The Abu Tutayna Affair

Abd Allah ibn Abd Allah ibn al-Ahtham, known as Abu Hayyan, was Qutayba's deputy over Merv whenever Qutayba went on campaign. He wrote to al-Hajjaj denouncing Qutayba and informing him of the money that had come into Qutayba's hands. ¹

Bashir, one of the Banu al-Ahtham, warned Qutayba: "You have grown too familiar with Abd Allah, and he is a jealous schemer. I do not trust that he will depose you." Qutayba replied that he had said this out of envy for his cousin. Bashir said: "Then let my excuse stand with you." ¹

al-Hajjaj folded his letter to Qutayba. The messenger came, stopped at the postal station in Merv and passed it by without coming to Abd Allah. Abd Allah sensed danger and fled to Syria. For a time he sold wine and linen goods, carrying a bundle on his neck. Then he put a rag and some cotton over one eye and bound it, took the name Abu Tina, and sold oil. ¹

He remained in this state until al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik died and Sulayman took power. He then threw off the rag and gave a sermon congratulating Sulayman, in which he attacked al-Hajjaj and Qutayba. People dispersed saying: "Abu Tina the oil-seller is the most eloquent of people." ¹

When Ibn al-Ahtham's letter reached Qutayba, he struck at the cousins and sons of Bashir and killed nine men of them, Bashir among them. Bashir said: "Remember my excuse to you." Qutayba said: "You put one man forward and held another back, O enemy of God," and he killed them all. ¹

Waki' ibn Abi Sud was over the Banu Tamim in Khurasan, and Qutayba dismissed him. When they were killed, he said: "May God kill me if I do not kill him." He would not pray the noon or afternoon prayers and said: "How can I pray to a Lord who let most of us be killed, children among them, and did not grow angry for them?" ¹

Needs an additional source: the data gives no date for the event.