State document: T-S Ar.39.452–53
State document T-S Ar.39.452–53What's in the PGP
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State document. Dating: Beginning of 12th century CE. Appointment of a Christian dignitary by the government and confirmation that the ordinances of previous caliphs are still valid, mentioning al-Mustanṣir, al-Āmir and al-Afḍal. (Information Khan, CUDL, and Goitein's index card)
Translator: Khan, Geoffrey (in English)
T-S Ar.39.453 1r
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... the noble, prophetic (dynasty), may (God) extend its life, over
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all the Christians dwelling in his dominion and living
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[in ] the provinces of his kingdom, in order that he may execute
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their inheritances as required by his statements and pronouncements, both in their general principles and in their specific stipulations.
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The commander of the faithful is the most worthy person to execute the instructions of his ancestor and to act
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…
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upon his noble and glorious deeds, which are found in his noble and glorious sunna,
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to water what he has planted and to elevate what he has built and founded.
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He has executed in a glorious and magnificent manner the instructions of this
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gracious decree.
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He has made these Christians conform
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to his mighty judgments and strengthened
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his sacred and established principles.
T-S Ar.39.453 1v
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He assumes the responsibility for the welfare of the members of minority groups and of dhimmīs. He offers
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consideration and justice to the weak man
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that he may be equal to the strong. He has delegated the present authority to them
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on the basis of the precedent set by his ancestors [ ]
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and with the sanction of the instructions that they issued
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in their time to follow (this precedent) and to continue to act
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as is customary, in the knowledge that they are the representatives of God
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on earth. He, praise him, has granted
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them the power to extend or restrain.
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Those who are close to them are clothed in their justice
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and they have concern and care for all their subjects irrespective of rank.
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In this open decree
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the instructions issued by al-Mustanṣir.
T-S Ar.39.452 1r
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and by al-Āmir - God increase them in loftiness, pre-eminence,
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sublime nobility, glory and splendour for us - have been specified, by virtue of
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[ ] the pure, holy presence
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[ ] ... consideration of executing them,
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and assuming responsibility for implementing the wish of his caliphal throne
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and the power of his kingdom, in accordance with what has been specified in this decree
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and also with precedents and analogous cases.
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This is because the commands of his ancestors, the pure imāms,
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the blessings of God be upon them all, require
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obedience, and their examples (of conduct), while being
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visible or hidden, are binding and irrefragable, since they
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derive from their kind consideration for everyone
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and express their fine resolutions
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of sympathy [ ] and mercy.
T-S Ar.39.452 1v
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All the judges, arbiters, governors in the provinces -
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let them observe this resolution and prescription of the commander of the faithful
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and let it be acted upon. Let it be kept
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by him who requests it, after being registered where such documents are registered,
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if God wills. It was written with ten days remaining of RabīʿII,
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in the year four-hundred and fifty-four.
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It contains registration marks of all the offices of the pure
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presence, God bless him
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The verso of this gracious decree contains an endorsement
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by the lofty presence of al-Afḍal
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may God make his days eternal,
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at the top of which there is the sublime signature,
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which has the form: 'Praise be to God for his gifts.
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The glorious, prophetic [commands] have been issued ......'