1 NADIR SHAH. 197 -
2 descendant of Changez Khan, and with Muhammad Shah, the emperor of aus Poliey in such
3 Delhi. ;
4 He required the people to take an oath of submission and fealty, to
5 which they tamely and readily submitted. The Millah Bashi, or high at Mipadencs of 8
6 priest, had the audacity to address the king thus: “ As to matters of religion,
7 we have the law of God and the traditions of his Prophet, Muhammad, to
8 guide us; it is not for princes to make innovations therein, and, therefore,
9 I humbly hope your majesty will not begin your reign by attempting
10 to overthrow the established religion.” These words were too bold to be
11 borne by the high-spirited Nadir, who immediately ordered the mullah to be
12 strangled. Collecting then the Mahomedan priests, he asked them how they
13 employed the vast income allowed them by the State. They answered that
14 it was spent on religious objects, such as the maintenance of colleges, the
15 salaries of the priests and the attendants on a large number of mosques, 10 — anowances to the
16 which prayers were hourly. offered for the success of the arms of their prince Priests abolished.
17 and the prosperity of the empire of Persia. He told the mullahs, that ex-
18 perience had made it quite clear that their prayers had not been heard, for
19 the empire had been on the decline for the past fifty years, and had been
20 almost ruined by invasions and rebellions until, by the command of God, his
21 victorious armies had come to defend the lives and property of the people;
22 that it was his royal pleasure that those poor priests (meaning his soldiers)
23 who had followed his standard to give liberty to the Persians, should be first
24 provided for, and that, therefore, the greater part of the church lands and
25 revenues should be confiscated and appropriated for the support of the army.
26 This order was carried out, and it was found, on computation, that an income
27 of 10,00,000 tomans, or £3,000,000 per annum was thus saved to the State.
28 The priests were directed to find other means for their subsistence. Nd&dirthen
29 published an edict ordering all his subjects to conform to the Sunni religion,
30 on pain of his royal displeasure. ‘This edict directed that, at the time of calling _xaict forbiaaing the
31 7 use of the Kalima as
32 to prayers and standing up at prayer, the words Ali, Wali-Ullah sj J (le used by the Shias.
33 ‘And Ali, the friend of God, which were always added to the Kalima by
34 the Shias, be omitted.* It being also usual with the governors in their assem-
35 blies after Fatiha and Takbtrt to say in the prayer, “ May the king from
36 whom all our fortunes flow live for ever,’ Nddir Shah ordered that the ©
37 practice of using such expressions at prayers should be discontinued. He
38 observed: “ As a Zukbtr for prolonging the life of a mortal man is vain and of prayers for the long
39 no effect, I expressly order that every Khan who is master of a Tabal{ and _ life of the king disoon-
40 ensign, say ib in this manner: ‘Thanks be to the true king for all benefits,’ ”
41 The edict concluded in the following words: “ Henceforward all persons must
42 observe these settled regulations and written orders ; for whoever deviates there-
43 from will incur the displeasure of the king of kings. Written in the royal resid-
44 * Tne Kalima is thus read by the Shids :-—
45 au} ee) ust 9 oJ} Jey} domo SUS} a]
46 _ ‘There ts no god but God, and Muhammad is the Prophet of God, and Ali, the friend of God.”
47 Nadir Shah ordered the words in italics to be struck.out of the Kalima. ° a y
48 + The fatiha is a prefatory prayer, which is generally the first suc or chapter of the Qurdz.
49 Takbtr is repeating three times the words ps } aly Allah-o-Akber, “God is greatest,” be-
50 fore the Kalima, ;
51 aL} J st sore alps} aJpy “ Thereisno god but God, and Muhammad is the Prophet
52 of God.”
53 oe the Tabal is a small drum which general officers fix to their saddles. T possession of .
54 ib isa markOé Se#kguru Jagjit Singh Ji eLibrary Namdharie istaty@ Ohkail.com