The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

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A.I). 7:0-4] COLLECTING OF TRADITIONS 381
extent the law and custom of Ishim has been built, and A. II. loi
which incidentally also give us a clear and generally _^
authentic view of the Prophet's life itself.
Early in his reign Yezid was persuaded to nominate as liisha
successor his brother Hisham, and after him his own son
Al-VVelid, then but eleven years of age. Homage was done
to both accordingly throughout the Empire. A few years
later he repented that he had not given the succession
nominated
uccessor.
immediately to his son ; but did not venture on a change.
Yezid had even a greater passion for the harim than any Yezid's
of his ^ predecessors, but it was more fixed and constant.
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VVe
are told of a slave-girl Habbaba and a songstress Sallama,
whose influence was supreme at Court. Even Ibn Hubeira
was said to have obtained his high place through them.
His attachment to the former was so great that he did not
many days survive her death. He had retired with her for
P=^"'o" '^o''
_ ,, _ a slave-girl
a season to a garden retreat in Palestine, and there casting
playfully a grape-stone into her mouth, it choked her, and
she died upon the spot. For three days he clung weeping
to her relics. At last he was persuaded to let her be buried.
The funeral service was performed by his brother IMaslama,
who feared that if the Caliph were seen by the people, they
would be scandalised at the extravagance of his grief. He
never recovered composure or self-control, and died within
a week. The cry of Sallama, who was tending his last
moments, was the first intimation of the fact to his famil\-
and attendants.^
The romantic tale of Habbaba thro-.vs a strange light on the Ron al
/larlm, and the conditions of its domestic life. Same years before his
accession, when on pilgrimage to Mecca, Yezid purchased her for 4000
pieces of gold ;
but his brother Suleiman, then Caliph, was displeased
at the purchase ; and so he returned her to the merchant, who then sold
her to an Egyptian. When YezTd succeeded to the throne, his wife, a
granddaughter of 'Othman, said one day to him,— "Is there yet any
one thing in the world, my love, left thee to desire?" "Yes," he
answered, "and it is Habbaba." "So she sent to Egypt and bought
the object of his heart's desire. Then having adorned her as a bride,
she seated her on a couch in an inner chamber behind a curtain, and
called her husband; and as they talked, again she asked Ms there
aught yet in the world left for thee to long after ? *
' Yea, and thou
knowest it all thyself.' So she drew the curtain aside, and saying
'Yes, I know it; there sits Habbaba waiting for thee,' she arose and
left them together. And Yezid loved his wife all the more for it."