Page 146 - Arabian Studies (I)

130 Arabian Studies /

The inscription of Birkat al-Aqmar is found in a regular
rectangular block of stone, the top of which is some 3 feet from the
top. The depth of the block is approximately 2 feel, with perhaps a
further 10 feet to the floor of the cistern. The width of the block is
about 5 feet. The inscription is set in the short plastered wall which
runs diagonally across the corner of the reservoir where the north
facing wall meets that facing east.
Rudely inscribed naskhi, no dots, 5 lines.

basmalah 1.

bV Jl 3S/JI <J JLfr r5 2.

^ \j3 diU dl) I (I j5) <3 jJ I — 3.
O*
(I*) f-H** -Ls-V I <i5yU I <S -1.0 4.
1c I . 5.

2. This blessed cistern was completed by our Lord, Prince
3. Qutb al-DIn - may God give him everlasting power. The
completion was
4. of this cistern on Sunday, 1st of the month of [al-1 Muharram
5. in the year 645 .........
In line 2, the use of mawlana with a person of the rank of amir
was not, as far as it is possible to ascertain, found elsewhere in
Rasulid times. The Rasulid sultan of the day, al-Malik al-Mansur, is
called Mawlana ’l-Shahld and al-Sultan by the two prominent
authorities, Muhammad b. Hatim44 and al-Khazrajl. •1 5 His son
i
al-Malik al-Muzaffar is called Mawlana ’1-Sultan by the former44 and
al-Sultan by the latter.46
This leads us on to the problem of line 3. Who was Mawlana
’1-AmTr Qutb al-DIn? He was not mentioned in the cUqud by
al-Khazrajl and, although he does figure in the Simt of Muhammad b.
-
Hatim, no explanation is given and some detective work is necessary
s before we can attempt to answer the question. Under the year
645/1247-48, the same year, it will be recalled, as the completion of
Birkat al-Aqmar, Muhammad b. Hatim writes as follows. ‘In this year
“
also, the Lady (al-Sitt), the mother of Qutb al-DIn asked our Lord,
the Martyr (al-Malik al-Mansur, the 1st Rasulid sultan) to give Sanca’
as a fief to Qutb al-DIn . . . .’4 7 The lady involved clearly had the ear
of the sultan and was prepared to ask outright for a favour for her

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