Muntakhab al-tawarikh 78.32.4

78.32.4

In a short time matters took a still more favourable turn: and Abu-l-Fazl, when once in favour with the Emperor (officious as he was, and time-serving, openly faithless, continually studying the Emperor’s whims, a flatterer beyond all bounds), took every opportunity of reviling in the most shameful way that sect whose labours and motives have been so little appreciated, and became the cause not only of the extirpation of these experienced people, but also of the ruin of all the servants of God, especially of Shaikhs, and pious men, of the helpless and orphans, whose livings and grants he cut down. He used continually to say: — “O Lord, send down a Proof for the people of the world! Send these Nimrods a gnat as big as an elephant! These Pharaoh-like fellows have lifted up the hand, Send them a Moses with a staff, and a Nile!” And when in consequence of his harsh proceedings miseries and misfortunes broke in upon the Ulama, (who had persecuted him and his father), he applied the following Rubai to them: — “I have set fire to my barn with my own hands, As I am the incendiary, how can I complain of my enemy! No one is my enemy but myself, Woe is me! I have torn my garment with my own hands.” And when during disputations people quoted against him the edict every Mujtahid, he used to say; “O don’t bring me the arguments of this sweetmeat-seller, or that cobbler, or that tanner!” He thought himself capable of giving the lie to all Shaikhs and Ulama.