تحفة النظار في غرايب الامصار وعجايب الاسفار 12.22.2

12.22.2

فلما وصله الكتاب رحل إليه، فلما وصل إلى بلاد السند، وكتب المخبرون بقدومه بعث السلطان من يستقبله على العادة، ثم وصل إلى سرستي بعث أيضا لاستقباله صدر الجهان قاضي القضاة كمال الدين الغزنوي وجماعة من الفقهاء ثم بعث الأمراء لاستقباله فلما نزل بمسعود آباد خارج الحضرة خرج السلطان بنفسه لاستقباله فلما التقيا ترجل غياث الدين فترجل له السلطان وخدم، فخدم له السلطان، وكان قد استصحب هدية في جملتها ثياب، فأخذ السلطان آحد الأثواب وجعله على كتفه، وخدم كما يفعل الناس معه. ثم قدمت الخيل، فأخذ السلطان أحدها بيده وقدمه له، وحلف أن يركب وامسك بركابه حتى ركب ثم ركب السلطان وسايره والشطر يظلهما معا. وأخذ التنبول بيده وأعطاه إياه، وهذا أعظم ما أكرمه به، فإنه لا يفعله مع واحد، وقال له: لولا أني بايعت الخليفة أبا العباس (55) لبايعتك! فقال له غياث الدين وأنا أيضا على تلك البيعة، وقال له غياث الدين: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم تسليما: من أحيي أرضا مواتا فهي له، وأنت احييتنا، فجاوبه السلطان بألطف جواب وأبره.

When the letter reached him he set out for him. When he reached the land of Sind and the informants wrote of his arrival, the Sultan sent people to receive him, as was the custom. Then, when he reached Sarsatī, he again sent the Ṣadr al-Jahān, the chief qāḍī Kamāl al-Dīn al-Ghaznawī, and a company of jurists to receive him, and then he sent the amīrs to receive him. When he halted at Masʿūd Ābād outside the capital, the Sultan went out in person to receive him. When they met, Ghiyāth al-Dīn dismounted, and the Sultan dismounted for him; he made obeisance, and the Sultan made obeisance to him. He had brought a present, which included garments; the Sultan took one of the garments, put it on his shoulder and made obeisance, as people do with him. Then the horses were brought forward; the Sultan took one of them by his own hand and presented it to him, swore that he should mount, and held his stirrup until he mounted. Then the Sultan mounted and rode beside him, the parasol shading them both. He took betel in his hand and gave it to him, and this was the greatest honour he showed him, for he does not do it for anyone. He said to him, 'Had I not sworn allegiance to the caliph Abū al-ʿAbbās, I would swear allegiance to you!' Ghiyāth al-Dīn replied, 'I too hold to that allegiance.' And Ghiyāth al-Dīn said to him, 'The Messenger of God (God bless him and grant him peace) said: "Whoever revives dead land, it is his" — and you have revived us.' The Sultan answered him with the kindest and most gracious reply.