toward Byzantine territory. Partway along the route he received news of as-Saffāḥ’s death, so he wheeled back to Ḥarrān, called the people to pledge allegiance to him, and claimed that as-Saffāḥ, when dispatching him to Syria, had appointed him heir-apparent. Great armies rallied around him, and what befell him will be recounted under the events of the following year, if Allah wills.

[Then the year 137 AH began]

Account of the revolt of ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAlī ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn al-ʿAbbās against his nephew al-Manṣūr

After the death of his brother as-Saffāḥ, Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr returned from the ḥajj, entered Kūfah, delivered the Friday sermon to its people, and led them in prayer. He then departed for al-Anbār, the oath of allegiance having already been secured for him from the inhabitants of Iraq, Khurasan, and every other region save Syria. ʿĪsā ibn ʿAlī had taken charge of the treasuries and state holdings on al-Manṣūr’s behalf until he arrived and assumed control. Al-Manṣūr wrote to his uncle ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAlī—who was fighting in Byzantine lands—informing him of as-Saffāḥ’s passing.

When the news reached him he cried, “As-ṣalātu jāmiʿah!” The commanders and common people gathered, whereupon he read the notice of as-Saffāḥ’s death. He then addressed them, asserting that as-Saffāḥ, when sending him against Marwān, had conferred the caliphate upon him after his demise. Some Iraqi officers attested to this, so they rose and pledged allegiance to him. He returned to Ḥarrān, seized it from al-Manṣūr’s deputy after a siege of forty nights, and killed the deputy, Muqātil al-ʿAtakī.

When al-Manṣūr learned of his uncle’s actions, he dispatched Abū Muslim al-Khurāsānī against him with a contingent of commanders. ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAlī had fortified himself in Ḥarrān and stockpiled an immense quantity of provisions and arms. Abū Muslim advanced, placing Mālik ibn Hitham al-Khuzāʿī at the head of the vanguard.

Once ʿAbd Allah realised that Abū Muslim was indeed coming, he feared that the Iraqi troops with him would not stay loyal, so he executed 17,000 of them. He also intended to kill Ḥumayd ibn Qaḥṭabah, but the latter escaped to Abū Muslim.

ʿAbd Allah then mounted and encamped at Naṣībīn, digging a trench around his forces, while Abū Muslim advanced and camped opposite him. Abū Muslim wrote to him: “I have not been ordered to fight you; the Commander of the Faithful has merely appointed me governor of Syria, and that is my destination.”

The Syrian soldiers were alarmed and said, “We fear for our families, homes, and property; we shall go there to protect them from him.” ʿAbd Allah replied, “Woe to you! By Allah, he has come only to fight us.” Nevertheless, they insisted on marching toward Syria. ʿAbd Allah therefore left his position and headed in that direction. Abū Muslim moved in, occupied the site, and drained the surrounding water sources. The place ʿAbd Allah had abandoned had been excellent; forced by necessity, he and his men encamped where Abū Muslim had been and found it a wretched location.

Abū Muslim then opened hostilities and fought them for five months. ʿAbd Allah’s cavalry was commanded by his brother ʿAbd al-Ṣamad ibn ʿAlī, his right wing by Bakkār ibn Muslim al-ʿUqaylī, and his left by Ḥabīb ibn Suwayd al-Asadī. Abū Muslim’s right wing was led by al-Ḥasan ibn Qaḥṭabah and his left by Abū Naṣr Khāzim ibn Khuzaymah. Several engagements took place, and many men from both sides were killed in those ill-omened days.

Whenever Abū Muslim charged, he would chant: