-No, by Allah, we did not know.

-No, by Allah, we did not know. -Al-Rashid taught me that. -How was that while al-Rashid killed these household? -He killed them for power, for power is blind. Then al-Mamun related that to them, saying: One year I went with him (al-Rashid) to perform the hajj. When he arrived in Medina, he said: Let no man from its inhabitants or from the Meccans whether they are of the children of the Emigrants and the Ansar or of the Banu Hashim unless he makes me know his lineage and his family.

The delegates came to him one by one. They made the chamberlain know their lineage. Harun gave them permission (to meet him) and gave them gifts according to their rank and position. One day al-Fedl b. al-Rabi, his chamberlain, walked towards him and said to him: There is a man at the door; he claims that he is Musa b. Jafar b. Muhammed b. Ali b. al-Husayn b. Ali b. Abi Talib. When Harun heard of that, he ordered those sitting in his gathering to cling to respect and calmness.

Then he said to his chamberlain: Permit him; and let him not dismount except on my carpet. The Imam, peace be on him, walked towards (Harun). Al-Mamun described him, saying: Surely he was an old man; worship exhausted him. He looked like an old, small (water) skin; prostration injured his face. When Harun saw him, he rose for him. The Imam wanted to dismount, but al-Rashid shouted: No by Allah, (you should not dismount) except on my carpet. So the chamberlain prevented him from dismounting.

We looked at him with admiration and magnification. He walked riding his mount to the carpet. The chamberlains and the leading figures of the people surrounded him. Harun received him. He kissed him on the face and the eye. He took him by the hand and seated him in the front of his gathering. He asked him about his conditions, talked with him, and said to him: -O Abu al-Hasan, how may (persons) are dependent on you? -Over five hundreds. -Are they your children?

-Most of them are followers and servants. As for my children, they are thirty and some. -Why do you not marry the women to their cousins? -The hand falls short of that (lit. I do not have money). -What about the country estate? -It sometimes produces and sometimes does not produce. -Are you indebted? -Yes. -How much? -About ten thousand dinars. -Cousin, I will give you an amount of money to marry your children and to plant your country estates. -You have linked your womb (relatives).

Allah has thanked you for this beautiful intention.