Tarikh (al-Tabari) 3537
The Year 270 AH from the Prophetic Emigration
قَتْلِ الْخَبِيثِ صَاحِبِ الزِّنْجِ قَدْ ذَكَرْنَا مِنْ حَرْبِ الزِّنْجِ، وَعَوْدِ الْمُوَفَّقِ عَنْهُمْ مُؤَيَّدًا بِالظَّفَرِ، فَلَمَّا عَادَ عَنْ قِتَالِهِمْ إِلَى مَدِينَةِ الْمُوَفَّقِيَّةِ عَزَمَ عَلَى مُنَاجَزَةِ الْخُبَثَاءِ، فَأَتَاهُ كِتَابُ لُؤْلُؤٍ غُلَامِ ابْنِ طُولُونَ يَسْتَأْذِنُهُ فِي الْمَسِيرِ، فَأَذِنَ لَهُ وَتَرَكَ الْقِتَالَ يَنْتَظِرُهُ لِيَحْضُرَ الْقِتَالَ، فَوَصَلَ إِلَيْهِ ثَالِثَ الْمُحَرَّمِ مِنْ هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ فِي جَيْشٍ عَظِيمٍ، فَأَكْرَمَهُ الْمُوَفَّقُ، وَأَنْزَلَهُ وَخَلَعَ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلَى أَصْحَابِهِ وَوَصَلَهُمْ، وَأَحْسَنَ إِلَيْهِمْ، وَأَمَرَ لَهُمْ بِالْأَرْزَاقِ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَرَاتِبِهِمْ، وَأَضْعَفَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ، وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الْمُوَفَّقَ لَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ شَأْنِ مَدِينَةِ صَاحِبِ الزَّنْجِ وَهِيَ الْمُخْتَارَةُ وَاحْتَازَ مَا كَانَ بِهَا مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ، وَقَتَلَ مَنْ كَانَ بِهَا مِنَ الرِّجَالِ، وَسَبَى مَنْ وَجَدَ فِيهَا مِنَ النِّسَاءِ وَالْأَطْفَالِ، وَقَدْ هَرَبَ صَاحِبُ الزَّنْجِ عَنْ حَوْمَةِ الْجِلَادِ وَالنِّزَالِ، وَسَارَ إِلَى بَعْضِ الْبِلَادِ طَرِيدًا شَرِيدًا بِشَرِّ حَالٍ، عَادَ الْمُوَفَّقُ - وَفَّقَهُ اللَّهُ - إِلَى مَدِينَتِهِ الْمُوَفَّقِيَّةِ مُؤَيَّدًا مَنْصُورًا، وَقَدِمَ عَلَيْهِ لُؤْلُؤَةُ غُلَامُ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ طُولُونَ مُنَابِذًا لِسَيِّدِهِ سَمِيعًا مُطِيعًا لِلْمُوَفَّقِ، فَكَانَ وُرُودُهُ عَلَيْهِ فِي ثَالِثِ الْمُحَرَّمِ مِنْ هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ، فَأَكْرَمَهُ وَعَظَّمَهُ وَأَعْطَاهُ وَخَلَعَ عَلَيْهِ وَأَحْسَنَ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَقَدَّمَ إِلَى لُؤْلُؤٍ بِالتَّأَهُّبِ لِحَرْبِ الْخُبَثَاءِ. وَكَانَ الْخَبِيثُ لَمَّا غَلَبَ عَلَى نَهْرِ أَبِي الْخَصِيبِ، وَقُطِعَتِ الْقَنَاطِرُ وَالْجُسُورُ الَّتِي عَلَيْهِ، أَحْدَثَ سِكْرًا فِي النَّهْرِ مِنْ جَانِبَيْهِ، وَجَعَلَ فِي وَسَطِ النَّهْرِ بَابًا ضَيِّقًا لِتَحْتَدَّ جَرْيَةُ الْمَاءِ فِيهِ، فَتَمْتَنِعَ الشَّذَا مِنْ دُخُولِهِ فِي الْجَزْرِ، وَيَتَعَذَّرُ خُرُوجُهَا مِنْهُ فِي الْمَدِّ، فَرَأَى الْمُوَفَّقُ أَنَّ جَرْيَهُ لَا يَتَهَيَّأُ إِلَّا بِقَلْعِ هَذَا السِّكْرِ، فَحَاوَلَ ذَلِكَ، فَاشْتَدَّتْ مُحَامَاةُ الْخُبَثَاءِ عَلَيْهِ، وَجَعَلُوا يَزِيدُونَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ فِيهِ، وَهُوَ مُتَوَسِّطُ دُورِهِمْ، وَالْمَرْوِيَّةُ تُسَهِّلُ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَتُعَظِّمُ عَلَى مَنْ أَرَادَ قَلْعَهُ، فَشَرَعَ فِي مُحَارَبَتِهِمْ بِفَرِيقٍ بَعْدَ فَرِيقٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ لُؤْلُؤٍ لِيَتَمَرَّنُوا عَلَى قِتَالِهِمْ، وَيَقِفُوا عَلَى الْمَسَالِكِ وَالطُّرُقِ فِي مَدِينَتِهِمْ، فَأَمَرَ لُؤْلُؤًا أَنْ يَحْضُرَ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ لِلْحَرْبِ عَلَى هَذَا السِّكْرِ، فَفَعَلَ، فَرَأَى الْمُوَفَّقُ مِنْ شَجَاعَةِ لُؤْلُؤٍ وَإِقْدَامِهِ، وَشَجَاعَةِ أَصْحَابِهِ مَا سَرَّهُ، فَأَمَرَ لُؤْلُؤًا بِصَرْفِهِمْ إِشْفَاقًا عَلَيْهِمْ، وَوَصَلَهُمُ الْمُوَفَّقُ وَأَحْسَنَ إِلَيْهِمْ. وَأَلَحَّ الْمُوَفَّقُ عَلَى هَذَا السِّكْرِ، وَكَانَ يُحَارِبُ الْمُحَامِينَ عَلَيْهِ بِأَصْحَابِهِ وَأَصْحَابِ لُؤْلُؤٍ وَغَيْرِهِمْ، وَالْفَعَلَةُ يَعْمَلُونَ فِي قَلْعِهِ، وَيُحَارِبُ الْخَبِيثَ وَأَصْحَابَهُ فِي عِدَّةِ وُجُوهٍ، فَيَحْرِقُ مَسَاكِنَهُمْ، وَيَقْتُلُ مُقَاتِلِيهِمْ، وَاسْتَأْمَنَ إِلَيْهِ الْجَمَاعَةُ، وَكَانَ قَدْ بَقِيَ لِلْخَبِيثِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ بَقِيَّةٌ مِنْ أَرَضِينَ بِنَاحِيَةِ النَّهْرِ الْغَرْبِيِّ، لَهُمْ فِيهَا مَزَارِعُ وَحُصُونٌ وَقَنْطَرَتَانِ، وَبِهِ جَمَاعَةٌ يَحْفَظُونَهُ، فَسَارَ إِلَيْهِمْ أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ، وَفَرَّقَ أَصْحَابَهُ مِنْ جِهَاتِهِمْ، وَجَعَلَ كَمِينًا، ثُمَّ أَوْقَعَ بِهِمْ فَانْهَزَمُوا، فَكُلَّمَا قَصَدُوا جِهَةً خَرَجَ عَلَيْهِمْ مَنْ يُقَاتِلُهُمْ فِيهَا، فَقُتِلُوا عَنْ آخِرِهِمْ لَمْ يَسْلَمْ مِنْهَا إِلَّا الشَّرِيدُ، فَأَخَذُوا مِنْ أَسْلِحَتِهِمْ مَا أَثْقَلَهُمْ حَمْلُهُ، وَقَطَعَ الْقَنْطَرَتَيْنِ، وَلَمْ يَزَلِ الْمُوَفَّقُ يُقَاتِلُهُمْ عَلَى سِكْرِهِمْ، حَتَّى تَهَيَّأَ لَهُ فِيهِ مَا أَحَبَّهُ فِي خَرْقِهِ. فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْهُ عَزَمَ عَلَى لِقَاءِ الْخَبِيثِ، فَأَمَرَ بِإِصْلَاحِ السُّفُنِ، وَالْآلَاتِ لِلْمَاءِ وَالظَّهْرِ، وَتَقَدَّمَ إِلَى أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ ابْنِهِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ الْخَبِيثَ مِنْ نَاحِيَةِ دَارِ الْمُهَلَّبِيِّ، وَفَرَّقَ الْعَسَاكِرَ مِنْ جَمِيعِ جِهَاتِهِ، وَأَضَافَ الْمُسْتَأْمِنَةَ إِلَى شِبْلٍ، وَأَمَرَهُ بِالْجِدِّ فِي قِتَالِ الْخَبِيثِ، وَأَمَرَ النَّاسَ أَنْ لَا يَزْحَفَ أَحَدٌ حَتَّى يُحَرِّكَ عَلَمًا أَسْوَدَ كَانَ نَصَبَهُ عَلَى دَارِ الْكَرْمَانِيِّ وَحَتَّى يَنْفُخَ فِي بُوقٍ بَعِيدِ الصَّوْتِ. وَكَانَ عُبُورُهُ يَوْمَ الِاثْنَيْنِ لِثَلَاثٍ بَقِينَ مِنَ الْمُحَرَّمِ، فَعَجِلَ بَعْضُ النَّاسِ، وَزَحَفَ نَحْوَهُمْ، فَلَقِيَهُ الزِّنْجُ، فَقَتَلُوا مِنْهُمْ، وَرَدُّوهُمْ إِلَى مَوَاقِفِهِمْ، وَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ سَائِرُ الْعَسْكَرِ بِذَلِكَ لِكَثْرَتِهِمْ، وَبُعْدِ الْمَسَافَةِ فِيمَا بَيْنَ بَعْضِهِمْ وَبَعْضٍ، وَأَمَرَ الْمُوَفَّقُ بِتَحْرِيكِ الْعَلَمِ الْأَسْوَدِ، وَالنَّفْخِ فِي الْبُوقِ، فَزَحَفَ النَّاسُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْمَاءِ يَتْلُو بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا، فَلَقِيَهُمُ الزِّنْجُ وَقَدْ حَشَدُوا، وَاجْتَرَءُوا، بِمَا تَهَيَّأَ لَهُمْ، عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ يُسْرِعُ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَلَقِيَهُمُ الْجَيْشُ بِنِيَّاتٍ صَادِقَةٍ، وَبَصَائِرَ نَافِذَةٍ، وَاشْتَدَّ الْقِتَالُ، وَقُتِلَ مِنَ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ جَمْعٌ كَثِيرٌ، فَانْهَزَمَ أَصْحَابُ الْخَبِيثِ، وَتَبِعَهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْمُوَفَّقِ يَقْتُلُونَ وَيَأْسِرُونَ، وَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِمْ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ أَصْحَابُ الْمُوَفَّقِ، فَقُتِلَ مِنْهُمْ مَا لَا يُحْصَى عَدَدًا، وَغَرِقَ مِنْهُمْ مِثْلُ ذَلِكَ، وَحَوَى الْمُوَفَّقُ الْمَدِينَةَ بِأَسْرِهَا، فَغَنِمَهَا أَصْحَابُهُ، وَاسْتَنْقَذُوا مَنْ كَانَ بَقِيَ مِنَ الْأَسْرَى مِنَ الرِّجَالِ، وَالنِّسَاءِ، وَالصِّبْيَانِ، وَظَفِرُوا بِجَمِيعِ عِيَالِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبَانٍ الْمُهَلَّبِيِّ، وَبِأَخَوَيْهِ: الْخَلِيلِ، وَمُحَمَّدٍ، وَأَوْلَادِهِمَا، وَعُبِرَ بِهِمْ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ الْمُوَفَّقِيَّةِ. هروب صاحب الزنج وَمَضَى الْخَبِيثُ فِي أَصْحَابِهِ، وَمَعَهُ ابْنُهُ أَنْكِلَايُ، وَسُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ جَامِعٍ، وَقُوَّادٌ مِنَ الزِّنْجِ وَغَيْرِهِمْ، هَارِبِينَ، عَامِدِينَ إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ كَانَ الْخَبِيثُ قَدْ أَعَدَّهُ مَلْجَأً إِذَا غُلِبَ عَلَى مَدِينَتِهِ، وَذَلِكَ الْمَكَانُ عَلَى النَّهْرِ الْمَعْرُوفِ بِالسُّفْيَانِيِّ، وَكَانَ أَصْحَابُ الْمُوَفَّقِ قَدِ اشْتَغَلُوا بِالنَّهْبِ، وَالْإِحْرَاقِ، وَتَقَدَّمَ الْمُوَفَّقُ فِي الشَّذَا نَحْوَ نَهْرِ السُّفْيَانِيِّ، وَمَعَهُ لُؤْلُؤٌ وَأَصْحَابُهُ، فَظَنَّ أَصْحَابُ الْمُوَفَّقِ أَنَّهُ رَجَعَ إِلَى مَدِينَتِهِمُ الْمُوَفَّقِيَّةِ، فَانْصَرَفُوا إِلَى سُفُنِهِمْ بِمَا قَدْ حَوَوْا، وَانْتَهَى الْمُوَفَّقُ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ إِلَى عَسْكَرِ الْخَبِيثِ وَهُمْ مُنْهَزِمُونَ، وَاتَّبَعَهُمْ لُؤْلُؤٌ فِي أَصْحَابِهِ، حَتَّى عَبَرَ السُّفْيَانِيَّ فَاقْتَحَمَ لُؤْلُؤٌ بِفَرَسِهِ، وَاتَّبَعَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ، حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى النَّهْرِ الْمَعْرُوفِ بِالْفِرَبْرِيِّ فَوَصَلَ إِلَيْهِ لُؤْلُؤٌ، وَأَصْحَابُهُ، فَأَوْقَعُوا بِهِ وَبِمَنْ مَعَهُ، فَهَزَمَهُمْ حَتَّى عَبَرَ نَهْرَ السُّفْيَانِيِّ، وَلُؤْلُؤٌ فِي أَثَرِهِمْ، فَاعْتَصَمُوا بِجَبَلٍ وَرَاءَهُ، وَانْفَرَدَ لُؤْلُؤٌ وَأَصْحَابُهُ بِاتِّبَاعِهِمْ إِلَى هَذَا الْمَكَانِ فِي آخِرِ النَّهَارِ، فَأَمَرَ الْمُوَفَّقُ بِالِانْصِرَافِ فَعَادَ مَشْكُورًا مَحْمُولًا لِفِعْلِهِ، فَحَمَلَهُ الْمُوَفَّقُ مَعَهُ، وَجَدَّدَ لَهُ مِنَ الْبِرِّ، وَالْكَرَامَةِ وَرِفْعَةِ الْمَنْزِلَةِ مَا كَانَ مُسْتَحِقًّا لَهُ، وَرَجَعَ الْمُوَفَّقُ فَلَمْ يَرَ أَحَدًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ بِمَدِينَةِ الزِّنْجِ، فَرَجَعَ إِلَى مَدِينَتِهِ، وَاسْتَبْشَرَ النَّاسُ بِالْفَتْحِ، وَهَزِيمَةِ الزِّنْجِ وَصَاحِبِهِمْ. وَكَانَ الْمُوَفَّقُ قَدْ غَضِبَ عَلَى أَصْحَابِهِ بِمُخَالَفَتِهِمْ أَمْرَهُ، وَتَرْكِهِمُ الْوُقُوفَ حَيْثُ أَمَرَهُمْ، فَجَمَعَهُمْ جَمِيعًا، وَوَبَّخَهُمْ عَلَى ذَلِكَ، وَأَغْلَظَ لَهُمْ، فَاعْتَذَرُوا بِمَا ظَنُّوهُ مِنَ انْصِرَافِهِ، وَأَنَّهُمْ لَمْ يَعْلَمُوا بِمَسِيرِهِ، وَلَوْ عَلِمُوا ذَلِكَ لَأَسْرَعُوا نَحْوَهُ، ثُمَّ تَعَاقَدُوا، وَتَحَالَفُوا بِمَكَانِهِمْ عَلَى أَنْ لَا يَنْصَرِفَ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ إِذَا تَوَجَّهُوا نَحْوَ الْخَبِيثِ حَتَّى يَظْفَرُوا بِهِ، فَإِنْ أَعْيَاهُمْ أَقَامُوا بِمَكَانِهِ حَتَّى يَحْكُمَ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَهُ، وَسَأَلُوا الْمُوَفَّقَ أَنْ يَرُدَّ السُّفُنَ الَّتِي يَعْبُرُونَ فِيهَا إِلَى الْخَبِيثِ، لِيَنْقَطِعَ النَّاسُ عَنِ الرُّجُوعِ، فَشَكَرَهُمْ، وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَمَرَهُمْ بِالتَّأَهُّبِ. وَأَقَامَ الْمُوَفَّقُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ يُصْلِحُ مَا يَحْتَاجُ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ، وَأَمَرَ النَّاسَ عَشِيَّةَ الْجُمُعَةِ بِالْمَسِيرِ إِلَى حَرْبِ الْخُبَثَاءِ بُكْرَةَ السَّبْتِ، وَطَافَ عَلَيْهِمْ هُوَ بِنَفْسِهِ يُعَرِّفُ كُلَّ قَائِدٍ مَرْكَزَهُ، وَالْمَكَانَ الَّذِي يَقْصِدُهُ، وَغَدَا الْمُوَفَّقُ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ لِلَيْلَتَيْنِ خَلَتَا مِنْ صَفَرٍ، فَعَبَرَ النَّاسُ، وَأَمَرَ بَرَدِّ السُّفُنِ، فَرُدَّتْ وَسَارَ يَقْدُمُهُمْ إِلَى الْمَكَانِ الَّذِي قَدَّرَ أَنْ يَلْقَاهُمْ فِيهِ. وَكَانَ الْخَبِيثُ وَأَصْحَابُهُ قَدْ رَجَعُوا إِلَى مَدِينَتِهِمْ بَعْدَ انْصِرَافِ الْجَيْشِ عَنْهُمْ، وَأَمَلُوا أَنْ تَتَطَاوَلَ بِهِمُ الْأَيَّامُ وَتَنْدَفِعَ عَنْهُمُ الْمُنَاجَزَةُ، فَوَجَدَ الْمُوَفَّقُ الْمُتَسَرِّعِينَ مِنْ فُرْسَانِ غِلْمَانِهِ وَالرَّجَّالَةِ قَدْ سَبَقُوا الْجَيْشَ، فَأَوْقَعُوا بِالْخَبِيثِ وَأَصْحَابِهِ وَقْعَةً هَزَمُوهُمْ بِهَا، وَتَفَرَّقُوا لَا يَلْوِي بَعْضُهُمْ عَلَى بَعْضٍ، وَتَبِعَهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْمُوَفَّقِ يَقْتُلُونَ وَيَأْسِرُونَ مَنْ لَحِقُوا مِنْهُمْ، وَانْقَطَعَ الْخَبِيثُ فِي جَمَاعَةٍ مِنْ حُمَاةِ أَصْحَابِهِ وَفِيهِمُ الْمُهَلَّبِيُّ، وَفَارَقَهُ ابْنُهُ أَنْكِلَايُ، وَسُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ جَامِعٍ، فَقَصَدَ كُلُّ فَرِيقٍ مِنْهُمْ جَمْعًا كَثِيفًا مِنَ الْجَيْشِ. وَكَانَ أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ قَدْ تَقَدَّمَ، فَلَقِيَ الْمُنهَزِمِينَ فِي الْمَوْضِعِ الْمَعْرُوفِ بِعَسْكَرِ رَيْحَانَ، فَوَضَعَ أَصْحَابُهُ فِيهِمُ السِّلَاحَ، وَلَقِيَهُمْ طَائِفَةٌ أُخْرَى، فَأَوْقَعُوا بِهِمْ أَيْضًا، وَقَتَلُوا مِنْهُمْ جَمَاعَةً. أسر سليمان بن جامع وَأَسَرُوا سُلَيْمَانَ بْنَ جَامِعٍ، فَأَتَوْا بِهِ الْمُوَفَّقَ مِنْ غَيْرِ عَهْدٍ وَلَا عَقْدٍ، فَاسْتَبْشَرَ النَّاسُ بِأَسْرِهِ، وَكَثُرَ التَّكْبِيرُ، وَأَيْقَنُوا الْفَتْحَ، إِذْ كَانَ أَكْثَرُ أَصْحَابِ الْخَبِيثِ غَنَاءً عَنْهُ، وَأُسِرَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْهَمَذَانِيُّ، وَكَانَ أَحَدَ أُمَرَاءِ جُيُوشِهِ، فَأَمَرَ الْمُوَفَّقُ بِالِاسْتِيثَاقِ مِنْهُمْ وَجَعَلَهُمْ فِي شَذَاةٍ لِأَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ. ثُمَّ إِنَّ الزِّنْجَ الَّذِينَ انْفَرَدُوا مَعَ الْخَبِيثِ حَمَلُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ حَمْلَةً أَزَالُوهُمْ عَنْ مَوَاقِفِهِمْ، فَفَتَرُوا، فَأَحَسَّ الْمُوَفَّقُ بِفُتُورِهِمْ، فَجَدَّ فِي طَلَبِ الْخَبِيثِ وَأَمْعَنَ، فَتَبِعَهُ أَصْحَابُهُ، وَانْتَهَى الْمُوَفَّقُ إِلَى آخِرِ نَهَرِ أَبِي الْخَصِيبِ. مقتل صاحب الزنج فَلَقِيَهُ الْبَشِيرُ بِقَتْلِ الْخَبِيثِ، وَأَتَاهُ بَشِيرٌ آخَرُ وَمَعَهُ كَفٌّ ذَكَرَ أَنَّهُ كَفُّهُ، فَقَوِيَ الْخَبَرُ عِنْدَهُ، ثُمَّ أَتَاهُ غُلَامٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ لُؤْلُؤٍ يَرْكُضُ وَمَعَهُ رَأْسُ الْخَبِيثِ، فَأَدْنَاهُ مِنْهُ، وَعَرَضَهُ عَلَى جَمَاعَةٍ مِنَ الْمُسْتَأْمِنَةِ فَعَرَفُوهُ، فَخَرَّ لِلَّهِ سَاجِدًا، وَسَجَدَ مَعَهُ النَّاسُ، وَأَمَرَ الْمُوَفَّقُ بِرَفْعِ رَأْسِهِ عَلَى قَنَاةٍ، فَتَأَمَّلَهُ النَّاسُ، فَعَرَفُوهُ، وَكَثُرَ الضَّجِيجُ بِالتَّحْمِيدِ. وَكَانَ مَعَ الْخَبِيثِ لَمَّا أُحِيطُ بِهِ الْمُهَلَّبِيُّ وَحْدَهُ، فَوَلَّى عَنْهُ هَارِبًا، وَقَصَدَ نَهْرَ الْأَمِيرِ فَأَلْقَى نَفْسَهُ فِيهِ يُرِيدُ النَّجَاةَ وَكَانَ أَنْكِلَايُ قَدْ فَارَقَ أَبَاهُ قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ وَسَارَ نَحْوَ الدِّينَارِيِّ. وَرَجَعَ الْمُوَفَّقُ وَرَأْسُ الْخَبِيثِ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ، وَسُلَيْمَانُ مَعَهُ، وَأَصْحَابُهُ إِلَى مَدِينَتِهِ، وَأَتَاهُ مِنَ الزِّنْجِ عَالَمٌ كَبِيرٌ يَطْلُبُونَ الْأَمَانَ فَأَمَّنَهُمْ، وَانْتَهَى إِلَيْهِ خَبَرُ أَنْكِلَايُ، وَالْمُهَلَّبِيِّ، وَمَكَانُهُمَا، وَمَنْ مَعَهُمَا مِنْ مُقَدَّمِي الزِّنْجِ، فَبَثَّ الْمُوَفَّقُ أَصْحَابَهُ فِي طَلَبِهِمْ، وَأَمَرَهُمْ بِالتَّضْيِيقِ عَلَيْهِمْ، فَلَمَّا أَيْقَنُوا أَنْ لَا مَلْجَأَ أَعْطَوْا بِأَيْدِيهِمْ، فَظُفِرَ بِهِمْ وَبِمَنْ مَعَهُمْ، وَكَانُوا زُهَاءَ خَمْسَةِ آلَافٍ، فَأَمَرَ بِالِاسْتِيثَاقِ مِنَ الْمُهَلَّبِيِّ، وَأَنْكِلَايَ، وَكَانَ مِمَّنْ هَرَبَ قِرْطَاسٌ الرُّومِيُّ الَّذِي رَمَى الْمُوَفَّقَ بِالسَّهْمِ فِي صَدْرِهِ، فَانْتَهَى إِلَى رَامَهُرْمُزَ، فَعَرَفَهُ رَجُلٌ، فَدَلَّ عَلَيْهِ عَامِلَ الْبَلَدِ، فَأَخَذَهُ وَسَيَّرَهُ إِلَى الْمُوَفَّقِ فَقَتَلَهُ أَبُو الْعَبَّاسِ. وَفِيهَا اسْتَأْمَنَ دَرْمَوَيْهِ الزِّنْجِيُّ إِلَى أَبِي أَحْمَدَ، وَكَانَ دَرْمَوَيْهِ مِنْ أَنْجَادِ الزِّنْجِ وَأَبْطَالِهِمْ، وَكَانَ الْخَبِيثُ قَدْ وَجَّهَهُ قَبْلَ هَلَاكِهِ بِمُدَّةٍ إِلَى مَوْضِعٍ كَثِيرِ الشَّجَرِ، وَالْأَدْغَالِ، وَالْآجَامِ، مُتَّصِلٍ بِالْبَطِيحَةِ، وَكَانَ هُوَ وَمَنْ مَعَهُ يَقْطَعُونَ الطَّرِيقَ هُنَالِكَ عَلَى السَّابِلَةِ فِي زَوَارِيقَ خِفَافٍ، فَإِذَا طُلِبُوا دَخَلُوا الْأَنْهَارَ الصِّغَارَ الضَّيِّقَةَ، وَاعْتَصَمُوا بِالْأَدْغَالِ، وَإِذَا تَعَذَّرَ عَلَيْهِمْ مَسْلَكٌ لِضِيقِهِ حَمَلُوا سُفُنَهُمْ وَلَجَئُوا إِلَى الْأَمْكِنَةِ الْوَسِيعَةِ، وَيَعْبُرُونَ عَلَى قُرَى الْبَطِيحَةِ، وَيَقْطَعُونَ الطَّرِيقَ، فَظَفِرَ بِجَمَاعَةٍ مِنْ عَسْكَرِ الْمُوَفَّقِ مَعَهُمْ نِسَاءٌ قَدْ عَادُوا إِلَى مَنَازِلِهِمْ، فَقَتَلَ الرِّجَالَ، وَأَخَذَ النِّسَاءَ، فَسَأَلَهُنَّ عَنِ الْخَبَرِ، فَأَخْبَرْنَهُ بِقَتْلِ الْخَبِيثِ، وَأَسْرِ أَصْحَابِهِ، وَقُوَّادِهِ، وَمَصِيرِ كَثِيرٍ مِنْهُمْ إِلَى الْمُوَفَّقِ بِالْأَمَانِ، وَإِحْسَانِهِ إِلَيْهِمْ، فَسُقِطَ فِي يَدِهِ، وَلَمْ يَرَ لِنَفْسِهِ مَلْجَأً إِلَّا طَلَبَ الْأَمَانِ، وَالصَّفْحِ عَنْ جُرْمِهِ، فَأَرْسَلَ يَطْلُبُ الْأَمَانَ، فَأَجَابَهُ الْمُوَفَّقُ إِلَيْهِ، فَخَرَجَ وَجَمِيعُ مَنْ مَعَهُ، حَتَّى وَافَى عَسْكَرَ الْمُوَفَّقِ، فَأَحْسَنَ إِلَيْهِمْ وَأَمَّنَهُمْ. فَلَمَّا اطْمَأَنَّ دَرْمَوَيْهِ أَظْهَرَ مَا كَانَ فِي يَدِهِ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ، وَالْأَمْتِعَةِ، وَرَدَّهَا إِلَى أَرْبَابِهَا رَدًّا ظَاهِرًا، فَعُلِمَ بِذَلِكَ حُسْنُ نِيَّتِهِ، فَازْدَادَ إِحْسَانُ الْمُوَفَّقِ إِلَيْهِ، وَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُكْتَبَ إِلَى أَمْصَارِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ بِالنِّدَاءِ فِي أَهْلِ النَّوَاحِي الَّتِي دَخَلَهَا الزِّنْجُ بِالرُّجُوعِ إِلَى أَوْطَانِهِمْ، فَسَارَ النَّاسُ إِلَى ذَلِكَ ; وَأَقَامَ الْمُوَفَّقُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ الْمُوَفَّقِيَّةِ لِيَأْمَنَ النَّاسُ بِمُقَامِهِ، وَوَلَّى الْبَصْرَةَ، وَالْأُبُلَّةَ، وَكُوَرَ دِجْلَةَ، رَجُلًا مِنْ قُوَّادِهِ قَدْ حَمِدَ مَذْهَبَهُ، وَعَلِمَ حُسْنَ سِيرَتِهِ، يُقَالُ لَهُ الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ تَرْكُسَ، وَأَمَرَهُ بِالْمُقَامِ بِالْبَصْرَةِ، وَوَلَّى قَضَاءَ الْبَصْرَةِ وَالْأُبُلَّةِ وَكُوَرَ دِجْلَةَ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ حَمَّادٍ. وَقَدَّمَ ابْنَهُ أَبَا الْعَبَّاسِ إِلَى بَغْدَاذَ، وَمَعَهُ رَأْسُ الْخَبِيثِ لِيَرَاهُ النَّاسُ، فَبَلَغَهَا لِاثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ لَيْلَةً بَقِيَتْ مِنْ جُمَادَى الْأُولَى مِنْ هَذِهِ السَّنَةِ. وَكَانَ خُرُوجُ صَاحِبِ الزِّنْجِ يَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ لِأَرْبَعٍ بَقِينَ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ سَنَةَ خَمْسٍ وَخَمْسِينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ، وَقُتِلَ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ لِلَيْلَتَيْنِ خَلَتَا مِنْ صَفَرٍ سَنَةَ سَبْعِينَ وَمِائَتَيْنِ، وَكَانَتْ أَيَّامُهُ أَرْبَعَ عَشْرَةَ سَنَةً وَأَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَسِتَّةَ أَيَّامٍ. شعر في انقضاء دولة الزنج وما كان من النصر عليهم وَقِيلَ فِي أَمْرِ الْمُوَفَّقِ، وَأَصْحَابِ الزِّنْجِ أَشْعَارٌ كَثِيرَةٌ، فَمِنْ ذَلِكَ قَوْلُ يَحْيَى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَسْلَمِيِّ: أَقُولُ وَقَدْ جَاءَ الْبَشِيرُ بِوَقْعَةٍ أَعَزَّتْ مِنَ الْإِسْلَامِ مَا كَانَ وَاهِيَا جَزَى اللَّهُ خَيْرَ النَّاسِ لِلنَّاسِ بَعْدَمَا أُبِيحَ حِمَاهُمْ خَيْرَ مَا كَانَ جَازِيَا تَفَرَّدَ، إِذْ لَمْ يَنْصُرِ اللَّهَ، نَاصِرٌ بِتَجْدِيدِ دِينٍ كَانَ أَصْبَحَ بَالِيَا وَتَجْدِيدِ مُلْكٍ قَدْ وَهَى بَعْدَ عِزِّهِ وَأَخْذٍ بِثَارَاتٍ تُبِينُ الْأَعَادِيَا وَرَدِّ عِمَارَاتٍ أُزِيلَتْ وَأُخْرِبَتْ لِيَرْجِعَ فَيْءٌ قَدْ تُخُرِّمَ وَافِيَا وَتَرْجِعَ أَمْصَارٌ أُبِيحَتْ وَأُحْرِقَتْ مِرَارًا فَقَدْ أَمْسَتْ قِوَاءً عَوَافِيَا وَيَشْفِي صُدُورَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ بِوَقْعَةٍ يُقِرُّ بِهَا مِنْهَا الْعُيُونَ الْبَوَاكِيَا وَيُتْلَى كِتَابُ اللَّهِ فِي كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ وَيُلْقَى دُعَاءُ الطَّالِبِيِّينَ خَاسِيَا فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْ أَحْبَابِهِ وَنَعِيمِهِ وَعَنْ لَذَّةِ الدُّنْيَا وَأَصْبَحَ غَازِيَا وَهِيَ قَصِيدَةٌ طَوِيلَةٌ. وَقَالَ غَيْرُهُ فِي هَذَا الْمَعْنَى أَيْضًا شِعْرًا كَثِيرًا. وَانْتَهَتْ أَيَّامُ صَاحِبِ الزَّنْجِ الْمُدَّعِي الْكَذَّابِ، قَبَّحَهُ اللَّهُ.
Translation
✧ The killing of the wicked one, the Zanj leader We have previously mentioned the war against the Zanj, and how al-Muwaffaq returned from fighting them supported with victory. When he returned from fighting them to the city of al-Muwaffaqiyyah, he resolved to engage the wicked ones in a decisive battle. A letter came to him from Luʾluʾ, the servant of Ibn Ṭūlūn, seeking permission to march. He granted him permission and paused the fighting, waiting for him to arrive and take part in the battle. He reached him on the third of al-Muḥarram of this year with a great army. Al-Muwaffaq honored him, lodged him, bestowed robes of honor upon him and his companions, gave them gifts, treated them kindly, and ordered provisions for them according to their ranks, doubling what they had previously received. This is because when al-Muwaffaq finished with the matter of the Zanj leader’s city, namely al-Mukhtārah, and seized the wealth that was in it, killed the men who were in it, and took captive the women and children he found there—while the Zanj leader had fled from the heat of battle and combat, and traveled to some other lands as a fugitive and outcast in the worst condition—al-Muwaffaq, may God grant him success, returned to his city al-Muwaffaqiyyah, supported and victorious. Luʾluʾ, the servant of Aḥmad b. Ṭūlūn, came to him, having broken with his master, obedient and submissive to al-Muwaffaq. His arrival to him was on the third of al-Muḥarram of this year, and he honored him, magnified him, gave him gifts, bestowed robes upon him, and treated him kindly. Then he ordered Luʾluʾ to prepare for war against the wicked ones. When the wicked one had gained control over the Nahr Abī al-Khaṣīb and the bridges and causeways over it were cut, he constructed a dam in the river from both sides, and placed in the middle of the river a narrow gate so that the current of water would become strong in it, preventing the shadhā boats from entering it at ebb tide and making it difficult for them to exit at flood tide. Al-Muwaffaq saw that his advance would not be possible without demolishing this dam, so he attempted that. The wicked ones fiercely defended it, and they kept adding to it every day, as it was in the middle of their dwellings; the marshy ground made it easy for them and difficult for anyone who wanted to demolish it. He began fighting them with one group after another from Luʾluʾ’s companions so that they would gain practice in fighting them and learn the paths and roads in their city. He ordered Luʾluʾ to be present with a group of his companions for the battle over this dam, and he did so. Al-Muwaffaq saw in Luʾluʾ’s bravery and boldness, and in the bravery of his companions, what pleased him, and he ordered Luʾluʾ to withdraw them out of concern for them; al-Muwaffaq gave them gifts and treated them kindly. Al-Muwaffaq persisted against this dam. He fought its defenders with his own companions and Luʾluʾ’s companions and others, while the laborers worked on demolishing it. He fought the wicked one and his companions on several fronts, burning their dwellings and killing their fighters. Groups sought safety with him. The wicked one and his companions still had a remnant of lands in the area of the western river, where they had