Then the emperor praised to the skies the empress’s reasoning, and greatly lauded her judgment. But then he became listless, and said, “Alas, no ruse has yet been found to dispel Hamza’s menace!” Bakhtak’s mother, Saqar Ghar Bano, who was present there, submitted before the emperor with folded arms saying, “If Your Majesty would so order, I could rid you of Hamza’s life in a most suitable way.” Naushervan asked, “How do you propose to go about it?”
She answered, “Tomorrow Your Majesty should tell Hamza before the whole court that he will be wedded to Mehr-Nigar after a week. This slave will hide Princess Mehr-Nigar in a cellar on the pretext of her maiyoon72 ceremony. After two days news of Princess Mehr-Nigar’s being ill will be spread, and then on the sixth day her demise (may such be her enemies’ fate!) will be proclaimed. When Hamza hears this sorrowful news, he will kill himself and thus die at his own hands!”
The emperor was greatly taken with Saqar Ghar Bano’s plan, and the next day before the assembled court he ordered Hamza to make preparations for the wedding, whereupon Amir retired to his camp rejoicing.
Then Saqar Ghar Bano went and congratulated the princess in the palace, and using the maiyoon ceremony as an excuse, removed her to a cellar, where she spoke to her thus: “My lady! Now, you must not set foot outside this cellar for an entire week, because such are the formalities of this ritual!” Mehr-Nigar’s companions gathered around her, and they all began to frolic and make merry.
After two days that harridan, Saqar Ghar Bano, spread the news that Mehr-Nigar had taken ill (may such be her enemies’ fate!), and four days later, the palace rang out with lamentations that Mehr-Nigar had moved out of the confines of the Garden of Night and Day to promenade in the Copse of Paradise.
Amir was struck with the most violent anguish from hearing merely of the Princess’s sickness. Now that he heard the news of her death, he made to plunge his dagger into his bosom. But Landhoor and Bahram took away his dagger.
Amar said, “Let me go and confirm the news of the princess’s death.” Amar set out with great dispatch and he saw every last person there dressed in black, and found both young and old in mourning. But a while later he caught sight of Saqar Ghar Bano walking up to the empress and then retiring whence she had come after whispering something into her ear. Amar said in his heart, There is some mystery behind this.
Night had fallen and the whole palace was covered in darkness. Looking around and making sure that nobody saw him, Amar disguised himself as an old woman. Then Amar followed Saqar Ghar Bano at a slow pace. The harlot halted at hearing a sound when she entered the back garden of the palace, and called out, “Who is there?” Amar replied, “It’s only me, and only a matter of time before the Angel of Death carries you off instead of the princess!” The moment Saqar Ghar Bano took a forward step, Amar caught her neck in the loop of his lasso and pulled it, knocking her flat on her back. Then Amar throttled her, and buried her body under a pile of dry leaves, and after disguising himself in her person, he went up the promenade. He stood there perplexed, unable to decide which direction to take, when a young courtesan came up to him from a corner of the garden holding a taper, and addressed Amar thus: “O Saqar Ghar Bano, the princess has sent for you!” Amar said nothing in reply, but followed the courtesan to the cellar.
There Amar beheld Princess Mehr-Nigar sitting all made up on the bridal throne, making repartee with her attendants in perfect bliss and happiness.
Seeing Amar, Mehr-Nigar said, “Saqar Ghar Bano, How long must I wait before the bridegroom will arrive?”
Then Amar took her aside, and said, “A wedding procession, indeed! The whole palace is ringing with lamentations on news that you have died (may such be your enemies’ fate!). Now I shall return posthaste to Hamza, and bring him the happy tidings of your well-being so that he may find a new lease on life.”
Mehr-Nigar was overjoyed upon hearing this news, and sent Amar away after conferring five purses of gold pieces on him. So that Hamza would believe the veracity of the news Amar also made Mehr-Nigar write a note in her own hand. He brought the note to Hamza whose spirits revived upon reading it, and he, too, conferred a reward of ten thousand gold pieces on him.
