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Salah al- Din al-Safadi: al-Wafi bi al-wafayat

(An Arabic Biographical Dictionary) (d1362)

The great Sultan, the warrior of the faith, Muhammad bin Tughlaq Shah was the lord of Delhi and of all the lands of India, including Sindh (1), Mukran (2) and Ma’bar (3). The Kuthba (4) was read in his name at Maqdishu, Ceylon, and inmany islands of the (Indian) Ocean. He had inherited the kingdom from his father Tughluq Shah.

 

Note: We have here a very important paragraph; Mogadishu is considered part of India.

He is not the only Muslim author to do so. On the chances that this is true click here.

Taken from: Der Neger in der Bildersprache der arabischen Dichter By Manfred Ullmann

 

Vol I p227

(citing: Sirag ad din abu Hafs Umar ibn Muhammad ibn al Hasan al-Warraq al-Misri (d1296) )

My cooking-pot had become a Zanjiyyi; how amazing is a Zanjiyyi at a Byzantine (=the author).

Vol II p261

(citing ibn Ma’ma’a al Himsi)

When you see the rooster in the midst of its hens with their thick bodies, you think that it is a king that serves young, swaying girls, some of whom are Zanj and some Byzantines.

Vol III p25

Don't you see how a light breeze gets into the sleeping curls (of the boys) so that they fall partially on his cheek. It is as if a Zanj was spreading his fingers to grab the embers, but he cannot.

Vol III p33

(citing abu Tahir Muhammad ibn Haidar al Bagdadi)

A night in which one believes that the stars are the (light blue) pupils of the Byzantines in the faces of the Zanj.

Vol IV p85

(citing Abul Husain Muhammad ibn Utman called abu Hanifa at Taglibi (d992)

Our brazier is black like a fiery black horse that breaks through the army's curtain in battle. The coals on it resemble black zanj with inflamed eyelids and grey heads.

Vol IV p96

(citing Muhammad ibn Atiya ibn Hayyan al katib al Majribi)

It is as if the coals and the ashes and what the fires have done to them are like an old zanj with a grey head and wearing a gold-colored shirt.

Vol VI p217

(citing: Zain ad Din Ahmad ibn Ibrahim ibn Isma’il ibn Umar al-Amir ar Sallar Bahtiyar al Atabaki (d1234-5) )

It is as if the black oboe is in her shining face, when her mouth covers the mouthpiece like a hug,

The arms of a diver from the Zanj, who reaches for pearls enclosed in carnelian shells.

Vol V p160

(citing abul ala Muhammad ibn Hibat Allah ibn abd al Wahhab al Isfahani called al Imad ibn as Saraf)

When the night was pitch black, a light flash flashed in the tamarisk valley, like a sword blade stained with blood; I compared him, as he shone in the darkness of the night, with the teeth of a zanj that are visible in the smile.

Vol VII p132

(citing Abu Gafar Ahmad ibn abd Allah ibn Abi Huraira called al Ama al Jutili)

The miraculous birthmark is on the nutmeg like a zanj who has lost his way in the jasmine garden.

Vol VIII p217

(citing Muhyid din Ahmad ibn Nasr Allah ibn Batakin al Qahiri)

There are two armies of Zanj and Byzantines, with each opponent facing his antagonist.

Vol IX p45

(citing Wagah ad din abul Ma’ali Asad ibn abd ar Rahman ibn Hubais at Tanuhi al Ma’arri)

I think of a zanj woman who has a bright polished face, on her head she wears a crown that resembles a green myrtle. She is tormented in the fire without having made a mistake, but the minds of most people know how to enjoy this.

Vol IX p224

(citing abu t Tahir Ismail ibn Masud al Husani called ibn abi Rakb)

Of the devices that have a high rank, a zanjiyya was given to you, who stalked around in a decorated robe. (it is) a black with yellow pieces of jewelry that resembles a night, which is embroidered with shining stars.

Vol XII p156

(citing Muhaddab ad din al Hasan ibn Ali al Amiri as Sasakuni al Hamawi)

The black water birds amidst the white colleagues, like of a heap of Zanj and Byzantines thrown together.

VolXVIII p28

(citing: Tag ad din abd al Baqi ibn abd al Magid ibn abd Allah al Yamani al Mahzumi)

The night was like a Zanjiyya girl that her lovers adorned with pearls.

Vol XIX p232

(citing: abd al mun’im ibn Muhammad al Hazragi called ibn al faras al garnati d1201)

Do they seed fields with their stalks or seas with the boat playing the hands of the blowing winds? In front of the wind that bends the stalks, you look like an army of zanj fleeing from a winner.

Vol XXI p161

(citing Ali ibn Zafir al Azdi)

Can't you see the silhouette of the minaret and the pole on which a flame is burning that stems from the lantern that shows the time of the morning meal? …… Your flame and flickering give the impression that the zanj of darkness had a heart that was pounding excitedly.

Vol XXI p162

(citing ibn Zafir al Azdi)

(the minaret) resembles one who is passionately in love with a zanj girl; he urges it to a rendezvous and has shown her a golden coin so that she can become desirable.

Vol XXI p163

(citing ibn Zafir al Azdi)

The minaret with its bright color stands there and carries its lantern, while at night the radiant (stars) emerge. So there is also a Byzantine with a wine mug that he presents to a Zanj woman who is strapped with pearls.

Vol XXI p163

(citing Abul Qasim ibn Niftawaih)

How pleasant it is for those who want to have an early meal to see the caterne, which burns brightly in the middle. Since the night with the lantern raised into the sky is a one-eyed zanj, whose eye is inflamed.

Vol XXI p164

(citing Abu Yahya as Suyuti)

Finally what it was while the lantern burned as if the darkness of the night was a zanj woman carrying gold in her hand.

Vol XXI p164

(citing Abul Izz Muzaffar al a’ma ibn Ibrahim al Aila i al Misri)

I see a sign that was built for the people of fasting on the mosque of ibn al As and that is crowned by a star. In the dark it seems to be nothing more than a gilded spearhead on a Zanj's lance.

Vol XXI p325

(citing: Abul Hassan Ali ibn Atiya ibn az Zaqqaq al Balamsi)

The dream picture was hidden in the darkness, just as the pubic red on the cheek of a zanj remains hidden.

Vol XXI p325

(citing: ibn az Zaqqaq)

The raven-black darkness of the night doesn't hide as if I were a blushing blush on the cheek of a zanj.

Vol XXII p263

(citing: Abu Ali al-Mantiqi al-Basri (1001) )

The two eyes of the night are painted with antimony, and the pearls of the horizon shine in their necklace.

It is as if the light of that color in her pattern is the row of teeth of a Zanj, who smiles.

Vol CX p97

(citing Badran ibn Sadaqa ibn Mansur al Asadi called Tag al Muluk ibn Saif ad-Daula (d1135))

The flash appears and goes out quickly; it's like a zanj smiled and made a gloomy face.