The Rashīdī History 11.1

11.1

IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MERCIFUL, THE CLEMENT! It is fitting that the opening of a royal history, and the beginning of a book of victory and good fortune, should be the praise and glory of that Monarch, the length and breadth of whose kingdom, (according to the words: "Say — 'verily God is the holder of the Empire,'") is defended and preserved from change and decay, and whose palace is securely guarded from the evil of destruction and ruin. "He setteth upon the throne whomsoever He will," is a testimony to His glorious unity; "He deposes whomsoever He will," is a proof of the permanence of His kingdom. [Verses]; And all that is 'twixt earth and sky, The sun and moon, the east and west; From India to far Turkistan, The mighty conquerors of the earth Have girt the belt of service on, Prepared to do their Lord's behest. The splendour of His greatness is beyond the reach of the contentions of friends or adversaries, and the glory of His omnipotence is exempt from the pretentious claims of passionate and dissentient men. The kings of the earth place the forehead of helplessness and impotence upon the dust of submission and humility, at the palace of His glory; and the Khakans, powerful as the heavens, standing upon the threshold of the portal of His divinity, stretch forth the hand of humility, supplication and devotion.