T h e B l a c k S t o n e 23 Al-Sayyida (mocking ibn al-Mu‘taz): Wasn’t the money you took enough for you? Abullah ibn al-Mu‘taz (To al-Sayyida): Since the murder of my father, Caliph al-Mu‘taz, the State has been in decline. Our victories have turned to defeats everywhere at the hands of the Qaramatians. Instead of engaging your son with learning and attainment of knowledge and progress, you indulged him in satisfying his whims and desires. The whole State is now run by women and servants. Could anyone believe that you appointed Tuman, the maid, as Chief of the Diwan of Justice? You managed to ruin everything! The Treasury has been bankrupted because of your actions! The Muslims are divided because of you! Al-Sayyida: Was it us who killed your father, al-Mu‘taz? No. It was his own Turkic soldiers who did it. And now, when you are in my house, and in my grasp, you dare accuse me of this nonsense? Al-Sayyida (talking to Mu’nis al-Khadim): Mu’nis, kill him.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTg0NzAy