He replied, “I am an old, frail, sick man.”

ʿAbd Allāh wrote back with this answer, but the reply that soon arrived said, “The Commander of the Believers still orders him to depart.”

So ʿAbd Allāh sent a detachment of troops, and they spent several nights posted at our door until Abū ʿAbd Allāh was ready to leave. He set out accompanied by Ṣāliḥ, ʿAbd Allāh, and Abū Zumaylah (1).

Ṣāliḥ said, “My father was taken to al-Mutawakkil in the year thirty-seven. From then until my father’s death, scarcely a single day passed without al-Mutawakkil’s messenger coming to him (2).”

He also said, “Isḥāq sent word to my father: ‘Stay in your house; do not go out to the congregational or the Friday prayer, or the same calamity that befell you in the days of Abū Isḥāq will befall you again.’ ”

Ibn al-Kalbī said, “I want to search your house and your son’s house.” So Muẓaffar and Ibn al-Kalbī rose, two women with them. They searched, lowered a candle into the well, looked around, and then left. Two days later a letter came from ʿAlī ibn al-Jahm: “The Commander of the Believers is now satisfied of your innocence,” and he mentioned something similar to Hanbal’s narrative (3).

Hanbal said: My father told me, “We entered the military camp, and behold, a great procession was approaching. When it drew level with us they said, ‘That is Waṣīf.’

“A rider came forward and said to Abū ʿAbd Allāh, ‘The commander Waṣīf conveys his greetings and says: “Allah has now granted you power over your enemy”—meaning Ibn Abī Duʿād—“and the Commander of the Believers will accept whatever you say, so leave nothing unsaid.” ’

“Abū ʿAbd Allāh gave him no reply, while I began invoking blessings for the Commander of the Believers and for Waṣīf. We moved on until we were lodged in the house of…"