He was assassinated by the Bāṭinīs—the fidāʾiyyah⦗1⦘—inside the screened enclosure of Aleppo’s Great Mosque during the Friday prayer⦗2⦘. He—may Allah have mercy on him—was a Turk of commendable conduct and sound inner state, strict in observing the prayers at their appointed times, and lavish in charity and almsgiving to the poor, showing abundant kindness⦗3⦘ to his subjects. After his death the throne passed to his son, Sultan ʿIzz al-Dīn Masʿūd, and Sultan Maḥmūd confirmed him in his post.

Hilāl⦗4⦘ ibn ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Shurayḥ ibn ʿUmar ibn Aḥmad ibn Muḥammad ibn Ibrāhīm ibn Sulaymān ibn Bilāl ibn Rabāḥ—the caller to prayer for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him⦗5⦘—travelled widely through the lands. He was an elderly man with a resonant voice, beautiful recitation, and pleasant melody. He died this year in Samarkand; may Allah Most High have mercy on him.

The judge Abū Saʿd al-Harawī⦗6⦘, Muḥammad⦗7⦘ ibn Naṣr ibn Manṣūr, known again as Abū Saʿd al-Harawī⦗8⦘, was among the celebrated jurists and eminent dignitaries. The Bāṭinīs slew him in Hamadhān⦗9⦘ while he was on an embassy from the Caliph to Sultan Sanjar seeking the Sultan’s daughter in marriage.

Then the year⦗10⦘ 520 AH began.

Events of the year:
Sultan Maḥmūd and the Caliph corresponded in order to unite against Sultan Sanjar⦗11⦘. When Sultan⦗12⦘ Sanjar learned of their design, he wrote to his nephew Maḥmūd, forbidding him from it, trying to win him over, and warning him about the Caliph—saying that the Caliph’s treachery could not be trusted⦗13⦘ and that once he had finished with Maḥmūd he would turn on him and strike him down⦗14⦘. Maḥmūd heeded his uncle’s advice and withdrew.