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THE ORIGINS OF THE ISLAMIC STATE

as-Simṭ appeared before ʿUmar saying, "'Commander of the Believers', I see thou dost not separate even captives from one another, yet thou hast separated me from my son. Change his position, if thou pleasest, to Syria, or mine to al-Kûfah." "Well," said ʿUmar, "I shall change his position to Syria." Accordingly, Shuraḥbîl took up his abode in Ḥimṣ with his father.