O ʿAdud al-Dawla, whose two hands are fastened, in pride, to the noblest roots of his lineage!
Even the sandal beneath his sole boasts of him—then what of the crown that rests upon his brow? (1)

Al-Taʾiʿ subsequently married a daughter of ʿAdud al-Dawla. (2) ʿAdud was then escorted back from Hamadhan to Baghdad, and the Caliph himself went out to receive him—something for which there was no precedent, but he had asked that it be done. Al-Taʾiʿ could not decline, for ʿAdud’s power was formidable. (3)

Al-ʿAzīz dispatched a letter that began: “From the servant of God, the Commander of the Faithful, to ʿAdud al-Dawla Abū Shujāʿ, client of the Commander of the Faithful. Peace be upon you. The object of this message is to win your goodwill, together with what the envoy will convey orally.” ʿAdud replied with an emissary and a letter expressing friendship and a brief apology.

The ʿAdudi Bimaristan (hospital) was formally opened in 372 AH, and that same year, in Shawwal, he died. (4) His son Samsām al-Dawla took over; the death was concealed for four months. The Caliph came to console his son, and mourning with face-slapping was held in the markets for several days. (5)

In 376 AH the Iraqi army split and sided with Sharaf al-Dawla Shīrawayh, (6) brother of Samsām al-Dawla. Samsām was humbled and hastened to serve his brother, but Sharaf imprisoned him and ordered him to be blinded. Sharaf al-Dawla and the blinded captive both died in a month of 379 AH.