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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Shi'ah Are (the Real) Ahl Al-sunnah Chapter 17 :the Abbaside Ruler Tests the Scholars of His Time The Abbaside caliph Abu Ja`far al-Mansour was one of the most shrewd men who knew how to control people's minds and buy their conscience. He tried his best to spread his influence and expand the area under his control by either enticing or terrorizing others (he followed the policy of "the carrot and the stick").

We have already come to know his cunning and conniving from the way he dealt with Malik after the latter had been whipped by the governor of Medina. This leads us to conclude that there was a very strong tie between Imam Malik and al-Mansour a long time before that incident took place. Malik had, in fact, met al-Mansour fifteen years before the meeting to which we referred above.

It took place when al-Mansour had just taken control of the reins of government.[^80] Among what al-Mansour had said then to Malik was the following: "O Abu Abdullah!

I have seen a vision." "May Allah grant success to the commander of the faithful to reach the right decision," Malik responded, adding, "and may He inspire him to utter guidance; so, what did the commander of the faithful see?" Abu Ja`far al-Mansour said, "I saw that I should seat you in this house so you will be one of the custodians of the sacred House of Allah, and to oblige people to learn from you, and to get the residents of various countries send you their emissaries and messengers during the pilgrimage in order to guide them to what is right of their creed and to righteousness, Insha-Allah, for knowledge is with the people of Medina, and you are the most learned among them..."[^81] Ibn Qutaybah says that when Abu Ja`far al-Mansour took hold of the reins of caliphate, he met with Malik ibn Anas, Ibn Abu Thuayb, and Ibn Sam`an, all in one meeting, then he asked them, "What sort of a man am I in your view?

Am I a fair imam or an imam of oppression?" Malik said to him, "O commander of the faithful! I plead to you in the Name of Allah, the Most Exalted, and I seek intercession to you through Muhammad and his kinship to you, to excuse me from having to discuss it." Al-Mansour said, "The commander of the faithful has excused you." Ibn Sam`an answered him by saying, "You, by Allah, are the best of men, O commander of the faithful!