to the rule of Khosrow Anushirwan than to that of this Arab, so great was his gentleness, tact, and insight into what lay ahead (1). Because of his justice, knowledge, and decisive firmness (2) the province submitted to him. He set aside a strongly fortified treasury that became known as Ziyad’s Castle. Later, when Mansur al-Bakri (3) fortified himself in it, it was renamed and came to be called Mansur’s Castle.

Al-Waqidi (4) said: In this same year ʿAli ibn Abi Talib sent ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAbbas to oversee the pilgrimage season, while Muʿawiyah dispatched Yazid ibn Sukhbara al-Ruhawi to lead the people in Hajj. When they met in Mecca they quarreled, each refusing to concede authority to the other, so they agreed on Shaybah ibn ʿUthman ibn Abi Talhah al-Hajabi, who conducted the Hajj and led the prayers throughout the season.

Abu al-Hasan al-Madaʾini (5) said: ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAbbas did not attend the pilgrimage in ʿAli’s days until after ʿAli was killed; the one who disputed with Yazid ibn Sukhbara was in fact Qutham ibn al-ʿAbbas [until they agreed on Shaybah ibn ʿUthman. Ibn Jarir added: Abu Musʿab concurred with Abu al-Hasan al-Madaʾini] (6).

Ibn Jarir (7) said: As for ʿAli’s governors over the provinces, they are the same as those we listed last year, except that Ibn ʿAbbas had traveled from Basra to Kufa, appointing Ziyad ibn Abihi as his deputy in Basra; later that year Ziyad went on to Fars and Kirman, as we have already mentioned.

Those of the notables who died this year (8):

– Saʿd al-Qaraẓ (9), the muʾadhdhin of the Qubaʾ Mosque during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. When ʿUmar became caliph he appointed him to call the adhan for the Prophet’s Mosque. Saʿd had originally been a client of ʿAmmar ibn Yasir, and he was the man who used to carry the short spear in front of Abu Bakr, ʿUmar, [ʿUthman] and ʿAli on the way to the prayer-ground for the ʿId. The adhan remained in his family for a long time afterward.

– ʿUqbah ibn ʿAmr ibn Thaʿlabah (10), Abu Masʿud al-Badri. He took up residence at the watering place of Badr—hence the epithet “al-Badri”—though he did not take part in the battle fought there