Jawamiʿ al-hikayat wa lawamiʿ al-riwayat 30: The Punishment of Tuman.
Jámi'u-l Hikáyát (extracts) 30
- Language
- English
The Punishment of Tuman.
30.7
III. xix. 7.
30.p2
It is related in the Tarikh-i Nasiri that during the time Amir 'Abdu-r Rashid reigned at Ghaznin, he had a young slave named Tuman, a man of bad disposition, base and low minded. 'Abdu-r Rashid was, however, favourably disposed towards him, and conferred on him a high rank. The slave began to interfere in the affairs of government, and being a mean and worthless fellow he did all in his power to ruin and extirpate the nobles and great men. He showed favour to Abu Suhail Razihi, and they both joined cause and conspired against the great Khwaja, the minister of the throne, 'Abdu-r Razzak. He quarrelled with Ahmad Maimandi and had him suspended and called to account. He elevated his own brother, called Mubarak Mardek, to high rank, and at last entrusted him with several offices at Parshawar. He encouraged tale-bearers and back-biters, and these people obtained great influence at court. They gave false reports, representing that the assignments were in excess of the authorised amount, and this brought destruction upon the kingdom, for the government servants and the orphans were subjected to reductions in a manner which had not been resorted to by any one before.
Amongst the other slaves who were notorious for their wickedness and bad character, was one whose name was Khatib Lut. This man was exalted by him and made accountant of the state, an office which had been held by Khwaja Abu Tahir Husain with great credit and to the satisfaction of the government. When three months had elapsed after the Khwaja's appointment, he was ordered to go to Hindustan, and after collecting the revenues of that country, to return to the capital.
Khwaja Abu Tahir proceeded to Hindustan, and in every place that he visited he found an agent of Tuman oppressing the people and exercising authority; and thus great embarassment had arisen in the affairs of the state. The Khwaja reported all the circumstances to the Secretary of State, which office was then held by Abu-l Fazl Baihaki. When numerous reports had been received from Husain, Sultan 'Abdu-r Rashid threatened Tuman with condign punishment. Tuman now became an enemy of Abu-l Fazl, and secretly circulated false reports against him. The Sultan, without investigation, ordered Tuman to seize and imprison Abu-l Fazl, and plunder his house and property.
When Abu-l Fazl was removed, Tuman had an unbounded field for the exercise of his power. He conferred a khil'at of investiture on Khatib Lut, and sent him to Parshawar. This officer lighted the fire of oppression, and exalted the standard of bloodshed. He made all kinds of demands upon the people. When Khwaja Husain reached Parshawar to examine and report upon the affairs of that province, people complained to him against the Khatib. The Khwaja admonished him, but it was all in vain. The Khatib gave him disrespectful replies and uttered abusive words against him to his very face. Husain could not restrain his indignation, and ordered him to be taken away from his presence. The matter was reported to Tuman, who told 'Abdu-r Rashid that as Khatib Lut was aware that Husain had unlawfully exacted money from the people, the latter had thrown the Khatib into prison with the view that he might retain in safety the money which Husain had extorted.
When Tuman had made these representations, Amir 'Abdu-r Rashid ordered him to go and bring Husain a prisoner to the court. Tuman marched the same night to Parshawar with three hundred thousand horse, and when he arrived there he showed the royal mandate to the governor of the place. He seized Khwaja Husain, and took Khatib out of prison. He dishonoured and disgraced many good Musulmans, and then returned to the court.
Khwaja Husain was put in heavy chains, and when they had reached the pass at Budri some horsemen came and reported that Amir 'Abdu-r Rashid had himself been murdered, and that the ingrate Tughril had usurped the government. On receiving this intelligence, the soldiers, horse and foot, all came forward to Khwaja Husain and said unto him, "circumstances have now taken altogether a different turn: he who had triumphed has been vanquished, and now we are all ready to obey your command. What orders may you be pleased to address to us?" The Khwaja replied, "Your first duty is to remove the chains from off my feet, and put them on those of Tuman." Upon this the soldiers seized Tuman, pulled him down with great ignominy, and put the chains on his feet. They placed the Khwaja on a horse, and Tuman, Khatib Lut, and his other slaves were seated on camels, and in this manner they took them to Ghaznin. God the most glorious and powerful thus punished Tuman for his wickedness. The moral of this story is to show the consequences of tale-bearing, and to teach that great and wealthy men should not encourage base characters, or take wicked men into their favour, and thus bring disgrace and shame upon themselves.