The scholars relate that the final words uttered by as-Saffāḥ were: “Dominion belongs to Allah, the Living, the Self-Sustaining, King of kings, Subduer of tyrants.” The inscription on his signet ring read: “Allah is the reliance of ʿAbd Allah.” He died of smallpox on Sunday, the 13th of Dhu al-Ḥijjah in the year 136 AH at the old city of al-Anbar, aged thirty-three. His caliphate lasted four years and nine months, according to the most reliable view. His uncle ʿĪsā ibn ʿAlī led the funeral prayer over him, and he was buried inside the governor’s palace at al-Anbar. His estate consisted of nine jubbas, four shirts, five pairs of trousers, four ṭayālisah, and three brocade mantles (maṭārif khazz). Ibn ʿAsākir has recorded his biography, mentioning part of what we have cited here. ⦗1⦘ Allah knows best.

Among the notable figures who died in this same year were:
as-Saffāḥ, as just mentioned;
Ashʿath ibn Sawwār;
Jaʿfar ibn Abī Rabīʿah;
Ḥuṣayn ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān;
Rabīʿah al-Raʾy;
Zayd ibn Aslam;
ʿAbd al-Malik ibn ʿUmayr;
ʿAbd Allah ibn Abī Jaʿfar; and
ʿAṭāʾ ibn al-Sāʾib.
Their biographies are found in my Takmīl, and to Allah belongs all praise.

[The Caliphate of Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr]

His name was ʿAbd Allah ibn Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAbbās. As mentioned earlier, when as-Saffāḥ died he was in the Ḥijāz, and news of the death reached him at Dhāt ʿIrq while he was returning from the pilgrimage. Abū Muslim al-Khurāsānī was with him, so he quickened his pace. Abū Muslim offered him condolences for his brother’s death, and al-Manṣūr wept. Abū Muslim said, “Do you weep when the caliphate has come to you? I will see to it for you, if Allah wills.” This eased his sorrow. He then instructed Ziyād ibn ʿUbayd Allah to return to Mecca as its governor; as-Saffāḥ had previously removed him and appointed al-ʿAbbās ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn Maʿbad ibn ʿAbbās in his place, but al-Manṣūr reinstated him. The remaining governors stayed in their posts until the end of the year.

ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAlī had earlier come to his nephew as-Saffāḥ at al-Anbar, and as-Saffāḥ had placed him in charge of the summer expedition; he therefore set out with a vast army