$ man1 :o fe>$ n ,god at all1 nor did he read 7! gospel7 at all nor pray4 ,i 0 afraid to rema9 ) a man s deprav$ :o committ$ s _m crimes ,i ran away4 ,aft] a mon? our ,"l ,god br\ght me =w>d to ! h& ( a good man1 :o fe>s ,god1 loves to d good1 ^: "n is ,jim ,ow5 ^: bro!r is call$ ,col4 ,john ,ow54 ,^! are two excell5t m54----,i am resid+ 9 ,blad5 c\nty4 ,i cont9ue 9 ! h& ( ,jim ,ow5 :o nev] beats me1 nor scolds me4 ,i nei!r g hungry nor nak$1 ,i h no h>d "w to d4 ,i am n able to d h>d "w = ,i am a small man feeble4 ,dur+ ! la/ tw5ty ye>s ,i h kn[n no want 9 ! h& ( ,jim ,ow54-- ,illu/ration