In the year 131/748f. the rebellion which was to overthrow the Umayyad dynasty had already been launched. The ‘Abbāsid army was advancing on Iraq, while the architect of the revolution, Abū Muslim (d. 137/755), remained in Marw, effectively ruling Khurāsān. His exercise of his power was nevertheless challenged – if only morally – by a local goldsmith (sāigh), one Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Maymun. This goldsmith went into the presence of Abu Muslim and addressed him in these words: ‘I see nothing more meritorious I can undertake in God's behalf than to wage holy war against you. Since I lack the strength to do it with my hand, I will do it with my tongue. But God will see me, and in Him I hate you’. Abu Muslim killed him. Centuries later, his tomb was still known and visited in the ‘inner city’ of Marw.

We do not need to concern ourselves with the origins or historicity of this story. It suffices that Abū Muslim killed the goldsmith, or had him killed, and that it was the religio-political stance of the goldsmith that brought this upon him. Nor need we concern ourselves with Abū Muslim's side of the story, except to note that a certain irritation on his part is understandable – this was, we are told, the third such visit he had received from the goldsmith.