from them, he is absolved; otherwise he remains accountable for them. Nonetheless, it must be feared that some of the reports about him contain a degree of exaggeration, for the Shīʿa detested him intensely for several reasons and were apt to distort some of his words, adding monstrous and revolting details to what they narrated of him.

We have also transmitted that he considered abstaining from intoxicants an article of faith, that he recited the Qur’an frequently, avoided the forbidden, and was never known for sexual misconduct. Although he was rash in shedding blood, Allah—exalted is He—knows best what is true, the realities of affairs, the secrets of hearts and minds, and the hidden recesses of breasts and consciences.

[I say: The most serious, reliably attested grievance against al-Ḥajjāj is his spilling of blood, and that alone suffices as a punishment before Allah—exalted is He. Yet he was eager for jihād and the conquest of lands, and he showed generosity in giving wealth to the people of the Qur’an, awarding them large sums for their mastery of it. When he died, it is said that he left nothing but three hundred dirhams. Allah knows best.] ⦗1⦘

Muʿāfā ibn Zakariyyā al-Jarīrī, known as Ibn Ṭarārā al-Baghdādī, said:

Muḥammad ibn al-Qāsim al-Anbārī narrated to us; my father narrated to us; Aḥmad ibn ʿUbayd narrated to us; Hishām ibn Muḥammad ibn al-Sāʾib al-Kalbī narrated to us; ʿAwana ibn al-Ḥakam al-Kalbī narrated:

Anas ibn Mālik entered upon al-Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf. When he stood before him, al-Ḥajjāj said, “Eh, eh, little Anas! One day you were with ʿAlī, another with Ibn al-Zubayr, and yet another with Ibn al-Ashʿath. By Allah, I shall uproot you as a sheep is uprooted and smash you as gum-resin is pounded!”

Anas replied, “Does the governor—may Allah set him right—mean me?”

He answered, “You—yes, you! May Allah deafen your ears!”

Anas said, “We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. By Allah, were it not for the little children, I would not care what manner of killing you killed me with, nor what kind of death I died.”

He then left al-Ḥajjāj and wrote to ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān informing him of what al-Ḥajjāj had said. When ʿAbd al-Malik read Anas’s letter he flew into a rage, marvelled greatly, and regarded al-Ḥajjāj’s behaviour as outrageous.

The text of Anas’s letter to ʿAbd al-Malik was as follows:

“In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. To ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān, Commander of the Believers, from Anas ibn Mālik.

“To proceed: al-Ḥajjāj has addressed me with vile language and made me hear what is detestable, though I was not deserving of such treatment. Therefore shield me from his hands, for I lay claim to my service of, and companionship with, the Messenger of Allah—Allah bless him and grant him peace. Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah.”

ʿAbd al-Malik dispatched Ismāʿīl ibn ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Abī al-Muhājir—who was a friend of al-Ḥajjāj—saying to him:

“Here are my two letters; take them, ride the courier post to Iraq, and begin with Anas ibn Mālik, the Companion of the Messenger of Allah—Allah bless him and grant him peace. Hand my letter to him, convey my greetings to him, and say, ‘Abū Ḥamza, I have written to that accursed al-Ḥajjāj a letter which, once he reads it, will make him more compliant to you than your own maidservant.’”

The letter of ʿAbd al-Malik to Anas ibn Mālik read:

“In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. From ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwān to Anas ibn Mālik, servant of the Messenger of Allah—Allah bless him and grant him peace.

“To proceed: I have read your letter and understood what you mentioned of your complaint against al-Ḥajjāj. I did not empower him over you, nor did I command him to mistreat you. If he repeats such behaviour, write to me about it, and I shall inflict upon him my punishment and provide you with my assistance. Peace.”