his woollen cloak, mounted, and I stayed with him until he died; never once did I hear him speak of the lion, so little did he think of the episode (1).

I add: Al-Muʿtaḍid was acquisitive and devoted to amassing wealth. He fought the Zanj and won celebrated engagements, and during his reign the rebellions subsided. His freedman Badr commanded the police, ʿUbayd Allah ibn Sulaymān held the vizierate, and Muḥammad ibn Shāh oversaw the personal guard. He abolished the customs levy (2), spread justice, and reduced oppression. He was nicknamed “the second Saffāḥ,” for he revived the crumbling Caliphate that had weakened after the murder of al-Mutawakkil. He built a palace that cost four hundred thousand dinars. His physical constitution deteriorated through excessive intimacy and disregard for medical regimen, to the point that while ill he even ate olives and fish.

Al-Masʿūdī (3) reports that when they doubted whether he had truly died, a physician approached and took his pulse. Al-Muʿtaḍid opened his eyes, kicked the doctor and sent him rolling several cubits; the physician died, and al-Muʿtaḍid himself passed away immediately thereafter—so the story goes.

Al-Khuṭabī relates in his History that al-Muwaffaq had imprisoned his son Abū al-ʿAbbās. When al-Muwaffaq’s illness intensified, Abū al-ʿAbbās’s pages released him and brought him to his father. The moment al-Muwaffaq saw him he felt certain of death and is said to have remarked, “I kept you in reserve for this very day.” He then entrusted authority to him, placed the army under his command, and invested him with robes of honor three days before his death.

Ibn al-ʿAbbās proved bold, resilient, and distinguished—renowned for manliness and eloquence. He had seen battle and his merit was acknowledged, so he discharged the office in the best possible manner, and he inspired awe.