Tarikh (al-Tabari) 2786
Then the year 144 AH began
ذِكْرُ اسْتِعْمَالِ رِيَاحِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ الْمُرِّيِّ عَلَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَأَمْرِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ وَفِيهَا اسْتَعْمَلَ الْمَنْصُورُ عَلَى الْمَدِينَةِ رِيَاحَ بْنَ عُثْمَانَ الْمُرِّيَّ، وَعَزَلَ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ خَالِدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْقَسْرِيَّ عَنْهَا. وَكَانَ سَبَبُ عَزْلِهِ وَعَزْلِ زِيَادٍ قَبْلَهُ أَنَّ الْمَنْصُورَ أَهَمَّهُ أَمْرُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ ابْنَيْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، وَتَخَلُّفُهُمَا عَنِ الْحُضُورِ عِنْدَهُ مَعَ مَنْ حَضَرَهُ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ عَامَ حَجَّ أَيَّامَ السَّفَّاحِ سَنَةَ سِتٍّ وَثَلَاثِينَ، وَذَكَرَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ كَانَ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّ الْمَنْصُورَ مِمَّنْ بَايَعَهُ لَيْلَةَ تَشَاوَرَ بَنُو هَاشِمٍ بِمَكَّةَ فِيمَنْ يَعْقِدُونَ لَهُ الْخِلَافَةَ حِينَ اضْطَرَبَ أَمْرُ مَرْوَانَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، فَلَمَّا حَجَّ الْمَنْصُورُ سَنَةَ سِتٍّ وَثَلَاثِينَ سَأَلَ عَنْهُمَا، فَقَالَ لَهُ زِيَادُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْحَارِثِيُّ: مَا يُهِمُّكَ مِنْ أَمْرِهِمَا، أَنَا آتِيكَ بِهِمَا. وَكَانَ مَعَهُ بِمَكَّةَ، فَرَدَّهُ الْمَنْصُورُ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ. فَلَمَّا اسْتُخْلِفَ الْمَنْصُورُ لَمْ يَكُنْ هَمُّهُ إِلَّا أَمْرَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَالْمَسْأَلَةَ عَنْهُ وَمَا يُرِيدُ، فَدَعَا بَنِي هَاشِمٍ رَجُلًا رَجُلًا يَسْأَلُهُ سِرًّا عَنْهُ، فَكُلُّهُمْ يَقُولُ: قَدْ عَلِمَ أَنَّكَ عَرَفْتَهُ يَطْلُبُ هَذَا الْأَمْرَ، فَهُوَ يَخَافُكَ عَلَى نَفْسِهِ، وَهُوَ لَا يُرِيدُ لَكَ خِلَافًا، وَمَا أَشْبَهَ هَذَا الْكَلَامَ، إِلَّا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ زَيْدِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، فَإِنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ خَبَرَهُ وَقَالَ لَهُ: وَاللَّهِ مَا آمَنُ وُثُوبَهُ عَلَيْكَ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَنَامُ عَنْكَ، فَأَيْقَظَ بِكَلَامِهِ مَنْ لَا يَنَامُ، فَكَانَ مُوسَى بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ يَقُولُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ: اللَّهُمَّ اطْلُبْ حَسَنَ بْنَ زَيْدٍ بِدِمَائِنَا. ثُمَّ أَلَحَّ الْمَنْصُورُ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ فِي إِحْضَارِ ابْنِهِ مُحَمَّدٍ سَنَةَ حَجَّ، فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ لِسُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ: يَا أَخِي بَيْنَنَا مِنَ الصِّهْرِ وَالرَّحِمِ مَا تَعْلَمُ، فَمَا تَرَى ؟ فَقَالَ سُلَيْمَانُ: وَاللَّهِ لَكَأَنَّنِي أَنْظُرُ إِلَى أَخِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ حِينَ السِّتْرِ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَنَا وَهُوَ يُشِيرُ إِلَيْنَا: هَذَا الَّذِي فَعَلْتُمْ بِي، فَلَوْ كَانَ عَافِيًا عَفَا عَنْ عَمِّهِ. فَقَبِلَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ رَأْيَ سُلَيْمَانَ، وَعَلِمَ أَنَّهُ قَدْ صَدَقَهُ وَلَمْ يُظْهِرِ ابْنَهُ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْمَنْصُورَ اشْتَرَى رَقِيقًا مِنْ رَقِيقِ الْأَعْرَابِ، وَأَعْطَى الرَّجُلَ مِنْهُمُ الْبَعِيرَ، وَالرَّجُلَ الْبَعِيرَيْنِ، وَالرَّجُلَ الذَّوْدَ، وَفَرَّقَهُمْ فِي طَلَبِ مُحَمَّدٍ فِي ظَهْرِ الْمَدِينَةِ، وَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ يَرِدُ الْمَاءَ كَالْمَارِّ، وَكَالضَّالِّ يَسْأَلُونَ عَنْهُ، وَبَعَثَ الْمَنْصُورُ عَيْنًا آخَرَ، وَكَتَبَ مَعَهُ كِتَابًا عَلَى أَلْسُنِ الشِّيعَةِ إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ يَذْكُرُونَ طَاعَتَهُمْ وَمُسَارَعَتَهُمْ، وَبَعَثَ مَعَهُ بِمَالٍ وَأَلْطَافٍ، وَقَدِمَ الرَّجُلُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَدَخَلَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ ابْنِهِ مُحَمَّدٍ، فَذَكَرَ لَهُ، فَكَتَمَ لَهُ خَبَرَهُ، فَتَرَدَّدَ الرَّجُلُ إِلَيْهِ، وَأَلَحَّ فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ، فَذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ فِي جَبَلِ جُهَيْنَةَ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: امْرُرْ بِعَلِيٍّ ابْنِ الرَّجُلِ الصَّالِحِ الَّذِي يُدْعَى الْأَغَرَّ، وَهُوَ بِذِي الْإِبَرِ، فَهُوَ يُرْشِدُكَ، فَأَتَاهُ فَأَرْشَدَهُ. وَكَانَ لِلْمَنْصُورِ كَاتِبٌ عَلَى سِرِّهِ يَتَشَيَّعُ، فَكَتَبَ إِلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ يُخْبِرُهُ بِذَلِكَ الْعَيْنِ، فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ الْكِتَابُ ارْتَاعُوا لَهُ وَبَعَثُوا أَبَا هَبَّارٍ إِلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَإِلَى عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ يُحَذِّرُهُمَا الرَّجُلَ، فَخَرَجَ أَبُو هَبَّارٍ فَنَزَلَ بِعَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ وَأَخْبَرَهُ، ثُمَّ سَارَ إِلَى مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فِي مَوْضِعِهِ الَّذِي هُوَ بِهِ، فَإِذَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ فِي كَهْفٍ وَمَعَهُ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ، وَذَلِكَ الْعَيْنُ مَعَهُمْ أَعْلَاهُمْ صَوْتًا، وَأَشَدُّهُمُ انْبِسَاطًا. فَلَمَّا رَأَى أَبَا هَبَّارٍ خَافَهُ، فَقَالَ أَبُو هَبَّارٍ لِمُحَمَّدٍ: لِي حَاجَةٌ. فَقَامَ مَعَهُ، فَأَخْبَرَهُ الْخَبَرَ، قَالَ: فَمَا الرَّأْيُ ؟ قَالَ: أَرَى إِحْدَى ثَلَاثٍ. قَالَ: وَمَا هِيَ ؟ قَالَ: تَدَعُنِي أَقْتُلُ هَذَا الرَّجُلَ. قَالَ: مَا أَنَا مُقَارِفٌ دَمًا إِلَّا كَرْهًا. قَالَ: أَثْقِلْهُ حَدِيدًا وَتَنْقُلُهُ مَعَكَ حَيْثُ تَنْقَلِبُ. قَالَ: وَهَلْ لَنَا فِرَارٌ مَعَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْإِعْجَالِ ؟ قَالَ: نَشُدُّهُ وَنُودِعُهُ عِنْدَ بَعْضِ أَهْلِكَ مِنْ جُهَيْنَةَ. قَالَ: هَذِهِ إِذًا. فَرَجَعَا فَلَمْ يَرَيَا الرَّجُلَ. فَقَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ: أَيْنَ الرَّجُلُ ؟ قَالُوا: [ قَامَ ] بِرَكْوَةِ مَاءٍ وَتَوَارَى بِهَذَا الطَّرِيقِ يَتَوَضَّأُ، فَطَلَبُوهُ وَلَمْ يَجِدُوهُ فَكَأَنَّ الْأَرْضَ الْتَأَمَتْ عَلَيْهِ، وَسَعَى عَلَى قَدَمَيْهِ حَتَّى اتَّصَلَ بِالطَّرِيقِ، فَمَرَّ بِهِ الْأَعْرَابُ مَعَهُمْ حُمُولَةٌ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ، فَقَالَ لِبَعْضِهِمْ: فَرِّغْ هَذِهِ الْغِرَارَةَ وَأَدْخِلْنِيهَا أَكُنْ عِدْلًا لِصَاحِبَتِهَا وَلَكَ كَذَا وَكَذَا. فَفَعَلَ وَحَمَلَهُ حَتَّى أَقْدَمَهُ الْمَدِينَةَ. ثُمَّ قَدِمَ عَلَى الْمَنْصُورِ، وَأَخْبَرَهُ خَبَرَهُ كُلَّهُ، وَنَسِيَ اسْمَ أَبِي هَبَّارٍ وَكُنْيَتَهُ وَقَالَ: وَبَّارٌ. فَكَتَبَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ فِي طَلَبِ 9 وَبَّارٍ الْمُرِّيِّ، فَحُمِلَ إِلَيْهِ رَجُلٌ اسْمُهُ وَبَرٌ فَسَأَلَهُ عَنْ قِصَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ فَحَلَفَ أَنَّهُ لَا يَعْرِفُ مِنْ ذَلِكَ شَيْئًا، فَأَمَرَ بِهِ وَضُرِبَ سَبْعَمِائَةِ سَوْطٍ وَحُبِسَ حَتَّى مَاتَ الْمَنْصُورُ. ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ أَحْضَرَ عُقْبَةَ بْنَ سَلَمٍ الْأَزْدِيَّ فَقَالَ: أُرِيدُكَ لِأَمْرٍ أَنَا بِهِ مَعْنِيٌّ، لَمْ أَزَلْ أَرْتَادُ لَهُ رَجُلًا عَسَى أَنْ تَكُونَهُ، وَإِنْ كَفَيْتَنِيهِ رَفَعْتُكَ. فَقَالَ: أَرْجُو أَنْ أَصْدُقَ ظَنَّ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ فِيَّ. [ قَالَ ]: فَأَخْفِ شَخْصَكَ، وَاسْتُرْ أَمْرَكَ، وَأْتِنِي يَوْمَ كَذَا فِي وَقْتِ كَذَا. فَأَتَاهُ ذَلِكَ الْوَقْتَ. فَقَالَ لَهُ: إِنَّ بَنِي عَمِّنَا هَؤُلَاءِ قَدْ أَبَوْا إِلَّا كَيْدًا لِمُلْكِنَا وَاغْتِيَالًا لَهُ، وَلَهُمْ شِيعَةٌ بِخُرَاسَانَ بِقَرْيَةِ كَذَا يُكَاتِبُونَهُمْ، وَيُرْسِلُونَ إِلَيْهِمْ بِصَدَقَاتِ أَمْوَالِهِمْ، وَأَلْطَافٍ مِنْ أَلْطَافِ بِلَادِهِمْ، فَاخْرُجْ بِكُسًا وَأَلْطَافٍ وَعَيْنٍ حَتَّى تَأْتِيَهُمْ مُتَنَكِّرًا بِكِتَابٍ تَكْتُبُهُ عَنْ أَهْلِ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ ثُمَّ تَعْلَمُ حَالَهُمْ، فَإِنْ كَانُوا نَزَعُوا عَنْ رَأْيِهِمْ فَأَحْبِبْ وَاللَّهِ بِهِمْ وَأَقْرِبْ، وَإِنْ كَانُوا عَلَى رَأْيِهِمْ عَمِلْتُ ذَلِكَ وَكُنْتُ عَلَى حَذَرٍ، فَاشْخَصْ حَتَّى تَلْقَى عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الْحَسَنِ مُتَخَشِّعًا وَمُتَقَشِّفًا، فَإِنْ جَبَهَكَ، وَهُوَ فَاعِلٌ، فَاصْبِرْ وَعَاوِدْهُ حَتَّى يَأْنَسَ بِكَ وَيُلِينَ لَكَ نَاحِيَتَهُ، فَإِذَا أَظْهَرَ لَكَ مَا قِبَلَهُ فَاعْجَلْ عَلَيَّ. فَشَخَصَ حَتَّى قَدِمَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، فَلَقِيَهُ بِالْكِتَابِ، فَأَنْكَرَهُ وَنَهَرَهُ وَقَالَ: مَا أَعْرِفُ هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمَ. فَلَمْ يَزَلْ يَتَرَدَّدُ إِلَيْهِ حَتَّى قَبِلَ كِتَابَهُ وَأَلْطَافَهُ وَأَنِسَ بِهِ، فَسَأَلَهُ عُقْبَةُ الْجَوَابَ. فَقَالَ: أَمَّا الْكِتَابُ، فَإِنِّي لَا أَكْتُبُ إِلَى أَحَدٍ، وَلَكِنْ أَنْتَ كِتَابِي إِلَيْهِمْ، فَأَقْرِئْهُمُ السَّلَامَ، وَأَعْلِمْهُمْ أَنَّنِي خَارِجٌ لِوَقْتِ كَذَا وَكَذَا. وَرَجَعَ عُقْبَةُ إِلَى الْمَنْصُورِ فَأَعْلَمَهُ الْخَبَرَ، فَأَنْشَأَ الْمَنْصُورُ الْحَجَّ، وَقَالَ لِعَقَبَةَ: إِذَا لَقِيَنِي بَنُو الْحَسَنِ فِيهِمْ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ فَأَنَا مُكْرِمُهُ، وَرَافِعٌ مَجْلِسَهُ، وَدَاعٍ بِالْغَدَاءِ، فَإِذَا فَرَغْنَا مِنْ طَعَامِنَا فَلَحَظْتُكَ فَامْثُلْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ قَائِمًا، فَإِنَّهُ سَيَصْرِفُ عَنْكَ بَصَرَهُ، فَاسْتَدِرْ حَتَّى تَغْمِزَ ظَهْرَهُ بِإِبْهَامِ رِجْلِكَ حَتَّى يَمْلَأَ عَيْنَهُ مِنْكَ، ثُمَّ حَسْبُكَ، وَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ يَرَاكَ مَا دَامَ يَأْكُلُ. فَخَرَجَ إِلَى الْحَجِّ، فَلَمَّا لَقِيَهُ بَنُو الْحَسَنِ أَجْلَسَ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ إِلَى جَانِبِهِ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِالْغَدَاءِ فَأَصَابُوا مِنْهُ، ثُمَّ رُفِعَ فَأَقْبَلَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ فَقَالَ لَهُ: قَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا أَعْطَيْتَنِي مِنَ الْعُهُودِ وَالْمَوَاثِيقِ أَلَّا تَبْغِيَنِي بِسُوءٍ وَلَا تَكِيدَ لِي سُلْطَانًا ؟ قَالَ: فَأَنَا عَلَى ذَلِكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ. فَلَحَظَ الْمَنْصُورُ عُقْبَةَ بْنَ سَلَمٍ فَاسْتَدَارَ حَتَّى وَقَفَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهُ، فَاسْتَدَارَ حَتَّى قَامَ وَرَاءَ ظَهْرِهِ فَغَمَزَهُ بِإِصْبَعِهِ، فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَمَلَأَ عَيْنَهُ مِنْهُ، فَوَثَبَ حَتَّى قَعَدَ بَيْنَ يَدَيِ الْمَنْصُورِ، فَقَالَ: ( أَقِلْنِي يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، أَقَالَكَ اللَّهُ ! قَالَ: لَا أَقَالَنِي اللَّهُ إِنْ أَقَلْتُكَ ) ! ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِحَبْسِهِ. وَكَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ قَدْ قَدِمَ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ الْبَصْرَةَ، فَنَزَلَهَا فِي بَنِي رَاسِبٍ يَدْعُو إِلَى نَفْسِهِ، وَقِيلَ: نَزَلَ عَلَى عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ شَيْبَانَ أَحَدِ بَنِي مُرَّةَ بْنِ عُبَيْدٍ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ مِنْهَا، فَبَلَغَ الْمَنْصُورَ مَقْدِمُهُ الْبَصْرَةَ، فَسَارَ إِلَيْهَا مُغِذًّا، فَنَزَلَ عِنْدَ الْحُرِّ الْأَكْبَرِ، فَلَقِيَهُ عَمْرُو بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ فَقَالَ لَهُ: يَا أَبَا عُثْمَانَ هَلْ بِالْبَصْرَةِ أَحَدٌ تَخَافُهُ عَلَى أَمْرِنَا ؟ قَالَ: لَا. قَالَ: فَاقْتَصِرْ عَلَى قَوْلِكَ وَانْصَرِفْ. قَالَ: نَعَمْ. وَكَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ قَدْ سَارَ عَنْهَا قَبْلَ مَقْدِمِ الْمَنْصُورِ، فَرَجَعَ الْمَنْصُورُ، وَاشْتَدَّ الْخَوْفُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ ابْنَيْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَخَرَجَا حَتَّى أَتَيَا عَدَنَ، ثُمَّ سَارَا إِلَى السِّنْدِ ثُمَّ إِلَى الْكُوفَةِ ثُمَّ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ. وَكَانَ الْمَنْصُورُ قَدْ حَجَّ سَنَةَ أَرْبَعِينَ وَمِائَةٍ، فَقَسَّمَ أَمْوَالًا عَظِيمَةً فِي آلِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، فَلَمْ يَظْهَرْ مُحَمَّدٌ وَإِبْرَاهِيمُ، فَسَأَلَ أَبَاهُمَا عَبْدَ اللَّهِ عَنْهُمَا، فَقَالَ: لَا عِلْمَ لِي بِهِمَا، فَتَغَالَظَا، فَأَمَصَّهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ الْمَنْصُورُ حَتَّى قَالَ لَهُ: امْصُصْ كَذَا وَكَذَا مِنْ أُمِّكَ ! فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ، بِأَيِّ أُمَّهَاتِي تُمِصُّنِي ؟ ! أَبِفَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ ؟ أَمْ بِفَاطِمَةَ بِنْتِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ؟ أَمْ بِأُمِّ إِسْحَاقَ بِنْتِ طَلْحَةَ ؟ أَمْ بِخَدِيجَةَ بِنْتِ خُوَيْلِدٍ ؟ [ قَالَ ]: لَا بِوَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ، وَلَكِنْ بِالْحِرْبَاءِ بِنْتِ قَسَامَةَ بْنِ زُهَيْرٍ ! وَهِيَ امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ طَيِّئٍ، فَقَالَ الْمُسَيَّبُ بْنُ زُهَيْرٍ: يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، دَعْنِي أَضْرِبْ عُنُقَ ابْنِ الْفَاعِلَةِ ! فَقَامَ زِيَادُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَأَلْقَى عَلَيْهِ رِدَاءَهُ وَقَالَ: هَبْهُ لِي [ يَا ] أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ، فَأَسْتَخْرِجْ لَكَ ابْنَيْهِ، فَتَخَلَّصَهُ [ مِنْهُ ]. وَكَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ وَإِبْرَاهِيمُ ابْنَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَدْ تَغَيَّبَا حِينَ حَجَّ الْمَنْصُورُ سَنَةَ أَرْبَعِينَ وَمِائَةٍ عَنِ الْمَدِينَةِ، وَحَجَّ أَيْضًا فَاجْتَمَعُوا بِمَكَّةَ وَأَرَادُوا اغْتِيَالَ الْمَنْصُورِ، فَقَالَ لَهُمُ الْأَشْتَرُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ: أَنَا أَكْفِيكُمُوهُ ! فَقَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ: لَا وَاللَّهِ لَا أَقْتُلُهُ أَبَدًا غِيلَةً حَتَّى أَدْعُوَهُ. فَنَقَضَ مَا كَانُوا أَجْمَعُوا عَلَيْهِ. وَكَانَ قَدْ دَخَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَائِدٌ مِنْ قُوَّادِ الْمَنْصُورِ مِنْ أَهْلِ خُرَاسَانَ اسْمُهُ خَالِدُ بْنُ حَسَّانٍ يُدْعَى أَبَا الْعَسَاكِرِ عَلَى أَلْفِ رَجُلٍ، فَنَمَّى الْخَبَرَ إِلَى الْمَنْصُورِ فَطُلِبَ، فَلَمْ يُظْفَرْ بِهِ، فَظَفِرَ بِأَصْحَابِهِ فَقَتَلَهُمْ، وَأَمَّا الْقَائِدُ فَإِنَّهُ لَحِقَ بِمُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ الْمَنْصُورَ حَثَّ زِيَادَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَلَى طَلَبِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ، فَضَمِنَ لَهُ ذَلِكَ وَوَعَدَهُ بِهِ، فَقَدِمَ مُحَمَّدٌ الْمَدِينَةَ قَدْمَةً، فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ زِيَادًا، فَتَلَطَّفَ لَهُ، وَأَعْطَاهُ الْأَمَانَ عَلَى أَنْ يُظْهِرَ وَجْهَهُ لِلنَّاسِ، فَوَعَدَهُ مُحَمَّدٌ ذَلِكَ، فَرَكِبَ زِيَادٌ مَعَ الْمَسَاءِ وَوَاعَدَ مُحَمَّدًا سُوقَ الظُّهْرِ، وَرَكِبَ مُحَمَّدٌ، فَتَصَايَحَ النَّاسُ: يَا أَهْلَ الْمَدِينَةِ، الْمَهْدِيُّ الْمَهْدِيُّ ! فَوَقَفَ هُوَ وَزِيَادٌ، فَقَالَ زِيَادٌ: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ، هَذَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُ: الْحَقْ بِأَيِّ بِلَادِ اللَّهِ شِئْتَ. فَتَوَارَى مُحَمَّدٌ. وَسَمِعَ الْمَنْصُورُ الْخَبَرَ فَأَرْسَلَ أَبَا الْأَزْهَرِ فِي جُمَادَى الْآخِرَةِ سَنَةَ إِحْدَى وَأَرْبَعِينَ وَمِائَةٍ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ، فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَسْتَعْمِلَ عَلَى الْمَدِينَةِ عَبْدَ الْعَزِيزِ بْنَ الْمُطَّلِبِ، وَأَنْ يَقْبِضَ عَلَى زِيَادٍ وَأَصْحَابِهِ، وَيَسِيرَ بِهِمْ إِلَيْهِ، فَقَدِمَ أَبُو الْأَزْهَرِ الْمَدِينَةَ، فَفَعَلَ مَا أَمَرَهُ، وَأَخَذَ زِيَادًا وَأَصْحَابَهُ، وَسَارَ نَحْوَ الْمَنْصُورِ، وَخَلَّفَ زِيَادٌ فِي بَيْتِ مَالِ الْمَدِينَةِ ثَمَانِينَ أَلْفَ دِينَارٍ، فَسَجَنَهُمْ الْمَنْصُورُ، ثُمَّ مَنَّ عَلَيْهِمْ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ. وَاسْتَعْمَلَ الْمَنْصُورُ عَلَى الْمَدِينَةِ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ خَالِدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الْقَسْرِيَّ، وَأَمَرَهُ بِطَلَبِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَبَسَطَ يَدَهُ فِي النَّفَقَةِ فِي طَلَبِهِ. فَقَدِمَ الْمَدِينَةَ فِي رَجَبٍ سَنَةَ إِحْدَى وَأَرْبَعِينَ، فَأَخَذَ الْمَالَ وَرَفَعَ فِي مُحَاسَبَتِهِ أَمْوَالًا كَثِيرَةً أَنْفَقَهَا فِي طَلَبِ مُحَمَّدٍ، فَاسْتَبْطَأَهُ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ وَاتَّهَمَهُ، فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ يَأْمُرُهُ بِكَشْفِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَأَعْرَاضِهَا، فَطَافَ بِبُيُوتِ النَّاسِ فَلَمْ يَجِدْ مُحَمَّدًا. فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْمَنْصُورُ مَا قَدْ أَخْرَجَ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ، وَلَمْ يَظْفَرْ بِمُحَمَّدٍ اسْتَشَارَ أَبَا الْعَلَاءِ - رَجُلًا مِنْ قَيْسِ عَيْلَانَ - فِي أَمْرِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَأَخِيهِ، فَقَالَ: أَرَى أَنْ تَسْتَعْمِلَ رَجُلًا مِنْ وَلَدِ الزُّبَيْرِ أَوْ طَلْحَةَ، فَإِنَّهُمْ يَطْلُبُونَهُمَا بِذَحْلٍ، وَيُخْرِجُونَهُمَا إِلَيْكَ. فَقَالَ: قَاتَلَكَ اللَّهُ مَا أَجْوَدَ مَا رَأَيْتَ ! وَاللَّهِ مَا خَفِيَ عَلَيَّ هَذَا، وَلَكِنَّنِي أُعَاهِدُ اللَّهَ لَا أَنْتَقِمُ مِنْ بَنِي عَمِّي وَأَهْلِ بَيْتِي بِعَدُوِّي وَعَدُوِّهِمْ، وَلَكِنِّي أَبْعَثُ عَلَيْهِمْ صُعْلُوكًا مِنَ الْعَرَبِ يَفْعَلُ بِهِمْ مَا قُلْتَ. فَاسْتَشَارَ يَزِيدَ بْنَ يَزِيدَ السُّلَمِيَّ وَقَالَ لَهُ: دُلَّنِي عَلَى فَتًى مُقِلٍّ مِنْ قَيْسٍ أُغْنِيهِ وَأُشَرِّفُهُ وَأُمَكِّنُهُ مِنْ سَيِّدِ الْيَمَنِ، يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْقَسْرِيِّ، [ قَالَ ]: هُوَ رِيَاحُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ حَيَّانَ الْمُرِّيُّ، فَسَيَّرَهُ أَمِيرًا عَلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فِي رَمَضَانَ سَنَةَ أَرْبَعٍ وَأَرْبَعِينَ. وَقِيلَ: إِنَّ رِيَاحًا ضَمِنَ لِلْمَنْصُورِ أَنْ يُخْرِجَ مُحَمَّدًا وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ ابْنَيْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ إِنِ اسْتَعْمَلَهُ عَلَى الْمَدِينَةِ، فَاسْتَعْمَلَهُ عَلَيْهَا، فَسَارَ حَتَّى دَخَلَهَا، فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ دَارَ مَرْوَانَ، وَهِيَ الَّتِي كَانَ يَنْزِلُهَا الْأُمَرَاءُ، قَالَ لِحَاجِبٍ كَانَ لَهُ يُقَالُ لَهُ أَبُو الْبَخْتَرِيِّ: هَذِهِ دَارُ مَرْوَانَ ؟ قَالَ: نَعَمْ. قَالَ: أَمَا إِنَّهَا مِحْلَالٌ مِظْعَانٌ، وَنَحْنُ أَوَّلُ مَنْ يَظْعَنُ مِنْهَا. فَلَمَّا تَفَرَّقَ النَّاسُ عَنْهُ قَالَ لِحَاجِبِهِ: يَا أَبَا الْبَخْتَرِيِّ، خُذْ بِيَدِي نَدْخُلْ عَلَى هَذَا الشَّيْخِ، يَعْنِي عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ الْحَسَنِ، فَدَخَلَا عَلَيْهِ، وَقَالَ رِيَاحٌ: أَيُّهَا الشَّيْخُ، إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَاللَّهِ مَا اسْتَعْمَلَنِي لِرَحِمٍ قَرِيبَةٍ، وَلَا لِيَدٍ سَلَفَتْ إِلَيْهِ، وَاللَّهِ لَا لَعِبْتَ فِيَّ كَمَا لَعِبْتَ بِزِيَادٍ وَابْنِ الْقَسْرِيِّ، وَاللَّهِ لَأُزْهِقَنَّ نَفْسَكَ، أَوْ لَتَأْتِيَنِّي بِابْنَيْكَ مُحَمَّدٍ وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ ! فَرَفَعَ رَأَسَهُ إِلَيْهِ وَقَالَ: نَعَمْ، أَمَا وَاللَّهِ إِنَّكَ لَأُزَيْرِقُ قَيْسٍ الْمَذْبُوحُ فِيهَا كَمَا تُذْبَحُ الشَّاةُ !. قَالَ أَبُو الْبَخْتَرِيِّ: فَانْصَرَفَ وَاللَّهِ رِيَاحٌ آخِذًا بِيَدِي، أَجِدُ بَرْدَ يَدِهِ، وَإِنَّ رِجْلَيْهِ لَتَخُطَّانِ الْأَرْضَ مِمَّا كَلَّمَهُ. قَالَ: فَقُلْتُ لَهُ: إِنَّ هَذَا مَا اطَّلَعَ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ. قَالَ: إِيهًا، وَيْلَكَ ! فَوَاللَّهِ مَا قَالَ إِلَّا مَا سَمِعَ. فَذُبِحَ كَمَا تُذْبَحُ الشَّاةُ. ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ دَعَا بِالْقَسْرِيِّ وَسَأَلَهُ عَنِ الْأَمْوَالِ، فَضَرَبَهُ وَسَجَنَهُ، وَأَخَذَ كَاتِبَهُ رِزَامًا وَعَاقَبَهُ فَأَكْثَرَ، وَطَلَبَ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ يَذْكُرَ مَا أَخَذَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ، وَهُوَ لَا يُجِيبُهُ، فَلَمَّا طَالَ عَلَيْهِ الْعَذَابُ أَجَابَهُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ، فَقَالَ لَهُ رِيَاحٌ: أَحْضِرِ الرَّفِيعَةَ وَقْتَ اجْتِمَاعِ النَّاسِ، فَفَعَلَ ذَلِكَ، فَلَمَّا اجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ أَحْضَرَهُ فَقَالَ: أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ الْأَمِيرَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَرْفَعَ عَلَى ابْنِ خَالِدٍ، وَقَدْ كَتَبْتُ كِتَابًا لِأَنْجُوَ بِهِ، وَإِنَّا لَنُشْهِدُكُمْ أَنَّ كُلَّ مَا فِيهِ بَاطِلٌ. فَأَمَرَ رِيَاحٌ فَضُرِبَ مِائَةَ سَوْطٍ، وَرُدَّ إِلَى السِّجْنِ. وَجَدَّ رِيَاحٌ فِي طَلَبِ مُحَمَّدٍ، فَأُخْبِرَ أَنَّهُ فِي شِعْبٍ مِنْ شِعَابِ رَضْوَى، جَبَلِ جُهَيْنَةَ، وَهُوَ فِي عَمَلِ يَنْبُعَ، فَأَمَرَ عَامِلَهُ فِي طَلَبِ مُحَمَّدٍ، فَهَرَبَ مِنْهُ رَاجِلًا، فَأَفْلَتَ وَلَهُ ابْنٌ صَغِيرٌ وُلِدَ فِي خَوْفِهِ وَهُوَ مَعَ جَارِيَةٍ لَهُ فَسَقَطَ مِنَ الْجَبَلِ فَتَقَطَّعَ، فَقَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ: مُنْخَرِقُ السِّرْبَالِ يَشْكُو الْوَجَى تَنْكُبُهُ أَطْرَافُ مَرْوِ حِدَادْ شَرَّدَهُ الْخَوْفُ فَأَزْرَى بِهِ كَذَاكَ مَنْ يَكْرَهُ حَرَّ الْجِلَادْ قَدْ كَانَ فِي الْمَوْتِ لَهُ رَاحَةٌ وَالْمَوْتُ حَتْمٌ فِي رِقَابِ الْعِبَادْ. وَبَيْنَا رِيَاحٌ يَسِيرُ فِي الْحَرَّةِ إِذْ لَقِيَ مُحَمَّدًا، فَعَدَلَ مُحَمَّدٌ إِلَى بِئْرٍ هُنَاكَ فَجَعَلَ يَسْتَقِي، فَقَالَ رِيَاحٌ: قَاتَلَهُ اللَّهُ أَعْرَابِيًّا مَا أَحْسَنَ ذِرَاعَهُ !.
Translation
✧ Mention of the appointment of Riyāḥ b. ʿUthmān al-Murrī over Madinah and the affair of Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Ḥasan In it al-Manṣūr appointed over Madinah Riyāḥ b. ʿUthmān al-Murrī, and removed Muḥammad b. Khālid b. ʿAbd Allāh al-Qasrī from it. The reason for his removal and the removal of Ziyād before him was that al-Manṣūr was troubled by the affair of Muḥammad and Ibrāhīm, the two sons of ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Ḥasan b. al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib, and their absence from coming to him along with those of the Banū Hāshim who came to him in the year he performed the ḥajj in the days of al-Saffāḥ in the year 136, and he mentioned that Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh used to claim that al-Manṣūr was among those who pledged allegiance to him on the night the Banū Hāshim consulted one another in Makkah regarding whom they would contract the caliphate for, when the affair of Marwān b. Muḥammad became unsettled. When al-Manṣūr performed the ḥajj in the year 136, he asked about the two of them, and Ziyād b. ʿAbd Allāh al-Ḥārithī said to him: "What troubles you about their affair? I will bring you the two of them." He was with him in Makkah, so al-Manṣūr sent him back to Madinah. When al-Manṣūr became caliph, his only concern was the affair of Muḥammad and asking about him and what he wanted. He summoned the Banū Hāshim man by man, asking him secretly about him, and all of them said: "He knows that you know he seeks this affair, so he fears you for himself, and he does not want opposition to you," and the like of this speech, except al-Ḥasan b. Zayd b. al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī b. Abī Ṭālib, for he told him his news and said to him: "By God, I do not feel safe from his leaping upon you, for he does not sleep regarding you." So he awakened with his speech one who does not sleep. After that, Mūsā b. ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Ḥasan used to say: "O God, pursue al-Ḥasan b. Zayd for our blood." Then al-Manṣūr insisted upon ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Ḥasan to bring his son Muḥammad in the year he performed the ḥajj, so ʿAbd Allāh said to Sulaymān b. ʿAlī b. ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿAbbās: "O my brother, between us there is of marriage ties and kinship what you know, so what do you think?" Sulaymān said: "By God, it is as if I am looking at my brother ʿAbd Allāh b. ʿAlī when the curtain was between him and us while he was gesturing to us: 'This is what you did to me.' If he were one to pardon, he would have pardoned his uncle." So ʿAbd Allāh accepted the opinion of Sulaymān, and he knew that he had spoken truly to him and did not reveal his son. Then al-Manṣūr purchased slaves from the slaves of the Bedouins, and he gave one man among them a camel, and a man two camels, and a man a small herd, and he dispersed them in search of Muḥammad in the outskirts of Madinah. One of them would come to the water like a passerby, and like one astray, asking about him. Al-Manṣūr sent another spy, and wrote with him a letter in the tongues of the Shīʿa to Muḥammad, mentioning their obedience and their hastening, and he sent with him money and gifts. The man arrived in Madinah and entered upon ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Ḥasan b. al-Ḥasan and asked him about his son Muḥammad, and he mentioned him to him, but he concealed his news from him. The man kept going back to him and insisted on asking, so he mentioned that he was in the mountain of Juhayna. He said to him: "Pass by ʿAlī, the son of the righteous man who is called al-Agharr, and he is at Dhū al-Ibar, for he will guide you." So he went to him and he guided him. Al-Manṣūr had a secretary over his secrets who was a Shīʿī, and he wrote to ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Ḥasan informing him of that spy. When the letter arrived, they were alarmed by it and they sent Abū Habbār to Muḥammad and to ʿAlī b. al-Ḥasan warning the two of them about the man. Abū Habbār went out and stopped at ʿAlī b. al-Ḥasan and informed him, then he traveled to Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh in the place where he was, and behold he was sitting in a cave with a group of his companions, and that spy was with them, the loudest of them in voice and the most expansive of them in familiarity. When he saw Abū Habbār, he feared him. Abū Habbār said to Muḥammad: "I have a need." So he stood up with him, and he informed him of the news. He said: "What is the opinion?" He said: "I see one of three things." He said: "And what are they?" He said: "You let me kill this man." He said: "I am not one to commit bloodshed except reluctantly." He said: "Load him with iron and move him with you wherever you turn." He said: "Is there any flight for us with fear and haste?" He said: "We bind him and entrust him to some of your family from Juhayna." He said: "This then." They returned and did not see the man. Muḥammad said: "Where is the man?" They said: "[He rose] with a water skin and disappeared along this path to perform ablution." They searched for him and did not find him, as if the earth had closed over him. He hastened on foot until he reached the road, and Bedouins with pack animals passed by him going to Madinah. He said to one of them: "Empty this sack and put me in it; I will be a counterweight to its mate, and you will have such and such." He did so and carried him until he brought him into Madinah. Then he came to al-Manṣūr and informed him of his entire story, but he forgot the name of Abū Habbār and his kunya and said: "Wabbār." So Abū Jaʿfar wrote in search of Wabbār al-Murrī, and a man named Wabar was brought to him. He asked him about the story of Muḥammad, and he swore that he knew nothing of that. He ordered him to be beaten with seven hundred lashes and imprisoned until al-Manṣūr died. Then he summoned ʿUqba b. Salam al-Azdī and said: "I want you for a matter with which I am concerned, for which I have been seeking a man; perhaps you may be him. If you suffice me in it, I will raise you." He said: "I hope to prove true the opinion of the Commander of the Faithful in me." [He said]: "Conceal your person, hide your affair, and come to me on such-and-such a day at such-and-such a time." He came to him at that time. He said to him: "These sons of our paternal uncle have refused anything but treachery against our dominion and assassination of it. They have Shīʿa in Khurasan in such-and-such a village who correspond with them and send them the alms of their wealth and gifts from the gifts of their lands. Go out with garments, gifts, and a spy until you come to them in disguise with a letter that you write on behalf of the people of this village, then learn their condition. If they have abandoned their opinion, then by God, love them and draw near; if they remain upon their opinion, I will act accordingly and be on my guard. Depart until you meet ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Ḥasan humbly and ascetically. If he rebuffs you, and he will, then be patient and return to him until he becomes familiar with you and softens his side to you. When he reveals to you what he has, then hasten to me." He departed until he came to ʿAbd Allāh, and he met him with the letter, but he rejected it and rebuked him and said: "I do not know these people." He did not cease going back to him until he accepted his letter and gifts and became familiar with him. ʿUqba asked him for a reply. He said: "As for the letter, I do not write to anyone, but you are my letter to them. Convey to them my greetings and inform them that I am coming out at such-and-such a time." ʿUqba returned to al-Manṣūr and informed him of the news. Al-Manṣūr began the ḥajj and said to ʿUqba: "When the Banū al-Ḥasan meet me, among them ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Ḥasan, I will honor him, raise his seat, and invite him to lunch. When we finish our food and I glance at you, then stand before him. He will turn his gaze away from