Musʿab al-Zubayri said, “He was among the scholars of Quraysh, and al-Mansur appointed him as judge. Earlier he had joined the uprising of Muhammad ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Hasan and was responsible for the charity revenues of the tribes of Asad and Tayy. He came to Muhammad with twenty-four thousand dinars; but after Muhammad was killed Ibn Abi Sabrah was captured and imprisoned.

Later al-Mansur put Jaʿfar ibn Sulayman in charge of Madinah and told him, ‘There is kinship between us and Ibn Abi Sabrah. He has done both wrong and right, so release him and treat him well.’

That gesture of kindness showed its fruit when ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Rabiʿ al-Harithi arrived in Madinah after ʿIsa ibn Musa had left with the army. The troops ravaged the city and spread corruption. The black slaves of Madinah and the rabble rose up against al-Harithi, killed his soldiers, drove them out, and plundered his possessions.

Al-Harithi withdrew and encamped at Biʾr al-Muttalib on his way to Iraq. Meanwhile the blacks broke open the prison, brought Ibn Abi Sabrah out, seated him on the pulpit, and wanted to smash his shackles. He said, “There is no need to rush; allow me to speak first.” He stood at the foot of the pulpit, warned them against civil strife, reminded them of their former condition, described al-Mansur’s pardon, and urged them to obey their ruler.

The people listened attentively, the Qurayshites rallied, and they went out to ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Rabiʿ, pledging to make good what he and his troops had lost. A man named Wathiq the Zanj, who had taken command of the blacks, was seized, fettered, and brought before Ibn al-Rabiʿ.

Ibn Abi Sabrah then returned to prison until Jaʿfar ibn Sulayman arrived; he set him free and treated him honorably. Ibn Abi Sabrah subsequently went to al-Mansur, who appointed him judge.

Ibn ʿAdī remarked, “Most of what he transmits is unsound, and he is counted among those who fabricate hadith.” Ibn Saʿd said, “He served as judge for Musa al-Hadi while he was heir apparent, then as judge of Mecca under Ziyad ibn ʿUbayd Allah. He lived sixty years, and when he died the office of judge passed to Abu Yusuf.” He added, “He died in Baghdad in 162 AH.” Several other authorities recorded the same date, whereas Abu Ishaq’s Tabaqat gives 172 AH, which is a mistake.