Muntakhab al-tawarikh 20: QIT'AH.
Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 20
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Contents
QIT'AH.
20.1.1
If you saddle the piebald horse of Circumstance, and if the white horse of state leads thee beside him, And if the garden of your pleasure in happiness copies fair the past memories of Paradise, Be not proud, for this mean time will unexpectedly draw its pen through the writing of your fortune. Time is like a wind, which at the first draws from the cheek of the rose the veil with all respect, Then after a week has passed in the midst of the garden, drags its body with ignominy to the dust. The world at one time brings forward by turn in the narrow course, the horses of honour and disgrace. The crafty fowler gives the bird grain, and then draws it into the noose of his artfully laid snare. One man who has lost all hope, gains honour. Another who is always hopeful in spite of all is disgraced. Strange is it if a man who has walked in the shadow of poverty should court a favour from the sun? Be content, if you have a portion of wisdom, that the ignorant should be oppressed by the foolish. What of that man who, in the assembly of mirth and merriment quaffs the wine of pleasure from the cup of luxuriousness? What of him who sitting behind the wall of sorrow suffers from the after effects of sorrow and the worry of toil? At last the hand of fate takes both of them straight off to the brink of the pit of death. Happy is the brave hearted man who like Sharaf draws the foot of fidelity beneath the skirt of retirement.
20.1.2
And in this year Sultan Muizzu-d-Din left Ali Karmakh who was governor of Multan, as his Vicegerent in Lahore, and in the year 587 H. coming from Ghaznin he reduced the fort of Tabarhindah which was the capital of the great rajas of Hindustan, and left Malik Ziau-d-Din Tukili with a corps d'élite consisting of one thousand two hundred cavalry soldiers, and was contemplating a return. In the meantime Rai Pathura the Governor of Ajmir, and Khandi Rai his brother who had been Governor of Dehli before Pathura, arrived with a vast army at a place called Tarayan on the banks of the river Sarsuti at a distance of seven krohs from Thanesar. It is now known by the name of Tarawari and is distant forty krohs from Dehli. A great conflict ensued with the Sultan and the Muslim troops were defeated. The Sultan evinced great bravery on the field of battle, and in that engagement also Khandi Rai who was mounted on an elephant at the head of his army, received a spear thrust in his mouth from the hand of the Sultan. The Sultan also was struck on the head by the Rai’s spear, and his arm was also wounded but both escaped in safety. The Sultan got off his horse and taking up his son Khilji upon his horse and mounting behind him took him off the field, the Sultan proceeded to Ghaznin, and Rai Pathura took the fortress of Tabarhindah from Ziau-d-Din Tukili on peaceable terms after a siege of one year and one month. And in the year 588 H.
20.1.3
the Sultan again came into Hindustan with a large and brave army of 40,000 cavalry, and divided his forces into four army corps, and having given battle time after time in the place above mentioned gained a victory. Pathura was taken prisoner and Khandi Rai having been overcome in battle was killed and hasted to his resting-place in Hell. The Sultan then having reduced the fortresses of Sar-suti and Hansi proceeded to Ajmir the capital of Pathura, reduced it and plundered its environs killing and taking prisoners. From certain other sources we learn that Hazrat Khwaja Muinu-d-Din Chishti, may God sanctify his heart, that revered one who is the fountain head of the great and holy men and the dignified elders of the land of Hind, whose blessed tomb is a place of pilgrimage situated in Ajmir, was at that time in the company of the Sultan, and this victory occurred through the impulse of the blessed and divine soul of that pillar of holiness. And in this year leaving Sultan Malik Qutbu-d-Din Aibak who was his servant and adopted son and vicegerent in the town of Kuhram which is distant seventy krohs from Dehli, he invaded and plundered the Siwalik range which lies to the North of Hindustan, and proceeded to Ghaznin. In the same year too Qutbu-d-Din having captured Dehli took it away from the kinsmen of Pathura and Khandi Rai. Then in the year 589 H. (1193 A.
