It has reached us from the Commander of the Faithful ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: “If anyone is brought to me who prefers me over Abū Bakr and ʿUmar, I shall flog him with the punishment prescribed for a slanderer.” It is likewise multiply attested from him that he declared: “The best of people after the Messenger of Allah ﷺ are Abū Bakr, then ʿUmar, then ʿUthmān.” (1)

By adopting his own doctrine, therefore, al-Maʾmūn ibn al-Rashīd opposed the entire body of the Companions—even ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib himself (may Allah be pleased with him). To this innovation, by which he slighted the Emigrants and the Helpers, he added another, more catastrophic still: the claim that the Quran is created. Added to that were his persistent indulgence in intoxicants and other acts for which any critic would have ample excuse.

Yet he possessed remarkable courage, great physical strength, and a high resolve in warfare: besieging enemies, grappling with the Byzantines, hemming them into their strongholds, cutting down their horsemen, and taking their women and children captive.

He used to say: “Muʿāwiyah had his ʿAmr, ʿAbd al-Malik his al-Ḥajjāj, while I have myself.” (2)

He strove for justice and would personally preside over litigation. A frail woman once came to him, complaining against his son al-ʿAbbās, who was standing beside him. The Caliph ordered the chamberlain to take the young man by the hand and seat him opposite her. She claimed that he had seized an estate of hers and taken it for himself. They argued for some time, her voice rising above his, until one of those present rebuked her. Al-Maʾmūn said, “Be silent! Truth has made her speak and falsehood has silenced him.” He then ruled in her favor and obliged his son to pay her ten thousand dirhams. (3)

He once wrote to a group of governors: “It is unbecoming that your tableware be of gold and silver while your debtor is unclothed and your neighbor hungry.” (4)

A man stood before al-Maʾmūn, and the Caliph said to him, “By Allah, I shall kill you!” The man replied, “Commander of the Faithful, be gentle with me, for gentleness is half of pardon.” Al-Maʾmūn retorted, “Woe to you! I have sworn that I will kill you!” The man answered, “O Commander of the Faithful, to meet Allah—exalted is He—having broken an oath is better for you than to meet Him as a murderer.” So al-Maʾmūn pardoned him. (5)

He also used to say: “If only the people of wrongdoing knew my policy of clemency, their fear would vanish and joy would enter their hearts.” (6)