The Nāṣirī Generations 287.4
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 287.4
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287.4.1
“From thence the Nu-yin, Sali, with Shams-ud-Din, Muhammad, the Kurat, proceeded towards Luhawur—Lahor—where, at that time, was Kurit or Kurat Khan—[sic. There was a Kuret Khan among the Maliks of Dihli, No. XV., but he was never feudatory of Lahor, and was dead before this period].” He was probably no subject of the Dihli kingdom, for, at this time, Lahor had been lost to it, and the Khokhars are said to have occupied the ruins of Lahor after its sack by the Mughals in 639 H. “Sali entered into an accommodation with this person,” whoever he might have been, “on the payment of dinars, kharwars—loads sufficient to load an ass with—of soft fabrics, and 100 captives.” reopened. From Khaesar he [the author] proceeded “After this, the subordinates of the Nu-yin, Sali, plotted against Malik Shams-ud-Din, Muhammad, upon which he retired from Hind, and set out to return to Shur. On the way he was arrested and detained by Malik 'Imad-ud-Din, the Ghuri. Shams-ud-Din, Muhammad, on this, despatched a trusty agent to the Bahadur, Ta-ir, then commanding the troops in those parts [and, consequently, if this be true, this Ta-ir could not have been killed at Lahor in 639 H., as our author states at page 1135], telling him of his seizure and detention while on his way to his, Ta-ir’s presence. Ta-ir directed his release, and he came to Ta-ir’s urdu, and, after that, he retained Shams-ud-Din, Muhammad, near his own person.”
287.4.2
In a book published at the commencement of this Afghan crisis, entitled History of Afghanistan from the Earliest Period, by Colonel G. B. Malleson C.S.I., we are told, at page 114, with reference to the year 1249, that “In that year, Shir Khan, the governor of the Panjab for the King of Dehli Nasir-u-Din Mahmud, invaded Afghanistan, seized upon Ghazni and Kabul, and annexed them to the Dehli monarchy. It is probable that they were speedily recovered, for not only, in subsequent years, do we find the Moghols making repeated incursions into India, but in the year 1336 traces appear of a new Afghan dynasty seated on the throne of Ghazni, owning subordination to, and acknowledging the suzerainty of, the Moghols of Central Asia.” Now the text above translated—The Tabakat-i-Nasiri—was dedicated to, and named after the Nasir-ud-Din, Mahmud Shah, who is referred to in the above extract, and in no work extant will such details be found respecting his reign in particular, and also the history of the Ghuris. Indeed all later historians obtain their information from this Tabakat, for there was no other contemporary writer but its author, that we know of, who gives such details.
287.4.3
Sher Khan, i.e. the Lion Khan—Sher signifying Lion, but as in the work above referred to, signifies—The Milk [and Water?] Khan—is no other than the great Malik, the cousin of Ulugh Khan-i-A’zam, a memoir of whom is given at page 791, and who was living when our author finished his work, and was personally known to him. Nothing of the above romantic statements as to “the throne of Ghazni” and “Kabul” will be found recorded in the text, for the reason that they never happened; and nowhere will such be found save in Dow, Briggs, and Firishtah. The events of the year 647 H.—1249 A.D.—will be found at pages 685 and 820. The following year, Sher Khan-i-Sunkar re-took Multan from the Mughals, and, in the year in question, ousted a rival Malik of the Dihli Court, who was disaffected, and intriguing with the Mughals, from Uchchah; and, soon after, he actually had himself to retire to the urdu of Mangu Ka'an, while his rival went to Hulaku. The reason of this will be found fully explained by our author respecting the disorders in the Dihli kingdom. This re-capture of Multan and seizure of Uchchah is what the Dakhani compiler, Firishtah, made Ghaznin of, but even he and his translators only make “Shere, the emperor’s nephew [which he was not], take Ghaznin,” not Kabul too. Col. Malleson then adds:—
287.4.4
“The new Afghan dynasty, like that which preceded it, came from Ghor. Probably [!] it was the chief of the Afghan tribe [sic. tribe!] in the Ghor mountains to whom the Moghol suzerain delegated his authority. They towards Farah, and from thence to the Kala'-i-[fort of] Kah of Sistan, then on to the Hisar [fortified or walled town] of Karah, and to Tabas and the fort of Muminabad, and thence to Ka’in. At Ka’in the author saw the Muhtashim, Shams, who was a man of the military profession. From this latter place the author returned to Khaesar.
