By resolution and secrecy I attained
what the Marwānid kings, though massed in force, could not obtain.
I kept striking them with the sword until they awoke
from a slumber no one before them had ever known.
I roamed pursuing them within their very lands
while the folk, enthroned in Syria, lay fast asleep.
Whoever herds his sheep in a land of lions
and then lies down to rest will find the lion tending the flock.

Abū Muslim was killed at al-Madā’in on Wednesday, seven days having passed of Shaʿbān—though some say with five days remaining, others say four, and others two nights remaining—of this year, namely 137 AH.

Some said that his first public appearance was in Ramaḍān of 129 AH; others put it in Shaʿbān of 127 AH.

Still others alleged that he was killed in Baghdad in 140 AH. This, however, is a mistake, for Baghdad had not yet been built, as al-Khaṭīb points out in his History of Baghdad, where he rejects the claim.

Afterwards al-Manṣūr set about winning over Abū Muslim’s adherents with gifts, inducement, intimidation, and appointments. He summoned Abū Isḥāq—one of Abū Muslim’s closest companions, who had commanded his police—and was on the brink of having him beheaded.

Abū Isḥāq said, “O Commander of the Faithful, by Allah I have never felt secure until today. Every time I entered your presence I would embalm myself and put on my shroud.” He then uncovered the clothes next to his skin, and behold, he was already embalmed and wearing burial linen. Al-Manṣūr was moved and set him free.

Ibn Jarīr (1) reports that Abū Muslim put to death, in the course of his wars and the measures he pursued to establish the ʿAbbāsid state, six hundred thousand people executed in cold blood, in addition to those slain otherwise.

When al-Manṣūr reproached him for his actions, Abū Muslim said, “O Commander of the Faithful, let this not be said to me after all my toil and what I have done.” Al-Manṣūr retorted, “Son of a vile woman! Had a slave-girl stood where you stand her mere presence would have sufficed. You achieved what you did only by our dynasty and the wind at our back; had the affair rested with you alone, you would not have snapped a wick.”

Once he had killed him, al-Manṣūr had the corpse wrapped in a cloak, though it had been cut to pieces. ʿĪsā ibn Mūsā then entered and asked, “O Commander of the Faithful, where is Abū Muslim?” He replied, “He was here just now.” ʿĪsā said, “O Commander of the Faithful, you know his obedience and his counsel, and the judgment of Ibrāhīm the Imām concerning him!” Al-Manṣūr answered, “You fool! By Allah, I know of no enemy on earth more hostile to you than he; there he is on the mat.” ʿĪsā exclaimed, “Indeed we belong to Allah and to Him we return.” Al-Manṣūr said, “May Allah pluck the heart from your breast! What standing, authority, command or prohibition did you possess while Abū Muslim was alive?”

Al-Manṣūr then summoned the leading commanders and began consulting them about putting Abū Muslim to death before they realised he was already dead. Every last one of them advised killing him, and some, when they spoke, lowered their voices out of fear that Abū Muslim might hear of it. When