Mustadrak al-Hakim — Hadith 6251

Muhammad bin Umar (al-Waqidi) said: My father informed me, on the authority of Yahya bin Imran bin Uthman bin al-Arqam, who said: I know well the day when the idea (of taking this house) arose in the heart of Abu Ja'far (al-Mansur). He was performing sa'i between al-Safa and al-Marwah during a Hajj he performed, while we were on the roof of the house. He passed beneath us so closely that, had I wished to take off his cap, I could have done so, and he kept looking at us from the time he descended into the valley until he climbed up onto al-Safa. Then, when Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Hasan (al-Nafs al-Zakiyyah) rose in revolt in Madinah, Abdullah bin Uthman bin al-Arqam was among those who had pledged allegiance to him, though he did not go out with him. Abu Ja'far used this against him and wrote to his governor in Madinah to imprison him and put him in fetters. Then he sent a man from Kufah called Shihab bin Abd Rabb, and wrote with him to the governor that whatever this man said should be done. Shihab came to Abdullah bin Uthman in the prison, while he was an old man of more than eighty years and had grown weary of the fetters and the prison. Shihab said: "Would you like me to rescue you from this hardship, and you sell me the House of al-Arqam? For the Commander of the Faithful wants it. Perhaps, if you sell it to him, I may speak to him about you and he may pardon you." He said: "It is an endowment, but whatever right I have in it is his; however, my brothers and others are partners with me in it." Shihab said: "You are only responsible for yourself; give us your right and you will be free of it." So he had witnesses attest and wrote a deed of sale of his share for seventeen thousand dinars. Then Shihab pursued his brothers, and the abundance of money tempted them, so they too sold their shares. Thus the house came into the possession of Abu Ja'far and of those to whom he granted it as a fief. Then (the Caliph) al-Mahdi gave it to al-Khayzuran, the mother of Musa and Harun; she (re)built it, and it became known by her name. Then it came into the possession of Ja'far bin Musa al-Hadi. Then the associates of al-Shatawi and al-Adani lived in it. Then Ghassan bin Abbad bought most of it from the descendants of Ja'far bin Musa. As for the House of al-Arqam in Madinah, among Banu Zurayq, it was a land grant from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).