The qadi's ruling against al-Mansur

قضاء القاضي على المنصور

between 754 and 775 CE · c. 137 AH

Al-Mansur came to Medina while Muhammad ibn Imran al-Talhi held its judgeship; the camel-drivers sued the caliph over something and the qadi summoned him to court. Al-Mansur attended with al-Rabi'; the judge did not rise for him but let down his robe and sat cross-legged, then called the claimants and ruled for them against the caliph. When it ended al-Mansur said, 'May God reward you well for your religion — I have granted you ten thousand dinars.' In the same vein he wrote to Sawwar ibn Abdallah, qadi of Basra, ordering him to hand a disputed plot to a commander; Sawwar refused absent proof, and al-Mansur exclaimed, 'By God I have filled it with justice — my judges now return me to the right' ¹.

Summary

al-Suyuti, in Tarikh al-Khulafa, reports that al-Mansur came to Medina while Muhammad ibn Imran al-Talhi was its judge. The cameleers complained to al-Mansur about a matter, and the judge wrote to him asking him to attend and to give them justice. ¹

The session

al-Mansur attended, together with al-Rabi. The judge did not stand up for him; instead he loosened his cloak and sat with his arms around his knees. He then called the litigants, who made their claims, and he ruled for them against the caliph. When he had finished, al-Mansur said to him: "May God reward you for your religion with the best reward," and ordered that ten thousand dinars be given to him. ¹

A similar report from Basra

The author gives a similar report: al-Mansur wrote to Sawwar ibn Abdallah, judge of Basra, asking him to hand over a disputed piece of land to the commander. Sawwar refused until evidence was produced. al-Mansur said that he had filled the land with justice, and that his judges were turning him back to the truth. ¹

The date is approximate: during al-Mansur's caliphate, between 137 and 158 AH.

Mosque of the Two Qiblas

The Banu Salama mosque of Medina, named 'of the two qiblas' because the qibla was turned in it: Ibn Zabala reports that a man of Banu Salama reached them at dawn prayer with word of the change and they turned mid-prayer to the Kaaba — while al-Zamakhshari and the sira tradition make the change fall at zuhr when the Prophet had prayed two rak'as with his Companions, then turned to face the Mizab, the men and women exchanging places; Ibn Hajar reconciles the reports, and al-Majd notes that on Ibn Zabala's version Quba mosque would better deserve the name. Ibn Zabala ascribes the mosque to Banu Sawad ibn Ghanm of Banu Salama by al-Midhad, against al-Matari's ascription to Banu Haram.

The qadi's ruling against al-Mansur

At a glance

In time

In space

Summary

The session

A similar report from Basra

Connections

People and things also explored

Sources

Time

Mosque of the Two Qiblas