you, so move around until you poke his back with your big toe until his eye is filled with you, then that is enough. Beware that he sees you while he is eating." He went out to the ḥajj. When the Banū al-Ḥasan met him, he seated ʿAbd Allāh beside him, then he called for lunch and they ate of it. Then it was lifted, and he turned to ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Ḥasan and said to him: "You know what covenants and oaths you gave me, that you would not seek evil against me nor plot against my authority." He said: "I am upon that, O Commander of the Faithful." Al-Manṣūr glanced at ʿUqba b. Salam, and he moved around until he stood before ʿAbd Allāh, but he turned away from him. He moved around until he stood behind his back and poked him with his finger. He raised his head and his eye was filled with him. He leaped up until he sat before al-Manṣūr and said: "Pardon me, O Commander of the Faithful, may God pardon you!" He said: "May God not pardon me if I pardon you!" Then he ordered him to be imprisoned. Muḥammad had previously come to al-Baṣra and stayed there among the Banū Rāsib calling to himself. It is said: He stayed with ʿAbd Allāh b. Shaybān, one of the Banū Murra b. ʿUbayd, then he left it. Al-Manṣūr learned of his arrival in al-Baṣra, so he hastened there and stopped at al-Ḥurr al-Akbar. ʿAmr b. ʿUbayd met him and said to him: "O Abū ʿUthmān, is there anyone in al-Baṣra whom you fear for our affair?" He said: "No." He said: "Then be content with your word and depart." He said: "Yes." Muḥammad had departed from it before al-Manṣūr's arrival, so al-Manṣūr returned. Fear intensified upon Muḥammad and Ibrāhīm, the two sons of ʿAbd Allāh, so they went out until they reached ʿAdan, then traveled to al-Sind, then to al-Kūfa, then to Madinah. Al-Manṣūr had performed the ḥajj in the year 140 and distributed great wealth among the family of Abī Ṭālib, but Muḥammad and Ibrāhīm did not appear. He asked their father ʿAbd Allāh about them, and he said: "I have no knowledge of them." They became harsh with each other, and Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr insulted him until he said to him: "Suck such-and-such of your mother!" He said: "O Abū Jaʿfar, with which of my mothers do you make me suck?! With Fāṭima daughter of the Messenger of God ﷺ? Or with Fāṭima daughter of al-Ḥusayn b. ʿAlī? Or with Umm Isḥāq daughter of Ṭalḥa? Or with Khadīja daughter of Khuwaylid?" [He said]: "With none of them, but with al-Ḥirbāʾ daughter of Qasāma b. Zuhayr!" She was a woman from Ṭayyiʾ. Al-Musayyab b. Zuhayr said: "O Commander of the Faithful, let me strike the neck of the son of the vile woman!" Ziyād b. ʿAbd Allāh stood up and threw his cloak over him and said: "Grant him to me, [O] Commander of the Faithful, and I will extract for you his two sons." So he rescued him [from him]. Muḥammad and Ibrāhīm, the two sons of ʿAbd Allāh, had gone into hiding from Madinah when al-Manṣūr performed the ḥajj in the year 140, and they also performed the ḥajj and gathered in Makkah and intended to assassinate al-Manṣūr. Al-Ashtar ʿAbd Allāh b. Muḥammad said to them: "I will suffice you against him!" Muḥammad said: "No, by God, I will never kill him by assassination until I call him." So he broke what they had agreed upon. A commander of al-Manṣūr's commanders from the people of Khurasan named Khālid b. Ḥassān, called Abū al-ʿAsākir, over a thousand men, had entered upon them, and he conveyed the news to al-Manṣūr. He was sought but not captured, and his companions were captured and killed. As for the commander, he attached himself to Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh b. Muḥammad. Then al-Manṣūr urged Ziyād b. ʿAbd Allāh to search for Muḥammad and Ibrāhīm, and he guaranteed that for him and promised him. Muḥammad came to Madinah one time, and Ziyād learned of it. He was gentle with him and gave him a guarantee of safety on condition that he show his face to the people. Muḥammad promised him that. Ziyād rode out in the evening and appointed to meet Muḥammad at the market of al-Ẓuhr. Muḥammad rode out, and the people shouted: "O people of Madinah, the Mahdī, the Mahdī!" He and Ziyād stopped, and Ziyād said: "O people, this is Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Ḥasan." Then he said to him: "Go to whichever of God's lands you wish." So Muḥammad disappeared. Al-Manṣūr heard the news and sent Abū al-Azhar in Jumādā al-Ākhira of the year 141 to Madinah. He ordered him to appoint ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz b. al-Muṭṭalib over Madinah, to arrest Ziyād and his companions, and to bring them to him. Abū al-Azhar arrived in Madinah and did what he was ordered. He took Ziyād and his companions and traveled toward al-Manṣūr. Ziyād had