468 — Muhammad ibn Sālih narrated to me, from Suhaym ibn Hafs, who said:

Mūsā Shahawāt became enamored of a slave girl in Medina. He asked her owners to sell her to him, and they sold her to him for four thousand, allowing him a fixed term for payment. He then set out for Syria. His friend was Saīd ibn Khālid ibn Amr ibn Uthmān ibn Affān, so he went to him and told him the story of the girl. He said, “I came to Syria trusting first in Allah and then in you.” Saīd replied, “May Allah provide for us and for you.” Mūsā departed, utterly crushed.

He then went to Saīd ibn Khālid ibn Abd Allāh ibn Khālid ibn Usayd and told him what had happened. Saīd said, “I will pay her price, and I will also cover whatever expenses and provisions you need for the journey.” Mūsā then said:

[al-Tawīl meter]

May my sons and my wealth—newly earned and inherited—
be a ransom for noble Ibn Khālid, descendant of Abd Shams.

I mean Abū Khālid, Saīd ibn Khālid,
the man of bounty—not the son of Saīd’s daughter.

Rather, I mean Āisha’s son, whose forefather
on both sides was Khālid ibn Usayd.

He is generosity’s companion; while he lives, it delights in him;
if he dies, generosity will accept no other companion.

Leave him, leave him! You have fallen asleep,
yet he never sleeps when your ancestral honor is at stake.

He gives but accepts no gifts; men visit him and seek his bounty,
and his door is never barred to one who comes seeking generosity.

The Uthmānid then lodged a complaint against him before Sulaymān ibn Abd al-Malik, saying, “A slave from Medina has lampooned me.” Sulaymān sent for Mūsā and questioned him. Mūsā told him what the Uthmānid had said: “May Allah provide for us and for you.” Sulaymān replied, “May Allah provide for neither you nor him!”