The Nāṣirī Generations 288.1.4

288.1.4

The recluse turned his face towards the Muhtashim, and said: “I suffer tyranny in thy city and territory. Why have they placed this poniard in thy hand ? [Is it not] for this purpose that thou shouldst ward off tyranny and violence from the weak and oppressed ? Give the weapon into my hand that I may see whether it be sharp or not.” The Muhtashim, inadvertently, the recluse being an infirm old man, and thinking that from him no mischief would arise, gave the poniard into the Darwesh’s hand. The latter seized it, struck at the Muhtashim, and inflicted upon him several severe wounds, in such a manner that his body was wounded in several places. It was the winter season, and the Muhtashim wore two garments of hair [cloth], one over the other; and, the recluse being old and infirm, the wounds proved not so very deep. Had the recluse been young, and had it been the summer season, without doubt, the Muhtashim would have gone to hell. Notwithstanding he was wounded, he got up, seized the wound-inflicting recluse, and cried out for assistance. A number of Mulahidahs were in the vestibule of the place of audience, and they burst open the door, and came in, and martyred the recluse — the Almighty reward him !