—ʿAbd al-Malik said to him: “Guard your tongue with respect to three things. Do not praise me, for I know myself better than you do; do not lie to me, for a liar’s opinion carries no weight; and do not malign anyone from among my subjects—for they are nearer to my justice and pardon than to my tyranny and oppression—(1) and if you wish, I will release you from speaking altogether.”

The man replied, “Release me,” and he released him.

In the same way, whenever a courier arrived from the provinces he would say, “Excuse me from four matters and then say whatever you like: do not flatter me, do not answer questions I have not asked, do not lie to me, and do not incite me against the populace, for they stand more in need of my compassion and fairness.” (2)

Al-Aṣmaʿī narrated from his father: A man who had fought alongside one of the rebels was brought before ʿAbd al-Malik. The caliph ordered, “Strike off his head.” The man said, “Commander of the Believers, is this the recompense I receive from you?” He asked, “And what recompense do you deserve?” The man answered, “By Allah, I only joined So-and-so for your sake, for I am an ill-omened fellow: never have I accompanied anyone but that he was defeated and routed. You have now seen the truth of my claim—I have been better for you than one hundred thousand men on your side. I was with So-and-so and he was broken, routed, and his army scattered; I was with So-and-so and he was killed; I was with So-and-so and he was routed,”—and he went on naming several princes, offering you sincere counsel—(3) whereupon ʿAbd al-Malik laughed and set him free.

Someone asked ʿAbd al-Malik, “Which men are the best?” He replied, “Those who humble themselves despite high rank, who abstain despite having power, and who forgo vengeance though able to prevail.” (4)

He also said, “There is no security before experience; security before experience is the very opposite of prudence.” (5)

And he said, “The best wealth is that which earns praise and wards off blame. Let none of you say, ‘Begin with those you maintain,’ for all created beings are the dependants of Allah. This, however, must be interpreted in a way that does not conflict with the established hadith.”

Al-Madaʾinī related that ʿAbd al-Malik said to the tutor of his children—Ismāʿīl ibn ʿUbayd Allah ibn Abī al-Muhājir: “Teach them truthfulness as you teach them the Quran. Keep them away from the rabble, for they are the least desirous of good and the most lacking in decorum. Keep them away from the household servants, for those servants will corrupt them. Crop their hair short so that their necks grow strong; feed them meat so they gain strength; teach them poetry so they may attain honor and courage. Instruct them to use the tooth-stick crosswise and to sip water, not gulp it. If you must discipline them, do so with propriety and in private, so that none of the attendants know of it and thus come to hold them in contempt.” (6)

Al-Haytham ibn ʿAdī said: ʿAbd al-Malik once granted the people a special permission to enter upon him. An old man in shabby dress came in—so insignificant that the guards paid him no heed—placed a parchment before ʿAbd al-Malik, and departed; no one knew where he went. The parchment read: “In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. O human being, Allah has set you between Himself and His servants, so judge between them with truth and do not follow caprice, lest it lead you astray…"