20.1.4
D.) Sultan Shihabu-d-Din fought with Rai Jai Chand the governor of Qanauj, on the confines of Chandwar and Etawah, killed him and went to Ghaznin. The fort of Kol fell into the hands of Qutbu-d-Din Aibak, and he made Dehli his capital and brought its surrounding districts under his sway. From that date Dehli once more became the metropolis of the Sultans. The erection of minarets and other buildings of that kind, such as mosques, was commenced in the reign of Sultan Shamsu-d-Din Altamash in the year 606 H., as will be related, if God (may He be exalted) so will, in its own place. And in the year 591 H., he took the fort of Bhangar and Badaon. And in the year 593 H. he conquered Gujarat and took his army to Nahrwala which is known as Pattan, and having taken vengeance for the Sultan on Bhim Rai Dev and having taken much spoil returned;
20.1.5
and in that year Sultan Ghiyasu-d-Din removed his effects from the transitory world to the eternal abode, and Sultan Mu'izzu-d-Din having heard this news when on the confines of Tus and Sarakhs, turned towards Badghis and performed the duties of the mourning ceremonies and having divided his brother's dominions among his kindred came to Ghaznin and brought an army against Khwarazm, and on the first occasion Sultan Muhammad Khwarazm Shah suffered defeat, and the Sultan pursued him and fought the Khwarazmians at the head of an aqueduct which they had dug from the eastern bank of the Jaihun and a number of the noted generals of Ghor were martyred and he could not take Khwarazm: he also fought a great battle with an army of Khita'i kings of Turkistan who had come to the help of Sultan Muhammad, on the banks of the river Jaihun—he fought right bravely but at last was defeated, and being left with a hundred thousand cavalry soldiers he entered the fortress of Andkhud where he entrenched himself, and having asked for quarter returned to Ghaznin;
20.1.6
and at that time the tribe of the Khukhars in the neighbourhood of Lahore shewed symptoms of revolting the Sultan accordingly brought an army against them, and also summoned Qutbu-d-Din Aibak from Dehli, and having given the Khokhars a severe lesson returned to Ghaznin, and while on the way back was martyred at Damyak, which is the name of a village of the dependencies of Ghaznin, at the hands of Khukhar bandits — the following qit'ah has been written to chronicle this event: — The martyrdom of the king of sea and land Shihabu-d-Din, Whose like has never yet been seen since the world began, On the third day from the first of Sha'ban, in the year 602 Happened in the road to Ghaznin at the stage Damyak. The days of his reign from the commencement of the rule of Ghaznin to the end of his life were thirty and two years and some months, and he left no heir save one daughter, but he left behind him much treasure of gold and silver and precious stones, among these latter were five hundred mans of diamonds jewels of great value, besides cash and estates and other property the value of which we may estimate on the same scale. He made expeditions to Hindustan nine times, twice was defeated and seven times was victorious.
20.1.7
Thou didst see Muizzu-d-Din Muhammad Sam, who in war Was stronger in heart and hand than Sam and Nariman He obtained, like Mahmud, from the elephants of Hindustan Governments of Sasan and many kingdoms of Saman He departed this world, and they say (the writer vouches for it) That there remained of his secret treasure 500 mans of diamonds. And in his reign many learned doctors and scientists and poets flourished, of whom was Imam Fakhr-u'd-Din Razi may God be merciful to him who wrote the Lataif-i-Ghiyati and other books in honour of his brother Sultan Ghiyasu-'d-Din Abu-l-Fath. He remained with the army of Sultan Mu'izzu-'d-Din Mohammad Sam, and every week used to stand up to preach, and at the termination of his sermon the Sultan used to evince great emotion, and since the Imam got very wearied of this continual coming and going, and everlasting service, one day addressing the Sultan from the pulpit he said "Oh Sultan Mu'izzu-'d-Din, some time hence neither will this greatness and glory of yours remain nor the flattery and hypocrisy of Razi; The following qita'h is by him:
20.2.1
If an enemy does not agree with you O friend It behoves you to agree with your enemy, If not, then have patience for a few days He will not remain, nor will you, nor the pride of Razi. And after the assassination of the Sultan certain mischief-makers out of envy accused the Imam of having conspired with the Fidais, and asserted that the Imam was well aware of their hypocrisy. They made an attempt upon the Imam and he fled for refuge to Muaiyyidu-l-Mulk Sinjari who was one of the distinguished generals of the Sultan; he despatched him in safety to a place of security. A poet has written an ode in praise of him of which the following are two couplets. Sultan Muizzu-d-Din Shah Ghazi whose sword in the world has become like the famous Zulfiqar of Ali Murtaza. The true Sultan Muhammad Sam, he whose love for the people is like the Sun of the friendship of Mustafa. Another poet says — The Emperor of the age, Khusrau Ghazi Muizzu-d-Din, From whom the glory of crown and diadem gains increase, The origin of victory, Muhammad ibn Sam ibn Husain, His very presence has become the mark for princely glory. And Nazuki Maraghai too says in praise of him — Shah Muizzu-d-Din before whose princely might The heaven stands girt like a bunch of flowers; He came to the throne like a rose at the time when The heaven brought the Sun into the Balance.
