Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 42.18.2

42.18.2

nor had any order been given to cut the throats of those horses,—it is only a "groundless report: The Emperor was reading the Coran, when those horses were brought to his sight. His Majesty, pleased with their appearance, wanted to bring to a pause his accustomed quantity of reading, and to put it off for another day; but at that very moment, his reading lead him to that part of the Holy Book, where mention is made that Soleiman, son of Daüd, (upon whom be peace and grace for ever!) having been presented with some fine horses, paused in his prayers of ecclesiastical precept, and from pause to pause he slipt likewise over the time allotted to the preformance of prayers of Divine precept; upon which it was revealed to him, that he must order those horses to have their throats cut. The Emperor having gone throughout that chapter, thought the contents addressed to himself, and to keep his own concupiscence under controul, he imitated the action of Saint Soleiman (on whom be peace!), and ordered the horses to be slaughtered. Let the uninformed world, added Saadet-qhan, say as it shall please;