حبیب السیر 26: Sultan Zahiru-d daula Abu-l Muzaffar Ibrahim.

26

On the death of Farrukhzad, Sultan Ibrahim adorned the throne of sovereignty with his beneficent presence. He was a prince of such piety and devotion that he joined together Rajab, Sha'ban and the blessed Ramazan, and fasted three months in the year. He was occupied during the days of his power in spreading the carpet of justice, and in looking after the welfare of his subjects, and he was always exercising his energies in distributing charities and doing good works. Sultan Ibrahim entered into a reconciliation with the Saljukians, and it was agreed that neither party should entertain designs against the other's kingdom; Sultan Malik Shah Saljuki giving his own daughter in marriage to Ibrahim's son, whose name was Mas'ud.
After he had strengthened the foundations of reconciliation and friendship, Sultan Ibrahim several times led his army to make war on Hind, each time returning victorious to Ghaznin. Sultan Ibrahim died in 492 H. (1098-9 A.D.), according to Binakiti and Hamdu-lla Mustaufi, and according to the same account he reigned 42 years; but other historians say that Ibrahim died in 481 H. (1088-9 A.D.) But God knows all things!
Among the poets who were contemporary with Sultan Ibrahim, the chief were Abu-l Farah and Arzaki. Among the poems composed by Abu-l Farah there is an ode which he wrote in praise of 'Abdu-l Hamid, the opening lines of which are as follows: " 'Abdu-l Hamid Ahmad 'Abdu-l Samad gave order to wisdom, liberality, and to the dues of justice." Arzaki was surnamed Afzalu-d din; he came originally from Hirat, and the book called Alfiya wa Shalfiya was composed by him. In the Baharistan it is written that the cause of his writing this book was as follows. This verse upon the qualities of wine was the production of his genius:
"Oh cup-bearer, bring red wine, the thought of which Makes the mind a tulip bed, and the eye a rose garden. If at night a fairy should come within your rays, She would not be concealed from the eyes of men; More fragrant than amber, deeper coloured than the carnelian. Brighter than the stars and purer than the soul."