to Ceuta (1) without hindrance or fear.

He built forts and lookout posts, establishing a chain of signal-fires that, whenever trouble arose, could relay a message in the course of a single night from Ceuta all the way to Alexandria. It is said that thirty thousand strongholds were erected in the land through his efforts and those of his forefathers, and he was the one who laid out the city of Sūsah.

His days, his justice, and his munificence were all set down in writing. He governed with sound policy and noble resolve. He seized a woman ascetic who had committed a retaliation killing and buried her alive. He also hanged seven soldiers who had seized three thousand dinars from a merchant; after forcing their confession he recovered the gold, finding it short by only seven dinars, so he weighed out the missing amount from his own treasury.

It is related that a man once came to him and said, “I am in love with a slave-girl whose price is fifty dinars, yet I have only thirty.” He bestowed on him one hundred dinars. When another man heard of this, he came and said, “I too am in love.” “And what do you feel?” asked the ruler. “A burning flame,” the man replied. “Dunk him in water,” he ordered. They plunged him several times while he cried, “The passion is gone!” The ruler laughed and ordered thirty dinars for him.

Later he grew tyrannical, killed his own brothers, then recovered, repented, and gave much in charity.

Subsequently the Shi‘i propagandist (2) of ʿUbayd Allah al-Mahdī rose against him. He fought him, and many long events ensued, some of which are recorded in the History of Islam.

He died while campaigning in Sicily, in Dhu al-Qaʿdah of the year 289 AH.