The ḥadith scholar ʿAbd Allah ibn Rawḥ al-Madaʾinī said: “I was born on the very day Jaʿfar ibn Yaḥyā was killed—the first of Ṣafar, 187 AH. He lived for 37 years. His brother al-Faḍl (1) died in 192 AH. Al-Faḍl was al-Rashīd’s foster-brother; his mother was a Berber. He had been appointed governor of Khurasan and was counted among the noblest of men. He was even more open-handed and generous than Jaʿfar, yet he possessed great haughtiness and pride. On one occasion he awarded ʿAmr ibn Jamīl al-Tamīmī one million dirhams. He lived 45 years and left several brothers.”

19 – Yazīd ibn Mazyad ibn Zāʾida, Abū Khālid al-Shaybānī *

Known as “the Commander of the Arabs,” Abū Khālid al-Shaybānī was a foremost warrior and benefactor. He was the nephew of the famous commander Maʿn ibn Zāʾida. He first governed Yemen, then was placed over Adharbayjan and Armenia by al-Rashīd, and he killed the Khārijite leader al-Walīd ibn Ṭarīf (2).

Yazīd, in addition to his extraordinary bravery and generosity, was counted among the master strategists of the Arabs. He fought a number of campaigns against al-Walīd, and the two once met in single combat, trading blows for about two hours while both armies watched in amazement. Yazīd finally struck al-Walīd’s leg and brought him down. Both men were from the Banū Shaybān.

It is related that al-Rashīd once said to him, “O Yazīd, how many Commanders of the Faithful there are among your people!” He replied, “Yes—but their pulpits are only tree trunks.” (3)