Jaipal (7) Hero of the Zangis

Ali facing the enemy

Tehran copy, Qanbar: Ali's devoted retainer  usually depicted with black complexion watching the scene from behind the hill.

Back to Table of Contents 8
  To next page
 Muhammad Ibn Husam: Khavarnamah 

(Book of the East)(d1470) Persia
 ------------------------------------------- 

The poet Maulana Muhammad ibn Husam al‑Din (d.1470), wrote the Khavarannama (Book of the East) in circa 1426 in emulation of Firdausi’s Shahnama (Book of Kings). It is centered on the Shi'i imam Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad and the most important figure in Shia Islam after Muhammad. It is a fantastical account of the travels and travails of Ali and his companions Malik and Abu’l Mihjan. The title of the poem comes from the name of 'Ali's main adversary, the king of Khavaran. It has no value except of showing that East Africa and its slaves were well known in Persia.

 

Taken from: website of British Library

Taken from: KAVARAN-NAMA i. The Epic Poem (iranicaonline.org)

The Prophet departing for a pilgrimage leaving his companions behind in the mosque at Yatreb (1). An intense controversy flares up among them around the question of who can be called the champion-warrior. At nightfall, Abu’l-Mehjan (2) and Saʿd-e Waqqas (3), humiliated and outraged through the controversy, leave Yatreb (1). Ali (4) discovers the sudden disappearance of Abu’l-Mehjan (2) and Saʿd and goes in search of them; in turn, Malek-e Azdar (5), prompted by the Prophet, departs to look for Ali (4); while Amr-I Omayya (6), the arch-trickster, starts off on his own journey to rescue them all.

The further narrative takes place in the imaginary space of Kavar-zamin (lands of the East) in which specific fortresses, each ruled by an infidel king, are situated: thus, Abu’l-Mehjan (2) and Saʿd-e Waqqas (3) fight Nawader-sah and his anthropophagite brother Qattar; Ali (4), aided by Qanbar, converts Jeypal (7), the ruler of Hesn-e Zafar, to Islam; Abu’l-Mehjan (2) brings the inhabitants of Hesn-e Pulad to the Muslim path; the heroes under the guidance of Ali (4), disguised as a merchant, act against the perfidious Kavaran-sah; they are further involved in a lengthy and tangled conflict with the ruler of the Kavar-zamin Jamsid-sah, in the course of which Amr-e Omayya (6) practices his tricks in the enemy’s camp.
Other heroic feats include Sa'd-e Waqqas's (3) subjugation of Hesn-e Jamad, governed by Qorra the jew Ali's expedition to Kuh-e Bolur; the Muslim heroes' adventures during their struggle against the infidel Tahmas in the Sahel-zamin, and finally an extended series of labors in the Land of Qam, the throne of which has been usurped by the treacherous Salsal from his just brother Dal: aided by the war-like heroine Samama, Ali (4) liberates the City of Gold from the usurper. After all these exploits, the infidel East enters the realm of the True Religion and the companions return to Yatreb (1).

 

 

Taken from: website of British Library India office

From a 1686 manuscript of Khavarnama (Punjab) Given is a list of paintings that deal with the wars against Zang.

 

Titles of the paintings

f.28a. Ali fighting the Zangis led by Jaipal (7) during his search for Abul-Mihjan (2).

f.29a. Ali defeating a Zangi.

(Up to here Ali is mentioned to have followers in his battle)

(the main enemy to be fought in this part of the story is Shah Khavar)

 f.104b. Malik and Ali fighting the Zangi army.

(shortly after Ali (4) is mentioned of leading the army of Islam)

f.231a. Malik in single combat with the Zangi div at the Dal Mountain fortress.

(Ali keeps his title of leader of the army of Islam till the end when he and his army return to Medina to be reunited with the Prophet)

 

Taken from: Un' "epopea musulmana" die epoca timuride: il "Xvar-name" di Ebn Hosam by Giovanna Calasso

 

Amr I Omayye (6) an ally of Ali (4) and a master is disguising himself makes himself several times unrecognisable as a Zangi.

f.48R Amr I Omayye (6) shows up at Gamsid's (8) camp in the guise of a Negro and puts the army in turmoil.

f.51R Amr I Omayye (6) (disguised as a Zangi) takes part in a fight and kills Saddad.

Note: a different manuscript might have been used here.


They conquer fortresses seven in total, each described as being made of different materials

Fortress of Steel: taken by Abu al-Mihjan (2)

Fortress of Minerals: taken by Saʿd-e Waqqas (3)

Fortress of Magnet: by Ali

Fortress of Silver: by Ali

Fortress of Copper: by Ali

Fortress of Gems: by Ali

Fortress of Gold: by Ali

The seven pagan kings are named Nawader-shah, Chipal, Jamshid, Qorra, Tahmas, Qubad and Salsal.

On the return every fortress is bestowed by Ali on a Muslim ruler.

The story is set in the East; meaning greater Khurasan in Eastern Iran. This is supported by the fact that all pagan kings and viziers etc. have Persian names. Note that the many side stories make everything more complicated.

(1) Yatreb: Yatreb is the "nickname" of Medina

(2) Abu’l-Mehjan: Abu Mihjan al-Thaqafi; took part in the defence of al-Ṭaʾif against Muḥammad in year 8 AH (630 AD); he converted to Islam and afterwards joined the Muslim conquest of Persia.

(3) Saʿd-e Waqqas: was one of the companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, military conqueror of Sasanian Persia and founder of Kufa.

(4) Ali: Ali, the son-in-law and cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, was the caliph between 656 and 661 CE.

(5) Malek-e Azdar: Malik al-Ashtar; was one of the loyal companions of Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He rose to a position of prominence during the caliphate of Ali.

(6) Amr-I Omayya: Amr ibn Umayya al Damri. Traditionally considered a companion of the Prophet. And in legendary material closely associated with Ali.

(7) Jaipal: Jeypal, the ruler of Hesn-e Zafar.

(8) Gamsid's camp: Jamsid-sah of Kavar-zamin.


Amr-i Umayya disguising himself as a Zangi shaves the sleeping men.