Amar then said, “Now, if you would grant me leave, I will let the cat out of the bag with such marvelous subterfuge that the bastards who have colluded in this plot will themselves be most fittingly humiliated.” Hamza replied, “I shall do as you bid me.”
Amar said, “Then proceed to the Kai Khusrau’s court, dressed in black, and prevail on the emperor that he must bring out the funeral procession of Princess Mehr-Nigar without delay, to stop malicious tongues from speculating why the daughter of the Emperor of the Seven Climes lies unburied so long after her demise!”
Hamza went to the Kai Khusrau’s court escorted by Landhoor, Bahram, and the others. They saw that the emperor along with all his Sassanid and Kianid grandees was also wearing black.
Amir said to the emperor, “The decree of fate is now passed, and no appeal can overturn it. But keeping the princess’s corpse in the palace so long will invite scandal. Pray order that the funeral procession is brought out now.” Empress Mehr-Angez, sent the reply that the funeral procession would be brought out that night.
When darkness fell, hundreds of Brahmins began ringing wooden gongs and rattles and chanting the names of their one hundred and seventy-five gods and goddesses.73 When people searched for Saqar Ghar Bano in the palace, they discovered her body buried under leaves, and her corpse was placed in a casket at Empress Mehr-Angez’s orders and taken in a funeral procession from the palace.
The path was lit with hundreds of thousands of torches, and thousands of mourners followed the bier. Amar dressed himself as a Brahmin and, carrying a rattle in his hand and singing the praises of Lat and Manat, he, too, began embracing the fire worshippers.
Slowly Amar made his way toward Bakhtak, and after dropping a squib74 inside Bakhtak’s collar, he caught him in his embrace. Realizing that only Amar could have done such a deed, Bakhtak involuntarily cried out, “Oh! Oh! I burn! Oh, Amar! For the sake of Hamza, let me go as my stomach and my breast are burning!” Amar replied, “Since it is your own mother who has died it would reflect most nobly on your filial love if you were to burn in her memory!”
At this, Amar let go of the ill-starred Bakhtak and moved back. The firecracker flew out of Bakhtak’s collar after it had scorched his whole stomach and breast and thoroughly scalded his skin. To bring himself relief, Bakhtak plunged headlong into a nearby water hole, and lost power of his senses.
When the crowd returned after burying Saqar Ghar Bano they found the emperor weeping and grieving in the Hall of Private Audience, and they, too, broke into a flood of tears at the sight. When Amar regarded closely, he saw that the emperor held an onion root in his kerchief, and when he applied it to his eyes the burning sensation caused the eyes to bring forth tears. Amar stole close to the emperor, and in a whisper spoke to him thus: “Never has the world known or heard of a more treacherous emperor who so grossly violates his promises to men willing to lay down their lives for him!”
The emperor laughed this off, saying, “The one who wrought the deceitful plan has received his just deserts!” But even though the emperor dismissed Amar’s comment, he was mortified with shame in his heart.
Now hear of Bakhtak, who smoldered in the fire of envy. When he learned that the emperor had written a letter to Hamza, giving consent to his marriage to Princess Mehr-Nigar after twenty days, he mustered enough strength despite his condition to present himself before the emperor in order to vent his inconsolable grief.
Naushervan answered, “I could not help but give my consent, even though I was in great anguish myself, as all my strategies have come to naught.” Bakhtak replied, “Your Honor need not worry any longer, as I have thought of a most disingenuous and artful scheme!” Naushervan asked, “What plan is it that you have devised now?”
Bakhtak replied, “Tomorrow, when the nobles and the roya
l attendants assemble in the court, Hamza will also present himself escorted by his companions and associates, as is his wont. I will send some men who will rattle the chain of justice. Then Your Majesty will send for them as per custom, and demand to know their grievance. They will identify themselves as Your Majesty’s faithful old servants, and relate that every year they collect the revenue from the Seven Climes and send it to the royal treasury. But this year not only were they kept from collecting a single farthing in revenue, they were also rebuked, and told that the Emperor of the Seven Climes was no longer worthy of receiving land revenues because as a fire worshipper he had shown utter disregard for the name and honor of his forefathers by marrying off his daughter to Hamza—an adherent of the True Faith. And that the monarchs throughout the Seven Climes have declared that should the emperor’s son-in-law dare, he can come and collect the revenue himself! When Hamza hears this speech, he will fly into a passion and seek Your Majesty’s leave to depart on a campaign against them!” This counsel immensely pleased the emperor and then the villainous Bakhtak took his leave and departed.
