- ʿAbdullah narrated to us; my father narrated to me; Sayyār narrated to us; Jaʿfar narrated to us; al-Muʿallā ibn Ziyād narrated:
When Salamah ibn Qutaybah arrived in Basra, Mālik said to me, “Come, let us go to him.” We went, asked permission, and were soon admitted.
Salamah greeted him, saying, “Welcome, welcome, O Abū Yaḥyā. What do you need?” and he brought his seat close. Then he asked, “Have you both come only to visit, or is there something you require?”
Mālik replied, “Yes, we do have a request.”
Salamah said, “And what is it, O Abū Yaḥyā?”
Mālik answered, “O Salamah, what have you to do with kings? What have you to do with the ruling authorities?”
Salamah responded, “O Abū Yaḥyā, they already know who we are.”
Mālik said, “Then avoid them altogether!”
Salamah replied, “That will not benefit me.”
Mālik concluded, “Woe to you, O Salamah! I fear they will throw you into a predicament and then never rescue you from it.”