of a man who does not have long to live$^{\prime \prime}$. When he \[Abū Ja$^{\rm c}$far\] entered Mecca he remained there only a short time before he died and Muammad was saved. In Shawwāl of this year (AD 775 Aug 4 - Sep 1) Abū Ja$^{\rm c}$far set out from the City of Peace \[Baghdad\] heading for Mecca. Is is said that he stayed at Qar  $^{\rm c}$Abdawayh and while he was there a meteorite \[kawkab\] fell \[inqaa\] on 26 Shawwāl (Aug 29) after the beginning of dawn and remained visible until sunrise; then he went on to al-Kūfah and stayed at al-Ruāfah and then set out from there on the pilgrimage and the lesser pilgrimage ... When he had gone some stages from al-Kūfah the disease of which he died became apparent ... and then he died at dawn or sunrise of Saturday 6 Dhū al-ijjah (AD 775 Oct 7).*]{}

This text tells us first of all the source: [*Al-abar*]{}*ī* obtained the story from [*$^{\rm c}$Umar b. Shabbah*]{}, who in turn knew it from [*Muammad b. $^{\rm c}$Imrān*]{}, a freedman of [*Muammad b. Ibrāh*]{}*ī*[*m*]{}, governor of Mecca, who knew the story from his father. The text also tells us 