the photographer said to almahdi the chamberlain should not be ignorant stupid heedless absentminded distracted lazy contemptuous gloomy or frowning. for if he is ignorant he will cause harm to his companion when he thinks it is beneficial. if he is blind he will neither deliver to his companion nor deliver on his behalf. if he is stupid he will ignore the position of the noble so he will place him in a position other than his own lower him from his station and give precedence to the lowly over him.
قال المصور للمهدي لا ينبغي أن يكون الحاجب جهولا، ولا غبيا، ولاعييا، ولا ذهولا ولا متشاغلا، ولا خاملا ولا محتقرا، ولا جهما ولا عبوسا. فإنه إن كان جهولا أدخل على صاحبه الضرر من حيث يقدر المنفعة، وإن كان عييا لم يؤد إلى صاحبه ولم يؤد عنه، وإن كان غبيا جهل مكان الشريف فأحله غير منزلته، وحطه عن مرتبته، وقدم الوضيع عليه،