a large congregational mosque in Constantinople (1). They therefore built a mosque there along with a minaret, and it still stands to this very day, where Muslims perform the jumuʿah (Friday congregational prayer) and the five daily prayers in congregation.

I say: It will be the last place the Muslims conquer before the appearance of the Dajjāl at the end of time, as we shall cite in the section on battles and tribulations from the sound hadith recorded by Muslim (may Allah have mercy on him) (2).

In short, Maslama enjoyed famous and witnessed exploits and a succession of praiseworthy campaigns. He captured fortresses and citadels, revived by his resolve palaces and territories, and in the warfare of his era he was the counterpart of Khālid ibn al-Walīd in his: so many raids, so many conquests, such strength of determination, such ferocity in battle, and such mastery in both breaking off and pressing on—this in addition to generosity, eloquence, statesmanship and magnanimity, sound lineage and sure judgment.

Among the words of al-Hasan is: “Two outward marks of manliness: fine possessions and eloquence.”

One day Maslama said to the poet Nuṣayb, “Ask me.” He replied, “I shall not.” Maslama asked, “And why not?” He said, “Because your bountiful hand gives more lavishly than my tongue could ever request.” So Maslama gave him one thousand dinars.

He also said, “The prophets do not yawn as ordinary people do; no prophet has ever yawned.”

He bequeathed one-third of his wealth to the people of letters, saying, “It is a craft whose practitioners are neglected.”

Al-Walīd ibn Muslim and others said: He died on Wednesday, seven days having passed of Muḥarram in the year 121 AH. It was also said that he died in 120 AH. His death occurred at a place called al-Ḥānūt.

He was elegized by his nephew al-Walīd ibn Yazīd ibn ʿAbd al-Malik, who said:

I say—and only death makes distance real—
O Maslama, depart not, Maslama!
You were a light for us throughout the land,
Shining; now the land lies dark.
We tried to hide your death, dreading certainty,
But certainty laid the very skull bare.

Numayr ibn Uways (3) al-Ashʿarī, judge of Damascus, was a distinguished Successor. He transmitted mursal reports from Ḥudhayfah, Abū Mūsā, Abū al-Dardāʾ, Muʿāwiyah, and several other Successors. A large number narrated from him, including al-Awzāʿī, Saʿīd ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, and Yaḥyā ibn al-Ḥārith al-Dhimmārī.