Imam Abu Mansur al-Maturidi in the Face of Oppression

“Nuh bin Saman was an evil governor near Samarqand who lived in the 3rd century A.H. He decided to rebel against Samarqand’s leaders and her entire populous putting many in great harm. He dispatched a messenger to the leader of Samarqand to intimidate him. The leader called the scholars and noble men to listen and seek their consultation. Amongst them was the great scholar and Imam, Abu Mansur al-Maturidi. After listening to Nuh bin Saman’s messenger, al-Maturidi told him to deliver the following message to Nuh bin Saman:

زدنا ظلماً حتى نزيد في دعاء الليل
“Increase us in oppression until we increase our supplications in the night!”

The messenger left and a few days latter Nuh bin Saman was found dead.
In his side there was a spear and written on it was the following:

بغى وللبغي سهام تنتظر   أتته من أيدي المنايا والقدر
“Oppressor! And for the oppressor is the arrow waiting.
Coming to him from death and destiny

سهام أيدي القانتات في السحر…………………………..
Arrows from the obedient women [supplicating] at dawn”