—that is, Burhān al-Dīn al-Zurʿī—and the Maqdisīs together with the leading Hanbalīs attended the lesson, whereas the townspeople were unable to come because of the heavy rain and mud that day.

The construction of the eastern minaret of the Umayyad Mosque was completed during the last ten nights of Ramadan. People admired its architecture and precision, and some declared that never since the rise of Islam had a minaret like it been built—praise be to Allah.

Many therefore assumed that this was the “White Eastern Minaret” mentioned in the ḥadith of al-Nawwās ibn Samʿān concerning the descent of Jesus son of Mary (peace be upon him) upon the white minaret to the east of Damascus (1). Perhaps, however, the wording of the report was altered by some transmitters, and what was intended is simply the eastern minaret of Damascus. This minaret is well known as “the Eastern” because it faces its western counterpart. Allah, exalted and sublime, knows best.

Execution of al-Dukkālī (2). On Tuesday, the last day of Shawwāl, a tribunal was convened in the Court of Justice at Dār al-Saʿādah, and I was present that day. The judges and dignitaries gathered as usual, and ʿUthmān al-Dukkālī—may Allah disfigure him—was brought forward. He was charged with enormities the like of which have not even been reported of al-Ḥallāj (3) or Ibn Abī al-ʿAzāqir al-Shalmaghānī (4). Conclusive evidence proved that he had claimed divinity—may Allah curse him—along with other blasphemies belittling the prophets, and that he consorted with skeptics from the Bājarbakiyyah (5) and other members of the ittiḥādīyah, upon whom be the curses of Allah. During the session he behaved insolently toward the Ḥanbalī judge, and the Mālikīs likewise declared him an unbeliever. He alleged that he had grounds to challenge some of the witnesses, so he was returned to prison, shackled, manacled, and disgraced—Allah enabled us to subdue him by His power and support.

Then, on Tuesday, the twenty-first of Dhū al-Qaʿdah, the same ʿUthmān al-Dukkālī was brought again to Dār al-Saʿādah and made to stand before the emirs and judges. Questioned about his supposed objections to the witnesses, he could not substantiate a single one, and the verdict was pronounced against him. The Mālikī judge was asked to pass sentence; he praised Allah, extolled Him, invoked blessings upon His Messenger, and then ruled that the man’s blood be shed even if he repented. Accordingly, the condemned was taken out and beheaded in Damascus at the Horse Market.

A crier proclaimed: “This is the recompense of one who follows the doctrine of the ittiḥādīyah!” It was a day long remembered at Dār al-Saʿādah: a large gathering of dignitaries and shaykhs attended. Present were our shaykh, the ḥadith scholar Jamāl al-Dīn al-Mizzī, and our shaykh, the ḥadith scholar Shams al-Dīn al-Dhahabī; both spoke forcefully, urged the matter on with great earnestness, and testified—on the basis of widespread report—to the heresy of the accused, and likewise Shaykh