Iyas Ibn Muawiyah Al-Muzani

Iyas Ibn Muawiyah Al-Muzani (full name, Abû Wâthîlet Iyâs ibn Mu’âwiyet ibn Korrah) was a tabi'i Qadi (judge) in the 2nd century AH who lived in Basra (modern day Iraq). He was renowned for possessing immense cleverness which became a favourite topic in Arabic folklore.

Stories of Iyas al-Muzani

• Al-Maydani relates a story about Iyas Al-Muzani, that he once heard a dog bark and declared that the beast was tied to the brink of a well; he judged so because the bark was followed by an echo, caused by the sound being reflected from the bottom of the well.
• Once, two men came before Al-Muzani, the complainant claiming repayment of the money received by the defendant, who denied the debt. Al-Muzani asked the plaintiff where he had lent the money, and he answered that it was done under a certain tree. Al-Muzani told him to go there by way of refreshing his memory, and, sometime after his departure, asked the defendant if his adversary could have reached it. "Not yet," said the man, forgetting himself; "it's a long way off," - thus proving the allegation against him to be true.
• Seeing three women act upon a sudden alarm, he said, "One of them is pregnant, another is nursing, and the third is a virgin." He explained his diagnosis as follows: "In the time of danger, people lay their hands on what they prize the most. Now I saw the pregnant woman in her flight place her hand on her belly, which showed me she was with child; the nurse placed her hand on her bosom, whereby I knew that she was suckling, and the third covered her parts with her hand, proving to me that she was a maid."^[1]

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