squandering funds—Abu Ahmad al-Muḥassin is putting people through hardship for no gain and flogging those who comply even though they deserve no flogging.”

He replied, “If he did not treat his enemies and those who have wronged him in this manner, he would not be the son of free men; he would be as good as dead. I have shown people kindness twice, yet they have offered no thanks. By Allah, I shall certainly pay them back with harm.”

Only a few days passed before he was arrested.

Al-Suli said: When Ibn al-Furat held the vizierate for the third time, he emerged enraged at the populace because of what the vizier Ḥāmid had done to his son al-Muḥassin. He therefore let his son’s hand fall heavy upon the people: al-Muḥassin tortured Ḥāmid to death, terrorised the whole realm, and proved a curse upon his own household, wiping away their merits.

The caliph al-Muʿtaḍid once said to his vizier ʿAbd Allah, “I want to know the total revenue (irtifāʿ) of the realm.” The vizier asked a group of officials to prepare it, and they requested a month. At that time Ibn al-Furat and his brother Abū al-ʿAbbās were in prison; when the matter reached them, they completed the calculation in two days and sent it in. They were then released and pardoned.

His brother Abū al-ʿAbbās Aḥmad (1) was the finest scribe of his time and the most accomplished in letters; al-Buḥturī (2) praised him in verse. He died in 291 AH.

Another brother, Jaʿfar, was offered the vizierate but declined it (3).

Al-Suli said: Al-Muqtadir arrested Ibn al-Furat, and his son fled. The authorities and all the governors intensified their search for him until he was found—he had shaved his beard and disguised himself as a woman, wearing slippers and an izār. He and his father were then called to account for their wealth and were handed over to the vizier ʿUbayd