The Nāṣirī Generations 244.5
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 244.5
- Language
- English
244.5.1
When the new year of 652 H. came round, a change took place in the condition of the number of oppressed, who, by the hand of tyranny, and through removal from office, occasioned by the absence of Ulugh Khan-i-A'zam. had remained in a place of seclusion like unto fish without water and the sick without sleep, from night to day, and, day to night, continued to beseech the Holy Creator, that the morn of the Ulugh Khani prosperity might raise its face from the east of power, and the darkness of the Rayhani tyranny might be changed to the sun-light of the Ulugh Khani administration. The Most High God was graciously pleased to grant the prayers of the afflicted, and the appeals of the distressed, and was pleased to cause the victorious standards of Ulugh Khan-i-A'zam to be given to the wind from the preserved city of Nag-awr, towards, and with the design of proceeding to, the capital.
244.5.2
The reason was this, that the Maliks and servants of the Sultan’s Court were all Turks of pure lineage, and Tajziks of noble birth, and ’Imad-ud-Din-i-Rayhan, [who] was castrated and mutilated, and of the tribes of Hind was ruling over the heads of lords of high descent, and the whole of them were loathing that state, and were unable any longer to suffer that degradation. The case of this frail individual was on this wise, that, for a period of six months, or even longer, it was out of his power to leave his dwelling and go to the Friday’s prayers, for fear of the violence of a gang of villains who were patronized by 'Imad-ud-Din-i-Rayhan: so the condition of others, every one of whom consisted of Turks and conquering, ruling, and foe-breaking, Maliks, may well be conceived. How could they continue under this disgrace?
244.5.3
In short, the Maliks of Hindustan namely, from the territory of Karah and Manik-pur, and Awadh and the district of Tirhut, as far as Buda'un, and from the side of Tabarhindah as far as Sunam, Kuhram, and Samanah, and the whole of the Siwalikh [country], prayed Ulugh Khan-i-A'zam to return to the capital. Malik Taj-ud-Din, Arsalan Khan-i-Sanjar, brought forth a body of troops from Tabarhindah, and Malik Saif-ud-Din, Bat Khan-i-I-bak, the Khita-i, issued from Sunam and Mansur-pur, and Ulugh Khan-i-A'zam assembled forces from Nag-awr and the Siwalikh, and Malik Jalal-ud-Din, Mas'ud Shah, son of Sultan Shams-ud-Din [I-yal-timish], from the side of Lohor joined them, and they turned their faces towards the environs of the capital. 'Imad-ud-Din-i-Rayhan represented to the Sultan that the sublime standards should move out for the purpose of repelling his own servants, and they [the Sultan and his adviser] marched the forces from Dihli towards Sunam, for that purpose. Ulugh Khan-i-A'zam, with the other Maliks, was in the neighbourhood of Tabarhindah; and the author set out from the capital for the purpose of joining the royal camp, because it was impossible for him to remain in the city [of Dihli] without the presence of the sublime Court. On Monday, the 26th of the month of Ramazan, 652 H., the author reached the royal camp, and, on Lailat-ul-Kadr [the night of Power], in the public apartment of the august Sultan’s [pavilion], he offered up prayer.
244.5.4
On the second day [after the author’s arrival], on Wednesday, the 28th of the before-named month, whilst on the march, both armies drew near towards each other, and the advance guards came in contact, and immense disorder arose among the Sultan’s forces. The prayers appropriate to the ’Id-i-Fitr [the festival of Fast-breaking — 1st of the month Shawwal] were performed at Sunam. On Saturday, the 8th of the month of Shawwal, the sublime standards made a retrograde movement towards Hansi, and Malik Jalal-ud-Din, Mas’ud Shah [the Sultan’s brother], and Ulugh Khan-i-A’zam, with the other illustrious Maliks, marched towards Kaithal.
244.5.5
A number of Maliks and Amirs on both sides [now] spoke about a mutual accommodation of affairs, and the Sipah-Salar [leader of troops] Karah-Jamal, one of the personal slaves of Ulugh Khan-i-A’zam, who was noted for manliness, arrived from his chief's camp, and the Amir of the black standard, Husam-ud-Din, Kutlugh Shah, that Amir of angelic attributes, of great sincerity, and excellent disposition, who was qualified above the other Amirs of Islam by his age, was nominated, on this side [the Court's], to treat, and [on the other side] the Sipah-Salar, Karah-Jamak, while Malik Kutb-ud-Din, Husain son of 'Ali, the Ghuri — on whom be peace! — made use of every effort and endeavour that was possible to bring the matter to an accommodation. The representation of the whole of the Maliks to His Majesty was this : We all bow our heads in submission to the mandates of the Court, the Asylum of the Universe, save that we are not safe from the malice, deceit, and iniquitous conduct of 'Imad-ud-Din-i-Rayhan. If he should be removed from before the sublime throne of sovereignty, and sent away to some part, we all will present ourselves and return to allegiance, and lay the head of servitude on the line of obedience to the sublime mandates.
