When Al-Hakam ibn Hisham ibn Abdur-Rahman Ad-Dakhil assumed power in Al-Andalus, a conflict arose between him and the people of Cordoba due to matters they disapproved of (from the Ameer Al-Hakam, Ameer means leader, here it means Sultan/King). The scholars joined the opposition and denounced his actions… The ruler then prevailed over them with his army, killing those who were killed, while Allah willed that some would escape, so those who fled, fled!
Among the scholars “wanted” by the Sultan’s sword was the jurist Imam Talut ibn Abdul-Jabbar, a student of Imam Malik and one of the prominent scholars. He fled from Al-Hakam’s oppression and hid with his Jewish neighbor for an entire year.
The Jewish neighbor would serve him and show him the utmost generosity every day. After a full year passed, Imam Talut grew weary of hiding. He summoned the Jewish man and thanked him for his kindness, saying: “I have resolved to leave tomorrow and go to Minister Abu Al-Bassam, as he studied the Quran under me and I taught him knowledge. I have rights over him through teaching and companionship, and he has influence with Al-Hakam. Perhaps he will intercede for me so that I may be granted safety and left alone.”
The Jewish man said: “My master, do not do this… I fear Al-Hakam’s violence against you.” The Jewish man began swearing every oath, saying: “Even if you stayed with me for the rest of your life, I would never tire of you.”
But Talut insisted on leaving… He left secretly at night until he reached the Minister’s house and sought permission to enter. The Minister granted him permission… When he entered, the Minister welcomed him, brought him close to sit, and asked where he had been during this time. So he told him his story with the Jewish man.
Then Imam Talut said to the minister Abu Al-Bassam: “Intercede for me with Al-Hakam so that he may grant me safety”… The minister promised him this, then immediately went to the Ameer Al-Hakam and assigned guards to watch over Talut. When Minister Abu Al-Bassam entered upon Ameer Al-Hakam, he said to him: “What does the Sultan think of a fat ram that has stood at his feeding trough for a year?”
Al-Hakam replied: “Heavy meat, what’s the news?”
He said: “Talut is with me.”
Al-Hakam said: “Rise and bring him to us quickly.”
When Talut was brought, Al-Hakam said: “O Talut! Tell me, if your father or son owned this house, would you have received the honor and kindness that I showed you? Have I ever rejected any request from you or others? Did I not do such and such? Did I not walk in your wife’s funeral procession and return with you to your house? And other acts of respect I showed you? What drove you to respond to my goodness this way? Why were you not satisfied with me except by seeking to remove my authority, attempting to shed my blood, and violating my sanctity?”
Talut replied: “I find no statement more likely to save me at this time than being truthful with you. I disliked you for Allah alone. All that you did for me did not benefit you with me, in exchange for your worldly matters, and I acknowledge this – may Allah reform you.”
The Ameer’s anger subsided and he calmed down, saying: “By Allah, I summoned you while there was no punishment in the world that I hadn’t considered choosing for you, but I have been prevented from harming you. I inform you that the One (Almighty Allah) for whose sake you disliked me has turned me away from you. So depart with Allah’s safety, go wherever you wish, and bring your needs to me. You will not lack goodness from me. I wish what happened had not happened… But where did Abu Al-Bassam find you?!”
Talut said: “I revealed myself to him trustingly, as I had a favor over him – (I was his teacher,) I taught him the Quran and Balagha (a science of the Arabic language) – and I asked his permission to intercede for me with you, and what you saw happened (he betrayed me and handed me over to you).”
Al-Hakam asked him: “Where were you before you went to him?” Talut told him about the Jewish man.
The Ameer lowered his head… Then called his minister Abu Al-Bassam and said to him: “What an evil man you are, may Allah kill you, you ill-omened one! A Jewish man from the enemies of our faith honored him and protected him for the sake of knowledge and religion, risking himself for him, while you, O man of religion, betrayed him when he came to you!”
“You ill-omened one, did you not fulfill the right of his teaching you?!
Did you not know he is among the best people of your faith?!
And you wanted to increase us in what we stand upon of evil revenge!
Get out of my sight… may Allah make you ugly…
May Allah not show us your face on the Day of Resurrection – if you even have a face!
And I do not want to see you after today, you ill-omened one!”
Then he dismissed him from the ministry and restricted his provisions…
Years passed, and people saw this hypocritical, lying minister in poverty and humiliation. When asked, “What happened to you and what has befallen you?”
He replied: “The prayer of the jurist Talut against me was answered.”
Al-Hakam wrote a letter exempting the Jewish man from the jizya tax on his property, and increased his favors. When the Jewish man saw this, he embraced Islam.
As for Talut, he remained honored by the Ameer until his death. Al-Hakam attended his funeral (upon his death) and praised him for his truthfulness, sincerity, and knowledge…
📚 This story was narrated by Al-Dhahabi in Siyar A’lam Al-Nubala 8/254 and by Qadhi Iyadh in Tartib Al-Madarik 3/340… and others.
Notes:
Abul-Aas Al-Hakam ibn Hisham ibn Abdur-Rahman Ad-Dakhil was the Umayyad Ameer (King) of Cordoba from 796 until 822 [12 June 796– 21 May 822] in Al-Andalus (Moorish Iberia). He ruled for 26 years. Shaikh Talut bin Abdul Jabbar was from the major scholars of Al-Andalus (Spain), it is said that he was from the students of Imam Malik (May Allah have mercy upon them all).
(-Translated by Mohammed bin Thajammul Hussain Manna)
Saheehus-Seerah 