Tarikh (al-Tabari) 2728
Then the Year 137 AH Began
ذِكْرُ مَهْلِكِ أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ الْخُرَاسَانِيِّ فِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ ذُكِرَ أَنَّ أَبَا مُسْلِمٍ لَمَّا نَفَرَ النَّاسُ مِنَ الْحَجِيجِ سَبَقَ النَّاسَ بِمَرْحَلَةٍ، فَلَمَّا جَاءَهُ خَبَرُ السَّفَّاحِ فِي الطَّرِيقِ، كَتَبَ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الْمَنْصُورِ يُعَزِّيهِ فِي الْخَلِيفَةِ، وَلَمْ يُهَنِّئْهُ بِالْخِلَافَةِ، وَلَا رَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ، فَغَضِبَ الْمَنْصُورُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ مَعَ مَا كَانَ مُضْمِرًا لَهُ مِنَ السُّوءِ، فَقَالَ لِأَبِي أَيُّوبَ: اكْتُبْ إِلَيْهِ كِتَابًا غَلِيظًا. فَلَمَّا بَلَغَهُ الْكِتَابُ بَعَثَ يُهَنِّئُهُ بِالْخِلَافَةِ، وَانْقَمَعَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، وَقَالَ بَعْضُ الْأُمَرَاءِ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ: إِنَّا نَرَى مِنَ الْمَصْلَحَةِ أَنْ لَا تُجَامِعَهُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ; فَإِنَّ مَعَهُ مِنَ الْجُنُودِ مَنْ لَا يُخَالِفُهُ وَهُمْ لَهُ أَهْيَبُ، وَلَيْسَ مَعَكَ أَحَدٌ. فَأَخَذَ بِرَأْيِهِ، ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ فِي مُبَايَعَتِهِ لِأَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الْمَنْصُورِ مَا ذَكَرْنَاهُ، ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُ إِلَى عَمِّهِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ فَكَسَرَهُ، كَمَا تَقَدَّمَ، وَقَدْ بَعَثَ فِي غُبُونِ ذَلِكَ الْحَسَنُ بْنُ قُحْطُبَةَ لِأَبِي أَيُّوبَ كَاتِبِ رَسَائِلِ الْمَنْصُورِ يُشَافِهُهُ وَيُخْبِرُهُ بِأَنَّ أَبَا مُسْلِمٍ يُتَّهَمُ فِي أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ الْمَنْصُورِ; فَإِنَّهُ إِذَا جَاءَهُ الْكِتَابُ مِنْهُ يَقْرَؤُهُ ثُمَّ يَلْوِي شِدْقَيْهِ، وَيَرْمِي بِالْكِتَابِ إِلَى أَبِي نَصْرٍ، وَيَضْحَكَانِ اسْتِهْزَاءً، فَقَالَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ: إِنَّ تُهْمَةَ أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ عِنْدَنَا أَظْهَرُ مِنْ هَذَا. وَلَمَّا بَعَثَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ مَوْلَاهُ أَبَا الْخَصِيبِ يَقْطِينَ; لِيَحْتَاطَ عَلَى مَا أُصِيبَ مِنْ مُعَسْكَرِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْجَوَاهِرِ الثَّمِينَةِ وَغَيْرِهَا، غَضِبَ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ، فَشَتَمَ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ، وَهَمَّ بِأَبِي الْخَصِيبِ أَنْ يَقْتُلَهُ، حَتَّى كُلِّمَ فِيهِ وَقِيلَ لَهُ: إِنَّمَا هُوَ رَسُولٌ. فَتَرَكَهُ، وَرَجَعَ أَبُو الْخَصِيبِ، فَأَخْبَرَ الْمَنْصُورَ بِمَا كَانَ، وَبِمَا هَمَّ بِهِ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ مِنْ قَتْلِهِ، فَغَضِبَ الْمَنْصُورُ، وَخَشِيَ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ إِلَى خُرَاسَانَ فَيَشُقُّ عَلَيْهِ تَحْصِيلُهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ، فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ مَعَ يَقْطِينَ: إِنِّي قَدْ وَلَّيْتُكَ الشَّامَ وَمِصْرَ، وَهُمَا خَيْرٌ مِنْ خُرَاسَانَ فَابْعَثْ إِلَى مِصْرَ مَنْ شِئْتَ، وَأَقِمْ أَنْتَ بِالشَّامِ; لِتَكُونَ أَقْرَبَ إِلَى أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، إِذَا أَرَادَ لِقَاءَكَ كُنْتَ مِنْهُ قَرِيبًا. فَغَضِبَ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ مِنْ ذَلِكَ، وَقَالَ: قَدْ وَلَّانِي الشَّامَ وَمِصْرَ، وَلِي خُرَاسَانُ ! فَإِذًا أَذْهَبُ إِلَيْهَا، وَأَسْتَخْلِفُ عَلَى الشَّامِ وَمِصْرَ. فَكَتَبَ إِلَى الْمَنْصُورِ بِذَلِكَ، فَقَلِقَ الْمَنْصُورُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ كَثِيرًا، وَرَجَعَ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ مِنَ الشَّامِ قَاصِدًا خُرَاسَانَ، وَهُوَ عَازِمٌ عَلَى مُخَالَفَةِ الْمَنْصُورِ، فَخَرَجَ الْمَنْصُورُ مِنَ الْأَنْبَارِ إِلَى الْمَدَائِنِ، وَكَتَبَ إِلَى أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ بِالْمَصِيرِ إِلَيْهِ، فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ وَهُوَ عَلَى الزَّابِ عَازِمٌ عَلَى الدُّخُولِ إِلَى خُرَاسَانَ: إِنَّهُ لَمْ يَبْقَ لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَدُوٌّ إِلَّا أَمْكَنَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْهُ، وَقَدْ كُنَّا نَرْوِي عَنْ مُلُوكِ آلِ سَاسَانَ أَنْ أَخْوَفَ مَا يَكُونُ الْوُزَرَاءُ إِذَا سَكَنَتِ الدَّهْمَاءُ، فَنَحْنُ نَافِرُونَ مِنْ قُرْبِكَ، حَرِيصُونَ عَلَى الْوَفَاءِ بِعَهْدِكَ مَا وَفَّيْتَ، حَرِيُّونَ بِالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّاعَةِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهَا مِنْ بَعِيدٍ حَيْثُ تُقَارِنُهَا السَّلَامَةُ، فَإِنْ أَرْضَاكَ ذَلِكَ فَأَنَا كَأَحْسَنِ عَبِيدِكَ، وَإِنْ أَبَيْتَ إِلَّا أَنْ تُعْطِيَ نَفْسَكَ إِرَادَتَهَا نَقَضْتُ مَا أَبْرَمْتُ مِنْ عَهْدِكَ ضَنًّا بِنَفْسِي. فَلَمَّا وَصَلَ الْكِتَابُ إِلَى الْمَنْصُورِ كَتَبَ إِلَى أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ: قَدْ فَهِمْتُ كِتَابَكَ، وَلَيْسَتْ صِفَتُكَ صِفَةَ أُولَئِكَ الْوُزَرَاءِ الْغَشَشَةِ مُلُوكَهُمُ، الَّذِينَ يَتَمَنَّوْنَ اضْطِرَابَ حَبْلِ الدَّوْلَةِ لِكَثْرَةِ جَرَائِمِهِمْ، وَإِنَّمَا رَاحَتُهُمْ فِي انْتِثَارِ نِظَامِ الْجَمَاعَةِ، فَلِمَ سَوَّيْتَ نَفْسَكَ بِهِمْ، وَأَنْتَ فِي طَاعَتِكَ وَمُنَاصَحَتِكَ وَاضْطِلَاعِكَ بِمَا حَمَلْتَ مِنْ أَعْبَاءِ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ عَلَى مَا أَنْتَ بِهِ؟! وَلَيْسَ مَعَ الشَّرِيطَةِ الَّتِي أَوْجَبْتَ مِنْكَ سَمْعٌ وَلَا طَاعَةٌ، وَقَدْ حَمَّلَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عِيسَى بْنَ مُوسَى رِسَالَةً لِتَسْكُنَ إِلَيْهَا إِنْ أَصْغَيْتَ إِلَيْهَا، وَأَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ أَنْ يَحُولَ بَيْنَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَنَزَغَاتِهِ وَبَيْنَكَ; فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَجِدْ بَابًا يُفْسِدُ بِهِ نِيَّتَكَ أَوْكَدَ عِنْدَهُ وَأَقْرَبَ مِنْ ظَنِّهِ مِنَ الْبَابِ الَّذِي فَتَحَهُ عَلَيْكَ. وَيُقَالُ: إِنَّ أَبَا مُسْلِمٍ كَتَبَ إِلَى الْمَنْصُورِ: أَمَّا بَعْدُ; فَإِنِّي اتَّخَذْتُ رَجُلًا إِمَامًا وَدَلِيلًا عَلَى مَا افْتَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَى خَلْقِهِ، وَكَانَ فِي مَحَلَّةِ الْعِلْمِ نَازِلًا، وَفِي قَرَابَتِهِ مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَرِيبًا، فَاسْتَجْهَلَنِي بِالْقُرْآنِ، فَحَرَّفَهُ عَنْ مَوَاضِعِهِ طَمَعًا فِي قَلِيلٍ قَدْ نَعَاهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى خَلْقِهِ، فَكَانَ كَالَّذِي دُلِّيَ بِغُرُورٍ، وَأَمَرَنِي أَنْ أُجَرِّدَ السَّيْفَ، وَأَرْفَعَ الرَّحْمَةَ، وَلَا أَقْبَلَ الْمَعْذِرَةَ، وَلَا أُقِيلَ الْعَثْرَةَ، فَفَعَلْتُ تَوْطِيدًا لِسُلْطَانِكُمْ حَتَّى عَرَّفَكُمُ اللَّهُ مَنْ كَانَ يَجْهَلُكُمْ، ثُمَّ اسْتَنْقَذَنِي اللَّهُ بِالتَّوْبَةِ، فَإِنْ يَعْفُ عَنِّي فَقِدْمًا عُرِفَ بِهِ وَنُسِبَ إِلَيْهِ، وَإِنْ يُعَاقِبْنِي فَبِمَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَايَ، وَمَا اللَّهُ بِظَلَّامٍ لِلْعَبِيدِ. ذَكَرَهُ الْمَدَائِنِيُّ عَنْ شُيُوخِهِ. وَبَعَثَ الْمَنْصُورُ إِلَيْهِ جَرِيرَ بْنَ يَزِيدَ بْنِ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْبَجَلِيَّ - وَكَانَ وَاحِدَ أَهْلِ زَمَانِهِ - فِي جَمَاعَةٍ مِنَ الْأُمَرَاءِ، وَقَدْ كَانَ الْمَنْصُورُ قَالَ لَهُ: كَلِّمْ أَبَا مُسْلِمٍ بِأَلْيَنِ كَلَامٍ تَقْدِرُ عَلَيْهِ، وَقُلْ لَهُ: إِنَّهُ يُرِيدُ رَفْعَكَ، وَعُلُوَّ قَدْرِكَ، وَالْإِطْلَاقَ لَكَ. فَإِنْ جَاءَ بِهَذَا فَذَاكَ، وَإِنْ أَبَى أَنْ يَرْجِعَ فَقُلْ: إِنَّهُ يَقُولُ: هُوَ بَرِيءٌ مِنَ الْعَبَّاسِ، إِنْ شَقَقْتَ الْعَصَا وَذَهَبْتَ عَلَى وَجْهِكَ هَذَا لَيُدْرِكَنَّكَ بِنَفْسِهِ وَلَيَلِيَنَّ قِتَالَكَ دُونَ غَيْرِهِ، وَلَوْ خُضْتَ الْبَحْرَ الْخِضَمَّ لَخَاضَهُ خَلْفَكَ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ فَيَقْتُلَكَ أَوْ يَمُوتَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ. وَلَا تَقُلْ لَهُ هَذَا حَتَّى تَيْأَسَ مِنْ رُجُوعِهِ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ، فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَرَاءُ الْمَنْصُورِ بِحُلْوَانَ دَخَلُوا عَلَيْهِ وَلَامُوهُ فِيمَا هُوَ فِيهِ مِنْ مُنَابَذَةِ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، وَرَغَّبُوهُ فِي الرُّجُوعِ إِلَيْهِ، فَشَاوَرَ ذَوِي الرَّأْيِ مِنْ أُمَرَائِهِ، فَكُلٌّ نَهَاهُ عَنِ الرُّجُوعِ إِلَيْهِ، وَأَشَارُوا بِأَنْ يُقِيمَ فِي الرَّيِّ فَتَكُونَ خُرَاسَانُ تَحْتَ حُكْمِهِ، وَجُنُودُهُ طَوْعٌ لَهُ، فَإِنِ اسْتَقَامَ لَهُ الْخَلِيفَةُ وَإِلَّا كَانَ فِي عِزٍّ وَمَنَعَةٍ مِنَ الْجُنْدِ. فَأَرْسَلَ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ إِلَى أُمَرَاءِ الْمَنْصُورِ، فَقَالَ لَهُمُ: ارْجِعُوا إِلَى صَاحِبِكُمْ، فَلَسْتُ أَلْقَاهُ. فَلَمَّا اسْتَيْأَسُوا مِنْهُ قَالُوا لَهُ ذَلِكَ الْكَلَامَ الَّذِي كَانَ الْمَنْصُورُ أَمَرَهُمْ بِهِ. فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ ذَلِكَ كَسَرَهُ جِدًّا، وَقَالَ: قُومُوا عَنِّي السَّاعَةَ. وَكَانَ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ قَدِ اسْتَخْلَفَ عَلَى خُرَاسَانَ أَبَا دَاوُدَ خَالِدَ بْنَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ الْمَنْصُورُ فِي غَيْبَةِ أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ حِينَ اتَّهَمَهُ: إِنَّ وِلَايَةَ خُرَاسَانَ لَكَ مَا بَقِيتَ. فَكَتَبَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ إِلَى أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ حِينَ بَلَغَهُ مَا عَزَمَ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ مُنَابَذَةِ الْخَلِيفَةِ: إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَنَا مُنَابَذَةُ خُلَفَاءِ بَيْتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ، فَارْجِعْ إِلَى إِمَامِكَ سَامِعًا مُطِيعًا. فَزَادَهُ ذَلِكَ كَسْرًا أَيْضًا، فَبَعَثَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ: إِنِّي سَأَبْعَثُ إِلَيْهِ أَبَا إِسْحَاقَ، وَهُوَ مِمَّنْ أَثِقُ بِهِ. فَبَعَثَهُ إِلَيْهِ فَأَكْرَمَهُ، وَوَعَدَهُ بِنِيَابَةِ خُرَاسَانَ إِنْ هُوَ رَدَّهُ. فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو إِسْحَاقَ قَالَ لَهُ: مَا وَرَاءَكَ؟ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُهُمْ مُعَظِّمِينَ لَكَ يَعْرِفُونَ قَدْرَكَ. فَغَرَّهُ ذَلِكَ، وَعَزَمَ عَلَى الذَّهَابِ إِلَى الْخَلِيفَةِ، فَاسْتَشَارَ أَمِيرًا يُقَالُ لَهُ: نَيْزَكُ. فَنَهَاهُ، فَصَمَّمَ عَلَى الذَّهَابِ، فَلَمَّا رَآهُ نَيْزَكُ عَازِمًا عَلَى الذَّهَابِ تَمَثَّلَ نَيْزَكُ بِقَوْلِ الشَّاعِرِ: مَا لِلرِّجَالِ مَعَ الْقَضَاءِ مَحَالَةٌ ذَهَبَ الْقَضَاءُ بِحِيلَةِ الْأَقْوَامِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ: احْفَظْ عَنِّي وَاحِدَةً. قَالَ: وَمَا هِيَ؟ قَالَ: إِذَا دَخَلْتَ عَلَيْهِ فَاقْتُلْهُ، ثُمَّ بَايِعْ مَنْ شِئْتَ بِالْخِلَافَةِ; فَإِنَّ النَّاسَ لَا يُخَالِفُونَكَ. وَكَتَبَ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ إِلَى الْمَنْصُورِ يُعْلِمُهُ بِقُدُومِهِ عَلَيْهِ. قَالَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ كَاتِبُ الرَّسَائِلِ: فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى الْمَنْصُورِ وَهُوَ فِي خِبَاءِ شِعْرٍ بِالرُّومِيَّةِ جَالِسًا عَلَى مُصَلَّاهُ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ، وَبَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ كِتَابٌ، فَأَلْقَاهُ إِلَيَّ فَإِذَا هُوَ كِتَابُ أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ إِلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ الْخَلِيفَةُ: وَاللَّهِ لَئِنْ مَلَأْتُ عَيْنِي مِنْهُ لِأَقْتُلَنَّهُ. قَالَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ: فَقُلْتُ: إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ. وَبِتُّ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ لَا يَأْتِينِي نَوْمٌ، وَفَكَّرْتُ فِي هَذِهِ الْوَاقِعَةِ، وَقُلْتُ: إِنْ دَخَلَ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ خَائِفًا رُبَّمَا يَبْدُو أَنَّهُ يَبْدُرُ مِنْهُ شَيْءٌ إِلَى الْخَلِيفَةِ، وَالْمَصْلَحَةُ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ آمِنًا لِيَتَمَكَّنَ مِنْهُ الْخَلِيفَةُ. فَلَمَّا أَصْبَحْتُ طَلَبْتُ رَجُلًا مِنَ الْأُمَرَاءِ، وَقُلْتُ لَهُ: هَلْ لَكَ أَنْ تَتَوَلَّى مَدِينَةَ كَسْكَرٍ; فَإِنَّهَا مُغِلَّةٌ فِي هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ؟ فَقَالَ: وَمَنْ لِي بِذَلِكَ؟ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: فَاذْهَبْ إِلَى أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ، فَتَلَقَّهُ فِي الطَّرِيقِ، فَاطْلُبْ مِنْهُ أَنْ يُوَلِّيَكَ تِلْكَ الْبَلَدَ; فَإِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُوَلِّيَهُ مَا وَرَاءَ بَابِهِ وَيَسْتَرِيحَ لِنَفْسِهِ. وَاسْتَأْذَنْتُ الْمَنْصُورَ لَهُ أَنْ يَذْهَبَ إِلَى أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ، فَأَذِنَ لَهُ، وَقَالَ لَهُ: سَلِّمْ عَلَيْهِ، وَقُلْ لَهُ: إِنَّا بِالْأَشْوَاقِ إِلَيْهِ. فَسَارَ ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلُ - وَهُوَ سَلَمَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جَابِرٍ - إِلَى أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ، فَأَخْبَرَهُ بِاشْتِيَاقِ الْخَلِيفَةِ إِلَيْهِ فَسَرَّهُ ذَلِكَ وَانْشَرَحَ، وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ غُرُورٌ وَمَكْرٌ بِهِ، فَلَمَّا سَمِعَ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ بِذَلِكَ عَجَّلَ السَّيْرَ، فَلَمَّا قَرُبَ مِنَ الْمَدَائِنِ أَمَرَ الْخَلِيفَةُ الْقَوَّادَ وَالْأُمَرَاءَ أَنْ يَتَلَقَّوْهُ، وَكَانَ دُخُولُهُ عَلَى الْمَنْصُورِ مِنْ آخِرِ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ، وَقَدْ أَشَارَ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ عَلَى الْمَنْصُورِ أَنْ يُؤَخِّرَ قَتْلَهُ فِي سَاعَتِهِ هَذِهِ إِلَى الْغَدِ، فَقَبِلَ ذَلِكَ مِنْهُ، فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ عَلَى الْمَنْصُورِ مِنَ الْعَشِيِّ، قَالَ: اذْهَبْ فَأَرِحْ نَفْسَكَ، وَادْخُلِ الْحَمَّامَ، فَإِذَا كَانَ الْغَدُ فَأْتِنِي. فَخَرَجَ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ، وَجَاءَهُ النَّاسُ يُسَلِّمُونَ عَلَيْهِ، فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْغَدُ طَلَبَ الْخَلِيفَةُ بَعْضَ الْأُمَرَاءِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: كَيْفَ بَلَائِي عِنْدَكَ؟ قَالَ: وَاللَّهِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، لَوْ أَمَرْتَنِي أَنْ أَقْتُلَ نَفْسِي لَقَتَلْتُهَا. قَالَ: فَكَيْفَ بِكَ إِذَا أَمَرْتُكَ بِقَتْلِ أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ؟ قَالَ: فَوَجَمَ سَاعَةً، ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ: مَا لَكَ لَا تَتَكَلَّمُ؟ فَقَالَ قَوْلَةً ضَعِيفَةً: أَقْتُلُهُ. ثُمَّ اخْتَارَ لَهُ مِنْ عُيُونِ الْحَرَسِ أَرْبَعَةً، فَحَرَّضَهُمُ الْخَلِيفَةُ عَلَى قَتْلِهِ، وَقَالَ: كُونُوا مِنْ وَرَاءِ الرِّوَاقِ، فَإِذَا صَفَّقْتُ فَاخْرُجُوا عَلَيْهِ فَاقْتُلُوهُ. ثُمَّ أَرْسَلَ الْخَلِيفَةُ إِلَى أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ رُسُلًا تَتْرَى; يَتْبَعُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا، فَأَقْبَلَ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ فَدَخَلَ دَارَ الْخِلَافَةِ، ثُمَّ دَخَلَ عَلَى الْخَلِيفَةِ وَهُوَ يَبْتَسِمُ، فَلَمَّا وَقَفَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ جَعَلَ الْمَنْصُورُ يُعَاتِبُهُ فِي الَّذِي صَنَعَ وَاحِدَةً وَاحِدَةً، فَيَعْتَذِرُ عَنْ ذَلِكَ كُلِّهِ فِيمَا كَانَ اعْتَمَدَهُ مِنَ الْأُمُورِ الَّتِي تَسَرَّعَ فِيهَا. ثُمَّ قَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونَ نَفْسُكَ قَدْ طَابَتْ عَلَيَّ. فَقَالَ: وَاللَّهِ مَا زَادَنِي هَذَا إِلَّا غَضَبًا عَلَيْكَ. ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ بِإِحْدَى يَدَيْهِ عَلَى الْأُخْرَى، فَخَرَجَ عُثْمَانُ وَأَصْحَابُهُ، فَضَرَبُوهُ بِالسُّيُوفِ حَتَّى قَتَلُوهُ، وَلَفُّوهُ فِي عَبَاءَةٍ، ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِإِلْقَائِهِ فِي دِجْلَةَ، وَكَانَ آخِرَ الْعَهْدِ بِهِ، وَكَانَ مَقْتَلُهُ فِي يَوْمِ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ لِأَرْبَعٍ بَقِينَ مِنْ شَعْبَانَ سَنَةَ سَبْعٍ وَثَلَاثِينَ وَمِائَةٍ. وَكَانَ مِنْ جُمْلَةِ مَا عَاتَبَهُ بِهِ الْمَنْصُورُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: كَتَبْتَ إِلَيَّ مَرَّاتٍ تَبْدَأُ بِنَفْسِكَ، وَأَرْسَلْتَ تَخْطُبُ عَمَّتِي أَمِينَةَ، وَتَزْعُمُ أَنَّكَ ابْنُ سُلَيْطِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ. إِلَى غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ. فَقَالَ أَبُو مُسْلِمٍ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، لَا يُقَالُ هَذَا لِي وَقَدْ سَعَيْتُ فِي أَمْرِكُمْ بِمَا عَلِمَهُ كُلُّ أَحَدٍ. فَقَالَ: وَيْلَكَ! لَوْ قَامَتْ فِي ذَلِكَ أَمَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ لَأَتَمَّهُ اللَّهُ; لِجَدِّنَا وَحَظِّنَا. ثُمَّ قَالَ: وَاللَّهِ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ. فَقَالَ: اسْتَبْقِنِي يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لِأَعْدَائِكَ. فَقَالَ: وَأَيُّ عَدُوٍّ لِي أَعْدَى مِنْكَ ؟! ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِقَتْلِهِ فَقُتِلَ، كَمَا ذَكَرْنَا، فَقَالَ لَهُ بَعْضُ الْأُمَرَاءِ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، الْآنَ صِرْتَ خَلِيفَةً. وَيُقَالُ: إِنَّ الْمَنْصُورَ أَنْشَدَ عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ: فَأَلْقَتْ عَصَاهَا وَاسْتَقَرَّ بِهَا النَّوَى كَمًّا قَرَّ عَيْنًا بِالْإِيَابِ الْمُسَافِرُ وَذَكَرَ الْقَاضِي ابْنُ خِلِّكَانَ أَنَّ الْمَنْصُورَ لَمَّا عَزَمَ عَلَى قَتْلِ أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ تَحَيَّرَ فِي أَمْرِهِ; هَلْ يَسْتَشِيرُ أَحَدًا فِي ذَلِكَ أَوْ يَسْتَبِدُّ هُوَ بِرَأْيِهِ; لِئَلَّا يَشِيعَ وَيَنْتَشِرَ، ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ اسْتَشَارَ وَاحِدًا مِنْ نُصَحَائِهِ فِي قَتْلِ أَبِي مُسْلِمٍ فَقَالَ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: لَوْ كَانَ فِيهِمَا آلِهَةٌ إِلَّا اللَّهُ لَفَسَدَتَا [ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ: 22 ]. فَقَالَ لَهُ: لَقَدْ أَوْدَعْتَهَا أُذُنًا وَاعِيَةً. ثُمَّ عَزَمَ عَلَى ذَلِكَ.
Translation
✧ Mention of the Killing of Abū Muslim al-Khurāsānī In this year it was mentioned that Abū Muslim, when the people departed from the pilgrimage, preceded the people by one stage. When news of al-Saffāḥ reached him on the road, he wrote to Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr, condoling him for the caliph, and did not congratulate him for the caliphate, nor did he return to him. Al-Manṣūr was angered by that, along with what he had concealed for him of ill intent, and said to Abū Ayyūb: "Write to him a harsh letter." When the letter reached him, he sent to congratulate him for the caliphate and was subdued by that. One of the commanders said to Abū Jaʿfar: "We deem it advisable that you not meet him on the road, for he has with him troops who will not oppose him and hold him in greater awe, while you have no one with you." He took his advice. Then of his affair regarding his pledge of allegiance to Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr was what we have mentioned, then he sent him against his uncle ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿAlī and he defeated him, as has preceded. During the course of that, al-Ḥasan b. Quḥṭubah sent to Abū Ayyūb, the secretary of al-Manṣūr's letters, speaking with him directly and informing him that Abū Muslim was suspected regarding Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr; for when the letter came to him from him, he would read it, then twist the corners of his mouth, throw the letter to Abū Naṣr, and they would laugh in mockery. Abū Ayyūb said: "The suspicion of Abū Muslim is more evident to us than this." When Abū Jaʿfar sent his client Abū al-Khaṣīb to Yaʿqūbīn to take charge of what had been seized from the camp of ʿAbd Allāh of wealth, precious jewels, and other things, Abū Muslim became angry, reviled Abū Jaʿfar, and intended to kill Abū al-Khaṣīb, until intercession was