287.4.5
When the year 623 H. came round, the writer of this, who is Minhaj-i-Saraj, determined to undertake a journey into Hindustan; and, as a requirement for the journey into that country, with the permission of Malik Rukn-ud-Din, Muhammad-i-’Usman, the Maraghani, of Khaesar [of Ghur], he proceeded to Farah, in order that a little silk might be purchased. On his arriving in the neighbourhood of Farah, Malik Taj-ud-Din, Binal-Tigin, the Khwarazmi, mention of whom has already been made in the Section containing the account of the Maliks of Nimroz, was ruling the country of Sistan. Hostility had arisen between him and the Mulahidahs on account of the fort of Jahan-Shahi, which is adjacent to the town of Neh, and he had retired defeated before them, and came to Farah. Fear [of them] had overcome him; and, of the men of note who were along with him, among those on whom he was relying to proceed into the Kuhistan to effect an accommodation, and make terms between him and the ruler of the Kuhistan, the Muhtashim, Shams, not one of them, the notables of his Court, was equal to undertake the journey, until they acquainted him [Binal-Tigin] with the news of the arrival of this votary, Minhaj-i-Saraj, in the vicinity of Farah.
287.4.6
Malik Taj-ud-Din, Binal-Tigin, despatched a led horse, and a deputation of persons of note to receive him, and call him. When the author reached his presence, the Malik made a request, saying: “It behoveth thee to do the favour of effecting a peace, and to proceed into the Kuhistan. The son of Malik Rukn-ud-Din, Muhammad-i-'Usman, will accompany thee in this important enterprise—thou [wilt go] under the designation of an envoy, and he, under the name of a mediator.” In conformity with this solicitation, the author proceeded towards the Kuhistan. The Mulahidahs were then before the town of Neh; and, after having reached the confines of the Kuhistan, it was necessary to come back again; and the author proceeded to Neh, and the accommodation between Malik Taj-ud-Din, Binal-Tigin, and the Mulahidah Muhtashim, Shams, was effected.
287.4.7
When the author had returned from that journey, and had again reached the presence of Malik Taj-ud-Din, Binal-Tigin, the latter said: “It is necessary for thee to go a second time, and demand war from the Mulahidah;” but this servant of the state did not consent to set out on a second journey, as he had determined upon undertaking a journey into Hindustan, and entertained a very great predilection for this journey. This refusal on the part of this votary did not meet with the approval of Malik Taj-ud- Din, Binal-Tigin, and he commanded so that they detained him [the author] for forty-three days in the fort of Safhed of Sistan, and prohibited his going beyond the walls, until Malik Rukn-ud-Din, Muhammad-i-'Usman, of Khaesar—may he rest in peace!—despatched letters from Ghur to Malik Taj-ud-Din, Binal-Tigin. The author, likewise, composed a poem conformable with the case of his confinement; and, by the favour of the Most High God, he obtained his liberation from that fortress. Five verses of that poem are here given that they may come under the august observation of the SULTAN OF THE SULTANS OF Islam, whose sovereignty be long prolonged! Amin.
287.4.8
“How long shall my crystal tears on the amber [like] face, To the emerald spheres the coral hue impart? Since like unto smoke from Kumari wood are my sighs, It would not be astonishing were ye distilling rose-water, O tears! In disposition, neither am I vicious, nor is evil found in me; Why then am I a captive on the Safhed mount? I am not the Si-murgh, nor is this the mountain of Kaf— For ever pleasing to the parrot captivity will not be. Minhaj—The Straight Road—is best on the open highway: The straight road he findeth not, through restraint the fortress within.” The intermediate [portion of the] poem, and the entire copy of it, is not in existence, and hence it is thus abridged. May the Almighty preserve the Nasiri dominion to the utmost bounds of possibility! I now return to the subject of the history. In the territory of the Mulahidah there are one hundred and five forts—seventy forts in the Kuhistan territory, and thirty-five in the hilly tract of 'Irak, which they call Alamut. After the Mughal forces had occupied their territory some time, and a great number of captives of that sect had been slaughtered, the Maulana of the Mulahidah, 'Ala-ud-Din, Mahmud, son of Jalal-ud-Din, Hasan-i-Nau Musalman, was assassinated by one among his personal slaves, in the fortress of Lanbah-Sar, and the son of Ala-ud-Din, Mahmud, came out of that stronghold and proceeded to the Mughal camp.
287.4.9
They despatched him, along with his dependents and followers, to the presence of Mangu Khan, and command was given to put him to death on the way. All the forts of Mulhidistan were destroyed, and the Mughals took their cities and towns and demolished them, with the exception of the fort of Gird-Koh which lies between Khurasan and ’Irak. Up to this time, now kingdom, to tender his submission, and to acknowledge the suzerainty of the Mughal Ka’an. Hulaku received them, and treated them with honour, but despatched Zahir-ud-Din, the Bitik-chi, and two other men of note, to intimate to Khur Shah that, if he, Khur Shah, spoke truly with respect to his obedience and subjection, it behoved him to demolish his fortresses, and present himself in the audience tent of Hulaku. Khur Shah's reply, on dismissing them, was, that, whatever opposition his father may have displayed with regard to the Mughal Court, he had himself evinced naught save servitude and obedience; and he gave orders, in the presence of the agents, to dismantle several fortresses, such as Humayun-dujz, Alamut, Lanbah-Sar, and others, to throw down the battlements, carry away the gates to a distance, and begin to tear down the walls; but, for himself, he requested a delay of one year, after which he would present himself.