Page:Baladhuri-Hitti1916.djvu/492

 One day Simâk ibn-ʿUbaid al-ʿAbsi chased a Persian who was accompanied by 8 horsemen. Simâk killed all eight, as each of them in turn turned against him. Seeing that he was left alone, the man chased yielded and laid down his arms. Simâk took him as prisoner; but as he spoke Persian, Simâk called someone who understood him and translated what he said, which was, "I shall go to your leader that I may make terms with him on this land, pay him poll-tax, and give thee for taking me as prisoner whatever thou requestest. To thee I owe a great deal because thou didst spare my life." Simâk asked, "What is thy name?" and he replied, "Dinâr". Simâk led him to Ḥudhaifah who made terms with him, stipulating that the kharâj and poll-tax be paid, and that the safety of the possessions, walls and dwellings of the inhabitants of his city, Nihâwand, be guaranteed. Nihâwand was thereafter called Mâh Dînâr. Dînâr often came after that to. Simâk, offering him presents and showing his loyalty.

. Abu-Masʿûd al-Kûfi from al-Mubârak ibn-Saʿd's father:—Nihâwand was one of the places conquered by the people of al-Kûfah, whereas ad-Dînawar was one of those conquered by the people of al-Baṣrah. The increase of the Moslems at al-Kûfah made it necessary that the lands the kharâj of which was divided among them be increased. Consequently, [the district of] ad-Dînawar was given them, in exchange for which the people of al-Baṣrah were given [the district of] Nihâwand which formed a part of [the province of] Iṣbahân. The excess of the kharâj of ad-Dînawar over that of Nihâwand was therefore a gain for the people of al-Kûfah. Nihâwand was thereafter called Mâh al-Baṣrah; and ad-Dînawar, Mâh al-Kûfah. All this took place during the caliphate of Muʿâwiyah.