left in the treasury of Madinah eighty thousand dinars. Al-Manṣūr imprisoned them, then later granted them favor. Al-Manṣūr appointed Muḥammad b. Khālid b. ʿAbd Allāh al-Qasrī over Madinah, and ordered him to search for Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh, and he opened his hand in spending on his search. He arrived in Madinah in Rajab of the year 141, took the money, and reported in his account large sums spent on searching for Muḥammad. Abū Jaʿfar considered him slow and suspected him, so he wrote to him ordering him to search Madinah and its outskirts. He went around the houses of the people but did not find Muḥammad. When al-Manṣūr saw what had been spent of money and Muḥammad was not captured, he consulted Abū al-ʿAlāʾ, a man from Qays ʿAylān, about the affair of Muḥammad b. ʿAbd Allāh and his brother. He said: "I think you should appoint a man from the descendants of al-Zubayr or Ṭalḥa, for they seek the two of them out of vengeance and will bring them out to you." He said: "May God fight you, how excellent is what you have thought! By God, this was not hidden from me, but I have covenanted with God that I will not take revenge upon my paternal cousins and the people of my house through my enemy and their enemy. But I will send upon them a pauper from the Arabs who will do to them what you said." He consulted Yazīd b. Yazīd al-Sulamī and said to him: "Guide me to a poor young man from Qays whom I will enrich and honor and empower over the master of Yemen," meaning Ibn al-Qasrī. [He said]: "He is Riyāḥ b. ʿUthmān b. Ḥayyān al-Murrī." So he dispatched him as governor over Madinah in Ramaḍān of the year 144. It is said: Riyāḥ guaranteed to al-Manṣūr that he would bring out Muḥammad and Ibrāhīm, the two sons of ʿAbd Allāh, if he appointed him over Madinah. So he appointed him over it. He traveled until he entered it. When he entered the house of Marwān, which is the one the governors used to occupy, he said to a chamberlain of his called Abū al-Bakhtarī: "Is this the house of Marwān?" He said: "Yes." He said: "Indeed, it is a place of halting and departing, and we are the first to depart from it." When the people dispersed from him, he said to his chamberlain: "O Abū al-Bakhtarī, take my hand and let us enter upon this shaykh," meaning ʿAbd Allāh b. al-Ḥasan. They entered upon him, and Riyāḥ said: "O shaykh, by God, the Commander of the Faithful did not appoint me because of a close kinship or a previous favor. By God, you will not play with me as you played with Ziyād and Ibn al-Qasrī. By God, I will destroy your life, or you will bring me your two sons Muḥammad and Ibrāhīm!" He raised his head to him and said: "Yes, by God, you are the little blue-eyed one of Qays who will be slaughtered in it as a sheep is slaughtered!" Abū al-Bakhtarī said: "By God, Riyāḥ departed taking my hand, and I felt the cold of his hand, and his legs were dragging on the ground because of what he said to him." He said: "I said to him: 'This one has not looked into the unseen.' He said: 'Indeed, woe to you! By God, he said only what he heard.' So he was slaughtered as a sheep is slaughtered." Then he summoned al-Qasrī and asked him about the wealth, so he beat him and imprisoned him. He seized his secretary Rizām and punished him severely, requesting him to mention what Muḥammad b. Khālid had taken of the wealth, but he would not answer him. When the punishment became prolonged, he answered him to that. Riyāḥ said to him: 'Bring the petition at the time when people gather,' so he did that. When people gathered, he brought him and he said: 'O people, the amīr ordered me to file a complaint against Ibn Khālid, and I have written a document to save myself, but we call you to witness that everything in it is false.' Riyāḥ ordered him flogged with a hundred lashes and returned to prison. Riyāḥ strove in searching for Muḥammad. He was informed that he was in one of the ravines of Raḍwā, the mountain of Juhaynah, in the district of Yanbuʿ. He ordered his governor to seek Muḥammad, and he fled from him on foot and escaped. He had a small son born during his fear, and he was with a slave girl of his, and the boy fell from the mountain and was cut to pieces. Muḥammad said: Torn of garment, complaining of lameness, struck by the tips of sharp, hard stones; fear drove him away and debased him— so it is with one who hates the heat of battle. Death would have been a rest for him, and death is inevitable upon the necks of servants. While Riyāḥ was traveling in the ḥarrah, he met Muḥammad. Muḥammad turned aside to a well there and began drawing water. Riyāḥ said: 'May God fight him! What a Bedouin, how fine his arm is!'
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No grade is recorded for this wording.