let him yearn for the condition this fellow enjoys; for, by Allah, I once wished I had died before ever being appointed to the bench.
Bishr al-Ḥāfī said: Ḥafṣ ibn Ghiyāth used to remark, “If I were to allow myself the slightest pleasure in the position I now occupy, I would be doomed.”
Al-Musallam ibn Muḥammad informed us in his book; al-Kindī informed us; al-Qazzāz informed us; al-Khaṭīb informed us; and Judge Abū Ṭayyib together with Ibn Rūḥ both said: al-Muʿāfā ibn Zakarīyā informed us; Muḥammad ibn Makhlad narrated to us; Abū ʿAlī ibn ʿIllān dictated to me in the year 266 AH; Yaḥyā ibn al-Layth then related:
“A man from Khurāsān sold some camels to Marzubān the Zoroastrian—Umm Jaʿfar’s steward—for 30,000 dirhams. Marzubān procrastinated over the price and even had the man detained. When the delay became unbearable, the man sought the advice of one of Ḥafṣ ibn Ghiyāth’s companions.
“The companion told him, ‘Go to Marzubān and say, “Give me 1,000 dirhams now and I will draw a bill on you for the remainder, after which I shall return to Khurāsān.” If he does that, come back to me and I will tell you what to do next.’
“The man did so, and Marzubān handed him 1,000 dirhams. He went back and informed the companion, who then said, ‘Go to him again and say, “When you ride out tomorrow, your route passes the judge’s court. Please attend; I will appoint someone to collect the money and then depart. Once you are seated before the judge, I shall lodge my claim. When you acknowledge the debt, Ḥafṣ will have you jailed and I shall recover my money.”’
“So he returned to Marzubān and repeated the request. Marzubān agreed, saying, ‘Wait for me at the judge’s door.’
“The next morning, as soon as Marzubān mounted his animal, the man approached and said, ‘Would you kindly dismount at the judge’s court so that I may appoint an agent to receive the money before I leave?’ Marzubān dismounted, and they both went in to Ḥafṣ ibn Ghiyāth.
“The man said, ‘May Allah rectify the judge; I have a claim of 29,000 dirhams against this man.’
“Ḥafṣ asked, ‘What do you say, O Magian?’
“He replied, ‘He is telling the truth, may Allah set the judge aright.’
“Ḥafṣ then turned to the creditor and said, ‘You have heard him acknowledge the debt—what is it that you now seek?’
“He answered, ‘He must pay me my money.’
“Ḥafṣ faced the debtor once more: ‘And what do you say?’
“He said, ‘This money is owed to…’”