To the deputy governor of Basra

To Ziyād ibn Abī (son of his [unknown] father), when ‘Abdullāh ibn al-‘Abbās was the Governor of Baṣrah, the suburbs of Ahwāz, Firs and Kirmān while Ziyād was his deputy in Baṣrah.

I truthfully swear by Allāh that if I come to know that you have misappropriated the funds of the Muslims, small or big, I shall inflict upon you such punishment which will leave you empty handed, heavy backed and…