The Dabistán, or School of manners, Volume 3 (of 3): translated from the original Persian, with notes and illustrations
Religion
The Dabistán, or School of manners, Volume 3 (of 3): translated from the original Persian, with notes and illustrations
Iran -- Religion; Religions
The world-conquering Jangiz Khan, at the time of his wasting away,
said to his sons: “Never deviate from your faith, nor lend your
powerful support to other religions; because, as long as you remain
firmly rooted in your faith, your people and companions will
acknowledge you as the chiefs of their faith, and count you as the
leaders of worship; but he who changes his religion for that of
others, being a chief of the faith, may be still considered as a chief
by the people of the new religion; but in the eyes of his own people
will lose that dignity: because he who passes over with you to another
faith will esteem as chiefs those of the new faith; besides, he who
remains attached to my faith will also be displeased with you for not
having continued in the religion of his fathers.” To sum up all, as
long as they conformed themselves to the last will of the Khan, they
were powerful; but when they deviated from his counsel, they sunk into
distress and abjection. The stars were favorable to them in every
thing.[99]
It is related: Kík Khan, who was of the family of Chaghaty Khan, was
one day walking with noblemen of his suit in the plain, travelling
about in the desert. At once, his looks fell upon bones; at the same
moment he became thoughtful, and then asked: “Do you know what this
handful of bones says to me?” They replied: “The King knows best.” He
resumed: “They demand justice from me as being oppressed.” He demanded
information about the history of these bones from Amír Hazárah, who
held this country under his dependence. This governor inquired of Amir
Sadah, who administered this district under him; and after reiterated
investigations, it became clear that, nine years before, a caravan had
been attacked at this place by a band of highwaymen, and plundered of
their property, a part of which remained still in the hands of the
guilty. At last it was recovered from the murderers, and restored to
the heirs of the slain who were in Khorásán.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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