Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 42.21.1

42.21.1

It was observed during the siege, that Saf-shiken-qhan, son to Cavam-eddin-qhan, very different in that from the other Iranian Lords in camp, had exerted himself in every occasion. Once a learned Iranian, who was his friend and companion, took occasion to observe, that there was in the place a multitude of Seyds of undoubted extraction, a number of faithful believers, and a number of learned venerable personages, who could expect nothing at his hands after the capture of the place, but captivity to themselves, and defilement to their families. "How then," said the venerable man, raising his voice, "can you account to your own heart for all those efforts you are daily making to undo these unfortunate people?" The man, unmoved by the expostulation, answered: "He had done nothing but his duty, and would do it again; and that, were Imam Hussein himself within the place, he would not desist from his endeavours to take the fortress." This answer of his soon went throughout the whole camp, where it was reputed a kind of blasphemy. The Emperor himself found fault with it, and spoke of the man with displeasure. His blasphemy was supposed to be a fictitious one, and to cover some intelligence with the besieged. He was disgraced, imprisoned, and his property was confiscated.