1325 — Abd al-Rahman ibn Ubayd Allah informed us; Ahmad ibn Sulayman informed us; Abdullah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal narrated to us; my father narrated to me, saying: Muammal narrated to us; Hammad—that is, ibn Salamah—narrated to us; Abu Jafar al-Khatmi narrated to us, saying:

I witnessed Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz after he had summoned Ghilan concerning reports that had reached him about the divine decree. He said to him, “Woe to you, Ghilan! What is this that has reached me concerning you?”

He replied, “Lies are being told about me, Commander of the Believers, and things I do not say are being attributed to me.”

He asked, “What do you say regarding divine knowledge?”

He replied, “The knowledge has taken effect.”

He said, “You have been refuted. Go now, Ghilan, and say whatever you wish: if you affirm divine knowledge, you will be refuted; and if you deny it, you will disbelieve. It is better for you to acknowledge it and be refuted than to deny it and disbelieve.”

He then asked him, “Do you recite Ya-Sin?”

He replied, “Yes.”

He said, “Recite.” So he recited:

“Ya-Sin. By the wise Quran. Indeed, the Word has come into effect upon most of them, so they do not believe.” [Ya-Sin: 7]

He said, “Stop. What do you think?”

Ghilan replied, “It is as though I had never read this verse, Commander of the Believers.”

He said, “Continue.” So he recited:

“Indeed, We have placed shackles around their necks, reaching up to their chins, so their heads are forced up. And We have placed before them a barrier and behind them a barrier.” [Ya-Sin: 9]

⦗790⦘ Umar then said to him, “Say: ‘A barrier; then We have covered them, so they do not see. It is all the same to them whether you warn them or do not warn them: they will not believe.’” [Ya-Sin: 9]

He asked, “What do you think?”

Ghilan replied, “It is as though I had never read these verses at all. I covenant with Allah that I will never again speak about anything I used to discuss.”

He said, “Go.” When Ghilan turned away, Umar said, “O Allah, if he is lying in what he has said, then let him taste the heat of weapons.”

Ghilan did not speak throughout Umar’s reign. When Yazid ibn Abd al-Malik came to power, he was a man who paid no attention to this matter and did not concern himself with it. So Ghilan began speaking again. Then, when Hisham came to power, he sent for him and said, “Did you not covenant with Allah before Umar that you would never again speak about any of this?”

Ghilan replied, “Pardon me; by Allah, I shall not return to it.”

He said, “May Allah not pardon me if I pardon you. Do you recite the Opening of the Book?”

He replied, “Yes.”

He said, “Recite: ‘All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds.’” So he recited:

“All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.”

He said, “Stop. In what are you seeking help: in a matter that is in His hand and beyond your ability, or in a matter that is in your hand?” ⦗791⦘ “Go, both of you: cut off his hands and feet, strike his neck, and crucify him.”