Death of al-Ma'mun

al-Ma'mun died on Thursday, thirteen nights before the end of Rajab 218 AH, at the spring of al-Badidun known as al-Qashira, after he had taken fifteen forts of the Byzantines. ¹

al-Mas'udi, in "Muruj al-Dhahab", relates that he dropped a dirham into clear water and read its inscription, then a fish appeared, and he offered a prize to whoever would bring it out. When it was brought out it slipped away and splashed him. He said: "It is cooling now," and a shivering came upon him, and in the morning he was crying out: "The cold, the cold!" Ibn Masawayh and Bakhtishu' did not know his ailment. ¹

al-Mas'udi also relates that he asked captive Byzantines what al-Qashira meant, and he was told: "Stretch your legs." It is also said that the name of the place in Arabic is al-Raqqa, and that he used to avoid staying at al-Raqqa for fear of death. Then he died, and he was carried to Tarsus and buried there. ¹