Ma'n ibn Za'ida's Engraving on the Caliphal Seal

نقش معن بن زائدة على خاتم الخلافة

Kufa

Ma'n ibn Za'ida engraved on the caliphal seal and took money from Kufa's kharaj. Umar's order to al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba: 'obey my messenger in him' — and before the seated assembly the messenger had a jami'a put on his neck and dragged hard, then jailed him in the reed-prison. Ma'n sent home for his she-camel, his jariya and his Qutwani abaya, rode out by night, lay hid till the search died, and came to Umar waking the tahajjud-men for dawn prayer — 'I come repentant' — 'You?!' After the prayer Umar put it to the assembly: 'cut his hand', said one; 'crucify him', said another; Ali said 'a man lied a lie — his punishment is in his skin', so Umar flogged him hard and jailed him. A Qurashi friend begged his release — 'you reminded me of the stabbing: bring Ma'n' — beaten again and returned to jail, till he told every friend 'do not mention me to the Commander'. Later Umar remembered, shared with him, and let him go.