Mirkhvand

Muhammad ibn Khvandshah ibn Mahmud, more commonly known as Mirkhvand (Persian: میرخواند, also transliterated as Mirkhwand; 1433/34 – 1498), was a Persian historian active during the reign of the Timurid ruler Sultan Husayn Bayqara (r. 1469–1506). He is principally known for his universal history, the Rawżat aṣ-ṣafāʾ ("The garden of purity"), which he wrote under the patronage of the high-ranking functionary Ali-Shir Nava'i (died 1501). Quotes Rawzat as-safa ('The Garden of Purity') The following are some of the [miraculous] events of that night, which became to everybody as plain as daylight: The disappearance of the water from the lake Sadah; the overflowing of the river Samâvah, which is one of the watercourses of Syria, and had been dry during one thousand years. ... During that night also the palace of Naushirvân, the strength of which will be mentioned in the record of the Khalifate of Abu Ja’far Manssûr the Abbaside, so trembled that fourteen of its pinnacles fell to the ground. This event filled the mind of Kesra with terror and apprehension, which, however, he did not communicate to anyone, until at last he one day convoked his intimate friends and courtiers, and wished to do so, when all of a sudden news arrived from Estakhar that the fire of the chief temple of Persia, which had been burning for a thousand years, had become extinguished. Having searched their historical books for the meaning of this sign, they found that it portended 'decline of power.' At this information the smoke of amazement ascended into the receptacle of the brains of Naushirvân, and his dismay was much augmented. On that occasion the Mobed of Mobeds—i.e., the chief ecclesiastical dignitary of the Magi—represented that he had during that night seen fleet and obstinate camels in a dream, which were leading Arab horses until they had crossed the Tigris and dispersed in Persia. Naushirvân asked for the interpretation of this vision, and the Mobed replied that according to his opinion some catastrophe must have happened in Arabia. must have happened in Arabia. Kesra then despatched a courier to No'mân Munzer, who had been appointed by him governor of the country, and asked him to procure a learned man able to solve any questions that might be proposed to him on a certain subject. Accordingly No'mân sent a man called A'bd-ul-Masih, whose utterances were looked upon with great confidence by the Arabs. When this individual arrived, he was asked by Naushirvan whether he would be able to answer a question, and he replied that he would try to do so; but in case he should himself be unable, he would point out a man who could give information on that important affair. After the question had been stated to A'bd-ul-Masih, he rejoined that only Sattih, who lived in Syria, could answer this inquiry. Accordingly he was ordered by Naushirvân to depart to that country for the purpose of uplifting the veil of mystery from the countenance of the Kesra's wishes, and arrived, after terminating his journey, at the dwelling of Sattih, whose bedside he approached, but found him in the agony of death, so that he received no answer to the numerous salutations and greetings sent by Naushirvân. Then A'bd-ul-Masih recited a few distichs to the effect that he had been sent by Naushirvân, but could not obtain a reply to solve various difficult queries. When Sattih had heard these verses of A'bd-ul-Masih he raised his head and said: "A'bd-ul-Masih has come to my bedside at a time when I am about to enter the grave, O A'bd-ul-Masih! The king of the Beni Sâsân—i.e., Naushirvân—has sent thee on account of the trembling of the palace, the decline of power, the extinction of the fires of Persia, and the dream of the Mobed of Mobeds!" He further said: "As soon as Muhammad the elect—u. w. b.—is sent, and the recital—i.e., reading of the Qurân—begins, the river Samavah will flow, and the lake Savah will become exsiccated; the fire of the chief temple of Persia will be extinguished, the dignity of the Persians, of the Syrians, and of Sattih will cease, i.e., the government of Persia will be destroyed, and Sattih, taking leave from the perishable, will hasten to the eternal abode. According to the fourteen pinnacles that fell from the Kesra's palace, fourteen individuals of the Sasanians, some of whom will be females, shall be encircled with the garlands of royalty, and will hereafter undergo great sufferings and hardships." After uttering these words Sattih ceased to speak and his soul was severed from his body. "The Happy Birth of the Intercessor on the Day of the Resurrection, and Explanation of some of the Events which took place during that Night". Translated by E. Rehatsek, pt. 2 vol. 1 (1893) pp. 89–91 It took place when the Qoraish were holding a festival in honour of one of their idols, in whose temple they had at that time assembled, and were engaged in eating and drinking. They found, however, that their god had fallen to the ground, and set him up again; but as he was, a short time afterwards, again found prostrate on his face, the idolaters were much dismayed, and erected him again. When they had done so the third time, a voice was heard from the cavity of that idol saying:All the regions of the earth, in the east and west,Respond to the nativity, whom its light strikes;Idolatry decreases, and the hearts of allThe kings of the earth tremble for fear. "The Happy Birth of the Intercessor on the Day of the Resurrection, and Explanation of some of the Events which took place during that Night". Translated by E. Rehatsek, pt. 2 vol. 1 (1893) p. 92 The foolish old man went to Hobal, and after praising him as is the fashion of idolaters, he continued: "This woman of the Bani Sa’ad says that she lost Muhammad, the son of A’bd-ul-Muttalleb; restore him to her if it so pleaseth thee; for she bemoans him as lost." As soon as that misguided individual had pronounced these words Hobal fell prostrate on his face, and from the cavity of his statue the words were heard: "What have I to do with Muhammad, who will be the cause of our destruction? and Allah the Most High and Glorious, who alone is to be worshipped, will not abandon him. Tell the idolaters that he is the great sacrifice; that is to say, he will kill all, except those who will be so fortunate as to follow him." "Scission of the Breast of that Prince of Exalted Dignity". Translated by E. Rehatsek, pt. 2 vol. 1 (1893) p. 115 External links Category:1430s births Category:1498 deaths Category:Historians from Persia