 While not strictly accurate , Borges ' quote paraphrases al @-@ Tabari , who notes that he was " born in the eighth month , was the eighth caliph , in the eighth generation from al- ‘ Abbas , his lifespan was eight and forty years , that he died leaving eight sons and eight daughters , and that he reigned for eight years and eight months " , and reflects the widespread reference to al @-@ Mu 'tasim in the Arabic sources as al @-@ Muthamman ( " the man of eight " ) . 
