Tawba ibn al-Ṣammaʾ (1), popularly dubbed “Majnūn Layla,” used to launch raids against Banu al-Ḥārith ibn Kaʿb. On one such foray he caught sight of Layla (2), fell deeply for her, and was consumed by love and passion. For her he composed a large body of vigorous, polished verse—poetry unmatched before or after him for the richness of its images and aphorisms.
He was once asked, “Was there ever any suspicion of wrongdoing between you and Layla?”
He answered, “May I be deprived of the intercession of Muhammad ﷺ if I have ever loosened my trousers for anything forbidden.”
Layla later went in to ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān to press a grievance. He said to her, “What did Tawba see in you that made him love you with such ardor?”
She replied, “By Allah, O Commander of the Believers, there was never any suspicion or indecency between us. It is the way of the Arabs to love passionately yet remain chaste, composing poetry about the one they desire while safeguarding their own honor and shielding themselves from base conduct.”
ʿAbd al-Malik then removed the injustice and granted her a reward.
Tawba died in this same year, and it is said that Layla came to his grave, wept over him until she herself died—Allah knows best. (3)
[Then the year 74 AH commenced]
In that year ʿAbd al-Malik dismissed Ṭāriq ibn ʿAmr from the governorship of Madinah and placed the city under al-Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf al-Thaqafī. Al-Ḥajjāj arrived, stayed a month (4), then left to perform ʿumrah. He returned to Madinah in Ṣafar and remained three more months (5). During that stay he built a mosque in the quarter of Banū Salamah, the mosque that still bears his name. It is related that in that same period al-Ḥajjāj reviled Jābir [ibn ʿAbd Allah] and Sahl ibn Saʿd, rebuking them for not defending ʿUthmān ibn ʿAffān, and addressed them with harsh, abusive words—may Allah disgrace and abase him. (6)
He also appointed Abū Idrīs al-Khawlānī as chief judge—I believe over Yemen—Allah knows best. (7)