Dalil
العربية

Tarikh (al-Tabari) 2289

The Year 69 AH

قَتْلِ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْأَشْدَقِ   وفِي سنة تسع وستين خَالَفَ عَمْرُو بْنُ سَعِيدٍ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ بْنَ مَرْوَانَ وَغَلَبَ عَلَى دِمَشْقَ، فَقَتَلَهُ، وَقِيلَ: كَانَتْ هَذِهِ الْحَادِثَةُ سَنَةَ سَبْعِينَ. وَكَانَ السَّبَبُ فِي ذَلِكَ أَنَّ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ بْنَ مَرْوَانَ أَقَامَ بِدِمَشْقَ بَعْدَ رُجُوعِهِ مِنْ قِنَّسْرِينَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُقِيمَ، ثُمَّ سَارَ يُرِيدُ قَرْقِيسِيَا وَبِهَا زُفَرُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ الْكَلَّائِيُّ فَلَمَّا سَارَ إِلَيْهَا اسْتَخْلَفَ عَلَى دِمَشْقَ عَمْرَو بْنَ سَعِيدٍ الْأَشْدَقَ، فَتَحَصَّنَ بِهَا وَأَخْذَ أَمْوَالَ بَيْتِ الْمَالِ. وَقِيلَ: بل كَانَ عَمْرُو بْنُ سَعِيدٍ مَعَ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ بُطْنَانَ حَبِيبٍ رَجَعَ عَمْرٌو لَيْلًا وَمَعَهُ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ الْكَلْبِيُّ وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ الْأَبْرَدِ الْكَلْبِيُّ، فَأَتَى دِمَشْقَ وَعَلَيْهَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أُمِّ الْحَكَمِ الثَّقَفِيُّ قَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَهُ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ، فَلَمَّا بَلَغَهُ رُجُوعُ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ هَرَبَ عَنْهَا، وَدَخَلَهَا عَمْرٌو فَغَلَبَ عَلَيْهَا وَعَلَى خَزَائِنِهَا، وَهَدَمَ دَارَ ابْنِ أُمِّ الْحَكَمِ، وَاجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ، فَخَطَبَهُمْ وَمَنَّاهُمْ وَوَعَدَهُمْ. وَأَصْبَحَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ وَفَقَدَ عَمْرًا، فَسَأَلَ عَنْهُ فَأُخْبِرَ خَبَرَهُ. فكَرَّ رَاجِعًا مِنْ فَوْرِهِ فَوَجَدَ الْأَشْدَقَ قَدْ حَصَّنَ دِمَشْقَ وَعَلَّقَ عَلَيْهَا السَّتَائِرَ وَالْمُسُوحَ، وَانْحَازَ الْأَشْدَقُ إِلَى حِصْنٍ رُومِيٍّ مَنِيعٍ كَانَ بِدِمَشْقَ فَنَزَلَهُ، فَحَاصَرَهُ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ وَقَاتَلَهُ عَمْرُو بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْأَشْدَقُ مُدَّةَ سِتَّةَ عَشَرَ يَوْمًا صلح عبد الملك بن مروان وعمرو بن سعيد الأشدق وَرَاسَلَهُ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ، وَقَالَ لَهُ: أَنْشُدُكَ اللَّهَ وَالرَّحِمَ أَنْ تُفْسِدَ أَمْرَ بَيْتِكَ وَمَا هُمْ عَلَيْهِ مِنِ اجْتِمَاعِ الْكَلِمَةِ، وَإِنَّ فِيمَا صَنَعْتَ قُوَّةً لِابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، فَارْجِعْ إِلَى بَيْتِكَ، وَلَكَ عَلَيَّ عَهْدُ اللَّهِ وَمِيثَاقُهُ. وَحَلَفَ بِالْأَيْمَانِ الْمُؤَكَّدَةِ أَنَّكَ وَلِيُّ عُهَدِي مِنْ بَعْدِي، وَكَتَبَا بَيْنَهُمَا كِتَابًا، فَانْخَدَعَ لَهُ عَمْرٌو وَفَتَحَ أَبْوَابَ دِمَشْقَ، ثُمَّ اصْطَلَحَا عَلَى تَرْكِ الْقِتَالِ، وَعَلَى أَنْ يَكُونَ وَلِيَّ الْعَهْدِ مِنْ بَعْدِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، وَعَلَى أَنْ يَكُونَ مَعَ كُلِّ عَامِلٍ لِعَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ عَامِلٌ لَهُ، وَكَتَبَا بَيْنَهُمَا كِتَابَ أَمَانٍ، وَذَلِكَ عَشِيَّةَ الْخَمِيسِ. فَخَرَجَ عَمْرٌو فِي الْخَيْلِ إِلَى عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، فَأَقْبَلَ حَتَّى أَوْطَأَ فَرَسَهُ أَطْنَابَ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، فَانْقَطَعَتْ وَسَقَطَ السُّرَادِقُ، ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عَلَى عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ فَاجْتَمَعَا. وَدَخَلَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ دِمَشْقَ إِلَى دَارِ الْإِمَارَةِ عَلَى عَادَتِهِ، وَبَعَثَ إِلَى عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْأَشْدَقِ يَقُولُ لَهُ: رُدَّ عَلَى النَّاسِ أَعْطِيَاتِهِمُ الَّتِي أَخَذْتَهَا لَهُمْ مِنْ بَيْتِ الْمَالِ، فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِ عَمْرٌو يَقُولُ لَهُ: إِنَّ هَذَا لَيْسَ إِلَيْكَ، وَلَيْسَ هَذَا الْبَلَدُ لَكَ، فَاخْرُجْ مِنْهُ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ الِاثْنَيْنِ بَعَثَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ إِلَى عَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ يَأْمُرُهُ بِالْإِتْيَانِ إِلَى مَنْزِلِهِ بِدَارِ الْإِمَارَةِ الْخَضْرَاءِ وَقَدْ كَانَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ اسْتَشَارَ كُرَيْبَ بْنَ أَبْرَهَةَ الْحِمْيَرِيَّ فِي قَتْلِ عَمْرٍو، فَقَالَ: لَا نَاقَةَ لِي فِي هَذَا وَلَا جَمَلَ، فِي مِثْلِ هَذَا هَلَكَتْ حِمْيَرٌ. فَلَمَّا أَتَى الرَّسُولُ عَمْرًا يَدْعُوهُ صَادَفَ عِنْدَهُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ يَزِيدَ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ، فَقَالَ لِعَمْرٍو: يَا أَبَا أُمَيَّةَ، أَنْتَ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ سَمْعِي وَمِنْ بَصَرِي، وَأَرَى لَكَ أَنْ لَا تَأْتِيَهُ. فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو: لِمَ ؟ قَالَ: لِأَنَّ تُبَيْعَ ابْنَ امْرَأَةِ كَعْبِ الْأَحْبَارِ قَالَ: إِنَّ عَظِيمًا مِنْ وَلَدِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ يَرْجِعُ فَيَغْلِقُ أَبْوَابَ دِمَشْقَ، ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا فَلَا يَلْبَثُ أَنْ يُقْتَلَ. فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو: وَاللَّهِ لَوْ كُنْتُ نَائِمًا مَا انْتَهَبَنِي ابْنُ الزَّرْقَاءِ وَلَا اجْتَرَأَ عَلَيَّ، أَمَا إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ عُثْمَانَ الْبَارِحَةَ فِي الْمَنَامِ فَأَلْبَسَنِي قَمِيصَهُ. وَكَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يَزِيدَ زَوْجَ ابْنَةِ عَمْرٍو. ثُمَّ قَالَ عَمْرٌو لِلرَّسُولِ: أَنَا رَائِحٌ الْعَشِيَّةَ. فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْعِشَاءُ لَبِسَ عَمْرٌو دِرْعًا وَلَبِسَ عَلَيْهَا الْقَبَاءَ وَتَقَلَّدَ سَيْفَهُ، وَعِنْدَهُ حُمَيْدُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ الْكَلْبِيُّ، فَلَمَّا نَهَضَ مُتَوَجِّهًا عَثُرَ بِالْبُسَاطِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ حُمَيْدٌ: وَاللَّهِ لَوْ أَطَعْتَنِي لَمْ تَأْتِهِ. وَقَالَتْ لَهُ امْرَأَتُهُ الْكَلْبِيَّةُ كَذَلِكَ، فَلَمْ يَلْتَفِتْ وَمَضَى فِي مِائَةٍ مِنْ مَوَالِيهِ. وَقَدْ جَمَعَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ عِنْدَهُ بَنِي مَرْوَانَ، فَلَمَّا بَلَغَ الْبَابَ أُذِنَ لَهُ فَدَخَلَ، فَلَمْ يَزَلْ أَصْحَابُهُ يُحْبَسُونَ عِنْدَ كُلِّ بَابٍ حَتَّى بَلَغَ قَارِعَةَ الدَّارِ وَمَا مَعَهُ إِلَّا وَصِيفٌ لَهُ، فَنَظَرَ عَمْرٌو إِلَى عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ وَإِذَا حَوْلَهُ بَنُو مَرْوَانَ، وَحَسَّانُ بْنُ بَحْدَلٍ الْكَلْبِيُّ، وَقَبِيصَةُ بْنُ ذُؤَيْبٍ الْخُزَاعِيُّ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى جَمَاعَتَهُمْ أَحَسَّ بِالشَّرِّ، فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَى وَصِيفِهِ وَقَالَ: انْطَلِقْ إِلَى أَخِي يَحْيَى فَقُلْ لَهُ يَأْتِنِي، فَلَمْ يَفْهَمِ الْوَصِيفُ فَقَالَ لَهُ: لَبَّيْكَ ! فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو: اغْرُبْ عَنِّي فِي حَرْقِ اللَّهِ وَنَارِهِ ! وَأَذِنَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ لِحَسَّانَ وَقَبِيصَةَ، فَقَامَا فَلَقِيَا عَمْرًا فِي الدَّارِ، فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو لِوَصِيفِهِ: انْطَلِقْ إِلَى يَحْيَى فَمُرْهُ أَنْ يَأْتِيَنِي. فَقَالَ: لَبَّيْكَ ! فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو: اغْرُبْ عَنِّي. فَلَمَّا خَرَجَ حَسَّانُ وَقَبِيصَةُ أُغْلِقَتِ الْأَبْوَابُ وَدَخَلَ عَمْرٌو، فَرَحَّبَ بِهِ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ وَقَالَ: هَاهُنَا هَاهُنَا يَا أَبَا أُمَيَّةَ ! فَأَجْلَسَهُ مَعَهُ عَلَى السَّرِيرِ، وَجَعَلَ يُحَادِثُهُ طَوِيلًا، ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا غُلَامُ، خُذِ السَّيْفَ عَنْهُ. فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو: إِنَّا لِلَّهِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ: أَتَطْمَعُ أَنْ تَجْلِسَ مَعِي مُتَقَلِّدًا سَيْفَكَ ؟ فَأَخَذَ السَّيْفَ عَنْهُ، ثُمَّ تَحَدَّثَا، ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ: يَا أَبَا أُمَيَّةَ، إِنَّكَ حَيْثُ خَلَعْتَنِي أَلَيْتُ بِيَمِينٍ إِنْ أَنَا مَلَأْتُ عَيْنِي مِنْكَ وَأَنَا مَالِكٌ لَكَ أَنْ أَجْعَلَكَ فِي جَامِعَةٍ. فَقَالَ لَهُ بَنُو مَرْوَانَ: ثُمَّ تُطْلِقُهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ، وَمَا عَسَيْتُ أَنْ أَصْنَعَ بِأَبِي أُمَيَّةَ ؟ فَقَالَ بَنُو مَرْوَانَ: أَبِرَّ قَسَمَ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو: قَدْ أَبَرَّ اللَّهُ قَسَمَكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. فَأَخْرَجَ مِنْ تَحْتِ فِرَاشِهِ جَامِعَةً وَقَالَ: يَا غُلَامُ، قُمْ فَاجْمَعْهُ فِيهَا. فَقَامَ الْغُلَامُ فَجَمَعَهُ فِيهَا. فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو: أُذَكِّرُكَ اللَّهَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْ تُخْرِجَنِي فِيهَا عَلَى رُءُوسِ النَّاسِ. فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ: أَمَكْرًا يَا أَبَا أُمَيَّةَ عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ ؟ لَا وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنَّا لِنُخْرِجَكَ فِي جَامِعَةٍ عَلَى رُءُوسِ النَّاسِ. ثُمَّ جَذَبَهُ جَذْبَةً أَصَابَ فَمَهُ السَّرِيرُ فَكَسَرَ ثَنِيَّتَيْهِ. فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو: أُذَكِّرُكَ اللَّهَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، كُسِرَ عَظْمٌ مِنِّي فَلَا تَرْكَبْ مَا هُوَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ. فَقَالَ لَهُ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ: وَاللَّهِ لَوْ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّكَ تُبْقِي عَلَيَّ إِنْ أَنَا أَبْقَيْتُ عَلَيْكَ وَتَصْلُحُ قُرَيْشٌ لَأَطْلَقْتُكَ، وَلَكِنْ مَا اجْتَمَعَ رَجُلَانِ فِي بَلَدِهِ قَطُّ عَلَى مَا نَحْنُ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا أَخْرَجَ أَحَدُهُمَا صَاحِبَهُ. فَلَمَّا رَأَى عَمْرٌو أَنَّهُ يُرِيدُ قَتْلَهُ قَالَ: أَغَدْرًا يَا ابْنَ الزَّرْقَاءِ ! وَقِيلَ: إِنَّ عَمْرًا لَمَّا سَقَطَتْ ثَنِيَّتَاهُ جَعَلَ يَمَسُّهُمَا، فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ: يَا عَمْرُو، أَرَى ثَنِيَّتَيْكَ قَدْ وَقَعَتَا مِنْكَ مَوْقِعًا لَا تَطِيبُ نَفْسُكَ بَعْدَهُ. وَأَذَّنَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ الْعَصْرَ فَخَرَجَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ يُصَلِّي بِالنَّاسِ وَأَمَرَ أَخَاهُ عَبْدَ الْعَزِيزِ أَنْ يَقْتُلَهُ، فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بِالسَّيْفِ، فَقَالَ عَمْرٌو: أُذَكِّرُكَ اللَّهَ وَالرَّحِمَ أَنْ تَلِيَ قَتْلِي، لِيَقْتُلْنِي مَنْ هُوَ أَبْعَدُ رَحِمًا مِنْكَ. فَأَلْقَى السَّيْفَ وَجَلَسَ، وَصَلَّى عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ صَلَاةً خَفِيفَةً وَدَخَلَ وَغُلِّقَتِ الْأَبْوَابُ. قدوم يحيى بن سعيد لإنقاذ أخيه وَرَأَى النَّاسُ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ حِينَ خَرَجَ وَلَيْسَ مَعَهُ عَمْرٌو، فَذَكَرُوا ذَلِكَ لِيَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، فَأَقْبَلَ فِي النَّاسِ وَمَعَهُ أَلْفُ عَبْدٍ لِعَمْرٍو، وَنَاسٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ كَثِيرٌ، فَجَعَلُوا يَصِيحُونَ بِبَابِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ: أَسْمِعْنَا صَوْتَكَ يَا أَبَا أُمَيَّةَ ! فَأَقْبَلَ مَعَ يَحْيَى حُمَيْدُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ الْأَبْرَدِ، فَكَسَرُوا بَابَ الْمَقْصُورَةِ وَضَرَبُوا النَّاسَ بِالسُّيُوفِ، وَضُرِبَ الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ، وَاحْتَمَلَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ عَرَبِيٍّ صَاحِبُ الدِّيوَانِ، فَأَدْخَلَهُ بَيْتَ الْقَرَاطِيسِ. وَدَخَلَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ حِينَ صَلَّى فَرَأَى عَمْرًا بِالْحَيَاةِ، فَقَالَ لِعَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ: مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَقْتُلَهُ ؟ فَقَالَ: إِنَّهُ نَاشَدَنِي اللَّهَ وَالرَّحِمَ فَرَقَقْتُ لَهُ. فَقَالَ لَهُ: أَخْزَى اللَّهُ أُمَّكَ الْبَوَّالَةَ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهَا، فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تُشْبِهْ غَيْرَهَا ! مقتل عمرو بن سعيد ثُمَّ أَخَذَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ الْحَرْبَةَ فَطَعَنَ بِهَا عَمْرًا، فَلَمْ تَجُزْ، ثُمَّ ثَنَى فَلَمْ تَجُزْ، فَضَرَبَ بِيَدِهِ عَلَى عَضُدِهِ فَرَأَى الدِّرْعَ فَقَالَ: وَدِرْعٌ أَيْضًا ؟ إِنْ كُنْتَ لَمُعِدًّا ! فَأَخَذَ الصَّمْصَامَةَ، وَأَمَرَ بِعَمْرٍو فَصُرِعَ، وَجَلَسَ عَلَى صَدْرِهِ فَذَبَحَهُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: يَا عَمْرُو إِنْ لَا تَدَعْ شَتْمِي وَمَنْقَصَتِي أَضْرِبْكَ حَيْثُ تَقُولُ الْهَامَةُ اسْقُونِي وَانْتَفَضَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ رِعْدَةً، فَحُمِلَ عَنْ صَدْرِهِ فَوُضِعَ عَلَى سَرِيرِهِ، وَقَالَ: مَا رَأَيْتُ مِثْلَ هَذَا قَطُّ، قَتَلَهُ صَاحِبُ دُنْيَا وَلَا طَالِبُ آخِرَةٍ. وَدَخَلَ يَحْيَى وَمَنْ مَعَهُ عَلَى بَنِي مَرْوَانَ يُخْرِجُهُمْ وَمَنْ كَانَ مِنْ مَوَالِيهِمْ، فَقَاتَلُوا يَحْيَى وَأَصْحَابَهُ، وَجَاءَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ أُمِّ الْحَكَمِ الثَّقَفِيُّ، فَدَفَعَ إِلَيْهِ الرَّأْسَ، فَأَلْقَاهُ إِلَى النَّاسِ، وَقَامَ عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مَرْوَانَ وَأَخَذَ الْمَالَ فِي الْبِدَرِ، فَجَعَلَ يُلْقِيهَا إِلَى النَّاسِ، فَلَمَّا رَأَى النَّاسُ الرَّأْسَ وَالْأَمْوَالَ ( انْتَهَبُوا الْأَمْوَالَ وَتَفَرَّقُوا )، ثُمَّ أَمَرَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بِتِلْكَ الْأَمْوَالِ فَجُبِيَتْ حَتَّى عَادَتْ إِلَى بَيْتِ الْمَالِ. وَقِيلَ: إِنَّ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ إِنَّمَا أَمَرَ بِقَتْلِ عَمْرٍو حِينَ خَرَجَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ غُلَامَهُ أَبَا الزُّعَيْزِعَةِ، فَقَتَلَهُ وَأَلْقَى رَأْسَهُ إِلَى النَّاسِ، وَرُمِيَ يَحْيَى بِصَخْرَةٍ فِي رَأْسِهِ، وَأَخْرَجَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ سَرِيرَهُ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ، وَخَرَجَ وَجَلَسَ عَلَيْهِ، وَفَقَدَ الْوَلِيدَ ابْنَهُ فَقَالَ: وَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ كَانُوا قَتَلُوهُ لَقَدْ أَدْرَكُوا ثَأْرَهُمْ. فَأَتَاهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ عَرَبِيٍّ الْكِنَانِيُّ، فَقَالَ: الْوَلِيدُ عِنْدِي، وَقَدْ جُرِحَ وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ بَأْسٌ. وَأُتِيَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بِيَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَمَرَ بِهِ أَنْ يُقْتَلَ، فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مَرْوَانَ فَقَالَ: جُعِلْتُ فَدَاكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ! أَتَرَاكَ قَاتِلًا بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ فِي يَوْمٍ وَاحِدٍ ! فَأَمَرَ بِيَحْيَى فَحُبِسَ. وَأَرَادَ قَتْلَ عَنْبَسَةَ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، فَشَفَعَ فِيهِ عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ أَيْضًا. ثُمَّ أُتِيَ بِعَامِرِ بْنِ الْأَسْوَدِ الْكَلْبِيِّ فَضَرَبَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ رَأْسَهُ بِقَضِيبِ خَيْزُرَانٍ كَانَ مَعَهُ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: أَتُقَاتِلُنِي مَعَ عَمْرٍو وَتَكُونُ مَعَهُ عَلَيَّ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ؛ لِأَنَّ عَمْرًا أَكْرَمَنِي وَأَهَنْتَنِي، وَقَرَّبَنِي وَأَبْعَدْتَنِي، وَأَحْسَنَ إِلَيَّ وَأَسَأْتَ إِلَى، فَكُنْتُ مَعَهُ عَلَيْكَ. فَأَمَرَ بِهِ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ أَنْ يُقْتَلَ، فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ، فَقَالَ: أُذَكِّرُكَ اللَّهَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِي خَالِي، فَوَهَبَهُ لَهُ، وَأَمَرَ بِبَنِي سَعِيدٍ فَحُبِسُوا، وَمَكَثَ يَحْيَى فِي الْحَبْسِ شَهْرًا أَوْ أَكْثَرَ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ، فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ اسْتَشَارَ النَّاسَ فِي قَتْلِهِ، فَقَامَ بَعْضُ خُطَبَاءِ النَّاسِ، فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، هَلْ تَلِدُ الْحَيَّةُ إِلَّا حَيَّةً، نَرَى وَاللَّهِ أَنْ تَقْتُلَهُ، فَإِنَّهُ مُنَافِقٌ عَدُوٌّ. ثُمَّ قَامَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ الْفَزَارِيُّ، فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِنَّ يَحْيَى ابْنُ عَمِّكَ، وَقَرَابَتُهُ مَا قَدْ عَلِمْتَ، وَقَدْ صَنَعُوا مَا صَنَعُوا، وَصَنَعْتَ بِهِمْ مَا قَدْ صَنَعْتَ، وَمَا أَرَى لَكَ قَتْلَهُمْ، وَلَكِنْ سَيِّرْهُمْ إِلَى عَدُوِّكَ، فَإِنْ هُمْ قُتِلُوا كُنْتَ قَدْ كُفِيتَ أَمْرَهُمْ، وَإِنْ هُمْ رَجَعُوا رَأَيْتَ فِيهِمْ رَأْيَكَ. فَأَخَذَ رَأْيَهُ، فَأَخْرَجَ آلَ سَعِيدٍ فَأَلْحَقَهُمْ بِمُصْعَبِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ. ثُمَّ بَعَثَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ إِلَى امْرَأَةِ عَمْرٍو الْكَلْبِيَّةِ: ابْعَثِي إِلَيَّ كِتَابَ الصُّلْحِ الَّذِي كَتَبْتُهُ لِعَمْرٍو. فَقَالَتْ لِرَسُولِهِ: ارْجِعْ فَأَعْلِمْهُ أَنَّ ذَلِكَ الصُّلْحَ مَعَهُ فِي أَكْفَانِهِ لِيُخَاصِمَكَ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِ. وَكَانَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ وَعَمْرٌو يَلْتَقِيَانِ فِي النَّسَبِ فِي أُمَيَّةَ، هَذَا عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ بْنُ مَرْوَانَ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ بْنِ أَبِي الْعَاصِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ، وَذَاكَ عَمْرُو بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْعَاصِ بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ، وَكَانَتْ أُمُّ عَمْرٍو أُمُّ الْبَنِينَ بِنْتُ الْحَكَمِ عَمَّةَ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ. فَلَمَّا قَتَلَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ مُصْعَبًا، وَاجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ عَلَيْهِ - دَخَلَ أَوْلَادُ عَمْرٍو عَلَى عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ، وَهُمْ أَرْبَعَةٌ: أُمَيَّةُ، وَسَعِيدٌ، وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ، وَمُحَمَّدٌ، فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ إِلَيْهِمْ قَالَ لَهُمْ: إِنَّكُمْ أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ لَمْ تَزَالُوا تَرَوْنَ لَكُمْ عَلَى جَمِيعِ قَوْمِكُمْ فَضْلًا لَمْ يَجْعَلْهُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ، وَإِنَّ الَّذِي كَانَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ أَبِيكُمْ لَمْ يَكُنْ حَدِيثًا، وَلَكِنْ كَانَ قَدِيمًا فِي أَنْفُسِ أَوَّلِيكُمْ عَلَى أَوَّلِينَا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ. فَأُقْطِعَ بِأُمَيَّةَ، وَكَانَ أَكْبَرَهُمْ، فَلَمْ يَقْدِرْ أَنْ يَتَكَلَّمَ، فَقَامَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، وَكَانَ الْأَوْسَطَ، فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، مَا تَنْعَى عَلَيْنَا أَمْرًا كَانَ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ، وَقَدْ جَاءَ اللَّهُ بِالْإِسْلَامِ فَهَدَمَ ذَلِكَ وَوَعَدَ جَنَّةً وَحَذَّرَ نَارًا، وَأَمَّا الَّذِي كَانَ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَ عَمْرٍو فَإِنَّهُ كَانَ ابْنَ عَمِّكَ، وَأَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا صَنَعْتَ، وَقَدْ وَصَلَ عَمْرٌو إِلَى اللَّهِ، وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ حَسِيبًا، وَلَعَمْرِي لَئِنْ أَخَذْتَنَا بِمَا كَانَ بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ لَبَطْنُ الْأَرْضِ خَيْرٌ لَنَا مِنْ ظَهْرِهَا. فَرَقَّ لَهُمْ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ وَقَالَ: إِنَّ أَبَاكُمْ خَيَّرَنِي بَيْنَ أَنْ يَقْتُلَنِي أَوْ أَقْتُلَهُ، فَاخْتَرْتُ قَتْلَهُ عَلَى قَتْلِي، وَأَمَّا أَنْتُمْ فَمَا أَرْغَبَنِي فِيكُمْ، وَأَوْصَلَنِي لِقَرَابَتِكُمْ ! وَأَحْسَنَ جَائِزَتَهُمْ وَوَصَلَهُمْ وَقَرَّبَهُمْ. وَقِيلَ: إِنَّ خَالِدَ بْنَ يَزِيدَ قَالَ لِعَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ: عَجِبْتُ كَيْفَ أَصَبْتَ غِرَّةَ عَمْرٍو. فَقَالَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ: أَدْنَيْتُهُ مِنِّي لِيَسْكُنَ رَوْعُهُ     فَأَصُولُ صَوْلَةَ حَازِمٍ مُسْتَمْكِنِ غَضَبًا وَمَحْمِيَةً لِدِينِي إِنَّهُ     لَيْسَ الْمُسِيءُ سَبِيلُهُ كَالْمُحْسِنِ وَقِيلَ: إِنَّمَا خَلْعُ عَمْرٍو وَقَتْلُهُ حِينَ سَارَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ نَحْوَ الْعِرَاقِ لِقِتَالِ مُصْعَبٍ، فَقَالَ لَهُ عَمْرٌو: إِنَّكَ تَخْرُجُ إِلَى الْعِرَاقِ وَقَدْ كَانَ أَبُوكَ جَعَلَ لِي هَذَا الْأَمْرَ بَعْدَهُ، وَعَلَى ذَلِكَ قَاتَلْتُ مَعَهُ، فَاجْعَلْ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ لِي بَعْدَكَ، فَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ إِلَى ذَلِكَ، فَرَجَعَ إِلَى دِمَشْقَ، وَكَانَ مِنْ قَتْلِهِ مَا تَقَدَّمَ. وَقِيلَ: بَلْ كَانَ عَبْدُ الْمَلِكِ قَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَ عَمْرًا عَلَى دِمَشْقَ، فَخَالَفَهُ وَتَحَصَّنَ بِهَا. وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. وصول خبر قتل عمرو بن سعيد إلى عبد الله بن الزبير وَلَمَّا سَمِعَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ بِقَتْلِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ: إِنَّ ابْنَ الزَّرْقَاءِ قَتَلَ لَطِيمَ الشَّيْطَانِ، وَكَذَلِكَ نُوَلِّي بَعْضَ الظَّالِمِينَ بَعْضًا بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ وَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ ابْنَ الْحَنَفِيَّةِ فَقَالَ: فَمَنْ نَكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنْكُثُ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ يُرْفَعُ لَهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ لِوَاءٌ عَلَى قَدْرِ غَدْرَتِهِ. عَنِ الْعُتْبِيِّ أَنْ عَبْدَ الْمَلِكِ قَالَ: لَقَدْ كَانَ عَمْرُو بْنُ سَعِيدٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَيَّ مِنْ دَمِ النَّوَاظِرِ، وَلَكِنَّ وَاللَّهِ لَا يَجْتَمِعُ فَحْلَانِ فِي الْإِبِلِ إِلَّا أَخْرَجَ أَحَدُهُمَا الْآخَرَ، وَإِنَّا لَكَمَا قَالَ أَخُو بَنِي يَرْبُوعٍ: أُجَازِي مَنْ جَزَانِي الْخَيْرَ خَيْرًا     وَجَازِي الْخَيْرِ يُجْزَى بِالنَّوَالِ وَأَجْزِي مَنْ جَزَانِي الشَّرَّ شَرًّا     كَمَا تُحْذَى النِّعَالُ عَلَى النِّعَالِ قَالَ خَلِيفَةُ بْنُ خَيَّاطٍ وَأَنْشَدَ أَبُو الْيَقْظَانِ لِعَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ فِي قَتْلِهِ عَمْرَو بْنَ سَعِيدٍ: صَحَّتْ وَلَا تَشْلَلْ وَضَرَّتْ عَدُوَّهَا     يَمِينٌ أَرَاقَتْ مُهْجَةَ ابْنِ سَعِيدِ وَجَدْتُ ابْنَ مَرْوَانَ وَلَا تَبْلَ نَفْسُهُ     شَدِيدًا ضَرِيرَ الْبَأْسِ غَيْرَ بَلِيدِ هُوَ ابْنُ أَبِي الْعَاصِي لِمَرْوَانَ يَنْتَمِي     إِلَى أُسْرَةٍ طَابَتْ لَهُ وَجُدُودِ قَالَ الْوَاقِدِيُّ: أَمَّا حِصَارُ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ لِعَمْرِو بْنِ سَعِيدٍ الْأَشْدَقِ فَكَانَ فِي سَنَةِ تِسْعٍ وَسِتِّينَ  رَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ مَنْ بُطْنَانَ، فَحَاصَرَهُ بِدِمَشْقَ، وَأَمَّا قَتْلُهُ إِيَّاهُ فَكَانَ فِي سَنَةِ سَبْعِينَ، وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ. رثاء يَحْيَى بْنُ أَكْثَمَ عمرو بن سعيد وَقَالَ يَحْيَى بْنُ أَكْثَمَ يَرْثِيهِ: أَعَيْنَيَّ جُودَا بِالدُّمُوعِ عَلَى عَمْرٍو     عَشِيَّةَ تُبْتَزُّ الْخِلَافَةُ بِالْغَدْرِ كَأَنَّ بَنِي مَرْوَانَ إِذْ يَقْتُلُونَهُ     بُغَاثٌ مِنَ الطَّيْرِ اجْتَمَعْنَ عَلَى صَقْرِ لَحَى اللَّهُ دُنْيَا تُدْخِلُ النَّارَ أَهْلَهَا     وَتَهْتِكُ مَا دُونَ الْمَحَارِمِ مِنْ سِتْرِ .