20.2.2
He in the fire of whose wrath evil doers Give up their sweet lives like sugarcane. The sugar of religion and the rose of sovereignty The revolving sphere has mixed together ; Oh Lord ! let this conserve of religion and sovereignty Be the cause of health to the whole world. And Qazi Hamid of Balkh says : Ghazi Muizzu-d-Din wad-Dunya with whom On the day of battle victory marches with his auspicious standard. Sultan from East to West, Monarch from West to East Mahmud ibn Muhammad ibn Sam ibn Husain, having sent to Malik Qutbu-d-Din from Firoza Koh the canopy and insignia of royalty, addressed him by the title of Sultan, and in the year 602 H. (1205 A. D.) having come from Dehli to Lahore on Tuesday, the sixteenth of the month of Zu-l-Qa'dah in the aforesaid year, ascended the throne of empire and became proverbial for his kindness and clemency. He used to bestow upon deserving recipients rewards far in excess of their anticipations, and inaugurated his custom of lak bakhshi (bestowing laks). One of the learned men of the time named Bahau-d-Din Ushi said in praise of him. Quatrain. Oh thou that hast brought into the world the bestowal of laks; Thy hand has brought the mine into great straits; From envy of thy liberality the heart of the mine has seized blood drops, And placed them forward pretending that they are rubies.
20.2.3
And after some time enmity arose between him and Taju-d-Din Yalduz, who was one of the slaves of Muizzu-d-Din and had read the Khutba in his own name in Ghaznin, on account of Lahore, and the fire of war and conflict blazed forth on the confines of the Punjab; Taju-d-Din was defeated, and went to Kirman which was his usual abode. Sultan Qutbu-d-Din went and took possession of the fort of Ghaznin and staying there for a period of forty days, spent his time in rioting and wantonness and dissipation. Accordingly the people of Ghaznin were annoyed at his behaviour and secretly summoned Taju-d-Din Yalduz, who arrived without warning, and Sultan Qutbu-d-Din not being able to oppose him came to Lahore by way of Sang Surakh. Verse. When the head of a Sultan becomes unsteady from wine, Without warning the crown of Empire falls from his head. And after wielding power for some time he fell from his horse when playing chaugān at Lahore in the year 607 H., and died; and was buried in that city, and his tomb is at present the resort of pilgrims. The period of his reign after the conquest of Hindustan, was twenty years, out of which period he was for four years a Sultan. This ancient revolving heaven has overthrown many heroes; So far as you are able, place no reliance on the sun and moon and Jupiter.
20.2.4
Seven other individuals of the generals and slaves of Sultan Mu’izzu-'d-Dīn reached princely power in Hindustan and Ghaznin and Bengāla and other places, whose affairs are written in their proper places; among others Tāj-u-'d-dīn Yaldūz on the confines of Tarā’in, otherwise known as Tarāwan, having fought with Sultan Shamsu-'d-Dīn I-yaltamish was taken prisoner. Another is Sultān Nāsiru-'d-Dīn Qabācha who is also one of the slaves of Mu’izzu-'d-Dīn, and had married one of the daughters of Tāj-u-'d-Dīn Yaldūz, the other daughter was married to Sultan Qutbu-'d- Dm and Sultan Muizzu-d-Din during his lifetime had bestowed upon him the governorship of Uchh and Multan. After the death of Sultan Qutbu-d-Din, he brought the whole country from Uchh to Sarsuti and Kuhram under his own rule, and also took possession of Lahore, and having fought with the army of Malik Taju-d-Din who was on his way from Ghaznin, Khwaja Mu‘aiyyidu-l-Mulk Sinjari being in command of that army, was defeated and went to Sindh in which country he obtained great ascendancy.
