Page:Baladhuri-Hitti1916.djvu/361

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The Conquest of Egypt and al-Maghrib
345

and give out whatever he demands of thee; thereby thou wouldst be spared his severity. What is concealed has been revealed.[1]" Thus were ʿAmr's possessions confiscated by ʿUmar.

Al-Madâʾini from ʿÎsa ibn-Yazîd:—When Muḥammad ibn-Maslamah divided with ʿAmr ibn-al-ʿÂṣi his possessions, ʿAmr made this remark, "An age in which the son of Ḥantamah[2] treats us in this manner is certainly an evil age. Al-ʿÂṣi used to put on silk garments with brocade borders!" "Hush," said Muḥammad, "had it not been for this age of ibn-Ḥantamah which thou hatest, thou wouldst be found bending in the court-yard of thy house, at the feet of a goat, whose abundance of milk would please thee and scarcity would displease thee."[3] "I beg thee by Allah," exclaimed ʿAmr, "report not what I have just uttered to ʿUmar. A conversation is always confidential." Muḥammad replied, "So long as ʿUmar lives, I shall not mention anything that took place between us."

Egypt taken by force. ʿAmr an-Nâḳid from ʿAbdallâh ibn-Hubairah:—Egypt was taken by force.

ʿAmr from ibn-Anʿam's grandfather (who witnessed the conquest of Egypt):—Egypt was taken by force without covenant or contract.

  1. Freytag, Prov., vol. i, p. 160, number 33.
  2. ʿUmar ibn-al-Khaṭṭâb's mother; Nawâwi, p. 447.
  3. Caetani, vol. iv, pp. 618–619.