31 – Abu Zayd al-Numayri narrated to us, saying that it was related to him from his father, Shabbah, from Waddah ibn Khaythamah, who said:

“ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAziz ordered me to release everyone in the prison, so I freed them all except Yazid ibn Abi Muslim, for he had declared my blood forfeit. By Allah, while I was in Ifriqiyyah it was said to me, ‘Yazid ibn Abi Muslim has arrived.’ I fled from him, but he sent men after me; I was seized and brought before him.

He said, ‘O Waddah!’ I replied, ‘Waddah here.’ He said, ‘By Allah, I have long been asking Allah to give me power over you.’ I answered, ‘And I—by Allah—have long been seeking refuge in Allah from your evil.’ He retorted, ‘By Allah, He has not granted you refuge. By Allah, I will surely kill you—by Allah, I will surely kill you—by Allah, I will surely kill you! By Allah, even if the Angel of Death tried to outstrip me in taking your soul, I would beat him to it with the sword and the execution-mat.’

A leather mat was brought, I was made to sit upon it, my arms were bound, and a man stood over my head with a drawn sword. Then the call was given for the prayer, so he went out to pray; and when he dropped into prostration the soldiers’ swords fell upon him and he was killed. A man came to me, slashed the bonds at my shoulders with his sword, and said, ‘Be off.’