‘In the first year we sold our furnishings and our houses; in the second we sold our farms; and in the third we abandoned the town and have come to you.’

Al-Maʾmūn said, ‘You have lied; rather, he is praiseworthy, and I perceive your grievance is against the governors.’

The spokesman replied, ‘You have spoken the truth, Commander of the Faithful, and I have lied. You have confined him to us for a time while sparing the rest of the provinces; so appoint him over some other district, that they too may share in the justice and fairness we have experienced.’

I said, ‘Rise and leave without Allah’s protection; I have removed him.’ (1)

Al-Maʾmūn first returned from Khurasan in 204 AH; he entered Baghdad in a litter the like of which had never been heard of before.

Ibrāhīm Nifṭawayh said: Dāwūd ibn ʿAlī related, on the authority of Yaḥyā ibn Aktham, who said:

‘I was with al-Maʾmūn while the Khurasani commanders were present. He had summoned them to affirm that the Quran is created, and he asked them, “What do you say about the Quran?” They answered, “Our elders used to say that whatever in it mentions donkeys, camels, and cattle is created; but since the Commander of the Faithful says it is created, we say that all of it is created.” I said to al-Maʾmūn, “Are you pleased with the agreement of such men?” (2)

I (the author) add: and he was a Shiʿi.

Nifṭawayh said: Al-Maʾmūn sent a herald who proclaimed among the people that he disavowed anyone who asked mercy for Muʿāwiyah or spoke well of him. His discourse on the Quran took place in 212 AH. The people disapproved, were thrown into turmoil, and he did not achieve his aim, so the matter subsided for a time. (3)

Al-Maʾmūn also said, ‘People are of three kinds: one of them is like food—indispensable;’