Scholarship on State document: T-S Ar.39.452–53

... the noble, prophetic (dynasty), may (God) extend its life, over 

all the Christians dwelling in his dominion and living 

[in ] the provinces of his kingdom, in order that he may execute 

their inheritances as required by his statements and pronouncements, both in their general principles and in their specific stipulations. 

The commander of the faithful is the most worthy person to execute the instructions of his ancestor and to act 

…

upon his noble and glorious deeds, which are found in his noble and glorious sunna, 

to water what he has planted and to elevate what he has built and founded. 

He has executed in a glorious and magnificent manner the instructions of this 

gracious decree.

He has made these Christians conform 

to his mighty judgments and strengthened 

his sacred and established principles.

He assumes the responsibility for the welfare of the members of minority groups and of dhimmīs. He offers 

consideration and justice to the weak man

that he may be equal to the strong. He has delegated the present authority to them 

on the basis of the precedent set by his ancestors [     ] 

and with the sanction of the instructions that they issued 

in their time to follow (this precedent) and to continue to act

as is customary, in the knowledge that they are the representatives of God

on earth. He, praise him, has granted 

them the power to extend or restrain. 

Those who are close to them are clothed in their justice

and they have concern and care for all their subjects irrespective of rank. 

In this open decree

the instructions issued by al-Mustanṣir.

All the judges, arbiters, governors in the provinces -

let them observe this resolution and prescription of the commander of the faithful

and let it be acted upon. Let it be kept

by him who requests it, after being registered where such documents are registered,

if God wills. It was written with ten days remaining of RabīʿII,

in the year four-hundred and fifty-four.

It contains registration marks of all the offices of the pure

presence, God bless him

The verso of this gracious decree contains an endorsement

by the lofty presence of al-Afḍal

may God make his days eternal,

at the top of which there is the sublime signature,

which has the form: 'Praise be to God for his gifts.

The glorious, prophetic [commands] have been issued ......'

and by al-Āmir - God increase them in loftiness, pre-eminence,

sublime nobility, glory and splendour for us - have been specified, by virtue of

[       ] the pure, holy presence

[        ] ... consideration of executing them,

and assuming responsibility for implementing the wish of his caliphal throne

and the power of his kingdom, in accordance with what has been specified in this decree

and also with precedents and analogous cases.

This is because the commands of his ancestors, the pure imāms,

the blessings of God be upon them all, require

obedience, and their examples (of conduct), while being

visible or hidden, are binding and irrefragable, since they

derive from their kind consideration for everyone

and express their fine resolutions

of sympathy [ ] and mercy.