…who stood firmly by his side, and the people of Sakūn, because he was their in-law, likewise rallied to him (1). Together they delivered the Prophet’s letter to his deputies and to everyone else they could reach. Their efforts brought them into contact with Qays ibn ʿAbd Yaghūth, the commander of the troops. Qays was already furious with Aswad, despised him, and was even thinking of killing him. The same held true for Fayrūz al-Daylamī, whose resolve had also wavered, and for Dādūyah. When Wabr ibn Yuḥannas informed Qays ibn ʿAbd Yaghūth—namely, Qays ibn Makshūḥ—it was as though the news had come down to him from heaven. He agreed with them to eliminate Aswad, the Muslims endorsed the plan, and all pledged themselves to carry it out.
When this secret agreement had taken firm shape, Aswad’s shayṭān (demon) disclosed part of it to him. He therefore summoned Qays ibn Makshūḥ and said,
“O Qays, what is this fellow saying?”
“What is he saying?” Qays asked.
Aswad replied, “He says, ‘You approached Qays, honoured him until he had access to everything, and once his power equalled yours he inclined toward your enemy, sought your kingdom, and plotted treachery.’ He also says, ‘O Aswad, O Aswad—what a disgrace, what a disgrace! Circle round him and seize from Qays what is uppermost, or else he will strip you and lop off your head.’”
Qays swore to him—while lying—“By Dhī al-Khimār, the Lord of the Veil, you are far too great in my eyes and too exalted with me for me even to harbour such a thought about you.”
Aswad retorted, “I do not think you would deny the angel. The angel has spoken the truth and now knows you have repented of what he uncovered about you.” Qays then withdrew and went to his companions Fayrūz and Dādūyah, telling them what Aswad had said and how he had answered.
They said, “We are all on our guard—what is the plan?” While they were consulting, Aswad’s messenger arrived and brought them before him.
He said, “Did I not raise you above your own people?”
They replied, “Indeed.”
He asked, “Then what reports are reaching me about you?”
They said, “Excuse us this one time.”
He answered, “Let me hear no more of it and I will excuse you.”
We left his presence scarcely believing we had escaped. He remained suspicious of us, and we were in real danger. At that point, letters arrived from ʿĀmir ibn Shahr, the governor of Hamdān, and from Dhu Zulaym, Dhu Kalāʿ, and other leaders of Yemen, offering us obedience and support against Aswad. This followed their receipt of a letter from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ urging them to attack Aswad al-ʿAnsī. We wrote back telling them not to do anything until we had brought the matter to a decisive conclusion (2).
Qays continued: I then went in to his wife, Zād, and said, “Cousin, you know the calamity this man has inflicted on your people: he killed your husband, humbled your people with bloodshed (3), and disgraced the women. Will you assist us against him?”
She asked, “In what way?”
I said, “By expelling him.”
She said, “Or by killing him?”
I said, “Or by killing him.”
She replied, “Yes, by Allah, no human being is more hateful to me than he is. He upholds no right of Allah and respects no sanctity. When you have resolved on a course, let me know and I will tell you what needs to be done.”
I went out to find Fayrūz and Dādūyah waiting, eager to move against him. Our meeting had hardly begun when Aswad summoned me; I entered his presence with ten men of my clan.
He said, “Did I not tell you the truth while you fed me lies? He is saying, ‘What a disgrace, what a disgrace! If you do not cut off Qays’s hand, he will sever your very neck.’” At that, I thought he was about to kill me.
I replied, “That is not the truth. Your family—and you, who claim to be the Messenger of Allah—would find my single death dearer to me than the many deaths I would otherwise suffer…”
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