Then the year 312 AH opened.

In Muḥarram of that year the Qarmatian Abū Ṭāhir Sulaymān (1) ibn Abī Saʿīd al-Jannābī—may Allah curse him and his father—waylaid the pilgrims as they were returning from the Sacred House of Allah, having performed the obligation He had laid upon them. He blocked their road, and they fought him in defence of their property, their lives, and their honour. He slew a vast number of them, known only to Allah—may He be exalted—and carried off from their women and children whomever he wished, taking from their wealth whatever he desired. The money he seized amounted to about one million dinars, and the value of the baggage and merchandise was roughly the same. He then left the remainder of the people in the wilderness, far from their homes, after stripping them of their camels, provisions, money, and women, abandoning them without food, water, or mounts.

The deputy-governor of Kūfa, Abū al-Hayjāʾ ʿAbd Allāh ibn Ḥamdān, rode out to defend (2) the people; he overpowered the Qarmatian and captured him—surely we belong to Allah and to Him we return. The force accompanying the Qarmatian numbered eight hundred fighters, and he himself was only seventeen years old—may Allah shatter him (3).

When the news reached Baghdad, the victims’ womenfolk and relatives burst into public mourning; they loosened their hair and slapped their faces (4) in the alleyways. The women of those ruined by the vizier Ibn al-Furāt joined them, so that day Baghdad witnessed a scene of extreme horror and ugliness. When the caliph inquired about the matter, he was told, “These are the women of the pilgrims, together with the women whose property Ibn al-Furāt confiscated.” At that, the chamberlain Naṣr al-Qashūrī laid a heavy hand (5) on the vizier and said, “Commander of the Faithful, the only reason the Qarmatian (6) has grown bold is that you banished al-Muẓaffar Mūnis the Eunuch. Because of that, these men have coveted the frontier regions, and it was none other than Ibn al-Furāt who advised you to dismiss him.”

The caliph al-Muqtadir therefore sent word to the vizier Ibn al-Furāt, saying, “People are speaking ill of you because of the counsel you have given me,” and he dispatched someone to reassure him. The vizier and his son mounted and entered the caliph’s presence; the caliph honoured them and soothed their hearts, and they departed. Nevertheless, they suffered much abuse from Naṣr the chamberlain and other senior commanders. The vizier resumed his seat of office and judged among the people as usual, but he spent that night pondering his situation. He awoke still absorbed in thought, reciting:

He rose at dawn, uncertain—though a prudent man—
Whether what lay ahead of him were better, or what lay behind.