94 – ʿUmar b. Shabbah related to me; he said: Ayyūb b. Abī Muḥammad b. Salamah al-Ghifārī narrated to me; he said: Qatan b. Muʿāwiyah al-Ghalābī said:
“I was among those who hurried to join Ibrāhīm and strove at his side. When he was killed, Abū Jaʿfar began searching for me, so I went into hiding. He seized my wealth and my houses, and I fled to the desert, living first among the Banū Naḍr b. Muʿāwiyah, then among the Banū Kilāb, then the Banū Fazārah, then the Banū Sulaym. After that I moved around the valleys of Qays, staying with one clan after another, until I became completely weary ⦗87⦘ of living in concealment. I therefore resolved to present myself to Abū Jaʿfar and confess.
I reached Baṣrah and lodged on its outskirts. I then sent for Abū ʿAmr b. al-ʿAlāʾ, who was a close friend, and consulted him about my intention. He kissed my head and said, ‘By Allah, he will certainly kill you—you are helping to destroy yourself!’ I paid him no heed and set out until I arrived in Baghdad. By then Abū Jaʿfar had built his new city and taken up residence there; within it no one rode a mount except al-Mahdī. I rented a house, then said to my servant, ‘I am going to the Commander of the Faithful. Wait three days; if I come back, fine, otherwise leave.’
I proceeded until I entered the city and reached the residence of al-Rabīʿ, where people were waiting for him. At that time he was staying inside the city in the roadside house adjoining the Golden Palace. Before long he came out on foot, the people stood for him, and I stood with them. I greeted him and he returned my greeting.
He asked, ‘Who are you?’
I said, ‘Qatan b. Muʿāwiyah.’
He said, ‘Consider what you are saying.’
I replied, ‘I am he.’ He turned to the black-clad guards with him and said, ‘Keep this man under watch.’ Once they had taken me into custody, remorse seized me; I recalled the advice of Abū ʿAmr b. al-ʿAlāʾ and was sorry I had ignored it. Al-Rabīʿ went inside, and before long a eunuch emerged, took me by the hand, led me into the Golden Palace, then brought me to a secure room, put me inside, locked the door and left. My regret intensified and I was sure I was doomed; alone with my thoughts, I reproached myself.
When noon came the eunuch brought me water, so I performed ablution and prayed. He brought food, but I told him I was fasting. At sunset he brought water again; I performed ablution and prayed. Night drew its curtains, and I despaired of life. I heard the city gates being closed and barred, and sleep left me. When a part of the night had passed ⦗88⦘ the eunuch came, opened the door, and led me to the courtyard. He brought me near a hanging curtain; a servant appeared and ushered us in. There was Abū Jaʿfar alone, with al-Rabīʿ standing to one side.
Abū Jaʿfar lowered his head for a moment in silence, then raised it and said, ‘Speak.’
I said, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, I am Qatan b. Muʿāwiyah. By Allah, I strove against you with all my might: I disobeyed your command, allied myself with your enemy, and tried to strip you of your sovereignty. If you pardon—such generosity befits you; if you punish, the least of my sins warrants death.’
He was silent for a while, then said, ‘Speak.’ I repeated my words.
He said, ‘The Commander of the Faithful has pardoned you.’
I said, ‘O Commander of the Faithful, I will be outside your door, unable to reach you, while my estates and houses are confiscated. If you would see fit to restore them to me, please do so.’
He called for an inkwell and ordered a servant to write at his dictation to ʿAbd al-Malik b. Ayyūb al-Numayrī, who was then governor of Baṣrah: ‘The Commander of the Faithful is pleased with Qatan b. Muʿāwiyah and has restored to him his lands, houses, and everything that was taken from him. Take note of this and carry it out for him, God willing.’ He sealed the letter and handed it to me.
I left immediately, not knowing where to go. The guards were at the door, so I sat beside one of them and talked with him. Soon al-Rabīʿ came out and said, ‘Where is the man who just left?’ I stood up. He said, ‘Go, man; by Allah, you are safe!’ He took me to his home, gave me supper, and provided me with a bed.
When morning came I bade him farewell, went to my servants, and sent them to hire transport. They found a friend of mine, one of the landed gentry from Maysān, who had hired a boat for himself; he took me with him. I arrived ⦗89⦘ before ʿAbd al-Malik b. Ayyūb with the letter from Abū Jaʿfar, the Commander of the Faithful. He seated me beside him, and I did not rise until he had restored to me everything that had been taken from me.”