"سجلات تاريخ عُمان" [‎١‎٩] (١١٢/٣٦)

'Boole Second.
19
Uta
«) MtB
lie girl
succeeded in obtaining some meal and a skin for holding milk and a fragment
of ajar. She then tilled her skin with water from the stream, and was
returning to the women, when she was perceived by a soldier, who overtook
her and took from her the meal which he poured on the ground,
and after taking the water from her also, left her. I have found it
stated that Abu-Marwan did not give the order for burning the village ; it is
more probable that he had forbidden such a proceeding, but that his words
were disregarded. It is said that the Imam sent two messengers to the
tribe whose village had been burnt, inviting them to return and promising
to make them fitting compensation. The number of Abu-Marwan's forces is
stated to have been 12,000. El-Muhenna remained Imam until his death,
which occurred on the 16th of Rabi'-ul Akhir, A. H. 237, [A. D. 851] he
having reigned as Imam for ten years and some months and days, during
which time he enjoyed the approval and support of the Musalmans in general.
Nevertheless, I find it mentioned in the biography of the Sheykh Abu-Kahtan
Khalid-bin Kahtan that the Sheykh Mohammed-bin Mahbub and Bashir
had knowledge of the conduct of el-Muhenna incompatible with the retention
of the Imamate, and consequently they secretly renounced him. God knows
whether this is true.
The Ima'm El-Salt-bin Ma'lik . On the day of el-Muhenna's death,
the Musalmans elected el-Salt-bin Malik to be their ruler. At that time,
the most excellent of the Musalmans and their leader and guide in science
and religious learning was Mohammed-bin Mahbub. They swore allegiance
to el-Salt-bin Malik in the same manner that the just Imams who preceded
him had been acknowledged. He governed justly and uprightly for a long
period, until all the Sheykhs of the Musalmans who had elected him had
passed away. Not one of them, as far as we know, seceded from him. He lived
as Imam longer than any of his predecessors, until he grew old and feeble.
His infirmity, however, was only in his limbs, for we are not aware that
any one asserted that his mind, hearing, or sight had become impaired.
When the scroll of Destiny announced that his time was come, and
God willed to try the people of 'Oman, as He had tried those who had
gone before them, Musa-bin Musa rose up against him, and pursued him
until he alighted at Fark. 22 Thereupon the people forsook el-Salt, who
being too weak to retain his position was deposed from the Imamate.
The Ima'm Ra'shid-bin el-Nadhb . Musa then conferred the Imamate
on Rashid-bin el-Nadhr on Thursday, three days before the end of the
month of el-Hijj, 273 A. H. [A. D. 886].
The Imamate of el-Salt had lasted 35 years, 7 months, and 8 days.
His death occurred on Friday night in the middle of Thul-Hijjah, 275
A. H. In his days died the most accomplished and eminent of scholars
Mohammed-bin Mahbub.