As for Ḥasan ibn Zayd ibn Ḥasan, he informed al-Manṣūr of the matter and said, “I cannot feel safe that he will not rise up.”

So al-Manṣūr bought Arab slaves, gave each man two camels, and dispatched them in every direction to hunt for him while he remained in hiding.

He said to ʿUqbah al-Sindī, “Hide your person, keep out of sight, and then come to me at such-and-such a time.”

ʿUqbah came, and al-Manṣūr said, “Our cousins will settle for nothing but plotting against us. They have partisans in Khurāsān who correspond with them and send them their alms. Go to those men with clothing and courteous gifts; approach them in disguise and sound them out for me. Then travel on until you meet ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ḥasan, an austere man. If he rebuffs you—and he will—be patient and keep visiting him until he grows accustomed to you. When things become clear, hurry back to me.”

ʿUqbah set off, handed the letter to ʿAbd Allāh, and was rebuked; ʿAbd Allāh said, “I do not know these people.”

He kept returning to him until the letter and the gift were accepted.

When ʿUqbah asked for a written reply, ʿAbd Allāh said, “I do not write to anyone; you are my letter to them. Tell them that my two sons will come out at such-and-such a time.” He adds: ʿUqbah hastened back with this to al-Manṣūr (1).

It was also said that Ḥasan’s two sons were avid hunters.

Al-Madaʾinī relates: Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh arrived in secret with forty men, came to ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿUthmān, and the latter said, “You have ruined me; stay with me and disperse your companions.” He refused, so he said, “Then stay among the Banū Rāsib,” and he did so.

It was said that Muḥammad continued to invite people to his cause in secret.

It was also said that he lodged for a few days with ʿAbd Allāh ibn Sufyān al-Murri. Al-Manṣūr performed the pilgrimage in the year Forty, honored ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ḥasan, and then said to ʿUqbah, “Show yourself to him.”

Then he said, “Abū Muḥammad, you know the pledges you gave me.”

He replied, “I still stand by them.”

ʿUqbah accordingly showed himself and signaled to him; ʿAbd Allāh was dumbstruck and pleaded, “Excuse me, Commander of the Faithful! May Allah excuse you.”

He answered, “No,” and had him imprisoned.