He relinquished the command, not because he had been overpowered,
nor did he harbour any desire at all for the office.
Ibn al-Zubayr (1) in the Ḥijaz laboured day and night,
seeking the caliphate and wearing himself out in the quest.
Meanwhile, in Syria they pledged allegiance to Marwan (2),
by the decree of Him who says to a thing, “Be!”—and it is.
His reign endured no longer than a single year,
before the arrows of death (3) closed in on him.
Thereafter the kingdom was firmly secured for ʿAbd al-Malik (4),
and the star of his good fortune blazed high in the sky.
Everyone who contested him for the throne
fell prostrate, struck down by the swords of destruction.
Thus he slew (5) Musʿab in Iraq,
and sent al-Ḥajjāj, that contentious man,
against the Ḥijaz with swords of vengeance,
while Ibn al-Zubayr was clinging to the Sacred Sanctuary.
After killing him, he (6) exceeded all bounds by crucifying him,
showing no fear of his Lord over what he had done.
Yet when affairs seemed perfectly settled for him,
Time itself (7) shifted beneath his feet.
After him came al-Walid (8),
followed by Sulayman (9), the upright youth.
Then the justice of ʿUmar (10) overflowed among the people;
he followed his Lord’s command just as He had ordered.
He was called “the most resolute of his folk,”
a man of prayer, piety, and constant fasting.
= Murooj al-Dhahab, vol. 2, p. 57; Zambaur, p. 1.
(1) Abdallah ibn al-Zubayr reigned from Rabiʿ al-Thani 64 AH to Jumada al-Ula 73 AH (nine years). (Murooj al-Dhahab 2:71; Zambaur 1.)
(2) Marwan I ibn al-Hakam was pledged allegiance on 3 Dhu al-Qaʿdah 64 AH; his tenure lasted six months and a few days—others report eight months or a different length. (Murooj al-Dhahab 2:69; Zambaur.)
(3) In manuscript A the reading is “ʿaqṣatuhu.” The verb ʿaqaṣa (to bend or to sheathe) is used here in the sense of “to twist” (liwāhu). (Al-Lisan, s.v. “ʿaqṣ.”)
(4) Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan was pledged allegiance on 1 Ramadan (some say 27 Ramadan) in 65 AH; his reign lasted 21 years and one and a half months. (Murooj al-Dhahab 2:71; Zambaur.)
(5) In the Ṭ edition: “waqtila” (he was killed).
(6) In manuscripts A and B: “faja baʿda qutilihi.”
(7) In the Ṭ edition: “taqallabat bi-jismihi.” In manuscripts A and B this line appears after the following verse.
(8) al-Walid I ibn Abd al-Malik assumed office in mid-Jumada al-Akhirah 86 AH; Zambaur gives 14 Shawwal. (Murooj al-Dhahab 2:121.)
(9) Sulayman ibn Abd al-Malik assumed office in mid-Jumada al-Akhirah 96 AH; his tenure lasted two years, eight months, and five nights. (Murooj al-Dhahab 2:125.)
(10) Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz assumed office on 10 Safar 99 AH; his reign lasted two years, five months, and five days. (Murooj al-Dhahab 2:143; Zambaur.)