1725 – ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; my father narrated to me; Yazid narrated to us; Jarir ibn Hazim informed us; Ziyad ibn Abi Ziyad said:

Ibn ʿAyyash ibn Abi Rabiʿah sent me to ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAziz on some personal errands. I entered and found a secretary writing before him. I said, “Peace be upon you.” He answered, “And upon you be peace.” When I drew nearer I said, “Peace be upon you, Commander of the Believers, and the mercy of Allah.” He replied, “O Ibn Ziyad, we do not disapprove of the first greeting you offered.”

Meanwhile the secretary was reading to him grievances that had come from Basra. ʿUmar said to me, “Sit.” I sat on the threshold of the door while the reading continued, and ʿUmar kept sighing heavily. When the recitation was finished, he dismissed everyone in the room, even a young attendant who was present. He then rose, walked over to me, sat down directly in front of me, and placed his hands upon my knees. Then he said, “O Ibn Abi Ziyad, has that coat of mail kept you warm?”—I was wearing a woollen cloak—“and have you found relief from what we are in?”

He proceeded to ask me about the righteous people of Madinah, both its men and its women; he did not leave a single one without inquiring after him or her. He also questioned me about matters he had ordered to be carried out in Madinah, and I informed him of their state.

Then he said, “O Ibn Abi Ziyad, do you not see what I have fallen into?” I said, “Rejoice, Commander of the Believers; I hope good will come of it for you.” He answered, “Far, far from it!” and then wept until I began to feel pity for him. I said, “Commander of the Believers, ease up a little; I truly hope good for you.” He replied, “Far, far from it! I revile and no one reviles me; I strike and am not struck; I cause harm and am not harmed!” Then he wept until