The Nāṣirī Generations 258.7.2

258.7.2

They then offered to betray the city into their hands, the price being, for betraying their country and faith, and playing into the hands of barbarians, the destruction of the rival sect. The Mughal leaders accepted the terms; and they, having been admitted within the walls by the traitors, proceeded to butcher the Hanifis, but, having had clear proof of the disinterested friendship of the Sha'fis, and their trustworthiness, the Mughals massacred them also, and completely destroyed the city. Thus was Rai—one of the most flourishing, populous, and finest cities of Asia—desolated, plundered, and depopulated; and it never after recovered. This took place early in 618 H. After this feat, Jabah [Yamah] advanced towards Hamadan, and Swidae [Sahudah] to Kazwin. When Jabah reached Kum, to use the expressive simile of one of my authorities, "by the Mughals, the people of Kum became gum"—the Persian for lost, destroyed, annihilated, etc. At Kum were two religious factions—the Shi'ahs and the Sunnis. The former sent a deputation to wait on Jabah [Yamah], and incited him to destroy the latter; and, as usual with the Mughals, after slaughtering the followers of the rival sect, they sent the followers of 'Ali after them, carried off such as escaped the sword into captivity, and left not a living soul at Kum; in fact, they "destroyed" them completely, in "the true Circassian style."