to Muḥammad ibn ʿAbbād, complaining of hardship and of a ruler’s cold reception; so Muḥammad forwarded to him ten thousand dinars.

Abū al-ʿAynāʾ relates that al-Maʾmūn once said to Muḥammad ibn ʿAbbād, “I meant to appoint you, but your prodigality deterred me.” He replied, “Holding back generosity shows a bad opinion of the Worshipped One.” The caliph answered, “You could look out for yourself if you wished, for whatever you spend is hardly likely to return to you!” Muḥammad said, “Whoever has a wealthy Master will never be poor (1).”

Al-Maʾmūn then proclaimed, “Whoever wishes to honor me, let him honor my guest Muḥammad.” The money poured in, yet he did not stash away a single dirham, saying, “A noble man is not chastened by experience.”

It is said that he once entered upon al-Maʾmūn, who asked, “How much do you owe, Muḥammad?” “Sixty thousand dinars,” he replied. The caliph gave him one hundred thousand dinars.

Another report has al-Maʾmūn saying to him, “I have heard that no one arrives in Basra without becoming your guest?” He answered, “Holding back generosity shows a bad opinion of the Worshipped One.” The caliph admired the reply and gave him about six thousand dirhams.

Muḥammad later died owing fifty thousand dinars.

When al-ʿUtabī was told, “Muḥammad is dead,” he said:
We have died through losing him,
while he lives on through his glory. (2)

He died in the year 216 AH.