The Adventures of Amir Hamza

by Ghalib Lakhnavi

  When the people of Mecca heard Amir’s war cry, they gathered with Khvaja Abdul Muttalib who escorted him into Mecca.

  Shaddad went to Naushervan’s court and kissed the foot of his throne and said, “Your Honor caused me to be humiliated at Hamza’s hands, and I suffered great distress at this.” Having spoken, Shaddad took hold of Naushervan by his cummerbund and carried him out of his court. Observing that the hands of the royal slaves had moved to the hilts of their swords, Shaddad declared, “If anyone touches me, I will smash the emperor against the ground and he will die on the instant.” Nobody interfered with Shaddad after this threat, and he took Naushervan prisoner to his land. There he constructed a cage and chained Naushervan’s feet to its bars. Then he hung the cage in his court and put Naushervan on two rations of millet bread and water a day.

  Now hear of Amir Hamza. After a few days’ stay in Mecca, he sought leave of his father. Khvaja Abdul Muttalib said, “My dear son, I have now seen you after many years and my heart is not yet fully sated with the sight of you. If you stayed here another year, it would please me greatly.” Upon that, Amir acquiesced to his father’s wishes. Bakhtak, who had stayed behind with Bahman, had also heard that Amir would be spending another year in Mecca.

  Bakhtak forged a letter from Naushervan addressed to Zhopin and Hurmuz. Giving it to a messenger, he instructed him to pretend that he had just arrived from Ctesiphon carrying Naushervan’s missive. In that letter Bakhtak had written:

  Be it known to you that I sent Abu-Amar Habashi to Mecca to lay the city to ruin. The followers of the True Faith were slaughtered one and all, and the citizens of Mecca got retribution for their deeds. Shaddad took Hamza and Amar prisoner and brought them to his land, where he hanged them and put an end to their menace. You may slaughter the followers of the True Faith in Hamza’s camp without the least worry, showing them no reprieve or mercy. Afterward, you may hand over Mehr-Nigar to Bahman’s custody.

  By chance, the messenger crossed paths with Zhopin, who had gone out for an excursion. The messenger handed him the missive, and upon reading it, Zhopin went straight to Bahman and showed him the letter. After perusing it, Bahman said to Zhopin, “This is nothing but a trick played by you. I know you well and I will never believe a word you say.” Zhopin swore that while he could not vouch for the veracity of the report the letter had come to him through a royal messenger. In the end, Bahman believed the news of Hamza’s death. He said, “A thousand sighs, alas, that Hamza did not take me with him.” Then Bahman said, “The will of God has prevailed. Now Hamza’s two sons and his grandson will have my allegiance and I will put myself at their service.”

  Bakhtak said to Bahman, “To pledge your allegiance to someone of Hamza’s caliber was perhaps acceptable. However, a mighty champion and powerful lord like yourself must not demean himself by serving under mere boys. Moreover, Naushervan has expressed a desire to accept you as his son-in-law and conferred that high honor upon you. Would it be seemly to serve under boys when you can have the title of Naushervan’s son-in-law?” Hearing talk of such an association with Naushervan, Bahman could not resist the temptation. He said to Bakhtak, “If you are counseling me to act on your advice, perhaps you should also tell me a way to do it.” Bakhtak answered, “Keep it all a secret for now until we have Mehr-Nigar secure in our hands.” Zhopin said, “Today when I present myself at the court, I will tell Hurmuz and King Qubad that the anniversary of my father’s death will be commemorated tomorrow and it would be a signal honor for me to have Amir’s sons attend the ceremony with their commanders.” Bakhtak replied, “That would indeed be an appropriate course of action.”

  When Zhopin presented himself at the court that night, he made his request to Hurmuz, Qubad, and Amar Hamza who accepted his invitation, and the next day they arrived at Zhopin’s house along with their commanders. Zhopin offered them food and wine, and when all of them were intoxicated, Zhopin rose and declared to Amar Hamza and Qubad, “In the same manner that Your Honors have augmented my honor by your presence, it would confer great honor on me if Princess Mehr-Nigar, too, would condescend to set foot here.” Amir’s sons sent a message to Princess Mehr-Nigar.

