And al-Shafiʿi—his school is my school, for his opinion is borne out by proof. I follow him in both fundamentals and subsidiary rulings alike; so let him (1) who seeks sound guidance (2) follow me. By Allah’s leave I shall be saved and be in the forefront when the tyrant and even the moderate grow sluggish (3).

He also composed (4)—in the ṭawīl metre:
"When my wealth is scant you will not find me abject (5),
steeped in grief and biting my fingers in regret;
Nor am I boastful should Allah renew a blessing—
even if all that people possess were mine (6)."

He (7)—may Allah have mercy on him—died in Rabīʿ al-Awwal of this year at Mayyafarikin (8).

[Then the year 554 AH began]

In it: the caliph al-Muqtafi fell gravely ill, then recovered; Baghdad (9) was decorated for him for several days, and he distributed abundant and generous alms (10).

Also in this year: ʿAbd al-Muʾmin regained the city of al-Mahdiyya from the Franks, who had taken it from the Muslims in the year 543 AH.

And again in this year: ʿAbd al-Muʾmin fought vast multitudes (11) in the lands of the Maghrib (12) until the bones of the slain there (14) lay heaped like a great mound (13). Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we return.