151 – ʿIsa ibn ʿAli, grandson of the Qur’an’s Interpreter ʿAbd Allah ibn al-ʿAbbas al-Hashimi,
the emir and uncle of the caliph al-Mansur; the canal known as Nahr ʿIsa (1) and the palace called Qasr ʿIsa (2) are both named after him.
He narrated from his father and from his brother.
Narrators from him include his two sons, Ishaq and Dawud, as well as Harun al-Rashid and Shayban al-Nahwi.
Endowed with knowledge, devotion, and piety, he served his father and—out of scrupulousness—never assumed any official post. He also displayed a degree of withdrawal from worldly affairs.
Ibn Maʿin said: “He followed a fine way, kept away from the rulers, and there is nothing objectionable about him.”
I say: He is the transmitter of the hadith, “The blessing of horses is in their sorrel color.” (3)
Al-Tirmidhi commented: “It is singular.”
(*) Tahdhib al-Kamal, MS 1082; Tadhhib al-Tahdhib, MS 2/129; Tarikh al-Islam, 6/264; ‘Ibar al-Dhahabi, 1/242; Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, 8/221-222; Khulasat Tahdhib al-Kamal, 303; Shadharat al-Dhahab, 1/257-258.
(1) Nahr ‘Isa: a district west of Baghdad comprising many villages and extensive farmland, fed from the Euphrates at the Qantrat Dimma. The canal passes through numerous gardens and pleasure grounds, inspiring abundant poetry. ‘Ali b. Mu‘ammar al-Wasiti (d. 609 AH/1212 CE) praised it:
“O River of Jesus, you are named after Jesus with full certainty and clarity; through you hearts are revived just as the Messiah Jesus revives souls.” (Mu‘jam al-Buldan)
(2) Qasr ‘Isa: the first palace built by the Hashimids during the reign of al-Mansur in Baghdad. It stood on the bank of the Nahr al-Rafil where that canal joins the Tigris. In Yaqut’s time it lay amid the western suburbs; no trace of the palace remained, but a large quarter with a market still bore the name “Qasr ‘Isa.” (See the same source.)
(3) Recorded by Ahmad (no. 2454); al-Tirmidhi (1695) in the Book of Jihad, chapter “What is recommended concerning the cloak”; and Abu Dawud (2545) in the Book of Jihad, chapter “What colours of cloak are preferred.” Al-Tirmidhi graded its chain of transmission as hasan (sound).