Letter: ENA 3765.10 + T-S 18J4.16

[ . . . ] He spoke to him in a manner the likes of which are not [per]mitted, and gathered about him a group of young men like himself [and] assumed the title Head of [the] Yeshiva. Then he began to foster disunity and clannish partisanship, sending letters to some relatives of his by marriage in Fustat. The latter, in turn, were joined by a number of their own relatives, and together they formed a faction.

Though we are irked (?) by them, we prefer peace and the avoidance of conflict, but they persist in creating disc[or]d. This person—may God improve his ways—claims th[a]‌t before leaving Qayrawan he had secured the agreement of a group of [t]he elders—may God perpetuate their strength—concerning what he has publicly announced to the nation—may God protect it—that he would do.

However, all who hea[r]‌ this ab[o]ut them, knowing . . . , tell them that they would not agree to any of this, nor would they accept it, because they have been instilled by God—may He be exalted—with religiosity and goodness, and because they know the manner of this worshipful lord, who has never been known to err or to cause anybody harm. He argues also that it is not permissible for any westerner to serve in the Heads[hip] and that it is only permissible for a man from the Holy Land to sit on this throne. He has been spreading this about in an extremely ugl[y] manner.

The Head—may God perpetuate his [strengt]h—pronounced a ban over this person, including in it directives to all of the countries concerning what must be done in his case. In spite of this, he has not ceased nor been curbed. We had asked our lord the Nag[i]‌d—may God perpetuate his exaltedness—to write a letter to certain people in this city and in the Holy Land from himself—may God [protect] him—and from the group of elders, informing them of the invalidity of this person’s claim, so that people will cease believing what he has been spreading about, and become convinced. We now ask him—may God perpetuate his exaltedness—kindly to secure a letter from our lord the Supreme Commander Sharaf al-Dawla, wa-T[ā]j al-Mill[a] (“Nobility of the Dynasty and Crown of the Community”) may God lengthen his life and cr[u]sh his enemies—to his Presence the most splendid vizier Ṣaf[iyy] Am[ī]r al-Mu’minīn wa-[Khā]liṣathu (“Sincere and Devoted Friend of the Commander of the Faithful” [sc. the Caliph])—may God perpetuate his exaltedness and cr[u]sh his enemies—requesting that the latter—may he never cease in his exaltedness—issue an order to the effect that the Rayyis, the Head of the [Ye]sh[iv]a, be allowed to continue in office without this or any other person harming him, and to the effect that he should not be removed from his incumbency in the H[ea]dship. This should be put in the strongest possible terms in [hi]s letter, as we[ll as in a lette]r to my master the elder, Abu ’l-Qāsim [ . . . ] ‘Abd al-‘Azī[z] al-Ukh[uwwa]—may God perpetuate his strength—prescribing that he follow through also on the [l]etter and the assistance to [u]s, concerning that about which we informed him.

We have previously sent a request to our lo[rd the Nagi]d—may God per[p]‌etuate his protection, contained in [the] letters m[entioned abov]e, as[king] him to send them quickly with a courier bound for [us (?)]. May they arrive quickly and provide us the assistance which is needed and u[n]do the harm caused by this state of affairs. On the other hand, if he has already been so kind as to grant our request and has sent them, let him quickly execute [another (?)] one and send it with the pilgrim caravan to the elder, Abu ’l-Qāsim, to the effect that the more intensely they act [o]n this, the (more) benefit we will derive.

Our eyes are looking at the road (?) anticipating the arrival of what we requested concerning this. By God, if you delay them from us under any circumstances you shall know . . . .

Please write thanking the elder, Abu ’l-Qāsim b. al-Ukhuwwa, for the favor he is doing us. Letters of our lord the Head of the Yeshiva arrived in two copies for our lord the Nagid—may God perpetuate his strength—and for the community—may God protect it.

We forwarded them, (one) with the caravan and the other in the ships. We, on our part, are in a situation, as God only knows, of controversy and conflict. These people have gotten the better of us by bribing the chief of police and preventing us from praying for our Head and from mentioning his name in our synagogue. If we were not afraid of what the Sultan might do to this person, we would certainly appeal for his help. His father-in-law and brothers-in-law have gone to the Chief Qāḍi—may God perpetuate his strength—and have suggested that he [assume jurisdiction over (?)] the pious foundations of the synagogues and over the community chest by having someone administer them on his behalf.

Furthermore, they suggested to him that all court cases between Jews be put under his control, and that no Jew be allowed to have jurisdiction over them. However, they were unsuccessful in this attempt. We are now fearful of what, God forbid, the Sultan may do. May God grant us and you peace and security, Peace to our lord the Nagid and peace to his sons and brothers, and to all his adherents. May he increase for ever and ever and for all eternity.

[Signed:] Shemarya b. Maṣliaḥ—may he r(est in) E(den).