Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/224

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SULAIMÂN-IBN-ʾABD-EL-MÁLIK.
195

THE REIGN OF SULAIMÂN-IBN-ʾABD-EL-
MÁLIK-IBN-MARWÂN.

AMONG his other good deeds, it is related that a man came before him and cried, "O Commander of the Faithful! I adjure thee by Allâh, and the Izhân (notification)!" "As to 'I adjure thee by Allâh!'" said Sulaimân, "verily we understand that, but what dost thou mean by the Izhân (notification)?" The man replied, "These are the words of the Most High: 'The Muazh-zhin (crier) will proclaim amongst them that the curse of God is upon oppressors.'"[1] "What is thy wrong?" asked Sulaimân. The man answered, "Thy vicegerent So-and-so has taken Such-and-such a village away from me by force."

Then Sulaimân descended from his throne, and turned back the carpet, and laying his cheek upon the ground, said, "By Allâh! I will not lift up my

  1. El-Kurân, Sûr. vii., V. 42. The Muazh-zhin, or "crier," is supposed by some to allude to the angel Isrâfil.