of al-Shāfiʿī, where he devoted himself to its upkeep, taught, issued formal legal opinions, and composed works.

Khubūshān is one of the villages of Nishapur.

Ibn Khallikān (1) said: “Sultan Ṣalāḥ al-Dīn kept him close and held him in high regard. I met a number of his companions who praised his merit, piety, and the soundness of his inner state.”

Al-Muwaffaq ʿAbd al-Laṭīf reported: “He lived in the Sumaysāṭiyya quarter and became acquainted with the emir Najm al-Dīn Ayyūb and his brother. His life was austere and his religious stance uncompromising. He used to say, ‘I shall march to Egypt and remove the rule of the Jewish Banū ʿUbayd…’ until he said:

“So he settled in Cairo and openly reviled the people of the palace, turning his denunciation of them into a kind of tasbīḥ (constant devotional litany). They did not know how to handle him, so they sent him a great sum—reportedly four thousand dinars. He said to the courier, ‘Woe to you! What innovation is this?!’

“The messenger pressed him, whereupon he flung the gold down before him, struck him so that his turban fell apart into rings, and forced him down the staircase (2). When al-ʿĀḍid died, they hesitated to pronounce the khuṭba in the name of the ʿAbbāsids. Al-Khubūshānī then stood before the pulpit with his staff, ordered the preacher to do so, and the preacher complied. Nothing but good resulted, and Baghdad was festively adorned.

“When he rebuilt the site at the tomb of al-Shāfiʿī, he exhumed the bones of Ibn al-Kīzānī, declaring, ‘A truthful saint and a heretic cannot lie side by side.’

“The Ḥanbalīs tightened their ranks against him, formed armed bands, and clashes ensued, but he prevailed over them.

“Al-ʿAzīz (3) came to visit him, shook his hand, then asked for water and washed his hand, saying, ‘My son, you hold the reins while young attendants take no precautions.’ He (al-Khubūshānī) replied, ‘Then wash your face as well, for you have just wiped it with that hand.’ He answered, ‘Indeed,’ and washed his face.”