History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c6.227

c6.227

A capable ruler and an experienced captain of war, Ghiyas-al-Din possessed a warm heart and a liberal mind. He was a model of justice and goodness and was highly considerate in his treatment of others. Like Vespasian, he despised the grandeur which his arms had won, and refused to deck himself in the trappings of royalty. Power did not intoxicate him. Towards his quondam colleagues he behaved with the same freedom and want of reserve as in his earlier days, and neither by word nor by action did he make them feel the inferiority of their position. He was generous to a fault towards those who had served him long and faithfully and always cared for their interests. He was a lofty idea of the duty of kingship and incessantly laboured to promote the welfare of his subjects and scrupulously eschewed everything that was likely to injure their interests. He was a pious and God-fearing Muslim who observed all the rites and practices of his faith. He kept vigils at night, observed all the hours of prayer, and never went to bed until he had repeated his prayer before sleep. Throughout the month of Ramzān he kept fast with the strictness of an orthodox Muslim and on the third night he used to perform the twenty-two genuflexions. But no persecution is recorded of him and we read of no interference with the religion of his non-muslim subjects. He extended his protection to all and probably the onerous task of re-settling the empire of Dihli disinclined him to ill-treat or molest the dissidents from the faith of the Prophet.