Uyun al-Taff (the Taff Springs)

The Springs of al-Taff are springs on the edges of al-Sawad, among them the Spring of the Hunt, al-Qatqatana, al-Rahima and the Spring of the Camel. In al-Baladhuri's account they belonged to those charged with the posts behind al-Sawad, and they are the springs of the Sabur Ditch. ¹

Al-Baladhuri mentions that Sabur granted the Arabs assigned to the posts of the ditch the land of these springs, and they cultivated it without kharaj. Then the Arabs prevailed over part of them on the day of Dhi Qar, and part remained in the hands of the non-Arabs (a'ajim). When the Muslims came to al-Hira, the non-Arabs fled after filling in most of what was in their hands. The Arabs embraced Islam on what remained in their hands, so the land they cultivated became subject to the tithe (ushr). ¹

After al-Qadisiyya and al-Mada'in, the Muslims were granted the lands which its people had left among those springs, and they became subject to the tithe likewise. Their charity went to the agents of Medina. ²

Al-Baladhuri relates that when Ishaq ibn Ibrahim ibn Mus'ab was appointed over al-Sawad for al-Mutawakkil, he added these springs to what he held, took charge of their tithe-collection, and made them sawadiyya, and they remained so until his time. He mentions that he extracted Islamic springs, which flowed in their course. ²