—his son-in-law, in fact, had been slain by Hishām ibn al-Walīd, and Muṣʿab went on to recount the whole episode.

Muʿāwiyah then said, “Enough, my nephew; this one offsets that one (1).”

ʿUrwah also composed the following verses about his palace in al-ʿAqīq:

We built it and perfected its form—
praise be to Allah—in the choicest part of al-ʿAqīq.
You see them casting at it sidelong, spiteful looks,
yet it flashes before them upon the open road.
It angered the grudging and became a burning rage
to my foes, while it gladdened every friend of mine.
Every passer-by and every traveller beholds it,
as does the pilgrim bound for the Ancient House (2).

It is said that when he had finished its construction and the digging of its well (3), he invited a group of people; they ate, invoked blessings, and then dispersed (4).

Al-Zubayr related: Muḥammad ibn Ḥasan told me, from Muḥammad ibn Yaʿqūb ibn ʿUtbah, from ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿIkrimah, from ʿUrwah:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Among the last of my community there will be metamorphosis, the earth swallowing people up, and pelting with stones; that will occur when some of the deeds of the people of Lot appear.”

ʿUrwah added, “News reached me that something of that has already surfaced, so I withdrew from the city, fearing it might strike while I was there; I was also informed that it will afflict only the inhabitants of the inner quarters (5).”

Al-Zubayr said, “Ibrāhīm ibn Ḥamzah conveyed the same report to me with the same chain of transmission.”

ʿUrwah’s well is well-known in al-ʿAqīq, its water sweet, and regarding it the poet said:

If the old man only knew of my dawn departure—
intent upon the well that once he dug