and I granted it only as one who heard and obeyed, grateful for your favor. His service to Islam—his own, his father’s, and that of his entire household—is well known, and I have now sent him to you. If, however, you count the severing of our bond, the betrayal of my pledge, and pressing on to harm me as something to be done, then you have the power to do so should you wish; but I seek Allah’s protection for you from inflaming such a breach with me (1), from violating my inviolability, from withholding the kindness [and the compliance with what you asked of me] and the bond between us. By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, you do not know how long either of us will remain, nor when death will part you and me. If, therefore, the Commander of the Faithful—may Allah perpetuate his joy—can ensure that our appointed end does not come upon us except while he has maintained his tie to me, fulfilled my due, and refrained from injuring me, then let him do so. By Allah, O Commander of the Faithful, after fear of Allah nothing in all the affairs of this world delights me more than your satisfaction and happiness; indeed, your pleasure and joy are dearer to me than my own. Among the means by which I seek Allah’s good pleasure—exalted is He—is by safeguarding the bond between you and me. So if ever, O Commander of the Faithful, you wish to maintain that bond, honor me, and magnify my right, then overlook whatever concerns you about Yazīd; whatever claim you have against him I shall bear myself.
When al-Walīd finished reading his letter he said, “We have certainly put Sulaymān to hardship.” He then summoned his nephew and drew him close.
Yazīd ibn al-Muhallab spoke, praising Allah, extolling Him, and invoking blessings upon His Messenger, and then said:
“O Commander of the Faithful, the benefaction you have shown us is the finest benefaction; whoever forgets it, we will not forget, and whoever denies it, we shall not be ungrateful. The ordeals we of this household have undergone in obeying you and in striking fear into the eyes of your enemies in the gravest encounters, east and west, are such that the favor therein lies entirely with you.”
Al-Walīd replied, “Sit.” Yazīd sat, whereupon the Caliph granted him safety, spared him, and sent him back to Sulaymān. Yazīd remained with Sulaymān, teaching him courtly comportment and describing to him the varieties of exquisite dishes. He was so favored that no gift reached Sulaymān but he forwarded half of it to Yazīd. In turn Yazīd sought Sulaymān’s favor with every sort of present, gift, and offering.
Al-Walīd wrote to al-Ḥajjāj: “I cannot reach Yazīd ibn al-Muhallab and his family while they are in the care of my brother Sulaymān. Leave them alone and refrain from writing to me about them.” Al-Ḥajjāj therefore desisted from the household of al-Muhallab and dropped the sums he had been demanding of them, even waiving for Abū ʿUyaynā ibn al-Muhallab one million dirhams. Yazīd ibn al-Muhallab remained with Sulaymān ibn ʿAbd al-Malik until al-Ḥajjāj died in 95 AH, as will be mentioned; thereafter Yazīd assumed the governorship of Iraq (2).
Among the notable people who also died that year were Tiyādhuq (3), the skilful physician (4). He had written works in his field and enjoyed the favor of al-Ḥajjāj; he died at Wāsiṭ around 90 AH. That year likewise saw the death of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Musawwar ibn Makhrama (5).