made for him and it was said to him: "He is only a messenger." So he left him. Abū al-Khaṣīb returned and informed al-Manṣūr of what had happened and of Abū Muslim's intention to kill him. Al-Manṣūr became angry and feared that Abū Muslim would go to Khurāsān, and that his capture would be difficult thereafter. He wrote to him with Yaʿqūbīn: "I have appointed you over Syria and Egypt, and they are better than Khurāsān. So send to Egypt whomever you wish, and reside yourself in Syria, so that you may be closer to the Commander of the Faithful, so that when he wishes to meet you, you will be near him." Abū Muslim was angered by that and said: "He has appointed me over Syria and Egypt, while Khurāsān is mine! Then I shall go to it and appoint a deputy over Syria and Egypt." He wrote to al-Manṣūr to that effect. Al-Manṣūr was greatly disturbed by that. Abū Muslim returned from Syria heading for Khurāsān, resolved to oppose al-Manṣūr. Al-Manṣūr went out from al-Anbār to al-Madāʾin, and wrote to Abū Muslim to come to him. Abū Muslim wrote to him while at al-Zāb, resolved to enter Khurāsān: "No enemy remains to the Commander of the Faithful but that God has enabled him against him. We used to narrate concerning the kings of the house of Sāsān that the most fearful thing for ministers is when the masses are quiet. We are averse to your nearness, eager to fulfill your covenant as long as you fulfill it, worthy of hearing and obedience, except that it be from afar where safety accompanies it. If that pleases you, then I am as the best of your slaves. But if you insist on giving yourself what it desires, I shall break what I ratified of your covenant, out of concern for myself." When the letter reached al-Manṣūr, he wrote to Abū Muslim: "I have understood your letter. Your description is not the description of those treacherous ministers to their kings, who wish for the disturbance of the state's rope because of their many crimes, and whose comfort lies only in the scattering of the community's order. Why do you equate yourself with them, when you are in your obedience, sincerity, and capability in bearing the burdens of this affair to the extent that you are? There is no hearing or obedience with the condition you have imposed. The Commander of the Faithful has charged ʿĪsā b. Mūsā with a message for you to settle with if you heed it. I ask God to come between Satan and his insinuations and you; for he has found no door by which to corrupt your intention more binding for him and closer to his expectation than the door he has opened upon you. It is said that Abū Muslim wrote to al-Manṣūr: "Now then, I took a man as an imam and guide to what God has imposed upon His creation, and he was dwelling in the station of knowledge, and near in his kinship to the Messenger of God ﷺ. He made me ignorant of the Qurʾān, distorting it from its proper places, out of greed for a little which God has announced to His creation, and he was like one lowered by deception. He commanded me to bare the sword, withhold mercy, accept no excuse, and pardon no lapse. I did so to consolidate your authority until God made known to you those who were ignorant of you. Then God rescued me through repentance. If He pardons me, it has long been known of Him and attributed to Him; and if He punishes me, it is for what my hands have sent ahead, and God is not unjust to His servants." Al-Madāʾinī mentioned it from his shaykhs. Al-Manṣūr sent to him Jarīr b. Yazīd b. Jarīr b. ʿAbd Allāh al-Bajalī—who was one of the foremost men of his time—with a group of commanders. Al-Manṣūr had said to him: "Speak to Abū Muslim with the softest speech you can manage, and say to him: He wants to elevate you, raise your status, and release you. If he comes with this, then that is that. But if he refuses