to fight such men. The king of Tirmidh then went to another band of Turks and pleaded for their help; they sent envoys with him to Musa in order to hear what he would say. When Musa learned of their approach—in the height of the summer heat—he ordered his companions to build up a large fire, put on their winter clothes, and hold their hands near the flames as though warming themselves.
When the envoys reached them and saw what the men were doing in the sweltering heat they asked, “What is this that we see you doing?” They answered, “We feel cold in the summer and oppressive heat in the winter.” The messengers returned to their people and said, “These are not human beings; they are nothing but jinn. We have no strength to fight such men.”

The ruler of Tirmidh then rallied yet another contingent; they came and besieged Musa in Tirmidh, and al-Khuzāʿī (1) also arrived and besieged him. Musa would fight al-Khuzāʿī at the beginning of the day and the non-Arabs at its end. Later Musa launched a night attack, killing a great many of them. This alarmed ʿAmr (2) al-Khuzāʿī, so he made peace with Musa and remained in his company. One day he entered upon Musa when no one else was present and, noticing that Musa carried no weapon, said by way of friendly counsel, “May Allah set the amir aright; a man like you should not be without a weapon.” Musa replied, “I have a weapon.” He then lifted the corner of his bedding, and there lay his sword, already unsheathed. ʿAmr seized it, struck him with it until he grew cold, and fled. The followers of [al-Khuzāʿī scattered; some of them then came seeking safe-conduct from] (3) Musa ibn ʿAbd Allāh ibn Khāzim.

Ibn Jarīr (4) said: In this same year ʿAbd al-Malik resolved to remove his brother ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Marwān from the governorship of Egypt, a move urged upon him by Rūḥ ibn Zunbāʿ al-Judhāmī. While they were discussing the matter, Qabīṣah ibn Dhuʾayb entered upon them at night—he was never denied access regardless of the hour—and offered the caliph condolences for his brother ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz. ʿAbd al-Malik regretted having intended to depose him. What had prompted his plan was his wish to bequeath authority after him to his own sons: first al-Walīd, then Sulaymān, then Yazīd, then Hishām. This was on the advice of al-Ḥajjāj, who had adorned the idea for ʿAbd al-Malik. Their father, Marwān, had designated the succession first to ʿAbd al-Malik and then to ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, but ʿAbd al-Malik now wanted to exclude him completely (5) so that the caliphate would remain among his own descendants. Allah knows best.