136 — My father—may Allah have mercy on him—related to me, saying: One of our companions informed me, saying: Whenever a man from one of the outlying regions came before Abd al-Malik ibn Marwān, he would say, “Spare me four things, and then say whatever you wish. Do not lie to me, for a man who is lied to cannot form sound judgments. Do not answer me about what I have not asked you, for what I have asked you about is enough to occupy me. Do not flatter me, for I know myself better than you do. And do not incite me against my subjects, for I have greater need of my justice and compassion.”