The Nāṣirī Generations 63.6

63.6

Many monuments of the goodness and wisdom of that excellent monarch remain in the world, among which one is, that the astronomical calculations were, during his reign, tested anew, and the calendar reformed; and it was after the following manner: — It had been discovered from observations, that, from the want of an intercalation, very great confusion existed with regard to the lunar months, and that calculations had fallen into disorder, and that the zodiacal signs in the almanac had become involved in error. Sultan Malik Shah commanded that the most learned men in the science of astronomy, and the most profound arithmeticians, should make fresh observations, and that the seasons and months should be again tested and adjusted; and the first day of spring, which is the first degree of the sign Aries, became named, after that monarch, the No-roz-i-Jalali. Nizam-ul-Mulk, Tusi, who has left in the world so many proofs of his goodness and nobleness, was his Wazir; and Shaikh Abu Said-i-Abu-l-Khayr, and Imam Ghazzali lived in his reign. Sultan Malik Shah's reign extended over a period of twenty-six years, and, in the year 491 H. he died. God alone is immortal.