al-Zafir the Qadi

Al-Zafir Muhammad b. Isma'il the qadi, first of the Banu 'Abbad to rise in al-Andalus; he advanced at Seville until he held its judgeship, governing well and kindly so that hearts inclined to him. When Yahya b. 'Ali b. Hammud al-Hasani — the ill-famed al-Mu'tali, master of Cordoba — marched to besiege Seville, its notables gathered to the qadi and asked him to lead them out, crown him and put affairs in his hands; he did. They fell upon Yahya, who came out drunk and was killed; the affair was settled for al-Zafir, who then took Cordoba and other cities. ¹