in Baghdad.

ʿAlī ibn al-Mahdī also died this year; he had led the pilgrimage on several occasions and was a few months older than al-Rashīd.

Ḥassān ibn Sinān (1) ibn Abī Awfā ibn ʿAwf al-Tanūkhī al-Anbārī was born in 60 AH. He met Anas ibn Mālik, who prayed for him, and from his descendants came judges, ministers, and righteous men. He lived through both the Umayyad and the Abbasid dynasties. Originally a Christian, he embraced Islam and excelled in it. He wrote in Arabic, Persian, and Syriac and served as a translator of books before Rabīʿah when al-Saffāḥ appointed the latter over al-Anbār.

Those who passed away this year include:

• ʿAbd al-Wārith ibn Saʿīd al-Tannūrī (2), one of the reliable transmitters;

• ʿĀfiyah ibn Yazīd (3) ibn Qays, whom al-Mahdī had appointed as judge for the eastern quarter of Baghdad together with Ibn ʿUlāthah. The two of them rendered judgment in the Rusāfah Mosque. ʿĀfiyah was a devout, ascetic, and God-fearing worshipper.

He once entered upon al-Mahdī at midday and said, “Commander of the Faithful, release me from this post.” The caliph asked, “Why should I release you? Has one of the governors complained about you?” He replied, “No, but two men had a lawsuit before me. One of them, having heard that I am fond of rutab al-sukkar (a very sweet variety of fresh dates), presented me with a tray fit only for the Commander of the Faithful. I returned it to him, yet when morning came and we sat for judgment, the two men were no longer equal in my heart or in my eyes; my heart inclined toward the one who had brought the gift—even though I had not accepted it. What would have happened had I taken it? So excuse me, and may Allah excuse you.” The caliph granted his request.

Al-Aṣmaʿī recounted: “I was with al-Rashīd one day when ʿĀfiyah was present; the caliph had summoned him because some people had lodged complaints against him. Al-Rashīd confronted him with what had been said, and he answered every question. The audience grew long, and the caliph sneezed…"