and holy cities, Mekkah and el-Medînah; and it is said that he held in high esteem a certain man named Ibrahîm-ibn-Muhammad-ibn-Talhah, by whom he was accompanied to Damascus, on his return thither to visit ʾAbd-el-Málik, and of whom he said to the Amîr, "I have brought thee, O Commander of the Faithful! a noble, well-born, learned, and humane man from the Hijáz, with his knowledge of the divine laws and excellence in counsel. And by Allâh! there is not his equal in the Hijáz. And upon thy head be it, O Commander of the Faithful! if thou dealest not with him according to his merit."
"Who is he? O Abu-Muhammad !" inquired ʾAbd-el-Málik. And when el-Hajjâj told him, "Ibrahîm-ibn-Muhammad-ibn-Talhah," he exclaimed, "O Abu-Muhammad! of a truth thou hast recalled to our mind an imperative duty. Give him leave to enter."
And when he came in, the Amîr commanded him to sit down in the most honourable place in the
Council, and said to him, "Verily, el-Hajjâj has
the ground, and a current of water turned over it. One historian states that el-Hásan, el-Básry, on hearing of the death of el-Hajjâj, made a prostration in thanksgiving to God, saying, "O my God! Thou hast caused him to die; let also his example die from among us."
