I summoned him, whereupon al-Manṣūr said, “O ʿUthmān, how devoted are you to the Commander of the Faithful?”
He replied, “I am only your servant. Were you to order me to lean upon my sword until it came out of my back, I would obey.”
Al-Manṣūr asked, “And how would you act if I commanded you to kill Abū Muslim?”
He froze for a moment and could not speak. I said to him, “Why are you silent?” He answered in a faint voice, “I would kill him.”
Al-Manṣūr said, “Go and bring me four of the foremost, stout-hearted men of the guard.”
He produced four men, among them Shabīb ibn Wāj. Al-Manṣūr spoke to them, and they declared, “We will kill him.”
He told them, “Stand behind the portico. When I clap my hands, come out and strike him down.”
He then sent for Abū Muslim, and Abū Muslim came.
Abū Ayyūb relates: “I went out to hear what the people were saying. Abū Muslim met me on his way in; he smiled, and I greeted him. He went inside, I returned—and soon after, he was dead.
“Then Abū al-Jahm entered and said, ‘Commander of the Faithful, shall I dismiss the people?’
“‘Yes,’ replied al-Manṣūr.
“He ordered some furnishings and cushions to be shifted to another portico. Abū al-Jahm told the people, ‘Leave, for the Emir Abū Muslim wishes to take his midday rest with the Commander of the Faithful.’ When they saw the bedding and furniture being moved, they assumed he spoke the truth and dispersed, and al-Manṣūr arranged grants for the governors.
“Al-Manṣūr then said to me: ‘Abū Muslim came in. I reproached him, then reviled him. ʿUthmān ibn Nahīk struck him but accomplished nothing. Shabīb ibn Wāj stepped forward and they all struck him until he fell. While they were beating him he kept pleading, “Pardon!” I shouted, “Son of a foul woman, pardon—while swords are raining upon you?” Then I ordered, “Slaughter him,” and they slaughtered him.
“Some report that his body was thrown into the Tigris.
“It is also said that when he entered and we were alone, al-Manṣūr asked him, ‘Tell me about the two swords you took from the belongings of ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAlī.’ He replied, ‘This is one of them.’ Al-Manṣūr said, ‘Show it to me.’ So he drew it from its sheath and handed it over.”