Translation

✧ The Killing of ʿAmr b. Saʿīd al-Ashdak In the year sixty-nine, ʿAmr b. Saʿīd opposed ʿAbd al-Malik b. Marwān and took control of Damascus, so he killed him. It is also said that this event took place in the year seventy. The reason for that was that ʿAbd al-Malik b. Marwān stayed in Damascus after his return from Qinnasrīn for as long as God willed him to stay, then he set out aiming for Qarqīsiyā, where Zufar b. al-Ḥārith al-Kallāʾī was. When he set out for it, he left ʿAmr b. Saʿīd al-Ashdak as his deputy over Damascus, but he fortified himself in it and took the funds of the treasury. It is also said: rather, ʿAmr b. Saʿīd was with ʿAbd al-Malik, and when he reached Buṭnān Ḥabīb, ʿAmr returned by night, accompanied by Ḥumayd b. Ḥurayth al-Kalbī and Zuhayr b. al-Abrad al-Kalbī. He came to Damascus, over which ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Umm al-Ḥakam al-Thaqafī was governor, having been appointed by ʿAbd al-Malik. When he learned of ʿAmr b. Saʿīd's return, he fled from it, and ʿAmr entered it, took control of it and its treasuries, demolished the house of Ibn Umm al-Ḥakam, and the people gathered around him. He addressed them, gave them hope, and made them promises. ʿAbd al-Malik woke up to find ʿAmr missing. He asked about him and was told of his situation. So he turned back immediately, only to find al-Ashdak had fortified Damascus and hung curtains and coarse cloths over it. Al-Ashdak withdrew to a strong Byzantine fortress that was in Damascus and settled in it. ʿAbd al-Malik besieged him, and ʿAmr b. Saʿīd al-Ashdak fought him for a period of sixteen days. The reconciliation between ʿAbd al-Malik b. Marwān and ʿAmr b. Saʿīd al-Ashdak. ʿAbd al-Malik sent to him, saying: I adjure you by God and by kinship not to corrupt the affairs of your house and the unity of their word, for in what you have done there is strength for Ibn al-Zubayr. Return to your house, and you have God's covenant and His solemn pledge. And he swore by binding oaths that you shall be my successor after me. They wrote a document between them. ʿAmr was deceived by him and opened the gates of Damascus. Then they made peace on the condition of ceasing hostilities, and that he would be the heir apparent after ʿAbd al-Malik, and that with every governor of ʿAbd al-Malik there would be a governor of his own, and they wrote between them a document of safe-conduct. That was on Thursday evening. ʿAmr went out with the cavalry to ʿAbd al-Malik, and came forward until his horse stepped on the tent ropes of ʿAbd al-Malik, breaking them and causing the canopy to fall. Then he entered upon ʿAbd al-Malik, and they met. ʿAbd al-Malik entered Damascus, to the palace of the emirate, as was his custom, and sent to ʿAmr b. Saʿīd al-Ashdak saying to him: Return to the people their stipends which you took for them from the treasury. ʿAmr sent back to him saying: This is not your concern, and this town is not yours, so leave it. When Monday came, ʿAbd al-Malik sent to ʿAmr b. Saʿīd commanding him to come to his lodging in the Green Palace of the emirate. ʿAbd al-Malik had consulted Kurayb b. Abraha al-Ḥimyarī about killing ʿAmr, and he said: I have neither camel nor she-camel in this; in such a matter Ḥimyar perished. When the messenger came to ʿAmr to summon him, he found ʿAbd Allāh b. Yazīd b. Muʿāwiya with him. He said to ʿAmr: O Abū Umayya, you are dearer to me than my hearing and my sight, and I think you should not go to him. ʿAmr said: Why? He said: Because Tubayʿ, the son of the wife of Kaʿb al-Aḥbār, said: A great man of the descendants of Ishmael will return and lock the gates of Damascus, then leave it, and it will not be long before he is killed. ʿAmr said: By God, if I were asleep, the son of al-Zarqāʾ would not rob me or dare to face me. But last night I saw ʿUthmān in a dream, and he clothed me with his shirt. ʿAbd Allāh b. Yazīd was the husband of ʿAmr's daughter. Then ʿAmr said to the messenger: I will go in the evening. When evening came, ʿAmr put on a coat of mail, over it a qabāʾ, and girded on his sword. Ḥumayd b. Ḥurayth al-Kalbī was with him. When he rose to leave, he stumbled on the carpet. Ḥumayd said to him: By God, if you obeyed me, you would not go to him. His wife, the Kalbī woman, said the same, but he paid no attention and went with a hundred of his mawālī. ʿAbd al-Malik had gathered the Banū Marwān around him. When ʿAmr reached the door, he was given permission and entered. His companions were kept back at each door until he reached the open court of the house with only a servant of his. ʿAmr looked at ʿAbd al-Malik and saw the Banū Marwān around him, along with Ḥassān b. Baḥdal al-Kalbī and Qabīṣa b. Dhuʾayb al-Khuzāʿī. When he saw their assembly, he sensed evil. He turned to his servant and said: Go to my brother Yaḥyā and tell him to come to me. The servant did not understand, so he said: At your service! ʿAmr said: Away from me, in the burning of God and His fire! Then ʿAbd al-Malik gave permission to Ḥassān and Qabīṣa, and they rose and met ʿAmr in the courtyard. ʿAmr said to his servant: Go to Yaḥyā and tell him to come to me. He said: At your service! ʿAmr said: Away from me. When Ḥassān and Qabīṣa went out, the doors were locked, and ʿAmr entered. ʿAbd al-Malik welcomed him and said: Here, here, O Abū Umayya! He seated him with him on the couch and conversed with him for a long time. Then he said: Boy, take his sword from him. ʿAmr said: We belong to God, O Commander of the Faithful. ʿAbd al-Malik said: Do you hope to sit with me while girded with your sword? So the sword was taken from him. Then they talked. Then ʿAbd al-Malik said to him: O Abū Umayya, when you renounced allegiance to me, I swore an oath that if I ever got you in my power, I