He was also heard by Yaḥyā ibn Bukayr, who said, “I am older than Mālik; I was born in the year 91 AH.” I add: his death took place not long after Mālik’s own passing.

67 – Ibrāhīm ibn Ṣāliḥ ibn ʿAlī ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbbās al-ʿAbbāsī*
He served as governor of Syria under al-Mahdī and, later, as governor of Egypt for Hārūn al-Rashīd, who married him to his sister. He was the full brother of ʿAbd al-Malik.

It is related that when Ibrāhīm fell ill, al-Rashīd said to Jibrīl the physician, “What has kept you?” He replied, “I have been occupied with Ibrāhīm, for he is dying.” Al-Rashīd wept, was overcome with grief, and would not eat.

Jaʿfar then remarked, “This man is the most knowledgeable in the medicine of the Romans, whereas Ibn Bahlah (1) is more skilled in the medicine of India.” So al-Rashīd sent for Ibn Bahlah, who returned and said, “He will not die from this illness.” Al-Rashīd thereupon ate and found calm.

When evening came, death seemed imminent once more. Al-Rashīd wept, whereupon Ibn Bahlah arrived and said, “He has not died.” Al-Rashīd entered with him.

Ibn Bahlah pricked Ibrāhīm beneath a fingernail with a lancet; the hand moved slightly. He then ordered the shroud removed, called for a bellows and a kindus (2), and blew air into Ibrāhīm’s nostrils. Ibrāhīm sneezed, opened his eyes, and on seeing al-Rashīd, took his hand and kissed it. Al-Rashīd asked, “How are you now?” He replied, “I was in the most pleasant sleep, when something bit my finger and caused me pain—then I recovered.”

Afterward, al-Rashīd married him to his sister ʿAbbāsah, appointed him over Egypt, and it was there that he died.

Hence people would say: “A man who died in Baghdad, yet died and was buried in Egypt.”