then he began to exhort him, saying, “It has been related from the Commander of the Faithful, ʿAlī—may Allah ennoble his face—such-and-such.” He continued preaching until al-Ṭāʾiʿ burst into tears; his sobs were audible and the kerchief he held was soaked through.

When the session ended, al-Ṭāʾiʿ was asked why he had summoned him. He replied, “Someone reported to me that he disparages ʿAlī, so I wished to confront him. Yet when he arrived he opened with ʿAlī’s name, invoked blessings upon him, and repeated and elaborated on his praises. I knew then that he had been granted divine success—indeed, perhaps he had even been given an unveiling in the matter.” (1)

The Judge of the Bīmāristān narrated: al-Qudāʿī informed us, ʿAlī ibn Naṣr related to us, and Abū al-Thanāʾ Shukr al-ʿAḍudī said:
“When ʿAḍud al-Dawla entered Baghdad—its people having perished through killing, terror, and famine because of the relentless strife between Sunnis and Shiʿites—he declared, ‘The bane of these folk is the public storytellers.’ He banned them and announced, ‘Whoever disobeys, his blood is forfeit.’

Ibn Samʿūn heard of this and nevertheless took his seat on the preaching chair. My master ordered me to bring him, so I did. A man entered, radiant with light. Shukr continues: He sat down beside me entirely unperturbed, so I said to him, ‘This ruler is a mighty tyrant; I would not have you antagonize him. I shall usher you in—kiss the ground, speak gently, and seek Allah’s help against him.’

He answered, ‘Creation and command belong to Allah alone.’

I led him to a chamber where the king was sitting alone. I left him standing outside and went in to request permission—only to find him suddenly at my side. He turned his face toward the residence of ʿIzz al-Dawla and recited, “Such is the seizing of your Lord when He seizes the towns while they are wrongdoing” (Q 11:102). Then he turned his face another way and recited, “Then We made you successors on earth after them so that We might see how you would act” (Q 10:14).

He then commenced his admonition, uttering wondrous words. The king’s eyes filled with tears—something I had never seen before—and he drew the sleeve of his robe across his face.

When Abū al-Ḥusayn (Ibn Samʿūn) left, the king ordered, ‘Take him three thousand dirhams and ten robes from the treasury. If he refuses, tell him: “Distribute them among your companions.” If he accepts, bring me his head.’ I carried out the order, and he said, ‘These garments of mine were tailored nearly forty years ago; I wear them when I go out and then fold them away.’