Nonetheless, his brother al-ʿAbbās ibn al-Walīd kept admonishing him, but he would not comply. Al-ʿAbbās said, “By Allah, were it not that I fear al-Walīd might harm you, I would fetter you myself and send you to him.”

About the same time the inhabitants began leaving Damascus because a plague had struck the city. Among those who left was the Commander of the Faithful, al-Walīd ibn Yazīd, with a company of roughly two hundred of his companions, heading toward the heights that overlook Damascus (1).

Everything now fell into place for Yazīd ibn al-Walīd. His brother al-ʿAbbās redoubled his efforts to dissuade him, but Yazīd remained unmoved, and al-ʿAbbās recited:

I seek refuge for you in Allah from upheavals
as high as mountains—once they loom, they crash.
Mankind has grown weary of how you govern;
hold fast to the pillar of faith and take heed.
Do not set the people’s wolves upon yourselves;
when wolves are loosed on prey, they ravage.
Do not rip open your own bellies with your own hands,
for then neither regret nor dread will avail you. (2)

When Yazīd ibn al-Walīd had secured the situation and those willing to pledge had done so, he set out for Damascus and entered it during al-Walīd’s absence. Most of its inhabitants swore fealty to him that very night. He then learned that the people of al-Mizzah had pledged allegiance to their chieftain, Muʿāwiyah ibn Muṣād. Yazīd walked to him with a small party of companions; on the road they encountered grave danger, yet reached his house, knocked at night, entered, and Yazīd spoke to him. Ibn Muṣād pledged allegiance, whereupon Yazīd returned the same night to Damascus by way of the canal road, riding a black donkey. His followers swore that he would not enter Damascus unless he bore arms, so he put on weapons beneath his garments and entered the city.

During his absence al-Walīd had appointed ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥajjāj ibn Yūsuf al-Thaqafī as governor of Damascus, but he too had departed because of the plague and was staying at Qaṭanā (3), leaving his own son (4) in charge of the city. Over the police he had placed Abū al-ʿĀj, Kathīr ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Sulamī. On Thursday night, between the two evening prayers, Yazīd’s supporters gathered at the Bāb al-Farādis gate. When the call to the final ʿIshāʾ prayer was given, they entered the mosque. Once no one remained inside but themselves, they summoned Yazīd ibn al-Walīd. He came, and they made for the door of the private enclosure. A servant opened it, they entered, and found Abū (5) al-ʿĀj drunk. They seized him, took control of the treasuries of the public funds, appropriated the revenues, and armed themselves. Yazīd ordered the city gates closed, to be opened only for those who were recognized.

At dawn, people from the surrounding districts arrived from every direction; each quarter entered through the gate nearest to it. The forces rallying around Yazīd ibn al-Walīd ibn ʿAbd al-Malik swelled, all having pledged him the caliphate. A poet said of the occasion:

Their champions came to them at break of day—
those stalwart scions of noble households.