  Upon receiving this message, Princess Mehr-Nigar was conveyed to Zhopin’s house. As Mehr-Nigar sat there among the women, she overheard someone say, “For the moment the princess is the picture of happiness, but soon she will learn the news and hear what mischief has been afoot.” At once, Mehr-Nigar dispatched an attendant to send for Qubad, and she said to him, “Arrange a conveyance for me without delay. Some trouble seems under way and mischief is about to break loose.” Qubad sent for the conveyance, and soon Mehr-Nigar departed. Zhopin and Bahman regretted the news and rued the loss of the great fortune that had slipped from their hands. Bakhtak comforted Bahman and said, “After losing her husband, she will not have too many avenues open to her. You will make her yours yet.”

  Following Bakhtak’s instructions, Bahman wrung his hands remorsefully and said, “It is a shame that Naushervan’s own son Prince Hurmuz must be passed over, and his grandson Qubad appointed heir to the throne.” Amar Hamza commented, “What is that to you, Bahman?” Bahman answered, “This Arab lad has no right to rule this magnificent empire!”

  When King Landhoor heard this speech, he grew irritated, and said to Bahman, “It is a shame that Amir Hamza put an unworthy wretch like yourself in charge of his affairs.” A fight broke out in the assembly and outdoors and many Arabs and several of Bahman’s followers were injured. Bahman’s men carried him away from that place and saved his life.

  It came to pass that news of these events reached Bahman’s sister, Noor Bano, who had fallen in love with Amar Hamza. She left her house and joined the fight, and killed many infidels. She also killed her brothers who challenged her. After killing them, Noor Bano took the Arab commanders back to the fortress and ordered the moats to be filled up with water. The army of the infidels surrounded the fortress on all sides.

  One day the infidels stormed the fort. Qubad said to his mother, “If I may have your permission, I would like to fight and kill them.” Mehr-Nigar answered, “You are a mere boy. How can I allow you to go into battle?” Qubad then said, “My father triumphed over mighty champions in his boyhood. I am of the same blood. If you do not give me your permission, I will kill myself before your eyes.” Noor Bano said to Mehr-Nigar, “There is no harm in allowing Qubad to go to battle. I shall accompany him and will be alert and ready to help and succor him.” With a heavy heart, Mehr-Nigar gave Qubad permission to fight.

  Qubad decorated himself with his arms and armor, and faced the infidels and challenged them. Seeing Qubad in the arena, Bahman said to himself, How fortunate that Qubad has come to seek combat and got permission from his mother to battle. I shall take him prisoner and keep him in my custody. Pangs of motherly love will rob Mehr-Nigar of her peace of mind, and she will be forced to come to me. Bahman attacked Qubad with his mace, but the boy blocked the blow with his shield and answered with a sword thrust of such finesse that Bahman was grievously injured and barely escaped with his life. Amir’s son chased him for a distance of four kos, all the while cutting down Bahman’s men.

  A few days later, Amar Hamza and Landhoor presented themselves before Mehr-Nigar and told her that Bahman bore no blame in the matter; that it was Bakhtak and Zhopin who were the root cause of the mischief. Amar Hamza then said, “What must we do now? The infidels have besieged the castle and many of us are injured.” Qubad declared, “Open the fortress gate and array the army in the field.” The commanders forthwith positioned their troops, and the war drums were struck.

  Bahman entered the battle arena and called out, “O Arabs, why do you sacrifice your lives for an idle cause? Hamza died a long time ago. Hand Mehr-Nigar over to me and go your own way.” Hearing Bahman’s scurrilous words, Landhoor sought Amar Hamza’s leave to fight. He answered, “I give you to God’s care.” Then Landhoor and Bahman fought with maces so forcefully that their healed wounds opened up again.
They were still fighting when the sun covered its face with the veil of night and both camps sounded the drums of retreat. The armies returned to their camps to rest.

  In the morning a dust cloud rose from the forest and the ayyars from both camps rushed there to gather intelligence. They brought back word that Furhad-Akka had come with a large force of intrepid warriors to help Zhopin.

  Farhad bin Landhoor took leave of Amir’s son to go to face Furhad-Akka. Both warriors fought mightly but neither of them prevailed against the other.

  The next morning a champion sought combat with Furhad-Akka. After skirmishing mightily, each of them returned to his camp at the end of the day.

