In that same year ʿAbd al-Malik appointed the deputyship of Madinah to Yaḥyā ibn al-Ḥakam ibn Abī al-ʿĀṣ—his paternal uncle—and dismissed al-Ḥajjāj from it. In the same year he invested al-Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf with the governorship of Iraq, Basrah, Kufah, and the other large provinces attached to them (1).

This occurred after the death of his brother Bishr ibn Marwān. ʿAbd al-Malik judged that no one could keep the people of Iraq in check except al-Ḥajjāj, because of his firmness, overpowering force, severity, and mettle. He therefore wrote to al-Ḥajjāj—who was then in Madinah—appointing him over Iraq. Al-Ḥajjāj set out from Madinah to Iraq with only twelve riders. He entered Kufah unexpectedly, mounted on swift dromedaries. He halted near the city, bathed, dyed his beard, put on his clothes, girded on his sword, let the tail of his turban hang between his shoulders, then proceeded to the governor’s residence. It was Friday, and the first call to the congregational prayer had just been given. He came out to them while they were unaware, ascended the pulpit, sat upon it, and remained silent for a long while. Their eyes were fixed on him; they knelt on their knees and picked up pebbles to stone him—­for they had pelted a previous governor. When he kept silent, they were awed and became eager to hear his words.

The first thing he said was:

“O people of Iraq, people of dissension and hypocrisy, and of vile conduct! By Allah, your affair concerned me even before I came to you, and I used to pray that Allah would test you with me. Last night I dropped the whip with which I discipline you, so I have taken this in its place,”—and he pointed to his sword—

He then said,

“By Allah, I shall seize the small of you by the great, and the active by the slave; then I shall pound you like the smith pounds iron and the baker kneads dough.” (2)

When they heard his words, the pebbles fell from their hands.

It is also reported that he entered Kufah unawares in Ramadan of that same year. He went to the mosque, mounted the pulpit wearing a red turban and veiled with its end, and said, “Gather the people!” The crowd—and even his own companions—thought he was one of the Khawārij and moved against him. When the people had assembled, he rose, removed the veil from his face, and recited:

“I am the son of disclosure, the scaler of high passes;
Whenever I lay down my turban you will recognize me.” (3)

He then said: “By Allah, I do indeed lift a thing (4) by its handle, shape it to its mold, and bind it by its twist (5); and I behold….”