1228 – ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; my father narrated to me; Sayyar narrated to us; Jaʿfar narrated to us; Hawshab narrated, on the authority of al-Hasan, who said:

When Muʿawiyah sent a message to ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmir instructing him: “See to ʿAmir ibn ʿAbd al-Qays; grant him ready admittance and honour him. Tell him to seek the hand of whomever he wishes, and pay the bridal-gift on his behalf from the bayt al-mal (public treasury).”

So he sent word to ʿAmir: “The Commander of the Believers has written to me that I should facilitate your entrance and honour you.”

ʿAmir replied, “So-and-so is more in need of that than I,” referring to a man who had long been coming to them without ever being granted admission.

He went on, “And he has commanded me to order you to propose to whomever you wish, and that I am to pay your dowry from the bayt al-mal.”

ʿAmir said, “I am constantly proposing.”

He asked, “To whom?”

He answered, “To the one who is content with a crust of bread and a single date.”

He then turned to his companions and said, “I am going to ask you something; tell me: is there anyone among you whose heart is not partly attached to his family?”

They replied, “By Allah, no—indeed it is so.”

He asked, “Is there anyone among you whose heart is not partly attached to his children?”

They said, “By Allah, no—indeed it is so.”

He declared, “By Him in whose hand my soul rests, for spear-points to clash within my chest would be dearer to me than to be like that. By Allah, I will make all my concern a single concern.”

Al-Hasan added: and so he did.