"سجلات تاريخ عُمان" [‎٦‎٠] (١١٢/٧٧)

60
Annals of l Oman.
el-'Anbur entered the Fort of Nezwa, and firing a salute from all the guns
proclaimed Seyf-bin Sultan Imam.
The Imam Setf-bin Sulta/it . All the forts of 'Oman were surren
dered to him, and all the tribes and towns submitted to his authority.
Matters went on in this wise for two months all but three days, when it
was the will of God to bring to pass what He had foreseen would befall the
people of 'Oman, on account of their fickle and changeable behaviour. For
God does not send vicissitudes on a people until they are untrue to
themselves. In the trials He sends, he who is steadfast in his religion is
distinguished from the backslider and hypocrite. God said those words,
" Do men imagine it shall he sufficient for them to say, 1 we helieve] while they
he not proved ? We proved heretofore those who were before them ; for God
will surely know those who are sincere, and He will surely know the liars"*
God then foresaw what was predestined to occur, that the actions of
all men should come to light, and the evildoer suffer for his misdeeds, and
the obedient be fortified, each being requited according to his good or evil
deeds, like as pure gold is tested by fire. It has been said too, " By trial
is a man honored or despised."
When it was settled that Bel £ arab-bin Nasir should administer the
Government as regent, and that Seyf-bin Sultan was Imam, the various
tribes and chiefs came to offer their congratulations on this. Bel'arab-bin
Nasir on this occasion let fall threats against certain tribes, especially the
Benu-Ghafir 4 and the people of Bahla. It is said when Mohammed-bin Nasir-
bin 'Amir el-Ghafm came with a party of his tribe, the Seyyid Bel'arab
uttered menaces against them, on which Mohammed-bin Nasir retired deeply
offended, and entered into correspondence with Ya'rab-bin Bel'arab and the
people of Bahla, urging them to rise in revolt. He went also himself to the
Bedouins of el-Dhafrah, the Benu-Na'im, Benu-Katab, and the rest.
Bel'arab on his part sent to invite the chiefs of Nezwa to join him, and
a large number of them did so, and were received with honor, and desired
to give their allegiance to Seyf-bin Sultan. He then sent a detachment 5
under his brother Suleiman-bin Nasir with orders to proceed by Wadi-
Semail, and bring Ya'rab to el-Rostak. He ordered the Nezwa people to
accompany this force, but they ceased not to ask the chiefs of el-Rostak to
intercede with him to excuse them from this duty until he consented. The
detachment proceeded as far as Fark, where they passed the night, and the
people of Nezwa sent them food and refreshments. Suddenly, they heard the
firing of cannon from the lort of Nezwa, and enquiring what had happened,
were informed that Ya'rab-bin Bel'arab had entered the Fort. Thereupon
they returned to Izki, where Suleiman-bin Nasir seized the Fort and
remained in the town. Bel'arab-bin Nasir had meanwhile despatched a
second, detachment against Tia'rab by way of el-Dhahireh, but on their