2.9.4 - Qassum

Then in al-Durrah al-Fakhirah he says that this shaykh was always away from the country at the time of the Pilgrimage. He was seen there by a group of people from Seville who were also performing the rite.

One day I was with him for the noon prayer at the Mosque of ’Udais, when he noticed a large company of people. When he asked me what they were about I told him that the judge had gathered them together to agree on the appointment of a new muhtasib (accountant) to supervise their affairs; they had agreed that it should be al-Irnaq. When he heard this he smiled and said, ’After I have prayed the noon prayer they will find that someone they have not chosen has been set over them.’ I asked who it might be and he replied that I would find out after the prayer.

Then I prayed the prayer with him and when we had finished the judge announced that he had decided to appoint al-Talabi to the post. Then he departed. The Shaykh said to me, ’You see, he dealt with them as an intelligent man deals with his wife; he consults with her, but does not necessarily act in accordance with her views.