In the court the next day, when the emperor ascended the throne to give audience, and Amir also presented himself someone was heard to rattle the chain of justice. When the noise reached Naushervan’s ears, he sent for the petitioners. He soon beheld some men with severed ears and noses enter the court presenting a picture of great distress and with all their senses in complete disarray.
Then the petitioners gave a complete account of the events, as instructed by Bakhtak, in a most effective manner, whereupon every single hair on Amir Hamza’s skin bristled with rage, and unable to control his fury he avowed, “I swear by the God of Kaaba, that I shall not marry the princess until I have exacted revenge on those recalcitrants!”
Naushervan said, “O Abul-Ala, if such is your desire, then attend first to the matter of your nuptials, and then you may embark on the campaign to punish the rebels.” Amir replied, “I, your humble servant, have avowed not even to think about marriage until I have exacted revenue from those rebels!” The emperor said, “If this is the course you are resolved on, leave behind Landhoor or Bahram to attend to the princess’s safety in your absence.” Amir appointed Bahram to remain in attendance at Naushervan’s court.
The emperor conferred a robe of honor on Amir, gave him seven epistles addressed to the seven monarchs of the Seven Climes, and gave him injunctions that in making terms with the monarchs, he should use force only as a last resort. The emperor then appointed Qaran Deoband at the head of twelve thousand Sassanid troops to accompany Amir, giving him express orders to obey Amir in all matters. Amir said to the emperor, “Pray accompany me with some other Sassanid noble, and let Qaran remain in Your Honor’s presence, as we have crossed paths at times, and it would not bode well for him should he pick a feud with me along the way. For even if I were to forgive him, he would die at the hands of my companions.” Then Qaran wrote out a letter of obedience to the effect that if he were guilty of any wrong, he would forfeit his life to Amir without recourse to any appeal. Then Amir said, “I shall forgive you two offenses, but your third offense will not go unpunished!” Amir then took his leave, and retired to Tal Shad-Kam.
Then the emperor wrote out and handed Qaran another set of seven missives addressed to the monarchs of the Seven Climes stating that reasons of expediency made him send Hamza toward their dominions. They must ensure that he is not allowed even to trespass the boundaries of their lands, let alone collect any land revenues. And they must see to it that Hamza is beheaded and his head sent to the court. The emperor also gave seven mithcals of the deadliest poison to Qaran, with instructions that he administer it to Hamza at the first opportunity. Then the emperor conferred a robe of honor on Qaran and sent him off.
Qaran presented himself at Hamza’s camp, who ordered the march drums to be sounded, and headed toward his destination with his triumph-incarnate host.
Then Amar said to Hamza, “Your love for Mehr-Nigar is only a pretense, and your true love lies in the skirmishes of the battlefield! However, you are your own master and may go wherever you will. Yours truly has whiled away a great many days of his life accompanying you in your adventures and overcoming all manners of perils. Now I am headed for Mecca. If you would like to send a letter for your honorable father, I would most gladly carry it for you.”
Then Hamza wrote out a letter to his father, and gave it to Amar, who departed for Mecca.
All praise is merited for God alone, through Whose agency Book One came to an end and reached its culmination with facility. Should it be the will of Allah (Whose aid we solicit and in Whom we trust!), the second book shall detail the bravery and the munificence of Amir Hamza (a thing to try the limits of the pen’s expression!), the departure of the Sahibqiran (the world conqueror, Uncle to the Most Holy Prophet of God, the Last Prophet of the Times—upon whom be peace!) toward the Seven Climes with his companions, and the adventures that befell them.
Completed this day, Thursday, dated the 29th day of the holy month of Moharram, Anno Hegirae 1288, corresponding to the 20th day of April, Anno Domini 1870.75
BOOK TWO
The Second Book of the Dastan of the Sahibqiran,
Amir Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib,
and of His Departure for Mount Qaf
The imperious pen departs to conquer the dominions of rhetoric, girding itself to trek the blank stretches of paper, and delivers the account of Amir’s journey, painting a host of new episodes and choice encounters before the mind’s eye.