20.2.5
37. In the year 611 H. (1214 A. D.) a Moghul army arrived and laid siege to Multan for forty days and the Sultan Nasiru-d-Din, having opened the doors of the treasury, evinced great bravery and warded off their attacks, and at last after a reign of twenty-two years fell a prisoner into the hands of Sultan Shamsu-d-Din and trod the way to the next world. Another is Malik Bahau-d-Din Tughral, when Muizzu-d-Din Muhammad Sam reduced the fortress of Bahankar he entrusted the command of it to Malik Bahau-d-Din Tughral, and he having built a fortress in the country of Bhasiyana elected to reside there and used continually to Jiamsa the environs of Gwaliar, and Sultan Muizzu-d-Din at the time of his return from Gwaliar had promised to give that fortress to Malik Baha-u-d-Din who accordingly strongly fortified a position at a distance of two krohs from Gwaliar and harassed the garrison of the fort, so that after a year the garrison sending messengers and presents invited Sultan Qutbu-d-Din and surrendered the fort to him. On this account enmity arose between Malik Qutbu-d-Din and Baha-u-Din. Malik Baha-u-Din died a short time afterwards. Another is Malik Muhammad Bakhtyar Ghuri. He was one of the great men of Ghur and Garmsir, a man adorned with all good qualities who came to Ghaznin in the reign of Sultan Muizzu-d-Din and from thence went to Hindustan.
20.2.6
He did not approve of having to live in Lahore with Sultan Qutbu-d-Din, and joined hands with Malik Husainu-d-Din Ughul Beg ruler of the country between the two rivers (The Do-ab) and the country beyond the river Ganges, and Kanpilah and Patiali were allotted as his reward. He proceeded to Oudh and conquered that country and having taken large booty Sultan Qutbu-d-Din sent him royal honours and a banner of Sultanship. He then brought many presents to the court of the Sultan, and received great favours and distinctions; the grandees of the court seeing they were powerless against him, became envious of him, and instigated the Sultan to such an extent that one day he made him fight with a rogue elephant, but he struck the elephant so hard upon the trunk with a heavy club that the elephant turned and fled. The Sultan was overwhelmed with astonishment to see this, and nominated and appointed him ruler of the whole country of Lakhnauti in Bengala and sent him away. In the second year after this arrangement Muhammad Bakhtyar brought an army from Behar towards Lakhnauti and arrived at the town of Nudiya with a small force. Nudiya is now in ruins.
20.2.7
Rai Lakhmia (Lakminia) the governor of that town had heard from astrologers the fame of Muhammad Bakhtyar and his great power, fled thence to Kamrun, and property and booty beyond computation fell into the hands of the Moslems, and Muhammad Bakhtyar having destroyed the places of worship and idol temples of the infidels founded Mosques and monasteries and schools and caused a metropolis to be built called by his own name, which now has the name of Gaur. VERSE. There where was heard before the clamour and uproar of heathen Now there is heard resounding the shout of “Allaho akbar.” And after having the Khutbah read and the currency struck in his name, having collected a large body of men, under the command of Amir Ali Mesij (Mijh) he attempted to conquer the countries of Tibet and Turkestan and twelve thousand cavalry fully armed and equipped arrived at a city which they call Bardhan. A river lie reached that river called the Brahmaputr, which they also call Brahmikadi. It is three or four times the size of the Ganges. Shah Garshasp when he came to Hindustan built a bridge over that river, and crossed it at Kamrud and went on his way.
20.2.8
Muhammad Bakhtyar crossed by that bridge, and leaving certain of his trusted generals to protect the bridge and command the road, entered the territory of Tibet, and spent ten days among the mountains and difficult roads, and at last arrived at a plain in which there was a city called Bardhankot, round which were three rings of walls, well-girt and fortified. It was inhabited by Brahmans, who were all infidels, and possessed an immense army. The Muslims stayed in the plain round the city, and having engaged in battle with the infidels, were defeated, and Muhammad Bakhtyar fled with the remnant of his army, and having arrived at the bridge, found that the Raja of Kamrud had destroyed it, and the generals whom he had left behind to protect it were all slain. Muhammad Bakhtyar, with his army, took refuge in a temple, which the Raja surrounded with his soldiers, who held each other by the hand, and surrounded the temple in such a way that no one could escape. At last, Muhammad Bakhtyar, with a few companions, cut his way through the ranks of the infidels, and escaped, and returned to Lakhnauti.
