368 AH, and al-ʿAzīz treated him graciously, appointing him to a high command and granting him a grand public retinue. His procession became so imposing that the vizier Ibn Killis grew afraid of him, devised a ruse, and had him poisoned. Others, however, maintain that he simply fell ill and died at the beginning of 371 AH.

His bravery was considered unparalleled, and he had originally been one of the mamluks of Muʿizz al-Dawla ibn Būwayh.

Now al-ʿAzīz had offered one hundred thousand dinars to anyone who captured Hiftakin. The emir Mufarrij al-Ṭāʾī tricked him, persuaded him to dismount, then betrayed him and handed him over.

Hiftakin had already written to ʿAḍud al-Dawla: “Syria is now tranquil and in my hands; al-ʿAzīz’s rule over it has disappeared. If you strengthen me with wealth and troops, I will fight the enemy in their own land.” ʿAḍud al-Dawla replied with these oft-quoted words: “Your might has deluded you, and the end of that delusion is your humiliation. Beware the enormity of your deed; perhaps through this you will find guidance. Peace.” (1)

217 – al-Shīrāzī, Muḥammad ibn al-ʿAbbās ibn Fasānjis *

The consummate vizier, Abū al-Faraj Muḥammad ibn al-ʿAbbās ibn Fasānjis al-Shīrāzī, the secretary. He served Muʿizz al-Dawla as his scribe; the ruler entrusted him with the chancery and, together with the vizier al-Muhallabī, put the management of the treasury under his supervision. He even deputized in the vizierate. When Muʿizz al-Dawla died, Abū al-Faraj assumed the vizierial title by patent of the caliph al-Muṭīʿ li-llāh. Later, in 359 AH, he became vizier to ʿIzz al-Dawla ibn al-Muʿizz, but after a single year he was dismissed and imprisoned.

Ibrāhīm al-Ṣābiʾ remarked: “He was dignified in council, superbly forbearing, devout, of admirable conduct, and richly trustworthy.”

Aḥmad ibn ʿAlī ibn al-Munajjim (2) also lauded Abū al-Faraj, saying:

[poetry follows]