Iyas Ibn Muawiyah Al-Muzani
Encyclopedia
Iyas Ibn Muawiyah Al-Muzani (full name, Abû Wâthîlet Iyâs ibn Mu’âwiyet ibn Korrah) was a tabi'i Qadi (judge) in the 2nd century AH who lived in Basra
(modern day Iraq
). He was renowned for possessing a form of cleverness which became a favorite topic in Arabic folk-lore.
relates a story about Iyas al-Muzani, that he once heard a dog bark and he declared that the beast was tied to the brink of a well; he judged so because the bark was followed by an echo. Another time two men came before him, the complainant claimed money received by the defendant who denied the debt. Iyas asked the plaintiff where he had given it, and was answered, "Under a certain tree." The judge told him to go there by way of refreshing his memory and in his absence asked the defendant if his adversary could have reached it. "Not yet," said the rogue, forgetting himself; "it's a long way off" - which answer convicted him.
Seeing three women act upon a sudden alarm, he said, "One of them is pregnant, another is nursing, and the third is a virgin." He explained his diagnosis as follows: "In time of danger persons lay their hands on what they most prize. Now I saw the pregnant woman in her flight place her hand on her belly, which showed me she was with child; the nurse placed her hand on her bosom, whereby I knew that she was suckling, and the third covered her parts with her hand proving to me that she was a maid."
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
(modern day Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
). He was renowned for possessing a form of cleverness which became a favorite topic in Arabic folk-lore.
Stories of Iyas al-Muzani
Al-MaydaniAl-Maydani
al-Shaykh 'Abd al-Ghanī Dimashqī al-Maydānī al-Hanafī was a 10th century Hanafi jurist from Damascus .He penned a four volume commentary on the famous Mukhtasar of al-Quduri titled al-Lubāb – the full name of which is al-Lubāb fī Sharh al-Kitāb 'alá al-Mukhtasar al-Mushtahir bi-Ism "al-Kitāb"...
relates a story about Iyas al-Muzani, that he once heard a dog bark and he declared that the beast was tied to the brink of a well; he judged so because the bark was followed by an echo. Another time two men came before him, the complainant claimed money received by the defendant who denied the debt. Iyas asked the plaintiff where he had given it, and was answered, "Under a certain tree." The judge told him to go there by way of refreshing his memory and in his absence asked the defendant if his adversary could have reached it. "Not yet," said the rogue, forgetting himself; "it's a long way off" - which answer convicted him.
Seeing three women act upon a sudden alarm, he said, "One of them is pregnant, another is nursing, and the third is a virgin." He explained his diagnosis as follows: "In time of danger persons lay their hands on what they most prize. Now I saw the pregnant woman in her flight place her hand on her belly, which showed me she was with child; the nurse placed her hand on her bosom, whereby I knew that she was suckling, and the third covered her parts with her hand proving to me that she was a maid."