On Muhammad Hashim Sultan's opposition to ʿAbd al-Rahim Khan

Muhammad Hashim Sultan was born to a daughter of Muhammad Khan, so they used to call him “son of the Khan” (khānzāda). He became angry at Shujaʿ al-Din Ahmad Khan and went to Küsän, after which contention and opposition arose between Muhammad Hashim Sultan and ʿAbd al-Rahim Khan. Muhammad Hashim Sultan requested help from the Qalmaq, and the Qalmaq supported him. ʿAbd al-Rahim Khan also prepared for battle. When the two sides met all the Qalmaq soldiers withdrew to one side and stood by, and when the two sides clashed, defeat fell to the side of Muhammad Hashim Sultan. Since the Sultan was clearly defeated, the Qalmaq also began to attack him, and joined the side of ʿAbd al-Rahim Khan. Muhammad Hashim Sultan retired to his stronghold, and the Qalmaqs took booty and withdrew. ʿAbd al-Rahim Khan tightened the siege of that fort. Muhammad Hashim Sultan was placed in such difficulties by the Khan’s siege that he requested that he open for him a path into exile, and ʿAbd al-Rahim Khan accepted his request and left open for him a road of flight. [Muhammad Hashim Sultan] appreciated the value of that concession and fled in the direction of Küsän, entering the fortress of Küsän and fortifying himself. After that ʿAbd al-Rahim Khan sent troops after Muhammad Hashim Sultan, and arrived in Küsän. The Khan sent someone in with the message that “I have not come out of hostility, but with the goal of unity and progress, that together we might lay claim to Yarkand, which is our hereditary land.” After such an offer reached Muhammad Hashim Sultan from the Khan, the Sultan referred the question of whether or not to meet the Khan to his own amirs. Some said that going before the Khan was not wise, but some thought that an audience with the Khan would be a blessing. In the end the council resolved to go before the Khan. When they went to see the Khan, he greeted them with all sorts of courtesies. They were sitting in the garden, when the Khan rose to perform his ablutions, and when he got up one of the Khan’s men swung at the head of Muhammad Hashim Sultan with a battle-axe. The Sultan had been sitting reading a book of poetry (bayyāż). He presented the book to him (?). [The axe] cut the book into pieces and lodged in the head of the Sultan. The Sultan fell to the ground, at which point someone else from among ʿAbd al-Rahim Khan’s men slit the Sultan’s throat, and with this Muhammad Hashim Sultan passed into the embrace of the Lord’s mercy. The Khan seized the Sultan’s amirs and returned. God knows best.