He put on a disguise and set out with a few followers, on fleet horses,
for the Kh’ārezmian camp. They gave out that they were nomad Turks of
the neighbourhood, their ancestors having come from the Oxus; that
latterly the Sultan had withdrawn his favour from them; and that,
in consequence, they had for some time past been looking for the
Kh’ārezmian advent. This was reported to the king, Jelālu-’d-Dīn, who
sent for them and received them kindly, giving them tents and assigning
them rations.
During the night King Jelālu-’d-Dīn began to reflect that every one had
hitherto spoken well of Sultan ‘Alā’u-’d-Dīn, and a doubt arose in his
mind in consequence respecting the story of these newcomers, especially
as he learned that the Sultan was on his march to meet him. Consulting
with the Prince of Erzenu-’r-Rūm, further perquisition was postponed
until the morrow.
But at midnight the deceased saint of Qonya, Bahā-Veled, appeared
in a dream to Sultan ‘Alā’u-’d-Dīn, and warned him to fly at once.
The Sultan awoke, found it was a dream, and went to sleep again. The
saint now appeared a second time. The Sultan saw himself seated on his
throne, and the saint coming to him, smiting him on the breast with his
staff, and angrily saying, “Why sleepest thou? Arise!”
Now the Sultan did arise, quietly called his people, saddled horses,
and stole away out of the camp. Towards morning King Jelāl caused
guards to be placed round the tents of the strangers to watch them. But
afterwards, when orders were given to bring them to the king’s presence
to be questioned, their tents were found to be empty. Pursuit was
attempted, but in vain.
After an interval the two armies came into collision. The Sultan of
Qonya was victorious. From that time forward, whenever difficulties
threatened, he always betook himself to the shrine of the saint, Bahā
Veled, who always answered his prayers.
(As Sultan Jelālu-’d-Dīn Kh’ārezm-Shāh has already been stated to have
died in battle in Azerbāyjān in A.D. 1223, whereas the saint of Qonya
did not die until A.D. 1231 eight years afterwards, the discrepancy of
that date with the present anecdote is irreconcilable.)
6.
The Great Master, Bahā Veled, used to say that while he himself
lived no other teacher would be his equal, but that when his son,
Jelālu-’d-Dīn, should succeed him at his death, that son of his would
equal and even surpass him.
7.
Seyyid Burhānu-’d-Dīn Termīzī[8] is related to have said that one night
the door of the mausoleum of Bahā Veled opened of itself, and that a
great glory shone forth from it, which gradually filled his house, so
that no shadow fell from anything. The glory then gradually filled the
city in like manner, spreading thence over the whole face of nature. On
beholding this prodigy the Seyyid swooned away.
This vision is a sure indication that the whole human race will one day
own themselves the disciples of the descendants of the great saint.
8.