التاريخ اليميني 46.3

46.3

It happened that some twenty thousand volunteer warriors gathered to him from the nearest lands of Transoxiana to its farthest borders, having laid their swords upon their shoulders, seeking reward for holy war, volunteering in the cause of God for martyrdom. They sought the hand of Paradise with the dowry of their souls, and bargained for forgiveness with the edges of their broad swords. The Sultan stirred their mobilisation, and their cries of "God is greatest" roused the souls of the Muslims. His judgement required that he advance with them to Qanūj, which had defeated the kings of the past except Kushtāsb, according to what the Magians claim—he being the champion among his peers and, by their claim, the king of kings in his time. So he set out, though between Ghazna, the seat of the kingdom, and the territory of Qanūj lay a journey of three months at the pace of long-necked mounts and black camels.