farms, fortresses, and two bridges, guarded by a group of men. Abū al-ʿAbbās marched against them, dispersed his companions from their directions, set an ambush, then fell upon them, and they were routed. Every time they headed in a direction, men came out to fight them there, and they were killed to the last man; none escaped except a fugitive. They took from their weapons what was too heavy for them to carry and cut the two bridges. Al-Muwaffaq continued fighting them over their dam until he achieved what he wanted in breaching it. When he was done with it, he resolved to meet the wicked one. He ordered the repair of ships and equipment for water and land, and instructed his son Abū al-ʿAbbās to come at the wicked one from the direction of Dār al-Muhallabī. He distributed the armies on all sides, attached the mustaʾminah to Shibl, and ordered him to exert himself in fighting the wicked one. He ordered the people that no one should advance until a black banner that he had erected over Dār al-Karmānī was moved and until a trumpet with a far-reaching sound was blown. His crossing was on Monday, three nights remaining in al-Muḥarram. Some of the people hastened and advanced toward them, and the Zanj met them, killed some of them, and drove them back to their positions. The rest of the army did not know of this because of their large numbers and the great distance between their various units. Al-Muwaffaq ordered the black banner to be moved and the trumpet to be blown, and the people advanced on land and water, one after another. The Zanj met them, having gathered and emboldened by what they had achieved against those who had rushed upon them. The army met them with sincere intentions and penetrating insight. The fighting intensified, and a great number were killed on both sides. The wicked one’s companions were routed, and al-Muwaffaq’s companions pursued them, killing and capturing. That day al-Muwaffaq’s companions became intermingled with them, and a countless number of them were killed, and a similar number drowned. Al-Muwaffaq seized the entire city, and his companions plundered it. They rescued the remaining captives—men, women, and children—and captured all the dependents of ʿAlī b. Abān al-Muhallabī, along with his two brothers al-Khalīl and Muḥammad, and their children. They were brought across to the city of al-Muwaffaqiyyah. The flight of the Zanj leader The wicked one departed with his companions, accompanied by his son Ankalāy, Sulaymān b. Jāmiʿ, and commanders from the Zanj and others, fleeing and heading to a place that the wicked one had prepared as a refuge in case he was defeated in his city. That place was on the river known as al-Sufyānī. Al-Muwaffaq’s companions had been occupied with plunder and burning. Al-Muwaffaq advanced in the shadhā boats toward Nahr al-Sufyānī, accompanied by Luʾluʾ and his companions. Al-Muwaffaq’s companions thought that he had returned to their city al-Muwaffaqiyyah, so they went back to their ships with what they had seized. Al-Muwaffaq and those with him reached the wicked one’s camp while they were in flight. Luʾluʾ and his companions pursued them until he crossed al-Sufyānī. Luʾluʾ plunged in on his horse, and his companions followed him, until he reached the river known as al-Firabrī. Luʾluʾ and his companions caught up with him and those with him, and fell upon them, routing them until they crossed Nahr al-Sufyānī, with Luʾluʾ in their tracks. They took refuge in a mountain behind it. Luʾluʾ and his companions alone continued pursuing them to this place at the end of the day. Al-Muwaffaq ordered the withdrawal, and he returned praised and honored for his action. Al-Muwaffaq took him with him and renewed for him such kindness, honor, and elevated rank as he deserved. Al-Muwaffaq returned and found none of his companions in the Zanj city, so he returned to his own city. The people rejoiced at the victory and the defeat of the Zanj and their leader. Al-Muwaffaq had been angry with his companions for disobeying his order and abandoning the positions where he had commanded them to stand. He gathered them all, rebuked them for that, and spoke harshly to them. They apologized, saying that they had thought he had withdrawn