who had succeeded his father to the throne, and was just over twenty (1) years old. He was handsome of build, mighty in combat, and possessed a heart of exceptional courage. It is said that he could seize a powerful bull by its legs (2) and hurl it to the ground without assistance, and that on his hunting expeditions he would deliberately track lions in their lairs. Yet he was also excessively fond of diversion, play, and the pursuit of pleasure.

When his cousin defeated him in the land of Ahwāz, among the property that was confiscated was a young servant to whom he was deeply attached—[lā yahnā bi-l-ʿaysh illā maʿahu] (“he could not enjoy life except in the boy’s company”) (3). He therefore sent repeated, conciliatory requests to his cousin asking that the youth be returned, dispatching lavish gifts, large sums of money, and two unrivalled songstresses of inestimable worth (4). He even sent the head of the Prophet’s descendants to intercede, whereupon the boy was restored to him. The people then rebuked ʿIzz al-Dawlah harshly, and he fell from the eyes of the monarchs, for he used to say, “Losing this boy is harder for me than the fall of Baghdad and the land of Iraq.”

In the end, his affair turned out as follows: his cousin ʿAḍud al-Dawlah captured him, as we have already mentioned (5), and ordered his swift execution. His lifespan amounted to thirty-six years, and his reign lasted eleven (6) years and some months (7).

Muḥammad ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān (8), Abū Bakr—the judge known as Ibn Qurayʿa—was appointed qāḍī of the district of al-Sindiyyah (9). He was eloquent, able to produce rhymed prose without effort or hesitation, and he was pleasant in social dealings and witty in conversation. Among his poetry are the following lines:
I have a ruse for the tale-bearer, (m)
but for the liar no stratagem will do;
Whoever forges the words he speaks,
my ploys for him are very few.

He would say to a companion when the two walked together (10): “If I go before you [bayna yadayk—before you] (11) I am but a doorkeeper; if I fall behind you, it is only courtesy.” He passed away on Saturday, with ten days remaining in Jumādā al-Ākhirah of that same year. May Allah have mercy on him, and Allah knows best.