After him his son came to power, then his grandson; afterwards al-Muʿizz and his descendants ruled Egypt, the Maghrib, Yemen, and Syria for a lengthy span—there is no might and no power save with Allah.

In the year eighty (280 AH) al-Muʿtaḍid seized Muḥammad ibn Sahl, one of the Zanj commanders. When he learnt that the man was canvassing support for a Hāshimī claimant, he interrogated him, whereupon the prisoner said, “If that man were beneath my very foot, I would not raise it from him.” So he had him executed. (1)

The Banū Shaybān then ran riot. Al-Muʿtaḍid marched out, overtook them at al-Sinn, killed and drowned many of them, scattered the rest, and the army carried off livestock beyond description—camels were selling for five dirhams—while he spared their women and children. When he entered Mosul the Banū Shaybān came to him in abject submission; he took hostages from them and returned their womenfolk. Their leader—known as al-Mufawwaḍ ilā Allah—died in prison, though it is also said that al-Muʿtaḍid used to drink with him in secret.

It is related that a merchant was owed money by an emir. The emir kept procrastinating and finally denied the debt altogether. A friend said to the merchant, “Come with me,” and he took me to a tailor who was sitting in a mosque. The tailor rose and accompanied us to the emir; the moment the emir saw him he was struck with awe and paid me what he owed.

I said to the tailor, “Take from me whatever reward you wish,” but he grew angry. So I asked, “Then tell me why he fears you so.” He replied:

“One night I went out and found a Turkish soldier who had seized a handsome woman. She was struggling and crying for help. I reproached him, whereupon he struck me. After performing the night prayer I gathered my companions and went to his door. He came out with his pages, recognised me, beat me, and split my head open; they carried me home.

“When midnight arrived I climbed the minaret and gave the adhān so that people would think dawn had broken and he would let the woman go, for she had told me, ‘My husband has sworn by divorce that I must not spend the night away from my house.’ I had scarcely descended when Badr and his men surrounded me and brought me before al-Muʿtaḍid. He asked, ‘What is this call to prayer?’ so I told him the whole story …”