Day 3

The lesson

1. On his first day in Samarra, al-Mutawakkil had him held in Khan al-Sa'alik, a caravan lodging, before moving him to a house; Salih ibn Sa'id saw this as meant to humiliate him (al-Irshad). He lived in Samarra under watch for twenty years and nine months (al-Irshad; Tarikh Baghdad of al-Khatib al-Baghdadi).
2. Al-Mufid writes that the caliph honoured him outwardly while plotting against him in secret, and that none of his plots succeeded (al-Irshad). Al-Mutawakkil wished to show him as a courtier and lessen his standing, while keeping him under surveillance (I'lam al-Wara).
3. Informers told al-Mutawakkil that the Imam's house held weapons and letters from the Shia. Soldiers found him alone in a room floored with sand, in a woollen garment, reciting the Qur'an, and brought him so to the caliph, who sat drinking. Offered wine, he said his flesh and blood had never been mixed with it. Made to recite poetry, he recited verses on the mighty who passed from palaces to graves; the caliph wept and had the wine removed, and sent him home with honour (Muruj al-Dhahab of al-Mas'udi; Tadhkirat al-Khawass).

Questions

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Questions are written by AI from the lesson’s facts, and each answer was checked against its fact.