244.5.6
When the sublime standards moved from within sight of Hansi towards Jind [Jhind], on Monday, the 22nd of the month of Shawwal, 652 H., 'Imad-ud-Din-i-Rayhan was removed from the office of Wakil-i-Dar [Representative in Dar-bar] ; and praise be unto God for this and all other blessings ! The government of the province of Buda'un was committed to him, and 'Izz-ud-Din, Balban [-i-Yuz-Baki], the Deputy Amir-i-Hajib, proceeded to the camp of Ulugh Khan-i-A'zam, and, on Tuesday, the 3rd of the month of Zi-Ka'dah, Malik Bat Khan-i-I-bak, the Khita-i — on whom be the Almighty's mercy ! — reached the [royal] camp for the purpose of concluding the reconciliation. Here is a strange occurrence which happened, of the matter of which the author was cognizant, and it is this. 'Imad-ud-Din-i-Rayhan conspired with a number of Turks, in whose hearts somewhat of the leaven of opposition towards Ulugh Khan-i-A'zam was implanted, that, when Malik Bat Khan-i-I-bak, the Khita-i, should reach the entrance of the royal tent, they should cut him down in the vestibule of the tent, so that, when intimation of it should reach the camp of Ulugh Khan-i-A’zam, they [the confederate Maliks] should bring ’Izz-ud-Din, Balban-i-Yuz-Baki, the Deputy Amir-i-Hajib, under the sword also, and this accommodation should not come about, so that 'Imad-ud-Din-i-Rayhan might continue in safety, and Ulugh Khan’s return to the Court be impossible.
244.5.7
Malik Kutb-ud-Din, Husain, son of ’Ali, Ghuri, on becoming aware of this intention, despatched the Ulugh-i-Khas Hajib [the Chief Royal Chamberlain], the Sharf-ul-Mulk, Rashid-ud-Din, ’Ali, Hanafi, to Malik Bat Khan-i-I-bak, the Khita-i [saying] : — "It is advisable that you remain quiet in your own quarters to-morrow morning, and do not go to the entrance of the royal tent." As Malik Bat Khan-i-I-bak, in accordance with this advice, delayed proceeding to the entrance of the royal tent, the scheme of 'Imad-ud-Din-i-Rayhan with those hostile Turks did not succeed, and the grandees gained a knowledge of it. 'Imad-ud-Din-i-Rayhan, in obedience to the sublime mandate, was sent away from the royal camp towards Buda’un; and, on Tuesday, the 17th of the month of Zi-Ka’dah, the Sultan of Sultans, and the Maliks of the sublime Court, commanded this servant of the state, Minhaj-i-Saraj, for the purpose of effecting a reconciliation between both parties, so that he proceeded [to the other camp] and gave them pledges and guarantees. The next day, Wednesday, the 18th, Ulugh Khan-i-A'zam, with the other Maliks, returned and presented themselves at the sublime Court, and obtained permission to kiss the sovereign’s hand. Praise be to God for this and other blessings!
244.5.8
The sublime standards were now brought back, and Ulugh Khan-i-A’zam, in attendance at the king’s august stirrup, on Wednesday, the 9th of the month of Zi-Hijjah, 652 H., again returned to the capital city of Dihli. During the period of Ulugh Khan’s absence from the capital, the rain of mercy had not rained upon the land, but by the wisdom of the Divine favour, at the blessed footstep of Ulugh Khan-i-A’zam, the gate of the Divine mercy opened, and rain, which is the source of life to herbs and vegetation, mankind and animals, fell upon the ground; and all people accounted his auspicious arrival an omen of good unto mortals. On the arrival of his august cavalcade, all became glad and rejoiced, and gave thanks unto Almighty God for that immense boon. When the new year 653 H. came round, on account of some occurrence which manifested itself in the womens’ apartments of the royal household, with the secret of which not a soul had any acquaintance, on Wednesday, the 7th of the month of Muharram of the same year, Kutlugh Khan was directed to assume the government of Awadh, and he set out in that direction. At that time the government of Bhara’ij was entrusted to ’Imad-ud-Din-i-Rayhan.
244.5.9
When the Ulugh Khani good fortune emitted a blaze of brightness, the garden of hope assumed freshness, and the key of divine favour opened the closed gates of the dwellers in retirement. One of that number was this servant of the sovereign dynasty, Minhaj-i-Saraj, Jurjani, who, by the power of enemies’ accusations, and the oppressive tyranny of eunuchs, had kept within the cell of dismissal and misfortune, and in a retired corner from adversity and malevolence. Through the patronage and favour of Ulugh Khan-i-A’zam, who submitted it for the sublime confirmation, on Sunday, the 7th of the month of Rabi’-ul-Awwal, 653 H., for the third time, the Kazi-ship of the kingdom and the bench of jurisdiction [as chief Kazi] was conferred upon this loyal supplicant, the enunciator of prayer and thanksgiving; and 'Verily, He who hath prescribed to thee the Kur’an will bring thee back to a place of return' was manifested towards this frail one. May the most High God, of His favour, unto the uttermost revolutions of the heavens, in felicity and supremacy, preserve and perpetuate the Nasiri sovereignty and Ulugh Khani authority, for the sake of Muhammad and his whole race!