The Nāṣirī Generations 183.1.2

183.1.2

At the outset of his career, when they brought him from Turkistan, Kutb-ud-Din reached the city of Nishapur. The Kazi-ul-Kuzat [Chief Kazi], Fakhr-ud-Din, ’Abd-ul-’Aziz-i-Kufi, who was a descendant of the Imam-i-A’zam, Abu Hanifah of Kufah, the governor of the province of Nishapur and its dependencies, purchased him; and, in attendance on, and along with his sons, he read the Word of God, and acquired instruction in horsemanship, and shooting with the bow and arrow, so that, in a short time, he became commended and favourably spoken of for his manly bearing. When he attained unto the period of adolescence, certain merchants brought him to the Court of Ghaznin; and the Sultan-i-Ghazi, Mu’izz-ud-Din, Muhammad, son of Sam, purchased him from those traders. He was endowed with all laudable qualities and admirable impressions, but he possessed no outward comeliness; and the little finger of one hand had a fracture, and on that account he used to be styled I-bak-i-Shil [The powerless-fingered]. At that period, Sultan Mu’izz-ud-Din, now and then was wont to give himself up to pleasure and jollity. One night he had given directions for an entertainment and conviviality, and, during the entertainment, he commanded a gift to be bestowed upon each of the slaves present, consisting of sums of ready money, and gold and silver, both wrought and unwrought.