Alongside his exceptional courage, he was a learned man, an accomplished preacher, a gifted public speaker—eloquent and poetic—who rose to the loftiest stations. He died in the vigor of middle age, in 207 AH.

8 – al-Faḍl ibn al-Rabīʿ ibn Yūnus
The eminent emir, chamberlain of Hārūn al-Rashīd—his father had served as chamberlain to the Caliph al-Manṣūr.

He ranked among the foremost men of his time in dignity, leadership, decisiveness, and sound judgment. He managed the caliphate on behalf of al-Amīn, transferred to him Hārūn al-Rashīd’s treasuries, and handed over the mantle, the staff, and the signet-ring, bringing them from Ṭūs. Because al-Amīn was absorbed in amusement, al-Faḍl effectively ran everything. When al-Amīn’s rule collapsed, al-Faḍl remained in hiding for a long period; he re-emerged when Ibrāhīm ibn al-Mahdī received the oath of allegiance, but handled matters prudently and did not support him—hence al-Maʾmūn pardoned him.

He died in 208 AH, at a little over seventy years of age, and was a client of ʿUthmān, may Allah be pleased with him.

It is said that he gained great influence over Hārūn al-Rashīd and, because he despised the Barmakids, persecuted them—with the collusion of their own secretary, Ismāʿīl ibn Ṣubayḥ (1).

It is also reported that he submitted ten petitions to Jaʿfar al-Barmakī, who excused himself from dealing with them, and he did not