and that they had not known of his march; had they known, they would have hastened to him. Then they made a pact and swore among themselves on the spot that none of them would withdraw, when they headed toward the wicked one, until they had seized him; if he eluded them, they would remain in their place until God judged between them and him. They asked al-Muwaffaq to send back the ships in which they crossed over to the wicked one, so that the people would be cut off from returning. He thanked them, praised them, and ordered them to prepare. Al-Muwaffaq then remained until Friday, repairing what the people needed. On Friday evening he ordered the people to march to war against the wicked ones on Saturday morning. He himself went around among them, instructing each commander of his station and the place he was to head for. Al-Muwaffaq set out on Saturday, two nights remaining in Ṣafar. The people crossed over, and he ordered the ships to be sent back, and they were sent back. He marched ahead of them to the place where he estimated he would meet them. The wicked one and his companions had returned to their city after the army withdrew from them, hoping that time would draw out and the decisive battle would be averted from them. Al-Muwaffaq found that the rash ones among the horsemen of his servants and the foot soldiers had preceded the army and had fallen upon the wicked one and his companions in an onslaught that routed them. They scattered, not one of them paying heed to another. Al-Muwaffaq’s companions pursued them, killing and capturing those they caught. The wicked one was cut off with a group of the defenders among his companions, including al-Muhallabī. His son Ankalāy and Sulaymān b. Jāmiʿ parted from him, and each party headed toward a dense body of the army. The capture of Sulaymān b. Jāmiʿ Abū al-ʿAbbās had gone ahead, and he met the routed men at the place known as ʿAskar Rayḥān. His companions put the sword to them, and another group met them and also fell upon them, killing a number of them. They captured Sulaymān b. Jāmiʿ and brought him to al-Muwaffaq without any covenant or pact. The people rejoiced at his capture, and the takbīr resounded; they were certain of victory, since he had been the most effective of the wicked one’s companions. After him, Ibrāhīm b. Jaʿfar al-Hamadhānī, one of the commanders of his armies, was captured. Al-Muwaffaq ordered that they be securely bound and placed in a shadhāh boat belonging to Abū al-ʿAbbās. Then the Zanj who had separated with the wicked one launched a charge against the people that dislodged them from their positions, and they slackened. Al-Muwaffaq sensed their slackening, and he exerted himself further in seeking the wicked one. His companions followed him, and al-Muwaffaq reached the end of Nahr Abī al-Khaṣīb. The killing of the Zanj leader A bringer of good tidings met him with the news that the wicked one had been killed; another bringer of good tidings came with a hand which he said was his hand, so the report was strengthened for him. Then a servant of Luʾluʾ’s companions came galloping with the head of the wicked one. He brought it near and showed it to a group of the mustaʾminah, who recognized it. He prostrated himself to God, and the people prostrated with him. Al-Muwaffaq ordered that the head be raised on a spear, and the people looked at it and recognized it, and the clamor of praise to God increased. When the wicked one was surrounded, al-Muhallabī alone was with him, but he turned away and fled, making for Nahr al-Amīr. He threw himself into it, seeking to escape. Ankalāy had parted from his father before that and had gone toward al-Dīnārī. Al-Muwaffaq returned with the head of the wicked one before him, together with Sulaymān and his companions, to his city. A great multitude of the Zanj came to him seeking safety, and he granted them safety. News reached him of Ankalāy and al-Muhallabī, their location, and those with them among the Zanj leaders. Al-Muwaffaq sent out his companions in pursuit of them and ordered them to press them hard. When they were certain that there was no refuge, they surrendered, and they and those with them—about five thousand—were captured. He ordered that