Jawamiʿ al-hikayat wa lawamiʿ al-riwayat 22: Anecdote of Sultan Mahmud. [I. xii. 9.]
Jámi'u-l Hikáyát (extracts) 22
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Anecdote of Sultan Mahmud. [I. xii. 9.]
22.1
When Khwája Ahmad acted as minister to Sultán Mahmud (may God be merciful to him!) all the principal officers of State were inimical to him and traduced him to the Emperor, who thus contracted a great dislike to him, and was desirous of removing him from office. On this subject Abu Nasr Mishkán says that Arslán wrote him a letter, saying that "The king is displeased with Khwaja Ahmad, and we, his Majesty's servants, must beware of resisting his will. But in common charity we are bound to declare what we know or have heard. Khwaja Ahmad is undoubtedly the most able minister of the time, and has been very useful to our sovereign. He has long been in government employ and has experienced great changes of fortune. It is now some time since he was appointed Minister of State, and now all men of influence, rank, and dignity are his enemies. The cause of their hatred to him is his devotion to his master, and his disregard of their wishes and pleasure. His associates in office are also inimical to him for the same reason. You would do right to communicate this letter to his Majesty, although I know that his mind has been so perverted by them that my counsel will be useless. Still the time may come when his Majesty may feel some regret, when he will not check but excuse our representations."
22.2
Abu Nasr Mishkán continues: I read the letter and for a long time I was watching for an opportunity to lay it before the king. I also received constant messages from the minister imploring my support and assistance. I replied that it would not do to be precipitate, but that I must wait till a suitable occasion offered itself. The Sultan Mahmúd also knew that I was watching my opportunity, but he kept strict silence on this matter, till at length it happened one day that the Sultan went out on a hunting excursion, and though it was not customary with me to attend him, yet on this occasion I did so. The Sultan asked me why I, who never went out hunting, had now come with him. I replied that it was always the duty of a servant to attend on his master. The Sultan then said, "I know that you have come in order that you might speak to me about Ahmad, but matters like these ought not to be forced upon me." I replied, "May your Majesty's judgment be always right." He then became silent and spoke not another word. That day and that night passed by. On the next night the Sultan was drinking wine and enjoying himself, when he made me sit down with him, and he talked upon all sorts of topics. At length he asked me if I had ever heard or had ever read in any book that ministers were their king's enemies. I said, "No;
22.3
but I have read that the man is foolish and stupid who seeks to be a minister." He asked wherefore, and I replied, "Kings cannot endure that any one should share their authority, nor will they allow any one but themselves to give orders. If the office of minister is given to one who is looked upon as the dearest of friends, before a week has passed he is deemed an enemy and is despised." Nothing farther passed at this meeting. After his return to Ghaznin, he was sitting one night alone, and calling for me, bade me be seated, and said, "Hitherto I have kept silence with you regarding Ahmad. Now be mindful that you tell me the truth without equivocation or reservation." I replied that I would obey his Majesty. He observed that Ahmad was an experienced and well qualified minister, who had been in the service from his youth, and had conferred lustre on his office, but he held his master in slight esteem, and he was at the same time covetous of the wealth of the Musulmáns, which he extorted from them, and opposed the king's orders. He said that he had been informed of many oppressive acts towards the slaves (ghulám) and such people. That he had resolved on his dismissal, and that all with whom he had consulted on this business had concurred with him. He then asked me what I had to say on the subject.
22.4
I replied, that "What your Majesty in your wisdom deems most advisable is certainly best, — who can gainsay it?" The king then insisted on my expressing an opinion, — I said, "Arslan Jázib had sent me a letter," and having it with me, I shewed it to him, and begged his permission to give him my views on the case to the best of my ability. The king consenting, ordered me to speak. I then said, — "If the charges of oppression and opposition which have been brought against the Khwája are proved to your Majesty's satisfaction, they must not be passed over, but punishment must be meted out to the minister, so that no injury may come to the country. But if, on the other hand, merely suspicions have been excited in the king's mind, then search and enquiry must be patiently made throughout the country for a man competent to fill Ahmad's place. On such a man being found, then his Majesty may follow his own will and pleasure. If one cannot be found, the greatest precautions must be taken." Having finished, the king said he would consider of it, and gave me permission to depart. At last, the Khwaja was deprived of his situation and imprisoned, but the king soon regretted it, for the affairs of the State and country fell into great confusion.