1702 – ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; al-Hasan narrated to me, from Ḍamrah, from ʿAli ibn Abi Ḥamalah, from al-Walid ibn Hisham, who said:

A Jew met me and told me that ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAziz would one day assume this authority and rule it with justice. I later met ʿUmar and informed him of the Jew’s words. When ʿUmar did indeed become caliph, the Jew encountered me again and said, “Did I not tell you that your companion would attain this office? Your companion has now been given poison to drink, so let him take measures to save himself.”

I therefore went to ʿUmar and said, “The Jew who first told me you would assume leadership and deal justly now says, ‘You have been poisoned, and he urges you to look after yourself.’”

He replied, “May Allah deal with him! I know the very moment I was made to drink it. Even if my cure consisted in no more than touching the lobe of my ear, I would not do it—nor would I have perfume brought so that I might lift it ⦗239⦘ to my nose and inhale its scent.”