[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [General histories](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general) › [Muntakhab al-tawārīkh](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh) › [Muntakhabu-t-tawarikh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig) › 169 # Muntakhab al-tawarikh 169: LI. Qazi Nuru ’llah of Shushtar. Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 169 - **Language:** English ### [169](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.169) Although he is by religion a Shi‘ah he is distinguished for his impartiality, justice, virtue, modesty, piety, continence, and such qualities as are possessed by noble men and is well known for his learning, clemency, quickness of understanding, singleness of intellect, clearness of perception, and acumen. He is the author of several able works, and he has written a monograph on the undotted commentary of Shaikh Faizi which is beyond all praise. He also possesses the poetic faculty and writes impressive poetry. He was introduced to the emperor by the instrumentality of the physician Abu-’l-Fath, and when the victorious imperial army reached Lahor, and Shaikh Mu‘in the Qazi of Lahor, when he was paying his respects to the emperor, was afflicted suddenly in the presence chamber with the falling-sickness, which came upon him in consequence of the feebleness of old age, and the failure of his natural powers, the emperor took pity on his weakness, and said, “The Shaikh is past his work, and we have therefore appointed Qazi Nuru-’llah to the post which he held.” In truth he has reduced the insolent muftis and the crafty and subtle muhtasibs of Lahor, who venture to give lessons to the teacher of the angels, to order, and has closed to them the avenues of bribery, and restrained them within due bounds as closely as a nut is enclosed in its shell, and to such a degree that stricter discipline could not be imagined. One might almost say that the author of the following verses had the Qazi in his mind when he wrote them:— “Thou art he who has never in all his life admitted Any statement by anybody in a law-suit, except the sworn testimony of a witness.” One day when he was in the house of Shaikh Faizi the Sultanpuri commentary was the subject of discussion, and regarding the blessed verse:—‘‘When he said to his companion, ‘Be not cast down, verily God is with us,’ ” which verse is held, by the great majority of commentators, to refer to the greatest of faithful witnesses of the truth (Abu Bakr) — may God be graciously pleased with him! — he said, “If the signification of the companionship referred to in the text be trifling and unimportant then the expression cannot be understood as conferring praise of anybody, but if it be said that the word is used in the conventional sense which has been attributed to it by traditionists, we come back to the question under debate, and I deny that there was any companionship (in that sense).” I replied, ‘If a mere child, even who knew the Arabic language were asked he would say that this verse clearly implies praise (of the person referred to therein) and not blame, and an African infidel, or a Jew, or a Hindu who knew Arabic, would give the same reply.’ There was much controversy on the subject, and Shaikh Faizi after his usual vile custom took the side of the though heuristically he had nothing whatever in common with either side. Suddenly a passage was turned up, in the Nishapuri commentary itself, which supported my contention, and even went beyond it, saying that the verse, supposing that the prophet (may God bless and preserve him!) had at that moment been summoned to the immediate presence of God, would have been authority for regarding Abu Bakr and no other as the successor nominated by the prophet himself. - [Previous: 168](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.168) - [Next: 170](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.170) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.169](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.muntakhab-al-tawarikh~en-ranking-lowe-haig.169) · Pramāṇa