Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn Mūsā ibn al-Naḍr (1), son of Ḥakīm ibn ʿAlī ibn Zarbā, Abū Bakr ibn Abī Ḥāmid, was keeper of the bayt al-māl (state treasury).

He studied under ʿAbbās al-Dūrī and many others, and al-Dāraquṭnī and others transmitted from him. He was trustworthy, truthful, generous, and highly praised.

During his tenure a scholar owned a slave-girl whom he loved intensely. Heavy debts overtook him and forced him to sell her in order to pay what he owed. Once he had received the price he was seized by profound remorse over parting with her (2) and was left bewildered. The purchaser then resold her, and word reached the scholar that the girl had been bought by Ibn Abī Ḥāmid, the keeper of the treasury. He therefore sent some friends to intercede, asking that she be returned to him for the same price—explaining that he loved her, that he was a man of knowledge, and that he had only sold her because he was burdened by a debt he could not discharge (3).

When the request reached him, Ibn Abī Ḥāmid (4) was unaware that the girl was even in his house: his wife had purchased her for him but had not yet told him, waiting until the period of istibrāʾ was complete. That very day was its last; they had adorned the girl with jewellery and gold and prepared her for him. Thus, when the intercession was made he was astonished, not knowing of her. He went inside to inquire and found her arrayed and decorated for him. Overjoyed to see her in that condition (5) on the scholar’s behalf, he brought her out, openly displaying happiness—his wife assuming he meant to consummate with her—until he arrived with her, still wearing her ornaments and finery (6), at the scholar’s door.

He asked the former owner, “Is this your slave-girl?” When the man saw her in such splendour—wearing that jewellery and adornment, her beauty dazzling (7)—his words faltered and his mind was thrown into confusion by the sight.

“Yes,” he replied.

“Then take her; may Allah bless her for you.” The young man was overjoyed (8).

He said, “My lord, shall I send someone to carry the money to you?”

Ibn Abī Ḥāmid responded, “I have no need of it; you are absolved of the payment. I fear that, if nothing remains with you, you might sell her again to someone who would not return her to you.”

The scholar asked, “My lord, what about the jewellery and gold she is wearing?”

“That is a gift we have given her; we shall never take it back.” The young man’s joy intensified and he departed with her.

When Ibn Abī Ḥāmid took leave of the girl he asked, “Which do you prefer—us or this master of yours?”

She replied, “As for you, you have enriched me; may Allah reward you with goodness. As for my master, if I possessed of him what he possesses of me, I would not trade him for vast wealth.” Those present found her answer admirable, all the more so given her young age (9).