فتوح البلدان 85.61

85.61

وحدثني أبو بكر مولى الكريزبين: أن بلدا يدعى العسيفان بين قشمير والملتان، وكابل، كان له ملك عاقل، وكان أهل ذلك البلد يعبدون صنما قد بنى عليه بيت وأبدوه، فمرض ابن الملك فدعى سدنة ذلك البيت، فقال لهم: أدعوا الصنم أن يبرئ ابني فغابوا عنه ساعة، ثم أتوه فقالوا قد دعوناه وقد أجابنا إلى ما سألناه فلم يلبث الغلام أن مات، فوثب الملك على البيت فهدمه وعلى الصنم فكسره وعلى السدنة فقتلهم، ثم دعا قوما من تجار المسلمين فعرضوا عليه التوحيد فوحد وأسلم، وكان ذلك في خلافة أمير المؤمنين المعتصم بالله رحمه الله.

Abu Bakr, who had been a slave of the Karizis, related to me that the country called Al 'Usaifan between Kashmir and Multan and Kabul, was governed by a wise king. The people of this country worshipped an idol for which they had built a temple. The son of the king fell sick, and he desired the ministers of the temple to pray to the idol for the recovery of his son. They retired for a short time, and then returned and said, "We have prayed and our supplications have been accepted." But no long time passed before the youth died. Then the king attacked the temple, destroyed and broke in pieces the idol, and slew its ministers. He afterwards invited a party of Muhammadan traders who made known to him the unity of God. Hereupon he believed in the unity and became a Musulman. This happened in the Khalifat of Mu'tasim bi-llah, — may God have mercy on him.