holding the caliphate, and that the Muslims were henceforth absolved of any oath of allegiance to them. This took place only after their brother al-Muntaṣir had menaced them with death unless they complied, his real intention being to designate his own son ʿAbd al-Wahhāb as heir, at the urging of the Turkish commanders. The two princes then proclaimed this renunciation (1) before a great public gathering that included the army officers, judges, leading members of Banū Hāshim, and the general populace.

Circulars were dispatched to every distant region and province so that all might be informed, the matter proclaimed from the pulpits, and the brothers’ names erased from official records. Yet Allah is predominant over His affair. Al-Muntaṣir sought to strip them of the throne and secure it for his own descendants, but fate belied his ambitions. Barely six months had passed since he had murdered his father when, in the closing days of Ṣafar, an illness struck him that proved to be his end, as we shall relate.

Al-Muntaṣir had once dreamt that he was ascending a staircase until he reached the top of twenty-five steps. He recounted the vision to a dream-interpreter, who told him, “Those twenty-five steps are twenty-five years during which you will wield the caliphate; in fact, they mark the span of your life.” He completed that number in the present year.

Some report that we entered upon him one day and found him weeping and sobbing uncontrollably. One of his companions asked him the reason, and he replied, “I have just seen my father al-Mutawakkil in a dream. He said to me, ‘Woe to you, Muḥammad! You killed me, wronged me, and usurped my caliphate. By Allah, you will enjoy it after me only a few short days; then your destination is the Fire!’ I can neither restrain my tears nor my anguish.” One of those present (2) said, “It is only a dream—some dreams are true and others false. Come, let us drink!” So wine and convivial companions were brought, and though his spirit was broken he began to drink, remaining dejected until he died.

Opinions differ as to the illness that caused his death. Some say he suffered a head ailment, and when oil was poured into his ear and reached his brain, death came swiftly. Others say his stomach became inflamed, the swelling reached his heart, and he died. Still others claim he was seized by a choking spasm that lasted several days, and he died. Another account states that his blood-letter cupped him with a lancet coated in poison, whereupon he died that very day.

Ibn Jarīr (3) relates: “One of our colleagues informed me that the blood-letter returned home with a fever. He summoned a servant (4) to bleed him, and the man took his master’s case of lancets, selecting the finest among them. Behold—it was the very poisoned lancet with which the Caliph had been bled. Unaware, he used it on his master. Allah, Exalted is He, caused the blood-letter to forget, and he did not realize what had happened until he saw the servant apply it. The poison took hold; he made his final bequests and died that same day.”