the house of Itakh (1). Abū ʿAbd Allāh did not realise whose residence it was, and later he asked, “Whose house is this?” They answered, “This is the house of Itakh (2).” He said, “Move me; rent a house for me.” They replied, “This is the house in which the Commander of the Believers has lodged you.” He said, “I will not spend the night here.” He kept insisting until we hired a house for him.
Every day a table was sent to us laden with a variety of dishes that al-Mutawakkil ordered, together with ice, fruit and other items. Abū ʿAbd Allāh never tasted a morsel of it, nor even looked at it, though the daily cost of that table was one hundred and twenty dirhams.
Yahyā ibn Khāqān, his son ʿUbayd Allāh, and ʿAlī ibn al-Jahm used to take turns visiting Abū ʿAbd Allāh with al-Mutawakkil’s messages. The illness remained with Abū ʿAbd Allāh, and he became extremely weak. He was practising uninterrupted fasting and stayed eight days without eating or drinking. On the eighth day I entered and found that his light was almost extinguished, so I said, “O Abū ʿAbd Allāh! Ibn al-Zubayr used to fast continuously for seven days, and today it has been eight days for you (3)!” He replied, “I can bear it.” I said, “By the right I have over you!” He said, “Then I will.” I brought him some sawiq, and he drank.
Al-Mutawakkil sent him a large sum of money, but he returned it. ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Yaḥyā said to him, “The Commander of the Believers orders you to give it to your children and family.” He replied, “They are well provided for,” and he sent it back. ʿUbayd Allāh then took it and distributed it among his (4) children. Thereafter al-Mutawakkil assigned to his household and children a monthly stipend of four thousand dirhams. Abū ʿAbd Allāh sent word: “They are sufficiently provided for; they have no need of it.” Al-Mutawakkil replied, “This is for your children; what concern is it of yours?” So Abū ʿAbd Allāh kept silent, and the allowance continued to reach us until al-Mutawakkil died.
Much conversation passed between Abū ʿAbd Allāh and my father, and he said, “Uncle, nothing remains of…"