—al-Hasan and Ibn Sīrīn. They exchanged greetings with him, whereupon Iyās wept and cited the ḥadīth: “Judges are of three kinds: two will be in the Fire and one in the Garden.” (1)

Al-Hasan replied, “Yet Allah, exalted be He, has said: ‘And David and Solomon, when they gave judgment concerning the field…’ (Sūrat al-Anbiyāʾ 21:78).”

Iyās then sat for the people in the mosque; litigants flocked to him, and he did not rise until he had decided seventy cases. Because of this they likened him to Shurayḥ the judge. It is related that whenever a matter perplexed him he would send to Muḥammad ibn Sīrīn and ask him about it.

Iyās said, “I speak to ordinary people with half my mind; but when two disputants come before me, I muster my mind in full.”

A man once said to him, “You are certainly taken with your own opinion.” Iyās replied, “Were that not the case, I would never use it to judge.”

Another said, “There are qualities in you that displease me.” He listed them: “You rule before you understand, you do not sit with just anyone, and you wear coarse clothes.” Iyās asked him, “Which is the greater number, three or two?” The man answered, “Three.” Iyās said, “How quickly you understood and replied!” The man retorted, “Who could be ignorant of that?” Iyās responded, “Such is the clarity of the judgments I give. As for my not sitting with everyone, I prefer the company of those who recognise my worth to that of those who do not. As for coarse garments, I wear what shields me; I do not protect my clothes—they protect me.”

They relate that two men once brought a case before him: one had entrusted a sum of money to the other, who now denied it. Iyās asked the depositor, “Where did you hand it over to him?” He answered, “Under a tree in an orchard.” Iyās said, “Go to that tree and stand there; perhaps you will recall something.” (In another narration he said, “Can you go there and bring me one of its leaves?” The man replied, “Yes.”) The depositor departed, while the defendant remained seated. Iyās continued hearing other cases, keeping an eye on him. After a time he summoned the defendant and asked, “Has your companion reached the place yet?” “Not yet, may Allah set things right for you,” the man replied. Iyās said, “Up, enemy of Allah! Give him his due, or I shall make you an example.” When the depositor returned, the defendant stood and handed over the trust in full.

On another occasion a man came to him saying, “I placed some money with so-and-so, and he has denied it.” Iyās told him, “Go now and come back tomorrow.” At once he sent for the denier and said, “A sum of money has accumulated here, and we have found no one more trustworthy to deposit it with than you. Keep it safe in a secure place.” The man answered, “With pleasure and obedience.” Iyās said, “Go now and come back tomorrow.”

The next morning the rightful owner appeared. Iyās told him, “Go to that man and say, ‘Give me my right, or I will take you before the judge.’” He did so. Fearing that the judge might no longer entrust him with the other deposit, the man immediately paid what he owed. He then informed Iyās, and the denier came the following day hoping to receive the promised deposit. Iyās rebuked him, drove him away, and said, “You are a betrayer.”

Two men also disputed before him over a slave-girl. The buyer claimed she was feeble-minded. Iyās asked her, “Which of your legs is the longer?” She replied, “This one.” He then asked, “Do you remember the night you were born?” “Yes,” she answered. Iyās said to the seller, “Return her—return her.”