The Nāṣirī Generations 35.11

35.11

In A.H. 629 he marched for the conquest of Gwalior, and when his royal tents were pitched under the walls of the fort, Milak Deo, the accursed son of Basil the accursed, began the war. For eleven months the camp remained under the fort. In the month of Sha'ban of the same year the author of this book came to the Court from Dehli and obtained audience. He was ordered to preach in turn at the door of the royal tent. Discourses were appointed to be delivered three times every week, and during the month of Ramazan on every day. But in other months the rule of three times was observed. Ninety-five times religious assemblies were convened at the royal tents. On both 'Ids, viz. 'Id-i fitr and 'Id-i azha', the appropriate prayers were read at three different places in the army of Islam. At one of these, at the fort of Gwalior on the northern side, this well-wisher of the government, Minhaj Siraj, was ordered on the 'Id-i azha' to read the Khutba and the prayers, and was honoured with the reward of a costly khil'at. The same rule was observed until the fort was conquered, on Tuesday, the 26th of Safar A.H. 630 (November, 1232). The accursed Milak Deo went out of the fort in the night time and fled. About seven hundred persons were ordered to receive punishment at the door of the royal tent. After this, promotions were made in the ranks of the nobles and great officers.