would put you in a neck ring. The Banū Marwān said to him: Then will you release him, O Commander of the Faithful? He said: Yes, and what could I possibly do to Abū Umayya? The Banū Marwān said: Fulfill the Commander of the Faithful's oath. ʿAmr said: God has made your oath fulfilled, O Commander of the Faithful. He took out from under his mattress a neck ring and said: Boy, get up and put it on him. The boy rose and put it on him. ʿAmr said: I adjure you by God, O Commander of the Faithful, not to bring me out in it before the people. ʿAbd al-Malik said: Deceit, O Abū Umayya, at the moment of death? No, by God, we would not bring you out in a neck ring before the people. Then he pulled him violently so that his mouth struck the couch and broke his two front teeth. ʿAmr said: I adjure you by God, O Commander of the Faithful, a bone of mine is broken, so do not do something greater than that. ʿAbd al-Malik said to him: By God, if I knew that you would spare me if I spared you, and that Quraysh would be set right, I would release you, but two men have never been together in a land in the situation we are in except that one of them expelled the other. When ʿAmr saw that he intended to kill him, he said: Treachery, O son of al-Zarqāʾ! It is also said: When ʿAmr's two front teeth fell out, he began to touch them. ʿAbd al-Malik said: O ʿAmr, I see that your two front teeth have fallen in a way that you will never be comfortable with afterward. The muezzin called the afternoon prayer, so ʿAbd al-Malik went out to lead the people in prayer and ordered his brother ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz to kill him. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz rose against him with the sword. ʿAmr said: I adjure you by God and kinship not to take charge of my killing; let someone more distant in kinship than you kill me. So he threw down the sword and sat. ʿAbd al-Malik prayed a light prayer, entered, and the doors were locked. The coming of Yaḥyā b. Saʿīd to rescue his brother. The people saw ʿAbd al-Malik go out without ʿAmr, so they mentioned that to Yaḥyā b. Saʿīd. He came with the people, accompanied by a thousand slaves of ʿAmr and many of his companions. They began to shout at the door of ʿAbd al-Malik: Let us hear your voice, O Abū Umayya! Ḥumayd b. Ḥurayth and Zuhayr b. al-Abrad came with Yaḥyā. They broke the door of the maqṣūra and struck the people with swords. Al-Walīd b. ʿAbd al-Malik was struck on the head, and Ibrāhīm b. ʿArabī, the keeper of the dīwān, carried him and brought him into the paper storehouse. ʿAbd al-Malik entered after praying and saw ʿAmr still alive. He said to ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz: What prevented you from killing him? He said: He adjured me by God and kinship, and I felt compassion for him. He said to him: May God disgrace your mother, the one who urinated on her heels, for you resemble no one but her! The killing of ʿAmr b. Saʿīd. Then ʿAbd al-Malik took the spear and thrust it at ʿAmr, but it did not penetrate. He thrust again, but it did not penetrate. He struck his hand on his upper arm and felt the coat of mail. He said: And a coat of mail too? You were indeed prepared! He took the ṣamṣāma sword, and ordered that ʿAmr be thrown down. He sat on his chest and slaughtered him, saying: O ʿAmr, if you do not cease your abuse and belittling of me, I will strike you where the skull says, “Give me water.” ʿAbd al-Malik trembled violently, so he was lifted from his chest and placed on his couch. He said: I have never seen the like of this; neither a seeker of this world nor a seeker of the hereafter would kill him. Yaḥyā and those with him attacked the Banū Marwān, driving them out along with their mawālī. They fought Yaḥyā and his companions. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān b. Umm al-Ḥakam al-Thaqafī came, and the head was handed to him, and he threw it to the people. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz b. Marwān rose and took the money in bags and began throwing them to the people. When the people saw the head and the money, they seized the money and dispersed. Then ʿAbd al-Malik ordered that those funds be collected until they returned to the treasury. It is also said: ʿAbd al-Malik, when he went out to pray, ordered his servant Abū al-Zuʿayziʿa to kill ʿAmr, and he killed him and threw his head to the people. Yaḥyā was struck on the head with a rock. ʿAbd al-Malik brought his couch out to the mosque, went out, and sat on it. He missed his son al-Walīd and said: By God, if they have killed him, they have taken their revenge. Then Ibrāhīm b. ʿArabī al-Kinānī came to him and said: Al-Walīd is with me; he has been wounded, but he is not badly hurt. Yaḥyā b. Saʿīd was brought to ʿAbd al-Malik, and he ordered him to be killed. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz b. Marwān rose to him and said: May I be your ransom, O Commander of the Faithful! Do you think you will kill the Banū Umayya in a single day? So he ordered Yaḥyā to be imprisoned. He also wanted to kill ʿAnbasa b. Saʿīd, and ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz interceded for him as well. Then ʿĀmir b. al-Aswad al-Kalbī was brought, and ʿAbd al-Malik struck his head with a cane of bamboo that he had. Then he said: Do you fight me alongside ʿAmr and side with him against me? He said: Yes, because ʿAmr honored me while you humiliated me, brought me near while you pushed me away, and treated me well while you treated me badly; so I sided with him against you. ʿAbd al-Malik ordered him to be killed. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz rose to him and said: I adjure you by God, O Commander of the Faithful, regarding my maternal uncle. So he gave him to him as a gift. He ordered the Banū Saʿīd to be imprisoned. Yaḥyā remained in prison for a month or more. Then ʿAbd al-Malik ascended the pulpit, praised and extolled God, and then consulted the people about killing him. One of the people's orators rose and said: O Commander of the Faithful, does a snake give birth to anything but a snake? By God, we think you should kill him, for he is a hypocrite and an enemy. Then ʿAbd Allāh b. Masʿada al-Fazārī rose and said: O Commander of the Faithful, Yaḥyā is your cousin, and his kinship is as you know. They did what they did, and you have done what you have done to them. I do not think you should kill them, but send them to your enemy. If they are killed, you will be spared their affair, and if they return, you will see what you think about them. He adopted his opinion, so he sent out the family of Saʿīd and joined them to Muṣʿab b. al-Zubayr. Then ʿAbd al-Malik sent to ʿAmr's wife, the Kalbī woman: Send me the reconciliation document that I wrote for ʿAmr. She said to his messenger: Go back and tell him that that reconciliation is with him in his shrouds, so that he may dispute with you before his Lord. ʿAbd al-Malik and ʿAmr met in lineage at Umayya: this is ʿAbd al-Malik b. Marwān b. al-Ḥakam b. Abī al-ʿĀṣ b. Umayya, and that is ʿAmr b. Saʿīd b. al-ʿĀṣ b. Umayya. ʿAmr's mother was Umm al-Banīn bt. al-Ḥakam, the paternal aunt of ʿAbd al-Malik. When ʿAbd al-Malik killed Muṣʿab and the people gathered around him, the sons of ʿAmr entered upon ʿAbd al-Malik. They were four: Umayya, Saʿīd, Ismāʿīl, and Muḥammad. When he looked at them, he said: You are a household who have always considered yourselves to have merit over all your people, a merit that God has not given you. What was between me and your father was not a recent matter, but it was ancient in the souls of your ancestors against ours in the Jāhiliyya. Umayya, the eldest, was tongue-tied and could not speak. Saʿīd b. ʿAmr, the middle one, rose and said: O Commander of the Faithful, you reproach us for something that was in the Jāhiliyya, but God brought Islam, which demolished that, promised Paradise, and warned of Hell. As for what was between you and ʿAmr, he was your cousin, and you know best what you did. ʿAmr has reached God, and God suffices as a reckoner. By my life, if you hold us accountable for what was between you and him, the belly of the earth is better for us than its surface. ʿAbd al-Malik felt compassion for them and said: Your father gave me the choice between killing me or my killing him, and I chose his death over mine. As for you, how eager I am for you and how connected I am to your kinship! He gave them good gifts, maintained ties with them, and brought them near. It is also said: Khālid b. Yazīd said to ʿAbd al-Malik one day: I marvel at how you caught ʿAmr off guard. ʿAbd al-Malik said: I drew him close to me so that his fear might subside, then I pounced like a resolute, masterful man, in anger and zeal for my religion, for indeed the path of the evildoer is not like that of the doer of good. It is also said: ʿAmr's renunciation and killing took place when ʿAbd al-Malik marched toward Iraq to fight Muṣʿab. ʿAmr said to him: You are going out to Iraq, and your father had made this affair mine after him, and on that basis I fought with him. So make this affair mine after you. ʿAbd al-Malik did not grant him that. So he returned to Damascus, and his killing took place as described above. It is also said: Rather, ʿAbd al-Malik had appointed ʿAmr as his deputy over Damascus, and he opposed him and fortified himself in it. God knows best. The news of the killing of ʿAmr b. Saʿīd reaches ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Zubayr. When ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Zubayr heard of the killing of ʿAmr, he said: The son of al-Zarqāʾ has killed the one slapped by Satan. Thus do We make some of the wrongdoers allies of others for what they used to earn. This reached Ibn al-Ḥanafiyya, and he said: So whoever breaks his oath breaks it only to his own detriment; a banner will be raised for him on the Day of Resurrection according to the measure of his treachery. From al-ʿUtbī: ʿAbd al-Malik said: ʿAmr b. Saʿīd was dearer to me than the blood of the pupils of my eyes, but, by God, two stallion camels are never together in a herd except that one drives out the other. And we are as the brother of the Banū Yarbūʿ said: I repay with good the one who repays me with good, and the recompense of good is requited with bounty; and I repay with evil the one who repays me with evil, as sandals are fitted upon sandals. Khalīfah b. Khayyāṭ said: And Abū al-Yaqẓān recited on behalf of ʿAbd al-Malik concerning his killing ʿAmr b. Saʿīd: It struck true—may it not wither—and harmed its enemy, a right hand that shed the lifeblood of Ibn Saʿīd. I found Ibn Marwān—may his soul not waste away— severe, fierce in might, by no means dull. He is the son of Abū al-ʿĀṣī, tracing his lineage to Marwān, to a family that was pure for him, and to forefathers. Al-Wāqidī said: As for ʿAbd al-Malik's siege of ʿAmr b. Saʿīd al-Asdaq, it was in the year sixty-nine. He returned to him from Buṭnān and besieged him in Damascus. As for his killing of him, it was in the year seventy, and God knows best. Elegy by Yaḥyā b. Aktham for ʿAmr b. Saʿīd Yaḥyā b. Aktham said, elegizing him: O my two eyes, flow with tears for ʿAmr on the evening when the caliphate was snatched away by treachery. It is as though the sons of Marwān, when they killed him, were small birds gathered against a falcon. May God curse a world that brings its people into the Fire and tears apart whatever veil lies before the forbidden things.

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