are the garments of dignity and of dynastic authority. Boy, cut off his head (1).

A group of transmitters relate the same episode. Abu Ḥātim Aḥmad ibn Ḥasan ibn Hārūn al-Rāzī narrated to us; Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad ibn Abī Khurāsān informed us; Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad al-Marwazī told me; ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muṣʿab narrated to us; Abu Ḥāmid al-Dāwūdī said:

A man entered while a black turban sat upon Abu Muslim’s head and asked, “What is this?” Abu Muslim replied, “Be quiet! Abu al-Zubayr related to me, from Jābir, that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—entered Mecca on the Day of Conquest with a black turban on his head. Boy, strike off his neck.”

The story is also reported through a third, murky chain of transmission.

I say: Abu Muslim was a prodigious shedder of blood, surpassing even al-Ḥajjāj in that respect, and he was the first to institute black as the official colour of the Abbasid state.

Muḥammad ibn Jarīr [al-Ṭabarī] states in his History: ʿAlī ibn Muḥammad—meaning al-Madāʾinī—mentioned that Ḥamzah ibn Ṭalḥah al-Sulamī related to him from his father, who said:

Bukayr ibn Māhān had served as a scribe for one of the governors of Sind. When he returned, they gathered in Kufa in a certain house. Word of their meeting got out; they were arrested, and Bukayr alone remained in custody while the others were released. In the prison were Abu ʿĀṣim and ʿĪsā al-ʿIjlī, accompanied by Abu Muslim al-Khurasānī. Bukayr spoke with him, then summoned the others, and they accepted his view. He asked ʿĪsā al-ʿIjlī, “Who is this youth?”

“He is a slave,” ʿĪsā replied.

“Will you sell him?” Bukayr asked.

“He is yours,” said ʿĪsā.

“I would like you to take his price,” Bukayr insisted, and handed him four hundred dirhams. When they were released, Bukayr sent the youth to Ibrāhīm ibn Muḥammad, who placed him under Mūsā al-Sarrāj. Abu Muslim studied with him and memorised what he heard, then began travelling back and forth to Khurasan.