1326 — Al-Hasan ibn Uthman informed us. He said: Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Ziyad narrated to us. He said: Abdullah ibn Rawh narrated to us. He said: Shababah narrated to us. He said: Hayyan ibn Ubayd Allah al-Tamimi narrated to us from his father, who said:

I was present when Ghilan was brought before Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz. He said, “Woe to you, Ghilan! Reports about you have reached me. Woe to you, Ghilan! Reports about you have reached me. Ghilan, is what I have heard about you true?”

Ghilan remained silent. Umar said, “Speak, for you are safe. If what you are calling people to is true, then we have a greater right than anyone to call people to it. Speak.”

He remained silent for a long while. Umar said, “Woe to you! You are safe,” and ordered him to sit, so he sat down. Then Ghilan spoke with polished fluency, saying, “Allah is characterized only by justice. He does not burden any soul beyond its capacity, nor does Allah burden a soul beyond what He has given it. He has not imposed upon the traveller the prayer required of one who is resident; nor has Allah imposed upon the sick the deeds required of the healthy; nor has He imposed upon the poor charity like that required of the wealthy. Allah has imposed upon people only what He has made possible for them, and He has granted them the power of choice.”

He then said:

“Whoever wills, let him believe; and whoever wills, let him disbelieve.” [al-Kahf: 29]

And He said:

“Do whatever you will.” [Fussilat: 40]

After he had spoken at length, Umar said to him at the end of his remarks ⦗792⦘: “Ghilan, what do you say about Allah’s words:

“Ya-Sin. By the wise Quran. Indeed, you are among the messengers, upon a straight path—a revelation from the Almighty, the Most Merciful—so that you may warn a people whose forefathers were not warned, and so they are heedless. The Word has already come into effect against most of them, so they do not believe. Indeed, We have placed shackles around their necks, reaching up to their chins, so their heads are held high. And We have placed before them a barrier and behind them a barrier, and 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: 2]

“You claim, Ghilan—[a lengthy passage has been omitted from the book]—”

Ghilan fell silent and did not answer him. Umar continued questioning him, while Ghilan would raise his gaze to the sky at one moment and lower it to the ground at another, until the veins of his neck bulged. Umar said, “What prevents you from speaking, when I have granted you safe-conduct?”

Ghilan said, “I seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him, Commander of the Believers. Pray to Allah to forgive me.”

Umar said, “O Allah, if Your servant is truthful, then grant him success and guide him aright. But if he is lying, professing with his tongue what is not in his heart after I have dealt fairly with him and granted him safe-conduct, then set over him one who will mutilate him.”

He said: Thereafter, his fate was that his tongue was cut out and he was crucified.