to have been forty years. Al-Bustān records that he died in 250 AH—Allah knows best. These are Ibn Khallikān’s very words (1), reproduced verbatim. Ibn al-Jawzī, however, dates his death to 298 AH, as will be mentioned later.

Dhū al-Nūn al-Miṣrī (2)—Thawbān ibn Ibrāhīm; others say Ibn al-Fayḍ ibn Ibrāhīm, Abū al-Fayḍ al-Miṣrī—was one of the celebrated spiritual masters. The judge Ibn Khallikān gave him a biographical entry in al-Wafayāt, noting some of his virtues and spiritual states, and dated his passing to this year; others placed it in the following year, and yet others in 248 AH—Allah knows best.

He is counted among those who narrated the Muwattaʾ from Mālik. Ibn Yūnus mentioned him in Tārīkh Miṣr, saying that his father was Nubian; others maintained that he was from Ikhmīm. He was gentle-tempered and eloquent.

He said (3) that when he was asked about the reason for his repentance, he related that he once saw a blind pigeon (4) descend from its perch; the earth opened for it and produced two small dishes (5), one of gold and the other of silver. One held sesame seeds and the other water, from which the bird ate and drank (6).

On one occasion he was complained of to al-Mutawakkil, who summoned him (7). When he entered, he admonished the caliph, moving him to tears; al-Mutawakkil then sent him back to his homeland with honour. Thereafter, whenever his name was mentioned in the caliph’s presence, the latter would praise (8) him.

[Then came the year 246 AH.] On the day of ʿĀshūrāʾ of that year, al-Mutawakkil entered al-Māḥūza, took up residence in the Palace of the Caliphate there, summoned the Qurʾān reciters and then the singers, and bestowed gifts and largesse. It was a memorable day.