76 – Al-ʿUryān ibn al-Haytham related—on the authority of his father—that ʿUbayd Allāh ibn Ziyād once dispatched him to Yazīd ibn Muʿāwiyah on an errand. When he arrived, he found a Kharijite standing in front of Yazīd, addressing him. In the course of his speech the man said, “O wretch!” Yazīd retorted, “By Allah, I will certainly kill you!” Noticing the man move his lips, he demanded, “Guard, what is he saying?” The guard replied, “He is reciting:

ʿAsā farajun yaʾtī bihi Allāhu innahu … lahu kulla yawmin fī khalīqatihi amru
Perhaps a relief will come that Allah Himself will bring;
Every single day He ordains a fresh command.”

Yazīd ordered, “Take him out and behead him!”

At that moment al-Haytham ibn al-Aswad entered and asked, “What is this about?” When the incident was explained to him he said, “Hold off a little.” Then he pleaded, “O Commander of the Faithful, grant the criminal of a people to the envoy who has come on their behalf.” Yazīd replied, “He is yours.” So al-Haytham took the man by the hand and led him away, while the Kharijite kept repeating, “Praise be to Allah for the well-being granted! He swore an oath against Allah, and Allah proved him false; he challenged Allah, and Allah overpowered him.”