حبیب السیر 13.1

13.1

When Mahmud returned victorious from this expedition to the royal residence of Ghaznin, he built a general mosque and a college, and endowed them with pious legacies. Some years after these events, Sultán Mahmud, of praiseworthy virtues, formed the design of taking Somnát, and of slaying the detestable idolaters. On the 10th of Sha'bán, 416 H. (1025-6 A.D.), he marched towards Multán with 30,000 cavalry, in addition to a multitude of men, who also bent their steps thither for their own pleasure, and for the obtaining the reward of warring against infidels. Having arrived at that city in the middle of Ramazán, he resolved to travel the rest of the distance by the way of the desert. The soldiers were obliged to carry water and forage for many days, and in addition the Sultán loaded 20,000 camels with water and provisions, so that the troops might not by any means become diminished in number. Having passed that bloodthirsty desert, they saw on the edge of it several forts filled with fighting men, and abounding with instruments of war, but the omnipotent God struck fear into the hearts of the infidels, so that they delivered the forts over without striking a blow. Sultán Mahmud went from that place towards Nahrwála, and he killed and plundered the inhabitants of every city on the road at which he arrived, until, in the month of Zi-l ka'da of the above year, he arrived at Somnat.