  Leaving the two armies engaged in battle, let us now hear an account of the Sahibqiran. One night in the realm of dreams, Amir saw that the infidels had conducted a night raid on the camp of the followers of the True Faith and that many of his commanders had been carried injured from the battlefield. He started from the dream and described it to Amar Ayyar, who said, “O Amir, you never have dreams that prove false. If you permit me, I will go investigate and find out what has come to pass.” Amir gave Amar Ayyar leave to go.

  When Amar arrived there his camp rang with festive notes and each soldier took heart at the sight of Amar. Bahman said to Bakhtak, “You wretch! I thought you told us that Amar Ayyar and Hamza were both dead!” Bakhtak responded, “I know nothing of the matter. All I know is what Naushervan himself wrote in the letter.” Bahman grabbed Bakhtak and hurled him toward Zhopin. As each man had life remaining to him, Bakhtak fell to the ground instead. Bahman felt great remorse and lamented his shameful deeds.

  Amar Ayyar offered words of comfort to Qubad and Amar Hamza and returned to Amir Hamza. Then the Sahibqiran took leave of his father. He mounted Ashqar Devzad and, taking Amar along, departed for Kaus Hisar with a large entourage.

  Now hear an account of the battlefield. A Turkic warrior named Sarkob had arrived with an intrepid and vast force to assist Naushervan’s army.

  In the meanwhile, Furhad-Akka rode his steed into the battlefield and sought combat. Amar Hamza’s son, Sa’ad, asked his father’s permission to answer Furhad’s call. Amar Hamza said to him, “Light of my eyes, you are not of age to go into battle. Refrain from thoughts of fighting.” His son replied, “Uncle Qubad and I are of the same age, and there is no accomplishment to which he has a claim where I am lacking. I find it most shameful that while he participates in battle, I remain a mere spectator; and where he wins laurels as a warrior, I stand idle.”

  Amar Hamza was forced against his wishes to give Sa’ad leave to fight. Sa’ad then entered the arena. Upon seeing him, the infidels said, “It is a strange nation where young boys take part in battles and face our champions without the least fear.” Sarkob asked, “Who is this boy who has entered the arena?” Bahman answered, “He is Hamza’s grandson.” Sarkob exclaimed, “How can a boy like him compete against Furhad-Akka?” Bahman answered, “We will soon find out.” While they were having this discussion, Sa’ad issued his challenge. Furhad-Akka galloped forth and dealt Sa’ad a blow of his mace and declared, “There! I struck and laid him low!” Sa’ad emerged from the cloud of dust created by the blow and dealt Furhad-Akka a blow with his sword that severed his mace-wielding arm. It fell to the ground along with the mace. Furhad-Akka attempted to turn his back and escape to his army when Sa’ad spurred on his horse again and dealt him another blow, severing his other arm as well and dispatching that warrior to the Future State. Sa’ad’s ayyars cut off Furhad-Akka’s head with great alacrity, decapitating his filthy corpse. Festive notes were sounded in Amir Hamza’s camp, while Naushervan’s camp rang with cries of lamentation. Sarkob said to Bahman, “Praiseworthy indeed are the parents who raised such a brave and strong son.” Then each camp sounded the drums of retreat and the armies returned to their resting places.

  In the morning, the warring armies had just arranged themselves in battle formation when a dust cloud rose from the ground in such abundance that it choked off even the wind. It was soon announced that Amar Ayyar and Amir Hamza were on their way there with a vast army. A wave of joy swept through Hamza’s camp. Amir’s arrival brought much needed relief to his followers.

  Amir Hamza rode Ashqar Devzad onto the battlefield and called out to Bahman, “O Kohi, what wrong did I ever do you and how did I injure you that you have avenged yourself on me in this way? If you really are a man of courage, come out and face me!” Bahman said to Hurmuz, “I am unable even to look Hamza in the eye; I will not fight him. Now you are the master of your own fate. I will have nothing more to do with this business.”

  In the end, Sarkob went forward to encounter Amir and attacked him with his mace. After fighting with maces until midday, they drew swords and skirmished together for two hours. The glittering swords clashed and sparks flew without cease but neither received any injury by the hand of the other.

  Amir Hamza said, “O Sarkob, we have tried all the blows. The only test that now remains is for one of us to lift the other person from the ground. If you succeed, I will pledge allegiance to you and never fight you again. If I succeed, then you must pledge the same.” Sarkob acquiesced happily to the proposition. In the end Amir prevailed over Sarkob. After securing Sarkob with a rope, Amir handed him to Amar Ayyar.

