ABU DULAMA

Abu Dulama Zand ibn al-Jaun (d. 161 AH) was a person celebrated for his wit, his amusing adventures, his acquaintance with general literature and his talent for poetry.

Abu al-Faraj ibn al-Jawzi says in his book 'Tanwir al-Ghabash fi fadl as-Suddan wa al-Habash' (Darkness lit up being a treatise on the eminent merit of the Negro and Abyssinian races', that Aby Dulama was a black slave well known for his wit, relating this story:

Caliph Abu Hafaar al-Mansur had a female cousin who died and whose body he accompanied to the graveyard. He sat down there near hear burial and showed great saddness. At that same moment Abu Dulama came and sat alongside the Caliph. Pointing at the grave the Caliph asked Abu Dulama, 'Who do you think is suited for this place?' [Meaning who do you think should have died in her place so that she may have lived. This was an expression of his sorrow, that he didn’t want his cousin who he loved dearly to have died]. Abu Dulama replied, 'The commander of the faitful's cousin' [Meaning that the same woman who died, the caliph's cousin, is the only one suited to be in the grave, as her death was ordaied by Allah]. Upon hearing this, the Caliph was
siezed with such a fit of laughter that he fell backwards. Upon recovering the Caliph said to Abu Dulama 'My friend, you have exposed me to shame before the people' [Meaning that the Caliph knew that what Allah willed would happen, and that nothing he or anyone else could do could bring back his deceased cousin, and that he was merely expressing his sadness].

One of Abu Dulama's 'adventures' is recorded in the 'History of Baghdad':
Ruh ibn Hatim al Muhallabi was the governor or Basra; he was leading an army and was accompanied by Abu Dulama. When confronting the troops one of the troops came forward and in a single attack successfully attacked and killed a hanful of Ruh's soilders. When Ruh told Abu Dulama to go forward and
fight, Abu Dulama asked him 'why?’

Ruh replied, 'Do you receive pay from the sultan to fight for him? Why not go forward and attack that enemy of God?'.

Abu Dulama said, 'If I go forward, oh leader, I shall be sent to join those who are dead and gone; and the condition that I made with the sultan is that I would fight for him, but not die for him'.

Ruh replied, 'By Allah! You will go forward and try to kill him, or take him prisoner, or be killed yourself!'.

Perceiving him to be earnest, Abu Dulama said, 'You know that this day will be the first of my days in the next world [Meaning that I will die today in battle]; I must therefore have provisions for a long journey'.

Ruh gave orders and Abu Dulama was provided with pastry containing a fowl, a piece of meat, and a skin of drink, and some comforts for the desert. With provision, Abu Dulama went forward with his sword in his hand, and being an excellent horseman in the hippodrome; he wheeled his horse around in
different directions and brandished his lance with great skill. His
adversary, the soldier who killed many of Ruh's soldiers, watched him for some time, and then rushed towards him where there was a cloud of dust as night was overshadowing the two.

Abu Dulama then sheathed his sword and said to the man, 'God forgive you! Do not be so hasty to attack me, but hear what I have to say. I have come to you on important businesses.

The soldier asked, 'What business?’

Abu Dulama said, 'I am Abu Dulama'

The soldier then interrupted him saying, 'I have heard you speak, but God preserve you, what could have induced you to come against me, after seeing so many of your people fall at my hands?'.

Abu Dulama said, 'I come neither to kill you or fight with you, but having observed your skill and activity, I longed to make you my friend; and I will tell you what is better than us fighting one another'.

The soldier said, -'Carry on'.

Abu Dulama said, -'I see that you are tired and must be both hungry and thirsty'.

The soldier said, -'That is true'.

Abu Dulama said, 'What are Khorasan and Iraq to us (the two nations which were fighting each other)? I have here some bread, meat, drink and a desert such as any man would desire; and there is a pond of fresh water not so far from us. Let us go there and have a meal together, and I will sing you some songs which the Arabs of the desert used to sing to their camels'.

The soldier said, -'I can think of nothing better to do'.

Abu Dulama then said, -'This is what we will do, I will retreat and you should pursue me, this was we will escape the crowd of fighters around us'.

They escaped uninjured by those battling one another and the two men moved together in the best humor possible.

[Ref: Wafatat al Ayan, Ibn Khallikhan, Vol 1]