A bad leader is the best revenge

Since Behram Chobin was from Rae, and since its people were very faithful to him, Khushru wanted to destroy this province. His ministers advised him against it, as there were many good people too, over there. Then the king decided to punish the people of Rae by appointing a very bad leader for them.  The ministers were surprised by the king’s decision.

The king found the ugliest and cruelest of persons and made him the head of the province of Rae. The man perpetrated atrocities on people and animals of Rae and so most people deserted the province. The king was happy with his revenge.

News of this reached Gordui, who then conveyed it to Gordiyeh, requesting her to do something about it. Gordiyeh talked to the king and convinced him to recall the tyrant leader and grant her the administration of Rae. The king, his purpose served, handed over the province of Rae to Gordiyeh.

Beneficial changes by the king

King Khushru introduced several measures for happiness and safety of his kingdom and his subjects. He sent armies of twelve thousand soldiers each near borders of Rome, Zabulistan, Alāna and Khorasan to guard against any enemy intrusions in Iranian territory.

For his own life, the king divided his day into four parts. In the first part, the ministers were to inform the king about matters related to the army and the administration of the country, so that he can mete out justice. The second part of the day was dedicated to music, enjoyment and socializing with the courtiers. The third section of the day was devoted to prayers. The fourth part of the day was subdivided into two parts, one dedicated to learning astronomy and astrology, and the other, to be spent with beautiful maidens in his harem.

King Khushru also subdivided his month into four parts, for purpose of his own activities. The first part was for sports and archery, the second part was for hunting, discussing war strategy and playing intelligent games like chess and back-gammon.  The third part was dedicated to writing and reading history. In the fourth part, the king met envoys and ambassadors from far off countries, and replied to their letters. On the day of Navroz, when the sun entered the house of Aries, the king secretly gave a lot of charities.

Rise of the Arabs

In 610 CE, Noman, the chief of the Arab state of Hira, situated between the Euphrates and Jerusalem, was attacked and imprisoned by Khushru. One of his commanders, the Shaybani leader Hani came to represent Noman before the Iranian king, but he too was imprisoned and later executed.

Khushru then ordered the Shaybani and Hira people to surrender, but they did not. Khushru sent an army comprising of Arab and Persian soldiers to overpower Hira and Shaybani. The two armies met at Dhu-Qar (near Kufa in modern Iraq). The Arab component of the Iranian army deserted leading to the defeat of the Iranians.

At his point of time prophet Mohammad had just appeared. This victory of the Arabs was a great morale booster, and gave an impetus to the Arab tribes to unite. It is said, that if the battle of Dhu-Qar had been won by the Iranians, the emergence of Islam would not have been the same, because the morale of the Arab tribes would have been destroyed.

Prophet Mohammad

It is a well-known fact that prophet Mohammad appeared during the reign of Khushru II. Though the Shahnameh does not mention this, Islamic tradition tells a story in which Prophet Muhammad sent a messenger Abdullah ibn Hudhafah as-Sahmi, to Khushru along with a letter in which the king Khosrow was asked to accept the religion of Islam. In the letter it was stated, “From Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to Kisra, the great (leader) of the Persians. Under the Command of Allah, I invite you to Him. He has sent me for the guidance of all people so that I may warn them all of His wrath and may present the unbelievers with an ultimatum. Embrace Islam so that you may remain safe in this life and the next. And if you refuse to accept Islam, you will be responsible for the sins of the Magi.”

Islamic tradition further states that Khushru tore up the prophet’s letter. He commanded Badhan, his vassal ruler of Yemen, to dispatch two men to bring the prophet to him. When Abdullah told Prophet Muhammad how Khushru had torn his letter, the prophet promised the destruction of the Iranian king stating, “Even so, Allah shall destroy his kingdom”.

Dastur Dinyar, Salman-i-Fars

The account of this righteous person is from Zoroastrian and Islamic traditions, and not from the Shahnameh. Dastur Dinyar, also known as Behzad or Rozbeh, was a saintly and knowledgeable priest during the reign of king Khushru II.  However, he is more popularly known as Salman-i-Fars “Solomon (the wise man) of Persians”. In those times of internal discord and strife, Dastur Dinyar is said to have tried hard to bring about unity, amity and peace among the opposing factions of the Iranian royalty, and hence became unpopular among the warring factions.

He was arrested for a crime he did not knowingly commit. Tradition tells us that he inadvertently hurt his mother, and was hence forced to flee Iran, rather than be prosecuted. Some traditions say that the king himself helped him to flee as he was convinced of his piety and innocence.

He took refuge at Medina where he later became associated with Prophet Muhammad, who recognized his value. He became an asset to the prophet and assisted him in all his works. He helped the prophet in writing the Quran (Quran XVI-105).

The Prophet had constituted a council of advisers of which Dastur Dinyar was an important member, and belonged to his ‘inner circle’. He was also one of the most revered among the Ashab “companions” of the Prophet. In the Hadith, it is stated that “Salman Minna aht al-Bait”, that is, “Salman is one of us”.

There are traditions in the Islamic sources describing Salman and his journey to Islam. A chapter in the Hadith collection Bihar al-anwar “Oceans of light” is devoted to Salman’s journey and opinions about him by the Prophet and Shia Imams.

Dastur Dinyar survived the prophet and staunchly supported Ali and his family during the schism that followed the prophet’s passing away. Esoteric Islam began to blossom under Hazrat Ali in the influence of Salman-e-Fars.

It was on account of Dastur Dinyar’s wisdom, learning and piety, that he was referred to as Salman i Fars “the Parsi Solomon.”

To be continued…..