to return, then say: He says: He is innocent of al-ʿAbbās if you split the staff and go on this path of yours; he will reach you himself and take charge of fighting you rather than anyone else. Even if you plunge into the vast sea, he will plunge in after you until he reaches you and kills you, or dies before that. Do not say this to him until you despair of his return by that which is better." When the commanders of al-Manṣūr came to him at Ḥulwān, they entered upon him and reproached him for his opposition to the Commander of the Faithful, and urged him to return to him. He consulted the men of judgment among his commanders, and all of them advised him against returning to him, and suggested that he stay in al-Rayy so that Khurāsān would be under his rule, and his troops obedient to him, so that if the caliph was straight with him, then good, otherwise he would be in strength and protection with the troops. Abū Muslim sent to the commanders of al-Manṣūr, saying: "Return to your companion, for I will not meet him." When they despaired of him, they said to him that speech which al-Manṣūr had commanded them. When he heard that, it broke him greatly, and he said: "Arise from me this very hour." Abū Muslim had appointed over Khurāsān Abū Dāwūd Khālid b. Ibrāhīm as his deputy. Al-Manṣūr wrote to him during Abū Muslim's absence, when he suspected him: "The governorship of Khurāsān is yours as long as you remain." Abū Dāwūd wrote to Abū Muslim when news reached him of his resolve to oppose the caliph: "We have no opposition to the caliphs of the house of the Messenger of God ﷺ. Return to your imam, hearing and obeying." That increased his breakage as well. Abū Muslim sent to them: "I shall send to him Abū Isḥāq, and he is one whom I trust." He sent him to him, and he honored him and promised him the deputyship of Khurāsān if he brought him back. When Abū Isḥāq returned to him, he said: "What is behind you?" He said: "I saw them honoring you and knowing your worth." That deceived him, and he resolved to go to the caliph. He consulted a commander called Nayzak, who advised him against it, but he insisted on going. When Nayzak saw him resolved to go, Nayzak quoted the poet's verse: Men have no recourse against fate; fate has gone with the cunning of peoples. Then he said to him: "Keep one thing from me." He said: "What is it?" He said: "When you enter upon him, kill him, then pledge allegiance to whomever you wish for the caliphate; for the people will not oppose you." Abū Muslim wrote to al-Manṣūr informing him of his coming to him. Abū Ayyūb the secretary of letters said: I entered upon al-Manṣūr while he was in a hair tent in the Byzantine style, sitting on his prayer mat after the afternoon prayer, with a book before him. He threw it to me, and it was Abū Muslim's letter to him. Then the caliph said: "By God, if my eye is filled with him, I shall surely kill him." Abū Ayyūb said: I said: "To God we belong and to Him we return." I stayed that night without sleep coming to me, and I thought about this event and said: "If Abū Muslim enters while fearful, perhaps something may appear to burst from him toward the caliph, and the right course is that he enter secure so that the caliph may get hold of him." When morning came, I sought a man from among the commanders and said to him: "Would you take charge of the city of Kaskar? For it is productive this year." He said: "Who will get that for me?" I said: "Go to Abū Muslim, meet him on the road, and ask him to appoint you over that town; for the Commander of the Faithful wants to appoint him over what is beyond his gate and rest himself." I sought permission from al-Manṣūr for him to go to Abū Muslim, and he granted it, and said to him: "Greet him and say: We long for him." That man—Salama b. Saʿīd