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THE ORIGINS OF THE ISLAMIC STATE

of Andalusia and which lies next to France [Ar. Faranjah]. Here he carried off a wonderful table[1] which Mûsa ibn-Nuṣair, on his return in the year 96, offered as a present to al-Walîd ibn-ʿAbd-al-Malik in Damascus, who was sick at that time. When Sulaimân ibn-ʿAbd-al-Malik came to power, he demanded 100,000 dînârs from Mûsa ibn-Nuṣair; but when Yazîd ibn-al-Muhallab interceded in Mûsa's behalf, he was spared.

Ismâʿîl governor of al-Maghrib. When ʿUmar ibn-ʿAbd-al-ʿAzîz became caliph, he appointed over al-Maghrib Ismâʿîl ibn-ʿAbdallâh ibn-abi-l-Muhâjir, a freedman of the banu-Makhzûm, who behaved according to the best standards and invited the Berbers to Islâm. ʿUmar ibn-ʿAbd-al-ʿAzîz also wrote them letters to that effect, which were read to them in the different districts by Ismâʿîl. Thus did Islam prevail over al-Maghrib.

Yazîd as governor. When Yazîd ibn-ʿAbd-al-Malik assumed power, he appointed Yazîd ibn-abi-Muslim. a freedman of al-Ḥajjâj ibn-Yûsuf, over Ifrîḳiyah and al-Maghrib. The latter arrived in Ifrîḳiyah in the year 102, and had his guard of Berbers. On the hand of every guard, he inscribed the word "Guard",[2] which act displeased them and made them impatient with him. Some of them entered into a conspiracy and agreed to kill him. One evening, he went out for the sunset prayer, and they killed him in his place of worship. Yazîd then appointed Bishr ibn-Ṣafwân al-Kalbi. Bishr beheaded ʿAbdallâh ibn-Mûsa ibn-Nuṣair in revenge for Yazîd [ibn-abi-Muslim] on the ground that he was suspected of killing him and arousing people against him.

Bishr and other governors. Hishâm ibn-ʿAbd-al-Malik

  1. "Once owned by king Solomon", Marâkishi, p. 8.
  2. Ar. ḥarasi. ʿAdhâri, vol. i, p. 34.