Page:Baladhuri-Hitti1916.djvu/177

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al-Aswad al-ʿAnsi
161

name according to some was Bâdhâm, and according to others, Bâdhâm was dead by this time and his successor was one Dâdhawaih.[1] The latter view is more authentic). Dâdhawaih accepted Islâm.

Al-Aswad slain. Ḳais met Thât ibn-dhi-l-Ḥirrah[2]-l-Ḥimyari and won him over to his side. Many missionaries were sent by Dâdhawaih among al-Abnâʾ who accepted Islâm and conspired to take al-Aswad unawares and slay him. They plotted with his wife who hated him, and she pointed out a gutter leading to his place. Through this they entered before daybreak. Some say they dug a hole through the wall of his house, through a crack,[3] and found him sleeping under the influence of drink. Ḳais slew him and he began to bellow like a bull, so much so that his guard scared by the noise asked, "What is the matter with Raḥmân al-Yaman?'" "The inspiration," answered his wife, "is upon him." Thus they were quieted. Ḳais severed his head, and, early in the morning, climbed the city wall and shouted, "Allah is great! Allah is great! I testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muḥammad is the Prophet of Allah, and that al-Aswad, the false Prophet, is the enemy of Allah!" As the followers of al-Aswad gathered, Ḳais cast the head to them and they dispersed with the exception of a few. At this the men of Ḳais opened the door and put the rest of the followers of al-ʿAnsi to the sword, and none escaped except those who accepted Islâm.

According to some reports, however, it was Fairûz ibn-ad-Dailami who killed al-Aswad, Ḳais only giving the last stroke and severing his head. Certain scholars assert that

  1. "Dâdhûwaih " in Nawâwi, p. 232.
  2. Ḥajar, vol. i, p. 345: "Bâb ibn-dhi-l-Jirrah".
  3. Caetani, vol. ii, p. 683; Ṭabari, vol. i, p. 1865; Fida, vol. i, p. 155; Diyârbakri, vol. ii, p. 173.