b. Jābir—traveled to Abū Muslim and told him of the caliph's longing for him. That pleased him and made him relax, but it was only a deception and a trick against him. When Abū Muslim heard that, he hastened his journey. When he drew near to al-Madāʾin, the caliph ordered the leaders and commanders to meet him. His entry upon al-Manṣūr was at the end of that day. Abū Ayyūb advised al-Manṣūr to postpone his killing at that hour until the morrow, and he accepted that from him. When Abū Muslim entered upon al-Manṣūr in the evening, he said: "Go and rest yourself, and enter the bathhouse, and when it is tomorrow, come to me." He left his presence, and the people came to greet him. When the next day came, the caliph summoned one of the commanders and said to him: "How is my testing you?" He said: "By God, O Commander of the Faithful, if you commanded me to kill myself, I would do it." He said: "How would you be if I commanded you to kill Abū Muslim?" He said: He was silent for a while, then Abū Ayyūb said to him: "What is wrong with you that you do not speak?" He said in a weak voice: "I will kill him." Then he chose for him from the elite guards four men, and the caliph incited them to kill him, and said: "Be behind the curtain, and when I clap, come out against him and kill him." Then the caliph sent messengers to Abū Muslim in succession, one after another. Abū Muslim came and entered the palace of the caliphate, then entered upon the caliph while smiling. When he stood before him, al-Manṣūr began to reproach him for what he had done, one thing after another, and he apologized for all of it regarding the matters he had undertaken in which he had been hasty. Then he said: "O Commander of the Faithful, I hope that your soul has become pleased with me." He said: "By God, this only increased my anger against you." Then he struck one hand against the other, and ʿUthmān and his companions came out, and struck him with swords until they killed him. They wrapped him in a cloak, then he ordered him thrown into the Tigris, and that was the last seen of him. His killing was on Wednesday, four nights remaining in Shaʿbān, in the year one hundred and thirty-seven. Among the things with which al-Manṣūr reproached him was that he said: "You wrote to me several times starting with yourself, and you sent to ask for the hand of my paternal aunt Amīna, claiming that you are the son of Sulayṭ b. ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿAbbās," and other things. Abū Muslim said: "O Commander of the Faithful, this is not said to me when I have striven for your cause as everyone knows." He said: "Woe to you! If a black slave woman had risen for that, God would have completed it; for our fortune and our share." Then he said: "By God, I will kill you." He said: "Spare me, O Commander of the Faithful, for your enemies." He said: "And which enemy of mine is more hostile to me than you?" Then he ordered his killing, and he was killed, as we have mentioned. One of the commanders said to him: "O Commander of the Faithful, now you have become caliph." It is said that al-Manṣūr recited at that: She cast down her staff and settled there, as the traveler's eye is soothed by return. Al-Qāḍī Ibn Khallikān mentioned that when al-Manṣūr resolved to kill Abū Muslim, he was perplexed about his affair; whether to consult anyone about it or to be alone with his own judgment, lest it spread and become known. Then he consulted one of his trusted advisors about killing Abū Muslim, and he said: "O Commander of the Faithful, God Almighty said: 'If there were in them gods besides God, they would both be corrupted' [al-Anbiyāʾ: 22]." He said to him: "You have deposited it in a retentive ear." Then he resolved upon that.
Grades by grader
No grade is recorded for this wording.