The Nāṣirī Generations 5: IV. — Nasiru-d din Allah Mas'udu-sh Shahid (the Martyr).

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Nasiru-d din Allah was the appellation of this prince, but his family name was Abu Mas'ud. He and his brother Sultan Muhammad were born on the same day. Sultan Mas'ud, the martyr, ascended the throne in a.h. 422 (1031 a.d.). He was so exceedingly generous that people used to call him "the second 'Ali," and for his bravery they named him "the second Rustam." No man could lift his battle-axe from the ground with one hand, and even an elephant could not stand before him. His father envied his strength, and used to keep him under control. He (Mahmud) kept Muhammad at Ghazni, and at length he obtained authority from the Khalif to place the name and titles of Muhammad in the Khutba before those of Mas'ud. Khwaja Abu Nasr Mishkan says : "When the letters (of the Khalif) were read in Mahmud's court, it was felt by us, and by all the princes and great men, to be a heavy blow, for marks of intelligence and courage were apparent on the brow of Mas'ud. When the prince came forth from the presence of his father, I, Abu Nasr Mishkan went after him and said to him, "O prince, this postponement of your name in the letter of the Khalif is very offensive to your servants." The prince said, "Don't grieve about it, the sword is a truer prophet than the pen." He then told me to return. I had no sooner got back than the informers told the Sultan Mahmud of my devotion to Mas'ud. He sent for me, and I waited upon him. He asked me why I went after Mas'ud, and what I had said to him. I related exactly all that had passed, without reserve, for by concealment my life would have been imperilled. The Sultan then said, "I know that Mas'ud excels Muhammad in every respect, and after my death the kingdom will devolve upon him, but I take this trouble now on behalf of Muhammad, that the poor fellow may enjoy some honour and gratification during my lifetime, for after my death it will not be so safe for him. May God have mercy on him."
Abu Nasr Mishkan goes on to say: — "In this incident two things surprised me very much. The first was the answer which Mas'ud so kindly and discreetly gave me. The second was the quickness and strict control of Mahmud, from whom this little attention of mine could not be concealed." When Sultan Mahmud took 'Irak he placed Mas'ud on the throne of that country, and before that period Hirat and Khurasan had been ruled in his name. After he ascended the throne of Spahan (Ispahan) he took the countries of Re, Kazwin, Hamadan, and Taram, and he overcame the Dailamites. Several times he received robes of honour from the Khalifate. After the death of Mahmud he came to Ghazni, and took possession of his father's kingdom. Several times he led his armies to India, and waged religious war. Twice he went to Tabaristan and Mazandaran. Towards the end of his reign the Saljuks made inroads, and three times he scattered their forces in the neighbourhood of Marv and Sarakhs. But as it was the will of God that the kingdom of Khurasan should come into the hands of the Saljūks, he eventually fought a bloody battle with them for three days at Tālikān. On the third day, which was a Friday, the Sultān was defeated, and retreated by way of Gharjistān to Ghazni. In panic he collected his treasures and went towards India, but in Mārikala his Turkī and Hindī slaves revolted, took him prisoner, and raised Muhammad to the throne. They sent Mas'ūd to the fort of Kīrī, and there he was slain in the year 432 H. (1040 A.D.). His age was forty-five years, and he had reigned nine years.