al-Mundhir ibn al-Dākhil, an Umayyad and a cousin of al-Ḥakam, because they knew his uprightness, sound judgment, and devotion. They therefore approached him, explained the matter, and he showed sympathy toward them and delight at their plan, saying: “Tonight you are my guests, for the night conceals best.”
They slept, but he—rashly—went off to his cousin and informed him of what was afoot. Al-Ḥakam grew furious and said, “Have you come to shed my blood or theirs? They are eminent men! How could we possibly reach what you claim?”
He replied, “Send someone you trust with me so that he may verify it.”
Al-Ḥakam dispatched whomever he wished. Meanwhile, Aḥmad had already ushered the conspirators into his house under cover. Night fell and the men arrived. He asked them, “Tell me, who is with you?”
They answered, “So-and-so the jurist, so-and-so the vizier,” and they went on listing notables while the clerk wrote until the parchment was full. One of them then stretched out his hand behind the curtain and caught sight of the watchers; he sprang up, and they all rose, shouting, “You have done it, enemy of Allah!”
Whoever bolted that very moment escaped; whoever did not was seized. Among those who got away were: (1) ʿĪsā ibn Dīnār the jurist, (2) Yaḥyā ibn Yaḥyā the jurist, companion of Mālik, and (3) Qaraʿūs ibn al-ʿAbbās al-Thaqafī.
(1) Isa ibn Dinar al-Ghafiqi al-Talaytali travelled east, studied under Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Qasim al-Utqi, kept his company, and relied on him. On his return to al-Andalus he became a leading jurisconsult in Cordoba according to the school of Malik ibn Anas, combining outstanding asceticism with devoted worship. During his lifetime legal opinions circulated under his name and no one in Cordoba surpassed him. Together with Yahya, he was instrumental in spreading Maliki learning in al-Andalus. He preferred abandoning personal opinion in favour of hadith evidence. He died in 212 AH/827 CE. The author will give a full biography in volume 10.
(2) Yahya ibn Yahya ibn Kathir ibn Waslas al-MasMudi, a freedman of the Layth clan, journeyed to the East where he studied with Malik ibn Anas, Sufyan ibn Uyaynah, al-Layth ibn Saad, Ibn al-Qasim, and Ibn Wahb. He mastered both the Medinan and Egyptian traditions after benefiting directly and extensively from Malik. He is one of the transmitters of the Muwatta; his recension is the one commonly printed and used today. Ibn Abd al-Barr describes him as the imam of his region, a model to be followed, trustworthy, intelligent, and of fine demeanour. He died in 230 AH/845 CE. A detailed biography will appear in volume 10.
(3) Qaraus ibn al-Abbas ibn Qaraus ibn Ubayd ibn Mansur ibn Muhammad ibn Yusuf al-Thaqafi, one of the jurists of al-Andalus, studied with Malik ibn Anas, Ibn Jurayj, al-Layth, and others. He was distinguished for piety and expertise in the school of Malik and his companions, though he had little knowledge of hadith. He transmitted the Muwatta from Malik together with a number of legal questions. He died …