as did ruh ibn zinba who was one of the cleverest arabs. he saw prophecy and aversion from abd almalik ibn marwan. so he said to alwalid dont you see how i am with the commander of the faithful turning his face away from me to the point that the wild beasts opened their mouths towards me and aimed their claws at my face? alwalid said to him he occupied himself with a conversation that makes him laugh! ruh said when the meeting is calm ask me about abdullah ibn umar was he joking or did he hear joking? alwalid said i will.
كما فعل روح بن زنباع، وكان أحد دهاة العرب. رأى من عبد الملك بن مروان نبوة وإعراضا. فقال للوليد ألا ترى ما أنا فيه من إعراض أمير المؤمنين عني بوجهه، حتى لقد فغرت السباع أفواهها نحوي، وأهوت بمخالبها إلى وجهي؟ فقال له الوليد احتل في حديث يضحكه! فقال روح إذا اطمأن بنا المجلس، فسلني عن عبد الله بن عمر، هل كان يمزح أو يسمع مزاحا؟ فقال الوليد أفعل.