The Nāṣirī Generations 63.2

63.2

In the Muntakhab-i-Tarikh-i-Nasiri, which work was composed by one of the great men of the Court of Ghaznin, I read that, upon a certain occasion, Sultan Malik Shah requested his Wazir, Nizam-ul-Mulk, to make ready his forces, as he had resolved upon proceeding into the territory of Misr [Egypt]. The Wazir, Nizam-ul-Mulk, represented, saying: — “It is right for the Sultan to ponder well over this undertaking, because that country contains the Karamitah sect, and other heretics, and something of the profanities of their creed might come to the hearing of an orthodox monarch like his Majesty; and I do not consider it right that such depravity should find access to the royal mind.” Sultan Malik Shah enjoined that they should be diligent in making due preparation for the expedition, as for him to repudiate that determination of his was impossible. Nizam-ul-Mulk [consequently] made great preparations, and got all things in readiness; and the Sultan, with a numerous army, set out in the direction of Misr. When he arrived in the vicinity of it, the people of Misr hastened forth to perform the duty of receiving the Sultan; but he paid no regard to any one, neither did he turn his eyes towards any thing, until he arrived before the gate of the city of Miṣr. When he had passed over the ferry of Miṣr, and the river Nil, he inquired which was the palace of Fir'awn [Pharaoh].