of the commanders said to al-Manṣūr, “We are of the opinion that you should not meet him on the road. He has with him troops who never oppose him; they hold him in greater awe and are more eager to obey him, whereas no one is with you.” Al-Manṣūr adopted their counsel. Matters then proceeded to his paying homage to Abū Jaʿfar, as we have already related, after which he dispatched orders to his uncle ʿAbd Allah and crushed him, as has likewise been mentioned.
In the meantime ⦗1⦘ he sent al-Ḥasan ibn Qaḥṭabah to Abū Ayyūb, al-Manṣūr’s scribe, to speak with him directly and inform him that Abū Muslim stood accused in Abū Jaʿfar’s eyes. Whenever a letter arrived from Abū Muslim, Abū Jaʿfar would read it, curl his lips in contempt, toss the letter to Abū Naṣr, and the two of them would laugh in derision.
Abū Ayyūb replied, “Our own grounds for suspecting Abū Muslim are even clearer than that.”
When Abū Jaʿfar dispatched his freedman Abū al-Khaṣīb Yaqṭīn to take charge of the money, precious jewels, and other valuables seized from ʿAbd Allah’s camp, Abū Muslim flew into a rage. He cursed Abū Jaʿfar and made for Abū al-Khaṣīb, until someone said to him, “He is only a messenger.” He therefore left him alone, and Abū al-Khaṣīb returned. Upon his arrival he told al-Manṣūr what had taken place and that Abū Muslim had contemplated killing him. Al-Manṣūr grew angry and feared that Abū Muslim might leave his present location for Khurāsān, after which securing him would be difficult and fresh troubles might arise.
Accordingly he wrote to him, sending the letter with Yaqṭīn: “I have appointed you over Syria and Egypt, and they are better than Khurāsān. Send to Egypt whomever you wish, and you yourself remain in Syria, so that you will be closer to the Commander of the Faithful; should he wish to meet you, you will be within easy reach.”
Abū Muslim was incensed and said, “He has given me Syria and Egypt, while Khurāsān is already mine. I shall therefore go there and appoint deputies over Syria and Egypt.” He wrote this to al-Manṣūr, who was greatly perturbed.
Abū Muslim left Syria for Khurāsān, resolved to oppose al-Manṣūr. Al-Manṣūr set out from al-Anbār to al-Madāʾin and wrote ordering Abū Muslim to come to him. Abū Muslim, then at the River Zab and intent on entering Khurāsān, wrote back: “No enemy remains for the Commander of the Faithful whom Allah has not placed in his power. We used to relate of the kings of the House of Sāsān that ministers are never more fearful than when the commoners fall quiet. Thus we are wary of being near you. We are keen to keep the covenant we made with you so long as you keep faith, and eager to hear and obey—but from afar, where obedience is joined to safety. If that pleases you, I am the best of your servants; but if you insist on giving your soul its desire, I shall undo the covenant I concluded with you, sparing myself the stations of humiliation and disgrace.”
When the letter reached al-Manṣūr he wrote to Abū Muslim: “I have understood your letter. Your character is not like that of those treacherous ministers who insinuate themselves with their kings, wishing for the state’s bonds to unravel because of the multitude of their crimes, finding peace only in the disintegration of the community’s order. Why then do you liken yourself to them, when you stand where you do in obedience, sincere counsel, and bearing the burdens of this cause? Under the pledge you gave, you have no right to withhold hearing and obedience. The Commander of the Faithful has entrusted to ʿĪsā ibn Mūsā a message for you that will ease your heart, should you listen to it, and I ask Allah to turn—