293 – Sultan Muḥammad ibn Malikshāh ibn Alp Arslān the Turk

The ruler of Iraq, the sovereign titled Ghiyāth al-Dīn, Abū Shujāʿ Muḥammad, son of Sultan Malikshāh ibn Alp Arslān the Turk, the Seljuq.

When his father died in 485 AH the realms were carved up, and Barkiyārūq was the one first acknowledged. Later his two brothers, Muḥammad and Sanjar, arrived. The caliph al-Mustazhir Billah gave them audience, invested Muḥammad with the sultanate, clothed him in seven robes of honour, a crown, a collar, and two armlets, unfurled for him with his own hand the banner of sovereignty, and girded him with two swords. He then granted Sanjar a similar investiture and, in 495 AH, ordered that the Friday sermon no longer mention their brother Barkiyārūq. Barkiyārūq thereupon roused himself, mustered troops, and five pitched battles were fought between him and Muḥammad. At length Muḥammad’s position prevailed; he held the sultanate alone, the lands submitted to him, and his brother delivered the sermon in his name in Khurāsān.

Muḥammad was the foremost stallion of the Seljuq house. In general he was charitable, and his conduct, though not flawless, was largely commendable. Among his just deeds was his abolishing in Baghdad the octroi and the taxes (1), his prohibition on employing any Jew or Christian in government service, and—on a single day—he clothed