In the month of Rabīʿ al-Ākhir of this year, the city of Amid was surrendered from the hands of Ibn al-Shaykh. While al-Muʿtaḍid had encamped at Amid, a letter sent by Hārūn b. Aḥmad b. Ṭūlūn from Egypt reached him. In the letter, it was stated that in exchange for being left in command of the land of Egypt, the cities of Kinnasrīn and al-ʿAwāṣim would also be handed over to al-Muʿtaḍid. Al-Muʿtaḍid accepted this. Then, intending to go to Iraq, he departed from Amid and ordered the demolition of the walls of Amid. Some parts were demolished, but the entirety could not be destroyed.
On account of al-Muʿtaḍid's conquest of Amid, Ibn al-Muʿtazz congratulated him and recited the following poem:
"Be in well-being, O Commander of the Faithful. Always be in a state to be envied and admired. May your victory be blessed. For many events you stood up and advanced, while time lagged behind. You are such a lion that even your prey are lions. Your claws are always stained with blood, for they are fixed in the bodies of lions, and you are triumphant." When the Caliph al-Muʿtaḍid was returning to Baghdad, gifts from Amr b. Layth arrived to him from Nishapur. The Caliph reached Baghdad on a Thursday, eight days before the end of the month of Jumādā al-Ākhira of this year. The gifts that came from Nishapur were worth 4,000,000 dirhams. There were also mounts, saddles, weapons, and other items.
In this year, Ismāʿīl b. Aḥmad al-Sāmānī and Amr b. Layth fought each other. The reason for the war was this: When Amr b. Layth killed Rāfiʿ b. Harthama and sent his severed head to the caliph, he requested from the caliph that, in addition to the governorship of Khurāsān which he already held, the governorship of Transoxiana (Mā Warāʾ al-Nahr) also be given to him. The caliph granted this request. Thus, Ismāʿīl b. Aḥmad al-Sāmānī, the governor of Transoxiana, became angry and disturbed by this. He informed the caliph of the situation in a letter: "You have become ruler over a vast world; leave to me this province of Transoxiana which is in my hand."
When the caliph did not accept this request, Ismāʿīl b. Aḥmad marched against the caliph with a great army. The two sides confronted each other near the city of Balkh. In the battle between them, the men of Amr were routed, and he himself was taken captive. When he was brought before Ismāʿīl b. Aḥmad, Ismāʿīl stood up and kissed his eyes. He had his head washed and clothed him in a robe. He granted him safety and informed the caliph of the situation by letter, asking what he should do. In his reply, the caliph instructed him to take possession of Amr b. Layth's goods and property, and that these would be left to him. Previously, just the kitchenware of Amr had been transported on 600 camels, but in the end, he himself was shackled and thrown into prison. Stranger still, Amr had with him 50,000 warriors. Not a single one of these warriors was wounded or taken captive; only he himself was captured. This is the punishment of one who is overcome by greed. His ambition drove him forward, but in the end, it cast him into the humiliation of poverty. This is the law of Allah, exalted is He, which He applies to every greedy person. Whoever covets what is not his right is subject to this law. Such is the fate of one who desires more of the world’s goods.