20.3.1
From this point the account differs, the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri says that they journeyed up the river for ten days among the mountains till they came to an old bridge built of hewn stone, &c. Our text on the other hand states that they crossed the old bridge immediately on reaching the river after which they journeyed for ten days in the mountains, &c. Badaoni's statement has more prima facie probability, the statements of the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri moreover are somewhat confused and contradictory. Neither author mentions how long the cavalry force took to reach Bardhan. It seems fairly certain from Badaoni's account that the city of Bardhan was on the near side of the river and that the crossing of the river was impracticable at that point, how far it was from Kamrud, where Badaoni says they crossed by the bridge, does not appear. which was a fort of great strength: the garrison of that fort who were descendants of Gushtasp (that fort too one of the buildings erected by Gushtasp) came forth to fight, and fought so bravely till nightfall that many men were lost on the side of Muhammad Bakhtyar. He pitched his camp on that very spot, and coming down received tidings that five farsangs beyond this city there was another city from which 50,000 Turks all warlike and ready for battle would come to the relief of their city. The following day Muhammad Bakhtyar not thinking it advisable to remain there, and not being able to oppose them, turned back and came to the head of the bridge.
20.3.2
Before his arrival the Generals in charge of the road had fought among themselves, and the infidels had broken two arches of that bridge. The army of Muhammad Bakhtyar had this bridge in front and the infidels kept coming up in their rear, and fought with determined bravery. In that neighbourhood there was an idol temple of great strength. They passed the night there by some stratagem, and in the morning a ford was found, and a party of men who crossed by the ford found the sand of the river was a sort of quicksand, and the water of the river gradually growing deeper and deeper, the greater part of the soldiers of Muhammad Bakhtyar were drowned in the ocean of destruction, and the remnant which remained became fuel for the fire of the infidel's sword and attained the exaltation of martyrdom. Muhammad Bakhtyar out of many thousand men, arrived at Deo Kot with some three or four hundred only, and fell ill from vexation and was attacked by hectic fever and used to say “no doubt Sultan Muhammad Muizz-ud-Din Sam has met with an accident that fortune has gone so against me.” And when weakness took possession of him Ali Mardan one of Muhammad Bakhtyar’s greatest generals arrived at Deo Kot from the district of Narnoli and finding him bedridden, pulled down the sheet from his face and ruthlessly despatched him with one blow of a dagger. This event happened in the year 602 H. after the death of Sultan Muizzu-d-Din;
20.3.3
and after the death of Sultan Qutbu-d-Din this same Ali Mardan eventually seized the reins of power by great craft, and promulgating the khutba and sikka of Lakhnauti in his own name was styled Sultan Alau-d-Din, and from the excessive folly and pride and arrogance of his mind sat quietly in Lakhnauti and divided the country of Iran and Turan among his adherents, and no one dared to say “these dominions are outside the scope of the Sultan’s power why do you divide them?” They say that some unfortunate merchant laid a complaint of poverty before Alau-d-Din, who asked “where does this fellow come from?” They answered “from Isfahan” then he ordered them to write a document to Isfahan which should have the force of an assignment of land to him. The merchant would not accept this document, but the Vazirs did not dare to represent this fact and reported “the ruler of Isfahan, by reason of his travelling expenses and assembling his retinue for the purpose of subjugating that country, is in difficulties.” He thereupon ordered them to give a large sum of money far beyond his expectations; and when his tyranny and oppression exceeded all bounds the Amirs of Khilj consenting together put him to death and raised to the throne Malik Husainu-d-Din Khilji who was one of the nobles of Khilj and Garmsir and one of the servants of Muhammad Bakhtyar. The reign of Ali Mardan lasted thirty-two years.
20.3.4
Another was Malik Husainu-d-Din abovementioned who became possessed of the whole country of Tirhut and Bengala and Jajnagar and Kamrud and gained the title of Sultan Ghiyasu-d-Din, till in the months of the year 622 H., he sent to the Sultan Shamsu-d-Din Iyaltimish thirty-eight head of elephants and seventy thousand tangahs in cash as a present and acknowledged the Sultan's authority, as will be mentioned, if God (he be exalted) so will it. And in the year 624 H. Malik Nasiru-d-Din Muhammad ibn Sultan Shamsu-d-Din went from Oudh to Lakhnauti at the instigation of some of the Amirs, and Ghiyasu-d-Din who at that time had taken an army from Lakhnauti to Kamrud turned back, and fought a severe battle with Malik Nasiru-d-Din and was taken prisoner together with the majority of his generals and was put to death. The duration of his reign was twelve years. The mention of these few kings of the regions of Hindustan incidentally with the affairs of the Sultans of Dehli was both opportune and necessary, and the affairs of the remaining Mu'izziyah kings who attained to the Saltanat of Multan and other kingdoms are mentioned in other places.