Muntakhab al-tawarikh 79.15.5

79.15.5

And they sacrificed their wealth, and life, replication, and religion to their friendship for the Emperor. And so many holy souls rushed upon this trial, that they cannot be numbered. And sets of twelve persons, by turns, and in exactly the same way, became disciples, and conformed to the same creed and religion. And instead of the tree-of-discipleship he gave them a likeness; they looked on it as the standard of loyal friendship, and the advance-guard of righteousness, and happiness, and they put it wrapped up in a jewelled case on the top of their turbans. And Allah Akbar was used by them in the prefaces of their writings. And dice-playing and usury were allowed, and other forbidden things in like manner. And gambling houses were set up at the Court, and the Emperor lent money to the players at interest from the treasury. And borrowing on interest, and giving money away to the spectators was looked on as a branch of economy. He forbade girls before twelve, and boys before sixteen years of age to be married. And the story of the consummation of the Prophet's marriage with Qah'qah (God bless him and his family and give them peace!) he utterly abhorred. And all his other heretical attacks on orthodoxy who can speak of! Would that my ears were filled with quicksilver, so that what things would they escape hearing! And the failings of all the prophets (God’s blessings, and His peace be on them all!) the Emperor cited as reasons for disbelieving, especially the story of David (P.