Abu Abdallah al-Salmasi

Abu 'Abdallah al-Salmasi; a trustworthy man famous for doing good, supporting the poor and constant almsgiving — he had been offered the official testimony post and refused. He heard Ibn Hayawayh, al-Daraqutni and Ibn Shahin; the source of Abu'l-Hasan al-Qazwini's monthly support remained unknown until al-Salmasi died and ten dinars a month for al-Qazwini were found in his ledger. ²

When the Sultan entered Baghdad needing funds he borrowed ten thousand dinars from the merchants, among them al-Salmasi — who had just bought oil for ten thousand and sold it for twenty; when the Sultan repaid him he declined, saying "tell the Sultan he is more entitled to excuse it — I ask only that he release the debt," and when asked why: "people eat from my wealth who would touch nothing had they known it was mixed with the Sultan's money." Served with the produce of his orchard at five hundred dinars, he kept silent until they raised the offer greatly. ²