  As darkness was falling, Amir Hamza ordered the call of retreat for the day and sent for Sarkob, who willingly converted to the True Faith. Amir gave him a high rank among those present, and then held revels for three days and three nights.

  On the fourth day, Amir ordered the drums of war to be sounded and entered the battlefield, and challenged Bahman. Bahman said to Hurmuz, “I will never face Hamza. Order the army and ready them to fall on Hamza as a body.”

  At a sign from Hurmuz, his entire army took rein. Amir drew his swords Samsam and Qumqam and confronted the infidels, plying the swords with both hands. For two hours Amir fought the whole army of the infidels by himself, showing his swordsmanship and proving his courage and mettle. Thousands of infidels died in the battle. Ashqar Devzad swam in a sea of gore, floating chest-deep in the blood of the infidels. At last Bahman said to Zhopin, “Amir is now growing exhausted from the fight. Foam flows from his mouth, and he is in a state of self-forgetfulness and is merely fighting reflexively. Amar Ayyar keeps hurling naphtha and fire at us and does not allow anyone to attack Hamza from behind. If you could separate Amar Ayyar from him, I would be able to kill Hamza.”

  At Zhopin’s command, seven hundred elephants were released on Amar. Then, approaching Amir Hamza from behind, Bahman struck a blow to Amir’s head with a two-handed sword that cut into Amir’s skull to a depth of four digits. Immediately upon dealing the blow, Bahman ran away from Hamza exclaiming, “Friends, I put an end to Hamza’s life!”

  When Amir’s friends heard Bahman’s remarks they were overtaken by anxiety. Amir swam in and out of consciousness. He said to Ashqar in the Jinni language, “Take me from the arena and use any means to break the cordon.” Amir clasped Ashqar’s neck with both arms, and the horse carried him away. Ashqar made his way into the forest from the battlefield biting anyone who tried to bar his way and kicking the men who tried to approach him from behind. After galloping for several miles, the thirsty Ashqar spotted a river. He waded into the water to drink, and when he came out Amir Hamza fell from his back and the water ran red with his blood. Ashqar dragged Amir to the riverbank and saved him from drowning. A shephard named Siyah-Sher found Amir Hamza lying injured and took him home and nursed him back to health, for which Amir Hamza and his companions rewarded him richly.

  After Amir’s wound had healed, he returned to his camp. He gathered his army for battle and said to his companions, “Put a cordon around the enemy and attack them from all sides.” Their army fell upon the infidels like a lion attacking a flock of sheep. Within a few hours countless infidels were dispatched to Hell.

  As Bahman escaped from Amar Hamza, he gave him chase on Siyah Qitas. Bahman turned to confront him, thinking that
Amar Hamza would be no match for him. Amar Hamza dealt him a full blow of the sword, which Bahman foiled although it killed his horse. Bahman then hamstrung Siyah Qitas, so Amar Hamza was forced to face him on foot. Amar Hamza dealt Bahman a blow that cut Bahman in two. He beheaded Bahman’s body and presented the head to Amir Hamza to show proof of his courage, and told Amir that Siyah Qitas had been hamstrung. Amir lamented the loss of Bahman and the horse and said, “It is not every day that one comes across a noble horse, nor a warrior of such mettle as Bahman. Indeed they are rarities in this world.”

  Later, Amir’s commanders likewise piled up the heads of enemy commanders before him, and thousands of infidels lay beheaded. Amir ordered the drums of victory to be sounded, and he returned to his camp. The followers of the True Faith sounded joyous notes upon their victory over the infidels.

  When Amir Hamza had received his wound at Bahman’s hands, a perizad was passing above the battlefield who took the news of the incident and the details of Amir’s injury to Aasman Peri. This greatly distressed Aasman Peri. She took Quraisha, her perizads, and Khvaja Abdur Rahman and departed from Qaf for Earth at the head of an interpaid army of devs and jinns from Qaf.

  Upon approaching the scene, she set up her camp two kos away and sent Khvaja Abdur Rahman to call on Amir. Amir was greatly surprised to see him and asked him about Aasman Peri and Quraisha and inquired about the reason for his visit. Khvaja Abdur Rahman said, “The queen and your daughter, Quraisha, are camped two kos from here with an powerful army.”