Marwan: The famine had spread throughout the town, and it seemed to me that only we, the Ahl al-Bayt, were struck so severely as no one else had been. Knowing my family’s plight, I wondered if there might be someone I could appeal to for kindness or support—but I found none. Then I reminded myself that sustenance is in God’s hands. I set out and reached Damascus. After unloading my pack, I went to the mosque and sat in the largest circle. While we were gathered, a man emerged from the presence of the Commander of the Faithful, ʿAbd al-Malik—robust, handsome, and imposing—and approached our assembly. They made room for him, and he sat down. He announced: “Today the Commander of the Faithful has received a letter unlike any since God appointed him to succeed. His governor in Medina, Hisham ibn Ismāʿīl, writes that Musʿab ibn al-Zubayr had a son by a slave mother who has died, and the mother claims her inheritance. ʿUrwa ibn al-Zubayr has prevented her, insisting she has no share. The Commander recalls hearing a report from Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyib about the rights of an umm walad (a concubine who bears her master’s child) in inheritance, though he no longer has it, and that report differs from this practice.” Ibn Shihāb al-Zuhri said: “I thought, ‘I will relate it to him.’” Then Qabīṣa took me by the hand and led me into the palace to ʿAbd al-Malik, greeted him with “Peace be upon you,” and informed him: “This man will relate the hadith you heard from al-Musayyib concerning umm walad.” The caliph said, “Go ahead.” I said: “I heard Saʿīd ibn al-Musayyib report that ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb ordered that a concubine who has borne her master’s child be appraised at fair value for her child’s sake so long as he lives; upon his death she becomes free and he has no claim over her. ʿUmar recorded this early in his caliphate. Later, a Qurayshī man died leaving a son by a slave mother, a boy whom ʿUmar admired. Some nights after his father’s death, the boy appeared before ʿUmar in the mosque. ʿUmar asked, ‘What have you done regarding your mother?’ He replied, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, I was offered the choice of having my mother enslaved or of forfeiting part of my inheritance; I chose to relinquish my share rather than have her enslaved.’ ʿUmar said, ‘Did I not command appraisal at fair value? I never intended otherwise.’ Then he ascended the pulpit, gathered the people, and said: ‘O people, I once issued a ruling on umm walad. Opinion has now changed: whoever possesses a concubine who has borne his child owns her during his lifetime; when he dies she is free without recourse.’” ʿAbd al-Malik then asked me: “Who are you?” I replied: “I am Muḥammad ibn Muslim ibn ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Shihāb.” He said: “By God, your father was a troublemaker in this fitnah [trial] and did us harm.” Al-Zuhri said: “I answered, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, speak as the righteous servant did: “No reproach will there be upon you today; God will forgive you” (Qur’an 12:92).’ He said, ‘Indeed: “No reproach will there be upon you today; God will forgive you.”’” I then asked: “O Commander of the Faithful, grant me a stipend, for I have no appointment at the dīwān.” He replied, “We have granted none from your town since this matter.” After a moment he looked at Qabīṣa and me standing before him and signaled that I should be awarded a stipend. He said, “The Commander of the Faithful has provided for you.” I said, “By God, I left my family in dire need—known only to God—and need has befallen every townsman.” He answered, “The Commander of the Faithful has heard you.” I added: “O Commander of the Faithful, we lack even a servant; my sister must do all the kneading, baking, and grinding.” He said, “The Commander of the Faithful will provide a servant for you.” Al-Awzāʿī narrated from al-Zuhri that the latter reported: the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said, “The fornicator is not a believer at the time he commits fornication.” I asked al-Zuhri: “What is this?” He replied: “Knowledge belongs to God, the message to the Messenger, and it is for us to submit; we must transmit the Prophetic sayings as they came.”