Page:Siyar-ul-Mutakherin.djvu/43

Rh of mind which was never a conspicuous trait in the characters of the princes of the house of Timur, especially in those of latter times. Added to this, the emperor's eldest sons Azim-ush-shan and Khujista-akhter, both men of courage and merit, were zealous Sunnies, so that this innovation proved very unwelcome to them. The emperor himself became apprehensive of vigorous opposition on that score; but being unwilling to abandon his design without making some effort to ascertain its practicability, he one day sent a Shiah reader to the principal mosque, after having put him under the safeguard of Azim-ush-shan. The prince, who was in his heart averse to the measure, took the man with him out of deference to his father's will; but remained entirely passive when the congregation, which was mostly composed of Hanefies, having information of the scheme, fell upon that innocent man and hewed him in pieces, before he had time to utter the offensive words.

This commotion was succeeded by another. The men learned in the law, and some principal inhabitants, all of the Sunny persuasion, having forthwith assembled in the mosque, sent a message