al-Muhallabī and Ankalāy be securely bound. Among those who fled was Qirṭās al-Rūmī, the one who had shot al-Muwaffaq with an arrow in his chest. He reached Rāmahurmuz, where a man recognized him and pointed him out to the governor of the district, who seized him and sent him to al-Muwaffaq, and Abū al-ʿAbbās killed him. In this year Darmawayh al-Zanjī sought safety with Abū Aḥmad. Darmawayh was one of the bravest and most heroic of the Zanj. The wicked one had sent him some time before his destruction to a place with many trees, thickets, and reed marshes, adjacent to al-Baṭīḥah. He and those with him used to waylay travelers there in light boats. When they were pursued, they entered the small, narrow canals and took refuge in the thickets. When a passage became impassable for them because of its narrowness, they carried their boats and made for the open areas, raiding the villages of al-Baṭīḥah and cutting the roads. He came upon a group from al-Muwaffaq’s camp, accompanied by women, who were returning to their homes, and he killed the men and took the women. He asked them about the news, and they told him of the killing of the wicked one, the capture of his companions and commanders, and how many of them had gone to al-Muwaffaq under safe-conduct and how he had treated them kindly. He was confounded, and saw no refuge for himself except to seek safety and pardon for his offense. He sent to request safety, and al-Muwaffaq granted it to him. He came out with all those who were with him until he reached al-Muwaffaq’s camp, and he treated them kindly and granted them safety. When Darmawayh felt secure, he openly displayed the wealth and goods that were in his possession and returned them to their owners in a public restitution. Thus his good intention became known, and al-Muwaffaq’s kindness to him increased. He ordered that letters be sent to the cities of the Muslims, proclaiming to the people of the regions that the Zanj had entered that they could return to their homelands. The people set out for that. Al-Muwaffaq remained in the city of al-Muwaffaqiyyah so that the people would feel secure through his presence. He appointed over al-Baṣrah, al-Ubullāh, and the districts of Dijlah a man among his commanders whose conduct he approved of and whose good behavior he knew, called al-ʿAbbās b. Tarkus, and ordered him to reside in al-Baṣrah. He appointed Muḥammad b. Ḥammād as judge of al-Baṣrah, al-Ubullāh, and the districts of Dijlah. He sent his son Abū al-ʿAbbās ahead to Baghdādh, accompanied by the head of the wicked one, so that the people might see it. He reached it twelve nights remaining in Jumādā al-Ūlā of this year. The emergence of the Zanj leader was on Wednesday, four nights remaining in the month of Ramaḍān in the year 255, and he was killed on Saturday, two nights remaining in Ṣafar in the year 270. His days amounted to fourteen years, four months, and six days. Poetry on the end of the Zanj state and the victory over them Many poems were composed concerning al-Muwaffaq and the Zanj. Among them are the words of Yaḥyā b. Muḥammad al-Aslamī: I say, when the bearer of good tidings came with a battle that strengthened what had been weak in Islam, May God reward the best of men for mankind, after his sanctuary was violated, with the best of rewards. He stood alone, when no helper aided God, in renewing a religion that had become worn out, In renewing a kingdom that had decayed after its glory, in taking vengeance that humiliates the enemies, In restoring buildings that had been removed and ruined, so that the tribute that had been cut off returns in full, In restoring cities that had been violated and burned repeatedly, until they had become desolate and ruined, In healing the breasts of the Muslims with a battle that stills the weeping eyes, In the Book of God being recited in every mosque, and the call of the Ṭālibids being cast down in humiliation. He turned away from his loved ones and his comfort, from the pleasures of this world, and became a warrior. It is a long poem. Others also composed much poetry on this theme. Thus ended the days of the Zanj leader, the false claimant, may God curse him.
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