Amir had put seven days’ journey under his belt after embarking on his campaign to the Seven Climes, when Qaran Deoband pulled up his steed at a forked path. Upon Amir asking his reason for stopping, Qaran replied, “From here two roads lead to the Seven Climes. The first one is lengthy and full of peril, and it would take us at least a month before we arrived at our destination. The other road is shorter and would get us there within a week or ten days’ time, but while there is no hazard to be met on the way, we shall not find any water for three days.” Amir said, “Store enough water in the water bags to last three days, so we do not have to take the longer route!”
The army loaded enough water on the camels and set out upon the shorter route. Not a single drop remained in the water skins, after three days had passed, and on the fourth day the whole army suffered from severe thirst.
Amir asked Qaran, “Where is the water source you said we would find on the fourth day?”
Qaran replied, “I had passed this way twelve years ago and it seems that the springs, rivers, and rivulets have silted up in the interim. However, I have in my flask enough water to quench your thirst. You only have to say the word and it will be yours!”
Amir replied, “Very well, then! I am beside myself with thirst!”
Qaran poisoned the water and offered it to Amir, who took the goblet in his hand and said to himself, It would be most unbecoming if I were to quench my thirst while a friend like Landhoor remained thirsty. He handed the goblet to Landhoor and said, “I am a denizen of Arabia and have much greater resilience against thirst compared to you. Drink this and afford some solace to your mouth and lips!”
Khusrau thought, It would be contrary to all the norms of camaraderie if I were to quench my thirst while Amir remained thirsty! Thus Landhoor did not drink it and offered it instead to Aadi who had been struck silent, with his mouth dried of all moisture.
Aadi reasoned that drinking the draught of water would only make the thirst worse. He offered the goblet to Muqbil, and said, “This water is enough to quench your thirst. Drink it and moisten your dry tongue!” Muqbil deemed it against all considerations of fidelity that Amir should remain dry-lipped while others drank up that water. Thus the goblet passed from hand to hand without anyone drinking it.
In the end, all of them handed the goblet back to Amir and said to him, “It would be unseemly for us to drink without your drinking first.”
OF THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE ENJOINING AMIR FROM DRIN
KING, AND OF AMAR KEEPING HAMZA FROM IMBIBING THE POISONED WATER BY PROPHET KHIZR’S INJUNCTIONS
Divers of the sea of traditions extract treasures of discourse from the oyster of imagination, and bear forth the luminous offering of the pearls of narrative thus, telling that Amar was on his way to Mecca when he beheld an old man in the distance. He considered that the journey would pass amiably if they were to strike up a conversation together. When Amar tried to catch up with the old man, he was unable to bridge the distance between them. Amar began importuning and beseeching the man in God’s name.
The moment that old man stopped Amar saw that he was the holy Khizr. When Amar asked him the reason for his haste, Khizr replied, “O Amar! At this moment Hamza is thirsty and Qaran has offered him a goblet of water mixed with a deadly poison. Rush and take it from him. Hasten forth, crying, ‘Drink it not! Drink it not!’ The True Protector shall cause your words to be carried to Hamza’s hearing!” Amar hurried from there in a state of great despair, crying out every step of his way: “Beware! Drink it not! Here I come! Drink it not!”
Hamza had raised the goblet to his lips when his ears heard a voice calling out, “Drink it not! Drink it not!” He lowered the goblet and looked around. When he could not see the one who forbade him, he made to imbibe the drink. Someone warned him again in the same manner.
He was still caught in this bewilderment when a dust cloud rose on the horizon, and Amar appeared from it shouting, “Drink it not! Drink it not!” The moment Amar reached Amir Hamza’s side, he took the goblet from his hand and smashed it to the ground. Wherever the water splashed, the earth bubbled and broke open. At beholding this sight, the faces of the onlookers were drained of all blood in horror.
The Adventures of Amir Hamza Page 23